League (Nat'l) appt Ann Michalski
To strengthen
and promote
cities as centers
of opportunity,
leadership, and
governance.
~~.~
National League
of Cities
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W
Washington, DC 20004-1763
202-626-3000
Fax: 202-626-3043
www.nlc.org
2006 Officers
President
JamesC.Hunt
Councilmember
Clarksburg,WestVirginia
First Vice President
BartPalerson
Mayor
Indianapolis, Indiana
Second Vice President
Cynthia McCollum
Council Member
Madison,Alabama
Immediate Past President
Anthony A. Williams
Mayor
Washington,DC
Executive Director
DonaldJ Bmut
Recyi:ledPaper
January 17, 2006
The Honorable Ann Michalski
Council Member at-large
City of Dubuque
1504 Iowa Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Ann:
I am very pleased to appoint you to serve on the 2006 Human Development (HD)
Steering Committee for the National League of Cities. As a member of the HD
Steering Committee, you will work on important policy issues while also actively
advocating on NLC's behalf. Our nation's 18,000 cities and towns will continue to
face challenges, and your leadership is needed to help NLC carry our message
forward. Your appointment is for one year and begins when you return the
acceptance form (included as an attachment to this letter) and concludes at the
adjournment ofthe Congress of Cities in Reno, Nevada, on December 10, 2006.
Each NLC Steering Committee is comprised of approximately 35 local elected
officials from NLC direct member cities. In order to have your membership
finalized, you must fill out and return your acceptance form by Friday,
February 10, 2006. Since the steering committee process is a competitive one, we
have members anxious to fill these positions if you are unable to fulfill your
commitment. Please contact the Julia Pulidindi, Policy Assistant, at
pulidindi{aJ,nlc.org or (202) 626-3176 as soon as possible if you do not wish to serve.
Your participation and leadership on the HD Steering Committee this year is very
important as NLC will actively lobby on the 2006 Legislative Priorities. Please mark
your calendars and plan to attend the Congressional City Conference in Washington,
DC, March 11-15, 2006. This meeting will kick-off your duties as an HD Steering
Committee member.
The HD Policy and Advocacy Committee meeting on Sunday, March 12, 2006,
will be from 1 :30 to 5:00 p.m. Your meetings will focus on important policy issues
as well as highlight issues importatlt to the NLC Advocacy Agenda. I ktlOW that you
will find these meetings informative and useful, and your participation will make
NLC a stronger voice for our nation's cities and towns.
I have included a one page summary of your responsibilities as an NLC steering
committee member. At the Congressional City Conference, in addition to the policy
and advocacy committee meeting, please plan to attend the HD Steering Committee
lunch work session on Monday, March 13, at noon.
PIS! Prtlsidfmfs: ClarenCtl E. Anthony, Mayor. South Bay. Florida 0 John DeStefano, Jr.. Mayor. New Haven, ConnBcticut 0 William H. Hudnut III, Mayor. Town of Chevy Chase. Maryland 0 Sharpe James,
Mayor. Newart NBw Jersey 0 Brian J. D'Neill, Councilman, Philadalphia, Pennsylvania - Directors: R. Michael Amyx, Executive Director, Virginia Municipal Laague _ TommV Baker, Alderman, Osceola. Arkansas
o Vicki Barnett, Mayor, farmington Hills. Michigan -Thomas Bredeweg, Executive Director, Iowa League oj Cities 0 Nore Campos, Councilmember, San Jose, California _ Thomas Carlson, Mayor, Springfield,
Missouri oJalltlls Condos, Council Chair. South Burlington, Vermont -Joseph Donaldson, Mayor, Flagstaff, Arizona 0 Ted Ellis, Mayor, Bluff ton, Indiana _ Makia Epie, Council Member, Cedar Hill, Texas _ Margaret
Finlay, Mayor. Duarte, California - Eddy Ford, Mayor, Farragul. Tennessee - Danny George, Executive Director, Oklahoma Municipal League, Inc, _ Gary Graham, Mayor, O'Fallon, Illinois 0 Matthew Greller,
bacutive Director, Indiana Association ot CitiEs and Towns - Jim Higdon, Executive Director, Georgia Municipal Association 0 Charles Hughes, Council Presidant. Gary. Indiana 0 Steven Jeffrey, Executive Director,
Vermont League of Cities and Towns 0 Martin Jones, Council Member, Conyers. Georgia 0 Ronald Loveridga, Mayor. Riverside. California. Cynthia Mangini, Councilman-At.Large. Enfield, Connecticut 0 Marcia
Marcoux.. Councilmember, Rochester, Minnesota 0 Michael McGlynn, Mayor, Medford, Massachusetts 0 James Mitchell, Jr., Council Mamber, Charlotte, North Carolina 0 Darryl Moss, Mayor, Creedmoor, North
Carolina - Ed Oaklev, Councilmamber, Dallas. Texas 0 James Perkins, Jr., Mayor. Selma, Alabama 0 Richard Radcliffe, Councilman, Grsenacres, Florida 0 Dottie Reeder, Mayor. Seminole, Florida 0 Julie Aberg
Robison, Council Member At.Large. Cary, North Carolina - Ron Schmitt, Council Member. Sparks, Nevada - Shirley Scott, Council Member, Tucson, Arizona 0 Anna Sinclair, Council Member. Columbia, South
Carolina 0 WeltarSkowron, Council Memb€r. Loveland,ColoradooC onnia Sprynczynatyk,Executive Director, North Dakota League of Cities -Ken Strobeck, Executive OireClOr, leagua of Arizona Cities and
Towns. Charleta Tevares, Council Member, Cofumbus, Ohio - Lynna Whalen, Council Woman. Casper. Wyoming 0 Jecques Wigginton, Council Member, Lexington, Kentucky _ Evelyn Woodson, Countilor.
Columbus, Georgia
January 17, 2006
Page 2
You will be receiving information to prepare you for your policy and advocacy
events in advance of the conference. If you have any questions about your
appointment, the policy process, or the 2006 NLC Legislative Priorities, please do
not hesitate to contact your policy analyst, Pam Konde, at (202) 626-3068 or
konde@nlc.org.
Congratulations on your appointment, and I look forward to working with you in
2006.
Very truly yours,
rt~
James C. Hunt
President
Councilmember, Clarksburg, West Virginia
Enclosures
YOUR STEERING COMMITTEE ApPOINTMENT
What it means to be a member of an NLC steering committee...
Congratulations on your appointment to an NLC steering committee. By assuming
this important responsibility, you will help shape NLC policy positions on federal
issues affecting cities, become an expert on the frontline of NLC's advocacy efforts,
and take part in a unique networking opportunity which will bring new ideas and
perspectives to you and your city. This appointment ;s both an honor for your
demonstrated record and a responsibility involving a commitment of time and effort.
Summary of Duties
· Develop policy that serves as the basis for HLC 's advocacy efforts.
· Attend and participate in four meetings: the Congressional City Conference in March;
spring and fall steering committee meetings; and the annual Congress of Cities.
. Participate in HLC's grassroots advocacy efforts as important issues arise.
NATIONAL MUNICIPAL POLICY
The National Municipal Policy (NMP) is NLC's comprehensive statement of goals, principles,
policies and objectives on national issues of concern to cities. The NMP serves as the basis for
NLC's federal advocacy efforts, and is amended once each year through the annual policy
process. Policy amendments should not endorse or oppose specific Congressional bills, current
Administration positions, or the technical aspects of federal regulations. To address particularly
timely issues, NLC resolutions are passed which remain in effect for one year.
THE POLICY PROCESS
Policy and resolutions are developed through an annual, deliberative process guided by the
seven policy and advocacy committees and their respective steering committees, which serve as
subsets of the full committees.
Y PRIORITY-SETTING - At the Congressional City Conference each March, the policy
and advocacy committees identify priority issues and set the agendas for the
steering committees.
y STEERING COMMITTEE WORK - The steering committees subsequently meet in the
spring and fall. At these two meetings, committee members hear guest presenters,
discuss options, and develop specific policy amendments and resolutions.
y APPROVAL - At the end of the year at the Congress of Cities, the full committees
review the steering committee recommendations and approve items for consideration
at the Resolutions Committee Meeting and the Annual Business Meeting. Approved
policy and resolutions become NLC's National Municipal Policy for the next year.
GRASSROOTSADVOCACY
The views of local elected officials can be a critical consideration as Members of Congress
deliberate, and your personal contact often makes the difference. Throughout the year,
committee members are requested to participate in NLC's grassroots advocacy efforts as timely
issues arise related to your committee. This is accomplished by responding to periodic "calls to
action" as well as participating on advocacy "strike teams" in Washington, DC, or in your home
district. .
NLC policy staff guides the process, serves as resources, and is ready to assist you in any way.
For further information, contact the staff person for your committee, or call 202-626-3020.