The Maine Township board and staff attended the three-day, annual Educational Conference sponsored by the Township Officials of Illinois in Springfield. The conference, held Nov. 11 to Nov. 13, brought township officials from across the state together to attend educational sessions covering the latest topics in township government, according to a Maine Township news release about the event. Additionally, several local entities were presented with awards: MaineStay family therapist Summer Zumbrock won the 2024 Association of Illinois Township Committees on Youth Staff Award; MaineStay volunteer Vrisha Kotak won the 2024 AITCOY Youth Leadership Award; and MaineStreamer Annual Mystery Trip won the Illinois Township Senior Services Association award for Innovative Senior Program of the Year. “We are so proud of the exceptional staff we have the pleasure of working with at Maine Township,” township Administrator Dayna Berman stated in the release. “Our staff and volunteers go above and beyond every day and these awards are a testament to their ongoing dedication,” Berman further expressed. The release explains that the 117-year-old Township Officials of Illinois is comprised of nearly 11,000 officials from 1,426 townships throughout the 85 counties in the state. “TOl’s ongoing mission is to improve township services and streamline the oldest form of local government in North America by offering support and continuing education for officials from across the state. The many relevant sessions offered at the 2024 Conference help township officials carry out their statutory responsibilities and keep up with changes in government,” according to the release.