TCMA believes cities and towns in Tennessee operate best in a system where qualified, trained professional managers work together with local elected officials to accomplish community goal and objectives. TCMA provides professional development opportunities for its members through educational conferences and the timely transfer of knowledge, information, data and the best municipal government practices to its members.
The Association sponsors two educational conferences for members annually. The conferences are held over a three-day period, one in the spring (typically held in Middle Tennessee in April) and one in the fall (typically held in East Tennessee in September or October) at locations selected by the Board of Directors. A variety of classroom and field sessions are provided that are focused on the management and technical issues needs of Tennessee city managers. Nationally recognized trainers and speakers are featured on the program along with regional leaders and academicians in local government management. A representative of ICMA regularly attends the conferences. The conference environment is relaxed and thoughtful scheduling of programs allows members to engage with each other away from regular business activity. This allows city managers to exchange ideas, share concerns, and receive feedback on local government issues from their peers across the State.
Recent TCMA conferences have included a wide-range of topics such as leadership, performance management, federal and state regulatory matters, press relations, legislative updates, financial reporting and disclosure, economic development, telecommunications issues, maintaining effective working relationships with Boards and staff, ethics, negotiation skills, identity theft, and personnel management.
TCMA sponsors a reception for members that attend to ICMA Annual Conference, thereby allowing the members to reconnect and network within the context of a larger conference having 3,000+ attendees.
All TCMA meetings, conferences, and training programs are open to nonmembers (upon payment of registration fees). However, vendors other than official TCMA Sponsors are not permitted to attend.
The TCMA provides a bridge between practitioners and academicians in public administration. Professors of public administration and student members of TCMA from Tennessee universities that are interested in a career in local government are encouraged to attend conference at no cost and network with full and associate members in attendance.
TCMA members are encouraged to speak and serve as panel members at educational and training meetings sponsored by professional associations and civic groups in their community.
All members of the TCMA agree to adhere to the ICMA Code of Ethics as a condition of membership in TCMA.
The ICMA Code of Ethics establishes broad principles for the personal and professional conduct of members. Ethical standards go over and beyond what is legally required of members in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. It is periodically reviewed and updated by ICMA to ensure that the tenets of the Code reflect the profession's collective best judgment about appropriate behavior and conduct by local government managers.
ICMA Code of Ethics & Guidelines
