Business View Magazine | December 2020

304 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 That publication is currently their most read communication, especially in times when members cannot meet face-to-face. Over time, ALM has grown to 22 staff members that serve in various departments including: finance, legal, advocacy, communications, technology and member services. The League consolidated its financial services under Richard Buttenshaw; those services include the workers compensation pool, a bond pool program, and also a tax program to assist cities with being able to collect unpaid fees. Back in 1994, ALM started the Elected Officials Training Program for elected municipal officials. The voluntary program was the second in the country and gives elected officials an opportunity to continue educating themselves to become more informed about municipal processes. Once participants have obtained 40 credit hours of training, the elected official is presented with a designation of Certified Municipal Official (CMO). Several years after it began, due to the popularity of the program, an Advanced CMO Program was created. Those who receive both their CMO and Advanced CMO designations have the opportunity to obtain the Certified Municipal Official Emeritus designation. The CMO Emeritus designation was approved in 2015. The League also offers a variety of loss control and safety training through its insurance programs. ALM is committed to helping members through the good times and more challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic that has become an economic obstacle for every municipality. In that regard, the League opened a COVID-19 Revenue Loss Portal to help guide municipalities through the process of applying to the state for funding and to take their concerns to state and federal officials in charge of these programs, as well as taking care of more pressing local issues. Cochran believes the economic challenges presented are affecting Several municipal officials outside the State House in Montgomery during ALM’s Annual Advocacy Day.