Welcome to the Ramsey County League of Local Governments!

To foster cooperation and collaboration among Ramsey County units of government to ensure ALL communities thrive.

Upcoming Programs/Events

Annual Dinner & Program

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Shoreview Community Center

Enjoy a delicious dinner followed by a presentation from Shannon Watson on “What’s Next? How to Lead Communities Forward After a Divisive Election Season.” Shannon is the Founder and Executive Director of Majority in the Middle. Save the date for the evening of Thursday, December 12th.

Shannon Watson Presentation

Founder and Executive Director, Majority in the Middle

What’s Next? How to Lead Communities Forward After a Divisive Election Season

No matter the outcome of the 2024 elections, some citizens will be happy and some citizens will not. There will be distrust, and hurt feelings, and the division we’ve been grappling with probably won’t subside anytime soon. While this is a challenge, it’s also an opportunity for nonpartisan elected officials. Join us to discuss why we’re divided, and what local government leaders can do to help heal their communities.

About Shannon

Shannon Watson is the Founder and Executive Director of Majority in the Middle. She has worked in policy, public affairs and executive communication roles for Casper Corcoran, Medical Alley Association, St. Paul Area Chamber, U.S. Bank, the Minnesota Senate, and the National Conference of State Legislatures. She has 20+ years of experience in electoral politics, advising candidates and working on campaigns on both sides of the aisle in Kansas, Colorado, and Minnesota.

Shannon is a frequent op-ed writer and public speaker, presenting on topics like overcoming political division in the workplace, and how to create advocacy plans with a bipartisan lens. Her presentation, “Why we’re divided and what you can do about it” became a TEDx Talk in 2024.

Shannon was a member of the MYALP cohort in 2022, and a Humphrey Policy Fellow 2020-21. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English, Theatre, and Psychology from Wichita State University and a master’s degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She lives in Minneapolis.

AGENDA 

5:00 – 5:45 PM | Social 

5:45 – 6:15 PM | Dinner Served

6:15 – 6:45 PM | RCLLG Presentation

6:45 – 7:00 PM | Break/Social

7:00 – 7:45 PM | Presentation: Shannon Watson

7:45 – 8:00 | Q&A & End

Thank You, Sponsors!

 

Program Sponsor

Table Sponsors

Member Socials

Fun is in store for RCLLG members! We’re excited to announce a variety of networking opportunities in 2024. Register and/or save the dates for these member socials:

Thanks for joining us on –

  • May 2 (4:30 – 6:00 PM) – Bigwood Brewery | Vadnais Heights
  • July 24 (5:00 – 6:00 PM) – Axe Throwing | Smash Park, Roseville
  • August 9 (5:00 – 6:30 PM) – Picnic & Olympic-Style Games | Shoreview Community Center

See you at our next social!

  • December 12 (5:00 – 8:00 PM) – Annual Dinner | Shoreview

From Trash to Treasure: 

Behind-the-Scenes  at the R&E Center

Friday, January 10 | 8:00-9:30 AM

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Center

Ever wonder where your waste goes after it leaves the curb? At the Ramsey and Washington County Recycling & Energy (R&E), trash doesn’t just disappear—it gets a second chance at life! From transforming food scraps into future fuel to recycling hidden treasures, this facility turns yesterday’s waste into today’s energy.

Join us for an exciting behind-the-scenes tour! You’ll walk through the brand-new food scrap bag building, see recyclables reborn on the recovery line, and peek into the control room where all the magic (and management) happens. It’s a waste opportunity you won’t want to miss!

RCLLG monthly learning programs are free and open to any elected official or employee of RCLLG member cities, school districts and other local units of government, as well as associate member organizations. Whether you are a policymaker, an administrator, a technologist or just AI curious, this series will give you the knowledge and tools you need to make informed decisions and drive positive outcomes for your organization and community.

Become an Associate or Individual Member!

By becoming a member you are supporting RCLLG’s mission to foster cooperation among Ramsey County units of government thereby increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of public service delivery.

  • Membership Benefits include:
      • Free attendance to monthly member programs and events (with the exception of the annual program and meeting which may have a charge to help offset expenses)
      • Receipt of monthly newsletters, announcements, and other information
      • Access to resources and information on the RCLLG website and the opportunity to participate in the collective action work that benefits and strengthens all communities in Ramsey County.
      • Inclusion of your organization in the 2024 RCLLG Directory – a handy resource guide with updated contact information for all member organizations, as well as the state and federal elected officials serving Ramsey County.

RCLLG Past Events

Check out our past newsletters & programs!

Climate Action Planning Workshop

On September 4th, climate planners in Ramsey County convened for a work session to adapt Ramsey County’s Climate Equity Action Plan to their own jurisdiction’s climate goals. Elected officials were invited for a portion of the workshop to discuss their jurisdiction’s newly-made climate goals with the planners and to hear the report-out. We had a great turnout. Thank you, Shoreview, for hosting, and for everyone who attended.

RCLLG Member Socials

Thank you for joining us for socials in 2024! We appreciate members coming together for good times and great company; a wonderful way to strengthen the work we do and connections we make in Ramsey County!

2023 Annual Dinner & Program

Thurday, December 7, 2023

Cedarholm Community Building, Roseville MN

Thank you to those who joined us for our Annual Dinner & Program on December 7th at the Cedarholm Community Building in Roseville. It was a gorgeous evening full of conversation and learning.

President Scott Arcand conducted a presentation of RCLLG’s Year-In-Review and the 2024 strategic plan. We welcomed our 2024 Executive Board, including Marylee Abrams, President; Teresa Miller, Vice President; John Doan, Secretary/Treasurer, and Scott Arcand, Past President.

Our featured speaker was Melinda Coleman, City Manager for the City of Maplewood and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. Melinda discussed the benefits of “Strengths” and what it brings to their teams at the City of Maplewood. As a part of orientation, each employee at the City of Maplewood takes the Gallup “Strength” assessment to learn their top 5 of 34 Strengths. Learn more about Strengths and the benefits this has reaped for the City below.

Melinda Coleman: Maplewood’s Strengths-Based Culture

About Strengths

  • Strengths are used all over the world. There are 34 themes. When you take the assessment, you learn your top five themes.
  • Each Strength falls into a domain. The 4 domains are Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking.
  • Themes are not labels. They’re not about rules or processes; it’s about how you can be your best self.
  • You are 1 in 33 million. This is the chance someone else has your same strengths in the exact same order as you.
  • There is no such thing as a well-rounded person, as the strength truly lies in teams. Introducing strengths is a great way to energize your team.

Incorporating Strengths in Maplewood

  • People ask Melinda how she has time to incorporate Strengths into a team of almost 200, and she responded that it’s too beneficial to not consider. It has had too much of a profound impact on City of Maplewood.
  • Strategies for engagement include: Checking in on employees, including a 10-question annual questionnaire in which employees can discuss how they feel supported. Maplewood also hosts lunch-and-learns, book clubs, etc. to discuss Strengths and bridge understanding.
  • Maplewood top 5 strengths are: Responsibility, Achiever, Relator, Learner, Consistency.
  • When new employees tell Melinda why they chose to work there, they discuss the morale, family-friendliness, and the engaged environment.

Putting it into Practice

RCLLG members had the opportunity to mimic a Strengths training exercise. We reflected on our own personal experiences: times when we felt when we were at our best, our proudest moments, and what we enjoy most. When we know the answers to these questions, the teams we are a part of will be strengthened. Engaged employees make a good organization great.

Thank You, Sponsors!

Northeast Youth & Family Services

Congratulations, 2024 Executive Committee!

Marylee Abrams

Marylee Abrams

President

Mayor, City of Maplewood

 

Teresa Miller

Teresa Miller

Vice President

City Council Member, City of Little Canada

John Doan

John Doan

Treasurer

City Council Member, City of Shoreview

Scott Arcand

Scott Arcand

Past President

School Board Member, White Bear Lake Area Schools

 

ABOUT RCLLG & FUSION LEARNING PARTNERS

Fusion Learning Partners, a local nonprofit organization with a 40+ year history of providing services for government agencies and intra-governmental initiatives, provides the following administrative services for RCLLG:

  • Strategic planning and organizational development consultation
  • Fiscal management Meeting, program and event coordination
  • Marketing and communications support
  • Membership and event registration