MAM Community Exchange Day*

Sign up to participate in the 2024 Community Exchange

History

The Michigan Association of Mayors and the Michigan Municipal League assist member cities, townships, and villages wishing to take part in the annual Community Exchange program.

How to Participate

Submit the form to the League by February 1 of each year, so that your community may be paired with another applicant.

If you have questions, please contact Margaret Mooney at mmooney@mml.org.

When is Community Exchange?

Community Exchange Day can be whenever it's convenient for you and the community with which you are pairing. Your community may:

• Exchange visits on the same day
• Exchange visits on two different days
• Host a community this year and plan a return visit next year

. . . the details are up to you and your exchange community.

Who Participates?

Besides the mayor, supervisor, or president, communities may vary in terms of who participates in the exchange. Often, there is a visiting delegation which may include every imaginable combination of staff, spouses, other elected officials and community members such as the local chamber. The number of participants is entirely up to you. Make sure to invite your local press for coverage.

Tips for Success:

• Leave plenty of time for informal discussions between officials.
• Talk to other municipalities that have participated in the past to gather ideas about what worked for them. 
  

Possible Activities:

• A driving tour of the community.
• Visits to specific facilities.  They might include city hall, new or innovative city services (a community center, senior center, public housing, waste treatment plant, industrial park, etc.), local industries, historical or scenic sites, a problem discovered, or a problem solved.
• A long lunch, a cocktail reception, a visit to an official's home, dinner in a restaurant, or banquets have all been used to provide time for informal discussions.

* Formerly known as Mayors' Exchange