July 2026 Presidential Message
Dear Cal-ICMA Members,
Hopefully you have found some time to take a break from work this summer to recharge following difficult budget adoptions and other challenging issues you are championing in your community and organization. If you enjoy soccer (or even if you don’t), you’ve probably been swept up to one extent or another into the soccer World Cup over the past five weeks. I know I was, so it’s top-of-mind for me, and I can’t help but make some observations comparing the World Cup and the work we do as local government leaders.
First, a tactical observation. It has been widely reported that Spain’s dominance comes from their incredible teamwork and system of play, not from the brilliance of any single player. Their commitment and discipline in sticking to their system led them to victory. Similarly, in our local government organizations, we work diligently to create consistent, transparent, and ethical programs and processes to serve our communities. Our commitment and discipline to stick to these systems and work as a unified team is what more often than not leads to the best outcomes in our communities.
Second, an emotional observation. The World Cup has been about connection – packed stadiums, family and friend gatherings, neighborhood watch parties, huge fan-zone watch parties, packed restaurants, cafes and bars, international visitors to the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. It has connected us in-person, as humans with so much in common regardless of where you are from or what team you support. Similarly, connection is at the core of Cal-ICMA’s mission to connect California professionalsfor the advancement of ethical and inclusive local government management.Through Cal-ICMA’s numerous networking events throughout the year, we provide opportunities for connection in-person to share our passion, knowledge, and experience about local government leadership excellence.
A huge opportunity for connection, as well as for learning how to improve your organization’s systems for the benefit of your communities, is approaching with the ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach, October 17-21, 2026 (see details here about the California reception). Also, this year’s conference includes a special program, Camp LBC, a day camp for children ages 5-12, to assist those who may be hesitant to attend due to family responsibilities (see details here).
Thank you for taking the time to read this message and I look forward to connecting in person soon!