The Annual Meeting of the Municipal Association of SC will return to an in-person format for 2021, taking place at the Hilton Head Marriott from July 22 to July 24.
Each year, the meeting features educational sessions covering critical topics for elected officials. This year’s topics will range from American Rescue Plan funding to business licensing, redistricting following the 2020 census, legislative updates, law enforcement, ethics, broadband internet expansion and post-pandemic economic development.
This meeting will use several COVID-19 precautions, creating some differences from past annual meetings. The Municipal Association will require face coverings for all attendees while they are in the meeting areas. Social events will be limited to an opening reception on Thursday, the delegates’ luncheon on Friday and a dessert reception on Saturday night.
The keynote speaker for the Opening General Session will be Andrew Davis, the author of Town, Inc., who will discuss how to market a city or town to build interest and excitement among prospective businesses. Dr. David Ivan, a researcher of community change, will speak about using hope and inspiration to drive projects that enhance community vitality and strengthen resident engagement. Motivational speaker and comedian Miguel Washington will serve as the luncheon keynote speaker.
Registering for the Annual Meeting
To help make sure the maximum number of attendees can register for the meeting and book hotel rooms, each municipality needs to be thoughtful when planning and registering. Please do not register anyone who has not firmly committed to attend to help prevent unnecessary cancellations.
The registration process for the 2021 meeting will be familiar to attendees of previous Annual Meetings, with a full registration brochure going out in May. Each municipality will select a representative — usually the clerk, manager or administrator — to make reservations for the city or town. The Association will use a random drawing process to assign reservation appointment times for each municipality. It will send out registration instructions before May 19.
The process will use this timeline:
- May 26 – The random drawing will assign registration appointment times.
- June 8 and 9 – Half-hour registration appointments take place, with Association staff assisting the representative from each city or town.
- June 18 – All hotel reservations must be complete.
- July 12 – All registrations for the Annual Meeting must be complete.