March 14, 2014

Registration is limited for first TML Leadership Academy class

Take your leadership skills to the next level at the 2014 TML Leadership Academy - a three-course, six-day program, designed to enhance the leadership skills of officials who serve our Texas cities.  This highly participatory program features an outstanding faculty of university professors, thought leaders, authors, and governing officials who will teach you to critique your own decisions and actions, and develop the competencies needed to excel as a leader in your community.

June 19-20; Course One: Personal Leadership Effectiveness
July 17-18; Course Two: Citizen Engagement and Collaboration
August 21-22; Course Three: Leading into the Future

The prestigious "TML Leadership Fellow" title will be awarded to officials who attend all three courses (more than 30 hours of training). Leadership Fellows will be honored at the closing academy session on August 22, and in Texas Town & City magazine.  

New Parliamentary Procedure Webinar on April 30

Parliamentary procedure can be intimidating to city officials who lack basic knowledge, or don't have experience using it. Yet, it's a valuable tool in meeting management. It can make council meetings run more efficiently, and reduce the potential of actions being declared illegal or challenged for procedural deficiencies.

In this new TML webinar, Parliamentary Procedure: Being Aware of the Key Rules, Mary Kayser, city secretary of Fort Worth, will teach participants how to properly apply these rules of order, avoid common pitfalls to protect the rights of all, shorten meetings, and expedite business.

Wednesday, April 30, 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Register early.

Don't Mess with Texas Art Contest

Don't mess with Texas® and Keep Texas Beautiful invite students in grades K-5 to submit their best litter prevention design to be considered for the 2015 Don't mess with Texas Calendar. Designs will be judged based on creativity/uniqueness, inclusion of a litter prevention message and interpretation of theme, overall visual appeal, composition, and age appropriateness.

Students who create the top 12 winning designs will have their artwork assigned to a month and placed in the 2015 Don't mess with Texas Calendar. All entries must be submitted by April 18, 2014. Winners will be announced on May 1, 2014, and prizes will be distributed by May 22, 2014.

For more information, to view contest rules, and download an entry form, visit http://www.dontmesswithtexas.org/education/art-contest.php.

Now is the time for elected officials to set the goal of achieving certification through the Texas Municipal League Institute (TMLI). TMLI is a voluntary certification program for elected officials in TML member cities, which recognizes and rewards elected officials who commit to improving their policy-making and leadership skills. This recognition, for completing a certain number of continuing education units (CEUs) within a calendar year, begins with a certificate of recognition and increases to Certified Municipal Official. The program is sponsored by the Texas Municipal League and the Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners (AMCC).

CEUs for TMLI certification are offered for the 2014 TML Leadership Academy, Parliamentary Procedure webinar, and other TML-sponsored events.

Find out more about the Certified Municipal Official designation and other certificate levels by visiting the TMLI page on the TML web site at www.tml.org/tmli.

Join the SolutionsNet Community
TML began the SolutionsNet listserv a few years ago to make it easy for you to access our most valuable resource-the experience and expertise of other member city officials. The listserv membership is free to all member cities; all you have to do is complete a short online registration.

Once a member, you have access to archived discussion threads and documents. Most importantly, you can post questions and respond to requests from other city officials. By participating in SolutionsNet, you aren't only solving problems, but you are building a catalog of resources for yourself and others to access.

And participating doesn't mean that you have to accept a flood of emails into your email inbox. The listserv allows you to customize what and how much information you receive.

To become a part of the SolutionsNet community, visit the SolutionsNet page of the TML website.

We Don't Have to Say Goodbye: Texas Association of Former Municipal Officials

Each year, the League loses contact with many veteran elected and appointed officials as they conclude their time in public service to Texas cities. With these departures, the knowledge and experience these former city officials gained over the years are lost to TML. The Texas Association of Former Municipal Officials (TAFMO) provides an opportunity for former municipal officials and TML to stay in touch. Benefits include a subscription to Texas Town & City magazine, special registration rates to the TML Annual Conference and Exhibition, and the opportunity to network with former colleagues.

For additional membership information and to join, visit the TAFMO page on the TML website.