Membership Categories & Qualifications
MCMA has adopted, by reference, the criteria used by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
Corporate (Voting) Membership: Chief administrative officers (CAOs) are eligible for corporate/voting membership provided they can answer "yes" to the ICMA-adopted criteria listed below. Other senior professional staff (i.e., assistants) who have significant general administrative responsibilities are also eligible for corporate/voting membership provided they have been appointed by and report to a chief administrative officer who meets the criteria listed below.
- APPOINTMENT: I am appointed by an elected representative or representatives and am directly responsible to an elected representative and/or representatives.
- POLICY FORMULATION: I have significant responsibility in the development and analysis of public policy alternatives and in the implementation of policy once adopted. (This means I develop public policy alternatives and recommendations for consideration by elected officials and have access to the council and work with its members.)
- BUDGET: I have major responsibility for the preparation and administration of the operating and capital improvements budget.
- APPOINTING AUTHORITY: I exercise significant influence in the appointment of the key management personnel of the local government and particularly the appointment of the administrative and financial staff. (In other words, I have the authority to appoint or recommend the appointment of department heads and appoint a sufficient share of the management staff to control budget preparation and administration.)
- ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: I am recognized within the local government organization as the principal general management professional and have a continuing direct relationship with the operating department heads on the implementation and administration of the programs. (I also have direct supervision over department heads, and, at a minimum, my overall management responsibility includes the status of first peer among administrative peers.)
- QUALIFICATIONS: I was appointed to the position based on my education and experience and on my qualifications to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position as defined by ICMA's Practices for Effective Local Government Management. (This criterion means that you have been chosen on merit, have significant administrative experience and educational background, and will fulfill the requirement of Tenet 7 of the Code of Ethics to remain politically neutral. It excludes the strictly "political" appointment. However, it doesn't mean that you must have local government experience.)
Full Members are members with three or more years of experience; university graduation may substitute for one year.
Associate Members are members with less than three years of experience.
Both CAOs and Other Staff (i.e., assistants) can be Full or Associate members, based on experience.
Other (Non-Voting) Membership Categories:
- Affiliate Members do not meet the qualifications for corporate membership.
- Honorary Members are designated by MCMA based on distinguished service to the profession.
- Life Members are retired members meeting certain length of service requirements.
- Student Members are pursuing a course of study for a career in local government management.
Download the 2008-2009 MCMA Membership Renewal & Application Form (pdf)
