User:Bcwallace/Georgia Municipal Association

Created in 1933, the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) is the only state organization that represents municipal governments in Georgia. Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and technical consulting services to its members. GMA's membership currently totals more than 500 municipal governments, accounting for more than 99% of the state's municipal population. A Board of Directors, composed of city officials, governs GMA. Program implementation is charged to the Executive Director and staff of over 80 full-time employees.

Legislative Advocacy
GMA advocates for the interest of Georgia's cities before the Georgia General Assembly, state agencies and with members of the Georgia congressional delegation.

Training
GMA's Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute is a series of training programs for mayors and council members to enhance their knowledge and skills. Participation in the Institute is voluntary.

Participation in the Newly Elected Officials Institute is required by state law for newly elected city officials and consists of 18 hours of training offered over three days. This program, advocated for by GMA, was the first training program in the nation for city officials to be mandated by law.

Services
GMA offers a number of services to Georgia cities and other local government entities. Services include cable and telecommunications management consulting, low-interest financing for facilities and essential equipment, aggregated purchasing, debt collection and online surplus property auctions. The association also offers retirement plans, life and health insurance, workers' compensation coverage, property and liability coverage, and defined contribution and deferred compensation plans.

Cities of Ethics
GMA, through its Cities of Ethics program, certifies and recognizes cities that have adopted principles and procedures that offer guidance on ethical issues, along with a mechanism to resolve complaints at the local level. There are currently over 200 cities in Georgia that are certified as a Cities of Ethics.

GMA also offers a Organization of Ethics designation for entities such as downtown development authorities and regional commissions.

Conferences
GMA conducts two major conference each year, the Mayors' Day Conference each winter in Atlanta while the Georgia General Assemnbly is in session, and its Annual Convention held each June in Savannah. The theme for the 2009 Annual Convention was Energy to Transform.

Georgia Cities Foundation
Established in 1999, the Georgia Cities Foundation is a non-profit subsidiary of GMA. The foundation assists cities in their efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by serving as a partner and facilitator in funding capital projects through a revolving loan fund.

Each April the foundation conducts the Heart & Soul Bus Tour. The tour is part of an overall effort to educate and inform state leaders on the importance of successful downtown development and its role in supporting economic development efforts for regions and communities. Each year business leaders, state legislators, philanthropists and other persons of interest are invited to join the tour.

Also, in the fall of each year the foundation conducts a Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Tour which unites city officials interested in downtown revitalization with city officials in towns that have experienced successes in their downtowns.

Georgia Cities Week
Each April, GMA sponsors Georgia Cities Week. During the week, participating cities share with their citizens information abuot the services their city provides to residents. Activities include everything from clean ups to coloring contests to festivals to open houses.

"If I Were Mayor, I Would" Essay Contest
Each Spring GMA conducts its "If I Were Mayor, I Would" Essay Contest for sixth graders. The contest gives students a chance to creatively use grade-specific language arts skills and civics/social studies knowledge. One winning essay is selected from each of GMA's 12 districts. Winners receive a $250 savings bond and other prizes.

GLGA Marketplace
The Georgia Local Government Access Marketplace is a joint web site of GMA and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. It lists Georgia local government job opportunities as as well as requests for proposals, items for sale and items wanted.

Past Presidents
* served partial terms