The Mississippi Municipal League Training Academy:
Community leadership requires education, innovation, and information. Municipal officials must be sensitive, determined, and visionary in order to lead municipalities into the future. The purpose of the MML Training Academy is to provide education and professional development opportunities while promoting excellence in municipal management. The Academy is a direct application of the MML's mission to "provide the leadership necessary to enable Mississippi’s municipal officials to build consensus among themselves” and “ to strengthen the ability of city and town governments to better serve their citizens."
Certified Municipal Official Designation
In 2001 the Certified Municipal Officials’ program was implemented. This program encompasses training for both elected officials and their employees. There are three levels of the CMO program: Basic, Advanced and Professional Development. For a brochure about the CMO program,
click here.
In addition to the CMO program, the League hosts regional trainings, annual education conferences, and other training opportunities for local officials. The League also works hard to inform members about training opportunities available through state agencies and other organizations.
The Annual Conference
The Annual Conference is the League's premier event. The conference brings together over 3,000 mayors, board members, local municipal employees, state agency employees, appointed officials and guests. The Annual Conference allows members and other municipal officials to share experiences and discuss current local, regional, and national trends effecting municipal government in Mississippi. The conference also allows the League membership to elect a new slate of officers. For more information, click here
2008 Annual Conference.
Small Town Conference
Now in its 12th year, this conference, held each fall, gives small cities and towns the opportunity to meet together for a day of presentations focusing on issues that are especially critical for smaller communities. Past topics have included city budget development; grant writing, animal control, state agency updates and others. Most attendees agree that this conference offers invaluable networking opportunities as well. For information regarding the 2008 Small Town Conference, contact Shari Veazey at shari1@mmlonline.com
Annual Scholarship Program
The scholarship competition is open to high school seniors in Mississippi who plan to attend an accredited community college, or university in Mississippi. Each applicant must write an essay entitled “Why I Should Consider a Career in Municipal Government’. A panel, selected by the MML, judges the essays along with the applications.
The General Scholarship is sponsored each year by Mississippi Power Company and the MML. This $2,000 award is open to any high school senior in the state.
The law firm of Phelps Dunbar, along with the MML, sponsors the MML Limited Scholarship. This $2,000 scholarship is open to any child or grandchild of employees or elected officials serving in a Mississippi municipality and to any high school senior working part-time for a member municipality of the Mississippi Municipal League. For information about the 2008 MML Scholarship program, email June Dunlap at june1@mmlonline.com
For a scholarship application please click here.
The winners and their parents are recognized each year at the MML Annual Conference.
The Clarion-Ledger/Mississippi Municipal League’s Mississippi
Municipal Excellence Awards
Each year, The Clarion-Ledger and the MML recognizes the achievements of Mississippi cities in meeting the challenges of municipal government through innovative problem solving, excellence in management and local citizen participation. By recognizing the best practices of these cities, all municipalities in Mississippi have the opportunity to learn from these achievements.
Winners are selected from two population categories: Under 10,000 and over 10,000. Within each population category, applications are judged in the following categories: Public Safety, Planning and Economic Development, and City Spirit.
Click here for the 2008 Application or contact Shari Veazey at
shari1@mmlonline.com.
