The Goal
To encourage and recognize the efforts of local elected officials to achieve an outstanding level of education and leadership beyond that obtained in Level Two, and their continuing dedication to excellence in community governance.
Prerequisites
An individual must have previously received both the EOA Level One: Education Award and Level Two: Leadership Award. Upon completion of the required credits in each program area for the first two awards, all new credits earned in that program area go toward the Governance Award. Some credits may be counted toward the Governance Award before requirements for the Leadership Award are completed. Credits claimed for the Education and Leadership Awards may not be claimed toward the Governance Award.
Requirements
To receive the Governance Award, elected officials must accumulate an additional 45 credits beyond Levels One and Two, in the program components as follows:
| Elective Courses | Conference Attendance | Advocacy | Leadership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credits 24 | Credits 8 | Credits 3 | Credits 10 |
Elective Courses – 24 Credits
Elective courses, seminars, webinars, and other educational programs continue to play a significant role at Level Three of the Academy.
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).
League and Non-League webinars – 1 credit
Live with the League – ½ credit each, max of 2 credits/level
Non-League class, full-day – 3 credits
Non-League class, half-day – 1 credit
Non-League conferences, multi-day – 3 credits.
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 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 – 8 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 – 10 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, Assistant Director, Member Experience & Learning, at [email protected] 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 Governance Award – Recognition
Officials who complete the EOA Level Three: Governance Award will be honored at the League’s annual Capital Conference with a pin and a plaque recognizing the accomplishment, presented by the League’s Chief Executive Officer.
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.