Weekending, Jan 23rd-25th + Snow Day

Hello and happy snowy Monday! I got my wish and we have a snow day today, which is truly welcome after my weekend at the MMA Conference. I have photos to share with you, too.

The view from my hotel room. I was on the 12th floor and I loved that I could see that little sliver of Boston Harbor. The Seaport District has really expanded in the last few years and I really wanted to get out and explore if Saturday afternoon when the conference was wrapped up but wind chills in the negative digits did not make that appealing at all. The only time I went outside all weekend was for the quick walk across the street to the conference center and to jump into an Uber to head to a vendor sponsored reception at a restaurant.

Those receptions are one of my favorite things about this conference. Open bar, lots of terrific appetizers and snacks, and plenty of schmoozing with vendors and socializing with colleagues. I had mini lobster rolls, scallops wrapped in bacon, chicken quesadillas, sliders and fries, and some yummy mini desserts, too.

We had great speakers at the morning sessions on Friday and Saturday. Boston’s own Mayor Michelle Wu was there to greet us on Friday and the keynote speaker was Dr. Timothy Shriver, who talked about the Dignity Index. MA Governor Maura Healey and LG Kim Driscoll were also there on Friday morning. The speaker at the WEMO (Women Elected Municipal Officials) Lunch was Tami Pyfer, who lead a further conversation on the Dignity Index. She has 5 children who identify as Democrat, Conservative Republican, Democratic Socialist, Libertarian, and Independent and she talked about the challenge of bringing everyone together and listening to each other with respect and (not surprisingly) dignity.

On Saturday morning, the keynote speaker was Clarence Anthony the CEO of the National League of Cities, and he was truly inspiring and spoke from the heart about the importance of local government and the jobs we all do. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was there and her remarks were so heartfelt that they brought me to tears and Senator Ed Markey was a boisterous and rousing as always.

We wrapped things up Saturday afternoon and had a group photo of the 2026 MMA Board taken. I love seeing how many women are involved in the leadership of this group.

Dale and I enjoyed a relaxing dinner in the hotel restaurant and regrouped after all of the intensity of the conference and also the devastating news out of Minneapolis. The juxtaposition of being inspired and encouraged to listen to the other side with the knowledge that our own government is shooting people in the street for no reason was pretty jarring.

Oh, and I got that headshot, too. I’ll share it later this week with some further thoughts on imposter syndrome.

We took an Uber home on Sunday, arriving just as the snow started to intensify. We had friends over to watch the Pats game, ate deviled eggs and meatball subs and chocolate chip cookies. And the Pats are Super Bowl bound once again!