Elected Officials Academy

Level Two: Leadership Award

The Goal

To encourage and recognize the efforts of local elected officials to build on the core knowledge obtained in Level One, to enhance their leadership skills and to continue their dedication to excellence in community leadership.

Prerequisites

An official must have completed the EOA Level One: Education Award. Upon completion of the required credits in each program area for the Education Award, all new credits earned in that program area may count toward the Leadership Award. Some credits may be counted toward the Governance Award before the requirements for the Leadership Award are completed. Credits claimed for one level of award may not be counted toward any other level of award.

Requirements

To receive the Leadership Award, elected officials must accumulate an additional 30 credits beyond their Level One credits, in the program components as follows:

Elective Courses Credits 16	Conference Attendance Credits 5	Advocacy Credits 5	Leadership Credits 6

Elective Courses - 16 Credits

Officials enrolled in Level Two: Leadership Award may attend as many elective courses, seminars, webinars, and other educational programs as they would like.

Courses offered by non-League private or public entities qualify for EOA credit if they relate to your job as a local official (agenda and proof of attendance must be submitted).

Non-League class, full-day - 3 credits
Non-League class, half-day - 1 credit
Non-League conferences, multi-day - 3 credits.

League and Non-League webinars - 1 credit

All regularly scheduled League programs qualify for EOA Elective Course credit. A list of upcoming programs can be found here. Available League courses are likely to vary in response to the changing needs of local governments. Programs are typically offered in three- to six-hour sessions, primarily during the work week, in different locations throughout the state. The number of credits a League program earns is usually equal to its duration in hours. For example, a 3-hour course will typically earn 3 elective credits.

Advanced Weekenders
Participating in Advanced Weekenders is a great way to earn Elective credits for EOA Level Two (and Three). These weekend-length seminars are offered by the League twice a year (February and May) to provide you with opportunities to deepen your knowledge of municipal issues after having completed the Core Weekender. The Advanced Weekenders are presented on a rotating schedule of topics, so you can attend multiple times to learn about a variety of subjects including leadership development and municipal finance & budgeting. Each Advanced Weekender earns 9 EOA Elective credits.

Conference Attendance - 5 Credits

Credits will be given for attendance at any of the following League or National League of Cities (NLC) events:

League Annual Convention - 2 credits/day (max. 4 credits)
League Capital Conference - 2 credits
NLC City Summit - 2 credits
NLC Congressional City Conference - 2 credits

Advocacy - 3 Credits

Advocacy credits can be obtained by participating in the following legislative activities:

Advocacy Webinar - 1 credit/hour
Lobbying sessions at Capital Conference (must sign-in to receive credit) - 1 credit/session
Legislative Breakfast at Capital Conference-if met with Rep or Staff - 1 credit
Passing a resolution (on an issue important to the League) - 1 credit
Contacting a state/federal elected official on a League issue - 1 credit (Direct call, letter, email; not Cap Wiz)
Participating in a legislative work group- 1 credit
Responding to a Cap Wiz form letter/action alert - 1 credit
Writing and signing a letter to the editor/Op-ed on an issue important to the League - 2 credits
In-person testimony before the state/federal Legislature (requires invitation from the League's SFAD team) - 3 credits
Invite and host your legislator at a council meeting - 2 credits *
Meeting with a state/federal elected official on a League or community issue (this includes Legislator’s office hours) - 2 credits **
Service on a League issue committee (2-year term) - 4 credits total
- Attending Kick-Off event - 1 credit
- At the end of the first year (must have attended majority of the meetings) - 1 credit
- At the end of the term (must have attended majority of the meetings) - 2 credits

Additional credits may be awarded by the EOA board.
* The entire council will receive credit for this.
** When meeting with legislators, please send us a photo and topic discussed.

Leadership Roles - 6 Credits>

Earn Leadership credits by serving in the following League or NLC roles. Service includes attendance at a majority of the scheduled meetings.

If you have a question about a leadership role you do not see on the list, please email Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, at emilyk@mml.org or phone her at 517-908-0302, and she will let you know if it qualifies.

Promote the League's message to outside groups with speaking engagements, PowerPoints, social messaging, etc. - 2 credits
Service as a panelist or speaker at a League event - 2 credits
Service as a moderator or volunteer at a League Capital Conference or Convention - 1 credit
Service as a moderator for an EOA Weekender - 2 credits
Service as a League committee member (1-year term) - 1 credit/year
Service as a League Board of Trustees Member/EOA Board Member (3-year term) - 2 credits/year
Service as a League Michigan Municipal Workers' Compensation Fund Board Member (3-year term) - 2 credits/year
Service as a League Michigan Municipal Liability & Property Pool Board Member (3-year term) - 2 credits/year
Service as a League Foundation Board Member (3-year term) - 2 credits/year
Service as a League Affiliate Officer (1-year term) - 1 credit/year
Service as a NLC Committee Member (2-year term) - 2 credits/year
Service as a NLC Board Member (2-year term) - 2 credits/year
Participate in mayors’ exchange - 1 credit
Write an article for The Review/website; blog for website - 2 credits
Sponsor a youth at Capital Conference - 1 credit max
Radio/TV/Podcast Interview (Topic specific interview) - 1 credit
Participation on a committee outside the League, functioning as the chairperson only - 1 credit/year
Precinct delegate - 1 credit
Participating on a County or Regional board - 1 credit/year

Note: Participation with service organizations such as United Way, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, American Legion, VFW, Elks Club, community foundations, and historical societies, only earns EOA Leadership credits if you served as chair.

The Leadership Award - Recognition

Officials who complete the EOA Level Two: Leadership Award will be honored with a pin and a plaque recognizing the accomplishment, presented at the League's annual Capital Conference.

A special award will be presented at the Capital Conference for any council or commission in which all current members have completed one or more levels of the Academy. Your community is responsible for notifying the League if this achievement is reached.