Issue 44
August 14, 2017
The Oklahoma Municipal League In Action
  • OML hosted its monthly Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday.
  • Mike Fina, Executive Director and Missy Dean, Deputy Director of External Operations and Government Affairs along with contract lobbyist Bill Phelps met with Representatives Josh West, Scott Fetgatter, Marcus McEntire, John Montgomery, and Senators Greg McCortney and Lonnie Paxton to discuss legislative issues impacting local control, economic development, revenue sources and many other issues addressing cities and towns.
  • Also, Mike and Missy attended the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority's (OMPA) legislative committee on Thursday.
  • Kelly Danner, Inquiry and Special Programs Director and Cathy Pulver, Financial Services and Accounting Manager attended the GFOAO meeting on Thursday.
  • Sue Ann Nicely, Deputy Director of Internal Operations and General Counsel, attended the Water Research Advisory Board on Friday.
  • The staff is switching into high gear for the conference that is rapidly approaching. If you haven't registered yet or would like more information, head over to the 2017 OML Annual Conference Website.
OML Annual Business Meeting - September 14th, 2017 Tulsa
The Oklahoma Municipal League Annual Business Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2017 beginning at 7:30 a.m.  The meeting will be at the Double Tree Hotel in the Buckingham and Windsor Room(s) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. More Information and Nominating Committee Report
Oklahoma Supreme Court Holds 2017 Cigarette Tax Unconstitutional
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has invalidated the levy on cigarettes enacted by the Legislature in the last session in SB 845.  It holds that the new law is a revenue raising measure and creates a tax in the strict sense of the word.  This two-part test defines a "revenue bill".  The Court's ruling merely reiterates the distinction between a fee and a tax that has been applied to municipalities.  Red Slipper Club, Inc. v. City of Oklahoma City, 1979 OK 118, 559 P.2d 406 . Read Article
Valley Brook To Host HB 342 Luncheon On August 24th
The Town of Valley Brook will be hosting a free luncheon catered by Chelinos Mexican Restaurant on August 24, 2017 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to discuss Oklahoma House Bill 342. The guest speaker will be the Honorable Stephen Haynes. The luncheon will be held at 1618 SE 59th Street, Valley Brook, OK, 73129. OML's Executive Director Mike Fina and the Deputy Director of External Operations/Government Relations Missy Dean will be in attendance .
Session 3 Of Community Leadership Development Hosted By Town Of Perry
Session 3 of Class 6 for the Community Leadership Program took place in Perry, Oklahoma on August 3rd and 4th.  The group met at the Perry Golf & Country Club on Thursday for heavy Hors D'oeuvres and a reception. On Friday the group met at the Exchange Bank for their welcome from Mayor Gordon Johnson and Assistant Fire Chief Russell Brand. To close out the session, the group headed to a Camel Tour in town. CLD and OML thank the City of Perry and Exchange Bank for their hospitality.

Perry Mayor Gordon Johnson

Friendly Camel from the 
 Camel Tour
Chuck Hall, President of Exchange Bank

Meet The People Of OML: Cathy Pulver
Cathy Pulver is the Financial Services and Accounting Manager for OML and has been with us for 16 years now! Cathy has lived here in Oklahoma City her entire life. She loves doing volunteer work around the state and loves bringing people together. Cathy also loves to travel and is an avid reader and history buff. She and her husband Ed have two children, Samantha and Rachel and they have two dogs, a Yorkshire Terrier named Max and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Lucy. 

Executive Director Mike Fina Attends National League Of Cities League Directors' Conference
OML Executive Director Mike Fina attended the NLC State Directors' Conference last week in Burlington, Vermont. Fina benefitted from hearing all of the great ideas and programs in other State Leagues. The networking at this event allows other directors to speak to one another and form an alliance of understanding and education. One of Fina's favorite speaker messages was from Montana State Director Tim Burton who discussed working together with state insurance pools. "From a new Executive Director's point of view, NLC will be a tremendous resource to assist me in growth and education to excel in my position." Being Fina's first trip to Vermont, he thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Northeast part of the nation and thanks them for the hospitality.
Early Bird Discount Ends August 28th! Have You Registered For The 2017 OML Annual Conference And Booked Your Hotel?
Delegate registration is now available for the 2017 OML Annual Conference coming up September 12-14, 2017 in Tulsa. 

Special hotel rates are now available for delegates staying at the Doubletree Hotel. Visit the Hotel Information Page of the OML Annual Conference Website for reservation information. Special rate deadline is August 21st. If you are unable to get a room at the Doubletree, t he overflow hotel is the Aloft in Tulsa. Here is the link to reserve a room at the special rate.

See the Delegate Registration Page of the Conference Website for all of the latest information on the events to be held at this year's conference. We are adding more information daily, so please check back often. For any questions on registration please contact   Cathy Pulver.
Let's Hit A Grand Slam Against Hunger At The OML Conference!
For the 2017 Annual Conference Fund Raising World Series, don't strike out! This year's food bank fund raiser will benefit the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. All attendees are eligible to participate, so start collecting now! The conference fund raiser will close at 12:00 p.m., noon, on Thursday, September 14th. Winners will be announced Thursday during lunch. For more information see the attached flyer or if you have any questions   Email Missy Dean
2017 OML Conference App Is Now Available In Apple And Google Play Stores
The 2017 OML Conference App has now been launched and we are adding information almost daily. If you would like to download the app now, it is available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. For those of you without smart phones, you can access the app's information from any web browser here.  Here is a  flyer with more information and a QR code.
Registration For The Pre-Conference Workshop Is Now Open! Legacy Leadership With SGR's CEO Ron Holifield
Special guest speaker Ron Holifield, CEO, Strategic Government Resources will teach practical leadership strategies that will help you make a difference and achieve goals that live on after you move on. Ron spent nearly 20 years in municipal government. He now provides strategic consultation to top companies in the U.S., and recently published his second book; 4th Dimension Leadership: a Radical Strategy for Creating an Authentic Servant Leadership Culture. Sign up today! Don't miss this opportunity  to make a difference for tomorrow and beyond! The Legacy Leadership Pre-Conference Workshop will be on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at the Doubletree Hotel in Tulsa. For more information visit the conference website or contact Cheryl Adams .
Be A Sponsor Or An Exhibitor At The 2017 OML Annual Conference!
Register today to become a Corporate, Government, Association, City or Town Exhibitor at the 2017 OML Annual Conference in Tulsa. The 2017 Exposition, September 12-14, will bring your organization's representatives into contact with those municipal officials who not only influence the decision makers, but also are responsible for entering into contracts, making purchasing decisions and soliciting bids. 

There is also still time to sign up and sponsor an event for the 2017 OML Annual Conference in Tulsa in September.

For more information on how to be a sponsor or an exhibitor, contact April Bradbury via email or call 405-528-7515. Visit our conference website.
OML Staff Members Learn About Building Better Relationships
OML staff members Cathy Pulver and Kelly Danner attended the monthly luncheon held by the Oklahoma Safety Council. This month's topic was "Why It's Better to Eat Twinkies Together than Broccoli Alone". The keynote presenter was Chris Zervas from the Summit Solutions Group. The content of the topic was about how humans were created for relationships and kinship. Studies show that the number of deep friendships outside of work and in the workplace are declining. In the past, human culture was defined by our families and surroundings. History has changed; our culture is now defined by our job.
Did you know that there is an app in the Apple and Google Play stores for our 2017 Annual Conference? On this app you can see your full schedule at a glance, see the Speaker information, and check out the new Exhibitors and Sponsors. All you need is an email to sign up! If you have any questions, email Christy Christoffersen.
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Oklahoma Municipal League 
 201 N.E. 23rd Oklahoma City, OK 73105
 405-528-7515 or 800-324-6651 Fax (405) 528-7560
Editor: Nancee Morris
Electronic Editor:  Christy Christoffersen

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