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<p class="MsoNormal">Good afternoon Main Street. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last week we held our annual OMSC retreat where we plan the calendar, trainings, initiatives, events and more. Attached is the 2023 calendar and you will notice a few changes especially regarding professional development for Main Street
Executive Director as well as a new event for board members. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Program Director/Volunteer Professional Development + New Town/New Director Training (Sapulpa and Guymon, OK)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The OMSC provides two professional development trainings for executive directors that are typically held in August and November. August did not change but the November session moved to June. We understand there is quite a bit of activity
in the communities and districts beginning around Halloween and running through the New Year. The June professional development will be held in conjunction with the New Town/New Director Training with the following schedule:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">06.05: 1:30 – 5:00PM - New Town/ New Director Training<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">06.06: 8:30 – 12:00PM – New Town/New Director Training<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">06.06: 1:30 – 5:00PM - Program Director/Volunteer Professional Development<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">06.07: 8:30 – 5:00PM – Program Director/Volunteer Professional Development<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">06.08: 8:30 – 12:00PM – Program Director/Volunteer Professional Development<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>All new directors hired since June 2022 are required to attend the New Town/New Director Training.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Possible topics for the professional development workshops include:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Leadership<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Volunteer development<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Entrepreneurial Placemaking + hands-on activation<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vacant properties and absentee owners<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fundraising<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Certified Local Governments<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brownfields<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Navigating City Government<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Access to Capital<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Working with SBDC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please let me know if there any other topics you would like to learn more about or if some of these are more important than others. Several topics for 2023 may be covered during the Executive Director Zoom calls.
<i>Everyone is invited to all trainings and professional development workshops.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Main Street Day at the Capitol (Oklahoma City)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a fun event at the State Capitol where the new towns/districts are announced as well as reinvestment milestones are awarded. Every community is encouraged to participate and we supply tables for each. Main Street programs provide
information about their community/district (this can include local favorite foods) and invite their legislators to join the fun. It’s a great way to showcase what is happening on Main Street.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Main Street Now Conference (Boston, MA)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Main Street Now Conference is the best way to get energized about Main Street and all of the possibilities. There are sessions that cover all four points, walking and mobile tours, workshops and more. It’s also a networking event
and a great way to meet like-minded people. <i>Every Designated Main Street organization is required to send their Executive Director or a volunteer every other year. If no one from the organization attended Richmond, VA in 2022, then someone is required
to attend the conference in 2023. Also, attendance is required for all new directors from Designated Main Streets including the NMSC 101 on the Sunday before the conference.</i> We appreciate all that attend and there is always great participation from our
board members and volunteers! Registration is now open and the early bird rates end on February 5<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Main Street Awards and Banquet (Oklahoma City)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the night where we recognize the people, businesses, events and initiatives that make our local Main Streets great!!. All Oklahoma Main Streets are innovative and imaginative, and this is the perfect event to learn what other programs
are doing. All <i>Designated </i>communities are encouraged to submit entries for the competitive awards (open now) and
<i>Associate</i> programs can nominate a board member of the year. It’s a time to celebrate!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Board Member Retreat (Stockyards City, OKC)<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a new event geared towards <i>board member engagement and awareness</i>. We will hear from national and local speakers, have roundtable discussions and more. This is a great way for board members to get together, connect and learn
from each other.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have a wonderful holiday and a happy new year,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Buffy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Buffy Hughes | State Main Street Director</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Oklahoma Main Street Center | Oklahoma Department of Commerce<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:Buffy.Hughes@okcommerce.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Buffy.Hughes@okcommerce.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">c. 405-664-1260</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://okcommerce.gov/" title="https://okcommerce.gov"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#004D9A;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">okcommerce.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#004D9A;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="176" height="56" style="width:1.8333in;height:.5833in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D91615.C293A300" alt="signature_168929643"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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