Advocacy Committee Update

Pat McGinnis | Advocacy Committee Chair 

In January of 2023, the Advocacy Committee received the following direction from the MME Board of Directors:

  1. Connect with peer/partner organizations
  2. Develop materials to support our outreach/education efforts
  3. Connect with the Michigan Municipal League’s Elected Officials Academy (EOA)
  4. Expand social media footprint

21 meetings later (I counted), the Committee is batting .800.

  1. We are actively participating in the Michigan Association of Counties, Michigan Township Association, and Michigan Municipal League’s in-person events in 2025 (with some cool swag to remember us by).
  2. Here we have two wonderful slide decks for members to use to advocate for the Council-Manager form, a one-page infographic as well as a swell press release template to spread the good word.
  3. We have presented at the last two EOA training sessions and now one of our own Committee members is on the EOA Board (way to go Katie!)
  4. Expand social media footprint—slightly lacking here.

I appeal to you to help us with #4. Get on Facebook, LinkedIn, Insta, or wherever you dredge your social and help us post happy, fun details about the wonders of professionally managed local government in Michigan. Our presence on social media must be organically driven by the membership; it cannot be done by consultants, staff, or a committee.

Thank you to a wonderful, hardworking committee and I look forward to building on our efforts in 2025.

 

Pat McGinnis
Chair, Advocacy Committee
City Manager, Portage

Pat McGinnis has been active in the MCMA/MLGMA/MME since 1987 when he first worked in a manager’s office in the City of Farmington Hills. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from Michigan State University and has served as city manager in the Michigan municipalities of West Branch, Grand Haven, and Portage. He served a term on the MLGMA Board of Trustees and received the Excellence Award in 2012 and an Innovation Award in 2020. He and his wife Tina live in Portage, Michigan, with their bunny, cat, and puppy. He can be reached at mcginnip@portagemi.gov.