With apologies to the great Paul Simon¹, yes, of Simon and Garfunkel² fame, I’m accepting the challenge from staff to get 90 reasons to love the League in one column and in record time. Seems I’m a tad tardy for our printing deadline so I’m pounding the keyboard at 6 a.m. before heading to the airport for a trip to the Windy City³ for yet again another National League of Cities⁴ meeting. So, in celebration of your League’s 90th birthday here we go. Again, Mr. Simon, apologies for my non-musical effort to the “tune” of your great hit, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”⁵ The Local Controller is already muttering and it sounds like some of the lyrics from his hit: The problem is all inside your head, she said to me….Oh boy, not a great way to start the day!⁶ Here we go, 90 reasons to love your League:

499 cities and towns are members!
That includes 5,000 municipal officials!
As well as thousands more municipal employees!
The League is your voice in Washington, D.C.
And your voice during Arkansas’ legislative sessions.
There are 95 dedicated AML employees! That’s more than 90 reasons!⁷ Of those 95 employees, there are:
Municipal Health Benefit Program staff who process claims, answer questions, assist with issues and provide incredible customer service;
Municipal League Workers’ Compensation Program staff who process claims, answer questions, assist with issues and provide incredible customer service;
Municipal Vehicle Program and Municipal Property Program staff who process claims, answer questions, assist with issues and provide incredible customer service;
Municipal Legal Defense Program staff who represent municipalities in court, provide legal guidance, code and ordinance assistance, and training and education;
A legislative advocacy team that assists in developing legislation, lives at the capitol during each session, and keeps members informed;
A team of law clerks to support MLDP staff, work with members and learn more about municipal law in Arkansas;
A grants team that keeps members informed about grant opportunities, offers training on grant writing and related topics, and provides support to members seeking grant funding;
A training and education team that manages the certification program, develops training courses and related programming, and ensures members are always learning about the latest topics;
IT staff who keep us up to date on the latest technology and trends and keep us cyber safe;
A finance department that pays the bills, manages the budget and program rates, and helps members follow best practices for municipal accounting and finance;
An HR department that keeps the League in compliance with policies and procedures, offers guidance and assistance to staff, and advises municipalities on related personnel matters;
A comms department that maintains websites and social media, produces a quarterly magazine and other publications, creates podcasts and other digital media, and provides support for League programs, events and more;
A security and operations team that keeps League HQ in tip-top shape and ensures the safety and comfort of staff and visitors alike;
A team of consultants and field representatives who conduct onsite visits to municipalities to assist with various issues and needs;
Dozens of support staff who keep the League running smoothly; and
A leadership team that works diligently to guide the organization. Now to the membership!
A robust executive committee led by incredible officers and comprised of city officials from around the state who serve as the true backbone and leadership of the League.
Advisory councils representing cities of the large first class, cities of the first class, cities of the second class and incorporated towns that ensure all voices are heard regardless of population size.
Studious economic and public safety advisory councils!
A wise past presidents council offering steady guidance!
A comprehensive publications library of current research and information, sample resolutions and ordinances, legal guidance and best practices in all areas related to local government! Here’s just a few of the most popular topics and titles:
A Budget Manual for Small Arkansas Cities and Towns;
The Municipal Accounting Handbook;
A Sample Personnel Handbook;
Guidebooks for City Officials;
The Handbook for Arkansas Municipal Officials;
The Directory of Municipal Officials;
Policies and Goals;
State of the League;
The First Amendment and Social Media;
The Fair Labor Standards Act: 21 Things You Need to Know;
The Family Medical Leave Act;
The Arkansas Freedom of Information Handbook;
Youth Council Development Guide; and
Various salary surveys.
Monthly sales tax collection information!
City & Town magazine!
The new City & Town website!
The new AML site!
The Annual Convention!
The Annual Winter Conference!
The Arkansas Civic Education Program, one of the country’s best municipal certification programs!
The ACE Hub!
The Arkansas Civilpedia!
In-person education and training!
Easy-to-access services!
Additional programs and services, such as:
Risk Management/Loss Control Program;
The State Aid Street Program;
The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership;
Legal inquiry;
Ordinance and code assistance;
Planning service;
Cable television franchise management service; and
The Firefighter Supplemental Income Protection Plan.
The vibrant AML Communities for members and staff to easily share information, ask questions and receive feedback from their peers across the state. AML Communities includes:
Mayor/City Manager Community Listserv;
City Attorney Community Listserv;
Clerk/Recorder/Treasurer Community Listserv;
Council Member/City Director Community Listserv;
Grants Community Listserv;
Human Resources Community Listserv;
Planning and Zoning Community Listserv;
Public Safety Community Listserv; and
Technology Community Listserv!
The Local Government Portal!
Yearly resolutions as determined by the membership!
Cyber security training!
Cyber Security Bond Program!
Representation on the NLC Board!
Representation on the NLC-MIC Board!
Representation on the NLC-RISC Board!
Partnerships and close working relationships with Metroplan, the Association of Arkansas Counties, state and federal law enforcement, Rural Water Districts and various state agencies and departments.
A vibrant and timely social media presence!
A state-of-the-art studio where education courses are filmed, live training webinars are broadcast, and podcasts and other digital media are produced.
Assistance with Legislative Audit matters!
Recognition of municipal officials’ service and accomplishments through awards and certificates!
A YouTube channel!
Sponsor of Trendsetter City Awards!
Sponsor of the Volunteer Community of the Year Awards!
Sponsor of the Block, Street & Building publication and awards!
Civility program and training!
Represents towns with under 50 in population as well as cities over 100,000!
Working with the best municipal officials in the country!

There you have it! 90 reasons to love the League in its 90th year of existence! We are 90 years strong! 90 years young! And we have a bright 90 years in our headlights!

Until the next issue, peace.

1
Simon was born on October 13, 1941, and his full name is Paul Frederic Simon. He came to prominence in the 1960s in partnership with Art Garfunkel. He went on to a solo career and in 1975 hit a home run with the album Still Crazy After All These Years. It remains one of my favorite albums. Several songs hit the top 40 including “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.” Another favorite of mine is his album Graceland. Simon and Chevy Chase did a video of the song “You Can Call Me Al.” It’s hilarious! https://armuni.org/3xRXvK2 https://armuni.org/4cRBH03
2
Arthur Ira Garfunkel was born on November 5, 1941, in NYC. https://armuni.org/461jfQz Simon and Garfunkel met in elementary school in Queens, NY. They began to sing and harmonize together and that led them to create as teenagers the group Tom and Jerry! In 1963 they signed with Columbia Records as Simon and Garfunkel and the rest is history! https://armuni.org/3zKwbOo
3
Chicago is one of my favorite cities. I don’t like their football team the Bears but hey, nothing’s perfect! Chicago got the nickname The Windy City from the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1876 due to a tornado blowing through the city that same year! https://armuni.org/4bJ0Adk
4
NLC is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year! https://nlc100.org/ Pretty cool that we’re at 90, just a decade behind. NLC has a 100th “roadshow” going on leading up to the City Summit meeting in Orlando. https://armuni.org/3XYDNXD Some of you likely saw the bus during our convention’s opening night reception.
5
This is Simon’s only number one hit as a soloist! It does not name 50 different ways rather only five. Had I known that when I started writing this column, I might have opted for nine reasons to love the League! https://armuni.org/3zEnFRe Here’s a great article on an additional 45 ways to leave your lover, which includes: Buy her an ugly rug, Doug! If you could see the look on LC’s face…good to know I haven’t lost my irritating charm! https://armuni.org/3LknsoG
6
I must say, LC hasn’t had much to say whilst I type away other than: “Your readers are way younger than you and won’t know a Simon from a Garfunkel. Couldn’t you find something from this century?!” And now she’s quite pleased with herself!
7
Insert LC eyeroll.