Use Your Voice to Advocate for Your Community

Advocacy is an important part of elected leadership. By sharing your community’s perspective with state and federal policymakers, you can help shape decisions that affect municipalities across Michigan.

EOA Advocacy credits recognize the ways you stay engaged on legislative issues, build relationships with policymakers, and speak up on behalf of your community and local government.

Ways to Earn Advocacy Credits

You can earn Advocacy credits through the following activities:

• Complete the Lobbying for Local Leaders on-demand course – 1 credit
• Participate in a lobbying session at Capital Conference – 1 credit per session
  You must sign in to receive credit.
• Participate in the Legislative Breakfast at Capital Conference and meet with a legislator or staff member – 1 credit
• Pass a resolution on an issue important to the League – 1 credit
• Contact a state or federal elected official directly about a League issue – 1 credit
  Qualifying contact includes a phone call, letter, or direct email. CapWiz/action alert responses are counted separately.
• Participate in a legislative work group – 1 credit
• Respond to a League action alert or CapWiz campaign – 1 credit
• Write and sign a letter to the editor or op-ed on an issue important to the League – 2 credits
• Provide in-person testimony before the state or federal Legislature at the invitation of the League’s State and Federal Affairs team – 3 credits
• Invite and host a legislator at a council or board meeting – 2 credits
  All participating members of the council or board will receive credit.
• Meet with a state or federal elected official about a League or community issue – 2 credits
  This includes meetings held during a legislator’s office hours.
• Serve on a League issue committee for a two-year term – up to 4 credits total:
  • Attend the committee kick-off event – 1 credit
  • Complete the first year with attendance at a majority of meetings – 1 credit
  • Complete the full term with attendance at a majority of meetings – 2 credits

Make Sure Your Advocacy Counts

Some League-sponsored advocacy activities are recorded automatically. For advocacy you complete independently, submit the activity through your League account so it can be reviewed and added to your EOA record.

When submitting advocacy activities through the League portal, be as thorough as possible. Include who you met with or contacted, the issue or topic discussed, when the activity took place, and any supporting documentation—such as correspondence, meeting details, or a photo—that helps verify your participation.