MAYOR'S NEWSLINE

March 2006

IMPORTANT EVENTS - PAST AND FUTURE
And staff contacts for more information
Also consult the calendar
For Seminar details, contact David Harkness ext. 18.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Scholarship Deadlines Seeking Mayoral Conference Suggestions 2006 Mayors' Hall of Fame Nominations League on NJ Hall of Fame Steering Committee Health Officers Student Essay Contest

FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Herbert Stiles, Mayor, Elmer

The League has been a long time proponent of greater interlocal cooperation to improve efficiency and effectiveness of municipal government services in New Jersey.

Officials at the local, county and state levels are looking for and finding ways and means to better facilitate joint services among municipalities. Interlocal services have benefited municipalities and saved tax payer dollars.

To address this important issue, the League, in cooperation with the Department of Community Affairs, will sponsor a half-day summit on "Advancing Greater Interlocal Cooperation" on April 5, 2006, at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, NJ.

The speaker panel will include key representatives of the State Legislature, County representatives, and municipal leaders who will provide case studies on interlocal services success stories. Staff from the Department of Community Affairs, including Commissioner Susan Bass Levin, will provide an overview of the technical and financial assistance that can be provided for municipal consolidation.

Make plans to attend this important summit along with your department heads and other relevant staff members. For a complete agenda and registration form, please visit our calendar at www.njslom.org or contact Sue DeLany at extension 11. I look forward to meeting you at our Joint Municipal Services Summit on April 5.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

MAYORS' HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS
-Contact Michael Darcy ext. 16 or mdarcy@njslom.com

Nomination forms for the 2006 Mayors' Hall of Fame were recently mailed to all Mayors. This special recognition is given to Mayors who have served at least 10 years for the silver level, or 20 years for the gold level. Please review the full list of current Hall of Fame Mayors at the League web site. If any mayors are missing that should be included, please nominate them on the official 2006 Mayors' Hall of Fame nomination form.

FUTURE MUNICIPAL LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE
-Contact Michael Darcy ext. 16 or mdarcy@njslom.com

In January, all mayors received information on the scholarship competition. At this time, you should have your judging panel in place and some entries from constituent high school students. By March 15, you should have all your entries ready to be judged. And by April 3, you should be submitting your local winner to the League office along with a complete list of your local entries. Thank you for making this important opportunity possible for your high school juniors and seniors.

NEW JERSEY HEALTH OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (NJHOA) OFFERS REWARD
-Contact www.njpublichealthessay.com

The NJHOA is using an essay contest to spread the word that there are rewarding career opportunities in public health. The contest asks the question "What is Public Health?" and is open to students in grades 7-12. Three winners will receive iPods as rewards.

There is special recognition for teachers and school districts submitting the most entries. The deadline for entering is March 24, 2006. For further information visit the contest web site or the NJHOA 201-373-1000 or contest@njpublichealthessay.com

2006 MAC URISA REGIONAL GIS CONFERENCE
-Contact www.macurisa.org

This is a two-day event to be held at Rutgers University Busch Campus in Piscataway, New Jersey and includes a day of workshops (March 15) and a one-day conference (March 16). The biennial conference provides a forum where GIS professionals from the Mid-Atlantic region gather to exchange
ideas and learn. Visit the above site for more details.

SEEKING MAYORAL CONFERENCE SUGGESTIONS
-Contact Bill Dressel ext. 22
bdressel@njslom.com, or fax 609-695-0151

Your League staff will shortly begin preparing the schedule of educational sessions for the 91st Annual League Conference. To make sure this schedule accurately reflects your needs, we need your input.

Please fax or e-mail your suggested topics and speakers so we may coordinate your ideas into an informative and thought provoking conference. Most conference sessions developed are based on the input and responses from mayors and elected officials.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DRESSEL TO REPRESENT LEAGUE ON NJ HALL OF FAME STEERING COMMITTEE
-Contact Bill Dressel ext. 22or www.njhalloffame.com/factsheet.htm

The New Jersey Hall of Fame will honor our citizens who have made invaluable contributions to society and the world beyond. The League is one of 100 organizations asked to help promote the Hall of Fame and help narrow down the nominees in each of the five Hall of Fame categories. On behalf of New Jersey's Mayors and Governing Body Members, Executive Director Bill Dressel will represent the League on the Executive Steering Committee of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. The first ceremony will be held in spring of 2007 and the five nominee categories will include Sports/Arts and Entertainment/Historical/General/ Science and Technology. New Jerseyans will be able to vote for a top choice in each category via the Hall of Fame web site or e-mail. For more information on the NJ Hall of Fame, visit the above web site.

NATIONAL GUARD FAMILY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
-Contact www.state.nj.us/miltary/familysupport/index.html

The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs would like to remind mayors about their family assistance programs for the National Guard. Although the number of deployed New Jersey National Guard personnel is down from the historic highs of the last two years, there are still a significant number of troops mobilized in 2006. The Department wants to continue to partner with local leaders to maintain a vibrant assistance program to support Guard members who leave family and career. Visit the above web site for more information about the New Jersey National Guard family programs.