Our 50th Anniversary: Celebrating Legacies of Service

Last week’s Annual Meeting of our General Assembly was the culmination of SEMCOG’s 50^th Anniversary celebration events! You may recall that we kicked off our anniversary year at the Detroit Historical Museum with an exhibit showcasing the region, our history, as well as many of the well-known champions and heroes who have contributed to SEMCOG’s success.

SEMCOG lights up the big screen at Little Caesars Arena

At last week’s event, attendees experienced the region’s newest sports and entertainment venue – Little Caesars Arena. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan gave a memorable keynote address.

Mayor Duggan recalls some memorable SEMCOG history

Over the course of this year, a humbling range of tributes have been provided by Senators Peters and Stabenow as well as a number of SEMCOG members.

As is our tradition, our post-meeting reception honored past Chairpersons. This year, we also honored past Executive Directors. We are fortunate to be in the midst of a series of exciting developments throughout the region, and our current success is built upon the strong foundation of these past leaders. It was great to see a number of them in attendance.

Several of SEMCOG’s Past Chairpersons, from right to left: Robert Clark, Anita Ashford, Kathy Vosburg, Michael Sedlak, John Scott, R. LaMar Frederick

Throughout these 50^th Anniversary celebration events, I’ve had a number of conversations with former leaders who fondly remember their participation in SEMCOG. I have also had the privilege to speak with the children of many past leaders. They each shared how important SEMCOG was to their parents and how proud they were to see their efforts remembered. This clearly illustrates why we are celebrating. Leaders working together to tackle important issues makes a positive difference. The impact is felt throughout the region, and it lasts for generations.