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For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2009

Contact:
Andrea Messinger
Ph: 517-908-0302

Michigan Municipal League Announces Lathrup Village as a Regional Finalist for the Community Excellence Award

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The Michigan Municipal League (MML) is pleased to announce the city of Lathrup Village has been nominated as a regional finalist for the organization's 2009 Community Excellence Award.

Lathrup Village won the peer-nomination in a spirited competition among several neighboring communities for its Timebank project, designed to nurture, inspire and motivate a network of neighbors to come together to create a caring and sharing community.

By increasing the visibility of entrepreneurial and innovative solutions through this Award, the League strives to educate its members—cities, villages and urban townships—and inspire them to remain focused on their passion for the areas they represent.

Citizen advocate Richard Reeves explained the Lathrup Village Timebank as a "community bartering organization where neighbors earn time performing services for each other. Each person's time is banked and recorded on an easy-to-use online database to be traded for future services by other members.”

Following the presentation, Lathrup Village City Administrator Jeff Mueller said "in the economic times we're dealing with now, I think it's a great thing that people can help people. Lathrup Village is a true community and everyone cares for one another and this program really exemplifies that."

Because of the Timebank project, residents get to know one another and can build an extended family of people who take care of each other.

Lathrup Village and regional finalists from six other MML regions will compete in the final round of competition at the League’s Annual Convention, Sept. 22-25 in Kalamazoo. For photos of the awards presentation, click here.

The Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington DC and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. For more information, visit www.mml.org.

Click here for a recap and video of the Region 1 Education Seminar and CEA winner.