The MiExcellence Awards give members the opportunity to recognize outstanding work across our profession and to publicly celebrate it at the MAMC Annual Conference. Just as importantly, the program provides a platform to share successful practices with colleagues across the state. These awards highlight the innovation, dedication, and professionalism demonstrated every day in clerks’ offices throughout Michigan.

Submissions will be evaluated based on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and measurable positive results. Entries must be received by April 20, 2026.

Winners will be announced at this year’s Annual Conference in Kalamazoo, and honored recipients will have the opportunity to share their best practices during a featured conference segment.Now is the time to put your best on paper and share it with your colleagues. It is our hope that you will make time to help this program grow and to enrich our profession further.

In order to evaluate and select winners and to prepare for the presentations at Conference, we have set a deadline of April 20, 2026 for submission of all papers. We will be unable to consider any submissions after that date. All entries will be available on the MAMC website following the conference.

Here are the award categories:

Excellence in Overall Best Practices

Excellence in Use of Technology/Innovation

Excellence in Time and Cost Savings

Excellence in Security and Cybersecurity

Excellence in Recruiting, Retaining, & Training Pollworkers

All submissions must be from current members of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks for 2026. All entries must be submitted by local jurisdictions and must be related to a practice used in your office. Communities, not individuals, will be recognized for their projects.

Submissions will be sent to the MAMC’s MiExcellence Committee (consisting of the Ways and Means Director, the MAMC President, and the MAMC Past-President).

The determination of a winning submission will depend on the number and quality of papers submitted. MAMC shall be the sole determinant of presenting an award in any given year.

Electronic Submission Contents:

• The MiExcellence Paper (maximum of two pages - additional pages will disqualify entry)
• The attached cover page (must be included)
• Supporting Electronic Documents and links (can be in addition to the two pages above):

Examples:

• Newsletters and voter correspondence
• Voter guides
• Newspaper Articles
• Screenshots or webpages
• Photographs
• Videos

All materials submitted become the property of the MAMC and will be published on our website.  Materials submitted will not be returned to entrants.

Submission Requirements

• The paper and all supporting documents shall be submitted in an electronic format
• Persons submitting papers should NOT designate their entry toward a specific award category. This is determined by the MiExcellence Committee
• All documents must be submitted as a single file
• Any video materials should be provided as an electronic link
• E-mail your entry to kwhitney@marquettemi.gov

 Submissions are judged on:

Innovation: The submission presents new and original ideas.

Sustainability: The submitted program will provide long-term benefits, can be maintained at its current level, and can be expanded as the need arises.

Outreach Efforts: The organization successfully raises awareness and involves the community. Public engagement is encouraged through educational presentations, community outreach activities, workshops, social media postings, and other methods.

Cost-effectiveness: The submitted program produces positive results while exercising disciplined spending parameters.

Replicability: The submission can be reproduced by other officials and will achieve similar results. With modification, the program can be altered to address changing circumstances or the needs of other jurisdictions.

Generating Positive Results: The submitted program attains successful outcomes. Program outcomes are quantifiable and measurable.