Welcome to MMA On-Demand!

Promoting Civil Discourse at Town Meeting

May 2, 2024 | 60 minutes

This webinar reviews how to conduct meetings that promote civil public discourse by developing meeting rules, anticipating contentious issues, creating a climate for respectful deliberation, and managing disruptive behavior.

Speakers:
• Carmin Reiss, Concord Town Moderator, and Massachusetts Moderators Association President
• Alan Foulds, Reading Town Moderator
• Mark DiSalvo, North Andover Town Moderator
• Rebecca Townsend, Longmeadow Town Moderator

Parliamentary Procedure at Council Meetings

April 24, 2024 | 75 minutes

This webinar focuses on the rules and procedures that govern how a city council meeting operates, including the role of “Robert’s Rules of Order” and individual city council rules.

Speakers:
• Michael Ossing, Marlborough City Council President
• Athena O’Keefe, Amherst Town Council Clerk
• John McLaughlin, Waltham City Council President (Moderator)

Inspiring Climate Action: From Planning to Practice

April 18, 2024 | 75 minutes

This webinar showcases approaches to climate action planning and discusses how these plans can help communities garner public support, lay the groundwork for funding, and unify departments and committees around common goals.

Speakers:
• Cassie Tragert, Conversation Agent, Easthampton
• Erina Keefe, Sustainability Director, Beverly
• Neal Duffy, Sustainability and Resiliency Director, Salem
• Josie Ahlberg, MMA Legislative Analyst (Moderator)

Spring 2024 Legislative Briefing

March 28, 2024 | 60 minutes

This virtual briefing with the MMA's Legislative team reviews recent regulatory and legislative activity, including the state budget, Municipal Empowerment Act, PFAS regulations, road and bridge funding, housing bond bill, and more.

Speakers:
• Dave Koffman, MMA Legislative Director
• Jackie Lavender Bird, MMA Deputy Legislative Director
• Ali DiMatteo, MMA Legislative Analyst
• Josie Ahlberg, MMA Legislative Analyst
• Adrienne Núñez, MMA Legislative Analyst
• Daniel Yi, MMA Research and Project Assistant

Chapter 70: Understanding the Funding Formula for Education

March 20, 2024 | 75 minutes

This webinar reviews key elements of Chapter 70, including components of the foundation budget, how the local contribution and state aid are determined, and the multi-year phase-in of the Student Opportunity Act.

Speakers:
• Brian Allen, Deputy Superintendent, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, Worcester Public Schools
• Jackie Lavender Bird, MMA Deputy Legislative Director (Moderator)

Best Practices for MBTA Zoning Proposals

March 13, 2024 | 90 minutes

This webinar discusses what the EOHLC and AGO have learned from their preliminary review of proposed local zoning amendments, and how what they’ve learned may be helpful to communities in their compliance efforts.

Speakers:
• Chris Kluchman, Director, Community Services Division, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
• Margaret Hurley, Director, Municipal Law Unit, Office of the Attorney General
• Attorney Amy Kwesell of KP Law
• MMLA Executive Board Member Susan Murphy of Dain Torpy (Moderator)

Tackling Tough Conversations with Emotional Intelligence

February 27, 2024 | 75 minutes

This webinar shares strategies for delivering difficult feedback, setting boundaries by saying “no,” and handling instances where you may disappoint others.

Speaker:
• Cally Ritter, Principal, Positive Ripple Training and Consulting

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: The Customer Connectors

February 14, 2024 | 75 minutes

This webinar discusses how to leverage emotional intelligence to meet customer needs, defuse public anger, and disarm demeaning behavior while using active listening to build rapport and bolster the ability to express empathy.

Speaker:
• Cally Ritter, Principal, Positive Ripple Training and Consulting

Municipal Finance 101: Budgeting & Best Practices

February 6, 2024 | 60 minutes

This webinar reviews the building blocks of municipal finance, including budgeting revenues and expenditures, Proposition 2½, and the importance of financial policies, forecasting and capital planning.

Speakers:
• Sean Cronin, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Division of Local Services
• Zack Blake, Chief, Financial Management Resource Bureau, Division of Local Services
• Jackie Lavender Bird, MMA Deputy Legislative Director (Moderator)

Performance Appraisal Systems and Goal Setting: An Overview

January 9, 2024 | 60 minutes

This webinar reviews the objectives of a performance appraisal system and offers practical tips for setting “SMART” goals.

Speakers:
• Joellen Cademartori, CEO of GovHR
• Michael Taylor, Director of Human Resources, Pittsfield (Moderator)

101 Bundle for Elected Officials

13 Webinars

The webinars in this bundle offer an overview of the basic skills and knowledge needed to effectively govern as a newly elected official.


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Conflict Conversations Bundle

2 Webinars

The webinars in this bundle review how to conduct productive, empathetic dialogue amidst tension and volatility.

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Reframing Recruitment Series Bundle

4 Webinars

The webinars in this bundle showcase timely hiring strategies to help communities navigate different stages of the recruitment process.


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VMLA Bundle: Emotional Intelligence (Winter 2024)

3 Webinars

The webinars in this bundle explore the five components of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-management, motivation, social skills, and empathy) and how to leverage this skill to meet customer needs, deliver difficult feedback, and set boundaries.

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