Reno, the biggest little city

My visit to Reno, Nevada for the National League of Cities Congress of Cities Conference was a little bittersweet as it was my last official duty as President of the National League of Cities. I can honestly say that my tenure as President was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. Going to Reno was exciting and I knew that they would do a great job in hosting our event. Mayor Bob Cashell was a great host and his enthusiasm was infectious. Everyone seemed to have a great time. The sessions were great and the closing event was one of the nicest I have ever attended. My room was great and my family really enjoyed "living" in the Presidential Suite. It was on the 38th floor and had a great view of Reno.

One of the nicest parts of the Reno trip was having my family with me. We got to spend a lot of time together and really had a great time. We even had a stretch limo to the airport.

The following is an article that I wrote for Nation's City Weekly:

A Truly Great Year — My Tenure as NLC President
by James C. Hunt“Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it — but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor.”This quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes best sums up my year as President of the National League of Cities. After my travels throughout our great country and my visits with thousands of fellow city officials, I must tell you that I am so proud of the work that has taken place this year. We have fought many valiant battles and achieved many significant successes, but it is the direction in which the National League of Cities is moving that I am most proud. Cities face some of the most formidable obstacles in the history of our country and yet we move forward on behalf of our citizens with an attitude of teamwork.The renewal of the Voting Rights Act was an achievement that signaled a renewed commitment to building a country that can proudly state, “We the People.” I stood on the lawn of the White House with Mayor James Perkins Jr., of Selma, Ala., and we reflected how the mantle had passed and there is a new generation to continue the struggle of human rights. We also made significant progress with the increase in funding for the Community Development Block Grant program. Our success in lobbying our federal partners was proof of the value of a strong national organization. We joined with others in a broad coalition to reverse a seven year decline in funding and provide needed community development funds to our cities. The voice of cities was heard loud and clear from the smallest village to Washington, D.C. This effort has to be sustained if we are to have success in the future.I made a personal commitment to represent the National League of Cities in an honorable manner and to dedicate my time towards achieving our shared vision of Building a Nation of Inclusive Communities. My travels took me through more than 40 airports and I was literally “above the earth” for more than two weeks. I was received by thousands of city officials with open arms and unbelievable hospitality. My interactions with our members will be the memories that I will take with me from this year. A quiet dinner in Portland, Maine, a country concert in Hot Springs, Ark., a ballgame in Denver and hundreds of other special memories. The National League of Cities is a community of special people, who love their communities and work hard to make them better.The growth of the Inclusive Communities Program has been heart warming to me. We started with a blank sheet of paper and a vision. Through the work of countless individuals, this effort has built a foundation that will far outlive my year as President. Millions of citizens have already been touched by our program and it continues to build and develop. It has not always been easy, but I am proud of the fact that the National League of Cities took a stand. I spent hours on the phone with local reporters from cities considering joining the effort. It was sometimes controversial, but we stood our ground and made the “Power of We” a true power. We did this together. And finally, one of my last trips as President of the National League of Cities was to Marrakech, Morocco, to attend the United Cities and Local Governments meeting. I was heartened to learn that the inclusive communities movement is one that is being embraced throughout the world. We each have a role and I am proud that the National League of Cities is joining this effort to break down walls and barriers and create a world of peace and opportunity for all. We must not be an isolationist and think that we can live above the fray. As the Dali Lama said, “Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.”On a personal note, my year as President of the National League of Cities has been one that required a tremendous sacrifice from my family and my city. My grass did not always get cut and the suitcase was rarely put away in the attic. I did learn to manage my time better and I found that sleep is a highly overrated activity. My brother continues to bravely battle his illness and he remains my inspiration. My wife and children were a great support and made the year one that I will never forget. It has been my humble honor to serve as President of our great organization and I am forever indebted to our staff and members.