Business View Magazine | May 2019

202 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MAY 2019 their important duties at the local level, the New Hampshire Municipal Association was founded in 1941 by a group known as the New Hampshire Mayors Club. The prevailing thought was that New Hampshire could benefit from the organization of a municipal league that would provide an organized forum for the exchange of information and ideas. In fact, 1941 incorporation papers show that the Association was founded “to promote good municipal government and thereby promote growth and prosperity of cities, towns and villages.” Today NHMA has a 25-member board of directors and a professional staff of 10. Self-proclaimed as the “Service and Action Arm of New Hampshire Municipalities,” NHMA continues its strong legacy and remains a vibrant, dynamic non- profit organization serving local government. Membership is voluntary and must be approved by the municipality’s legislative body via the budget process. Over time, NHMA has established a rich history of strengthening municipal governments through information, advocacy, legal services, training and other services to local officials, enabling them to serve their municipalities and residents more effectively. NHMA’s Advocacy: A Member-Driven Legislative Policy Process NHMA’s advocacy is guided by policy positions. Because it is a member-driven organization, the legislative policy positions are set by NHMA members, not staff, through a defined process. Every two years, the process begins with the solicitation of policy proposals from town and city officials to create an initial issues list. The pictured left to right Barbara Reid, Government Finance Advisor; Jim Maggiore, Board Vice Chair, Selectman, Town of North Hampton; Shaun Mulholland, Board Chair, City Manager, City of Lebanon; Margaret Byrnes, Executive Director; Cordell Johnston, Government Affairs Counsel; and Stephen Buckley, Legal Services Counsel