Jim Kadechka led us in the Pledge and gave the Invocation.
 
President Dana welcomed our lone visitor, New Brighton City Manager Dean Lotter.
 
Next week's program will be Melanie McMahon.
 
Margaret was unfortunately absent again today and thus unable to celebrate her birthday with us. Don't worry Margaret, we won't forget to celebrate on your return!
 
New Brighton's annual Community Open House will be May 7th, 8-Noon, at the New Brighton Community Center. Dana will be staffing the table and would appreciate company, if you are available.
 
Several members helped with the Fourth Grade Foresters tree give-away last Friday at Bel Air and Pinewood Elementary Schools. It was fun to see how much the kids knew about trees and the environment and to experience their enthusiasm about receiving their spruce saplings and sunflower seeds.
 
Linda LaFond announced a golf tournament to benefit the Disabled American Veterans organization. It will be held at the Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove, MN on July 14th. For more information, contact:  freight@tyronetransportation.com
 
Dana read two thank you cards from this year's Camp RYLA scholarship recipients.
 
Dana presented Jeff Benson with his bronze level new member sponsorship pin. (photo above)
 
Finemaster Jim Kadechka confounded us with U.S. Presidential Quote trivia. You can never tell what a president, or future president, might say.
 
Dean Lotter announced that the Minnesota Police Chiefs Association and the Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute will soon be leasing space in the lower level of City Hall. The agreement will offset the cost of much needed improvements to the space and provide income to keep your property taxes as low as possible.   Dean reminded us that the Recycle/Clean-up Day is Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
 
Our speaker today was Jill Brown, Executive Director of the North Metro Mayors Association. The North Metro Mayors Association (NMMA), established in 1987, is composed of Mayors, City Administrators and Council Members from 16 cities representing nearly a half million people. Working closely with private and non-profit community partners, the NMMA works to make the North Metro the best place to live, work, be educated and raise a family. The NMMA works in a non-partisan way to provide leadership and ensure the equitable distribution of:
  • quality development and redevelopment,
  • shared tax resources and
  • investment in private and public facilities.
A very important part of their mission is to advocate with state and federal officials for economic development funding. They also analyze economic data and share it with legislators to make them aware of impacts on the North Metro.
Both Dean Lotter and Val Johnson provided glowing testimonials and specific examples of the value of the NMMA to the North Metro.
For more information, go to North Metro Mayors.org or contact Jill Brown 612-889-2611 or Mandy Meisner  763-226-1809. Dana and Jill are pictured below.