There are many opportunities for ICMA members to use their talents and interests to become engaged in ICMA and support the profession. The level of commitment varies depending on the opportunity selected. Joining a task force is a year-long commitment. Serving as a coach may require an hour a month or a lifelong commitment to the success of the mentee. The Call for ICMA Member Task Forces and Committees typically opens each year in March.
Learn about Other Volunteer Opportunities
Task Forces
Committees
Committees draw on the skills and interests of a broad cross-section of the ICMA membership to study issues of interest and importance to the organization or to local government in general. They also provide an opportunity for member connection and networking. ICMA committees are primarily those with delegated decision-making authority from the board. They have advisory roles and are ongoing, with members serving staggered terms.
The ICMA Executive Board establishes the task forces and committees at its February board meeting. Members are encouraged to volunteer in the spring, and appointments are made by the president-elect in June. New groups typically begin their work in the fall.
Roles, Expectations, and Responsibilities
Committee volunteers commit to:
- Participate actively on the committee by attending at least one committee meeting per year and letting the chair know if you are not able to attend a meeting. (Members must participate in order to remain on the committee.)
- Follow through on assigned tasks by meeting deadlines, returning phone calls, responding to requests for input via e-mail, etc.
- Respect the opinions of other committee members and the role of the committee chair to build consensus on the specified task.
- Represent the committee to assistants' and managers' associations in their area by attending state or national association meetings, making brief presentations, or writing articles about the committee's work for state or national association newsletters.
Current Committees and Task Forces
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Committee
Through committee-wide and subcommittee support, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO) Committee advises staff and assists with the development and enhancement of programs, services, content, resources, and initiatives for current and future assistants, deputy, and dual-role managers in local government. The ACAO Committee was created in 2019 on the recommendation of the Assistant-Deputy Manager Task Force. Today, the ACAO is supported by engaged members and is led by two co-chairs and two co-vice chairs.
The committee’s strategic guidance improves the preparation of the next generation of ACAOs, expands support for current ACAOs, and builds better relationships between ACAOs and their CAOs, organizations, and communities. Specifically, the committee assists with the ACAO Exchange Program and sessions at the annual conference; provides feedback to ACAOs on the Conference Education Committee; authors monthly PM magazine articles and blog posts; assists in the development of resources for members, such as global/international initiatives, webinars and outreach to civics education; and lends expertise for resources like guidebooks and tool kits.
ACAO appointees should have expertise in current content areas, and in helping ACAOs succeed in their career transitions into the deputy/assistant role and as interim manager. Additionally, ICMA seeks committee representation among the membership from different regions, career positions or job functions, local government type, gender, race, and age. The ideal committee size is 35 volunteers to assure strong meeting attendance and subcommittees to oversee specific priorities, programs, and initiatives. The ACAO meets bimonthly via a virtual platform throughout the year. Volunteers should be ACAOs (assistant/deputy managers or adjacent duties) or have recently been in that career position.
Awards Evaluation Committee
The Awards Evaluation Committee reviews and evaluates nominations to ICMA's Local Government Excellence Awards Program and selects recipients for Professional and Program Awards, which are conferred at ICMA’s Annual Conference and recognized throughout the year. The committee is also responsible for the integrity of the program and for establishing criteria for the evaluation process, and recommends the creation or reorganization of awards. There are limited appointments to the panel, which includes 17 members representing each of ICMA's six regions and multiple at-large positions. Panel members serve a three-year term. The committee participates in 2-4 conference calls per year, and reviews and rates award nominations.. Knowledge and experience in creating and/or implementing local government programs and policies is preferred.
Conference Education Committee (formerly Conference Planning)
The 2027 Conference Education Committee will plan the education component of the 2027 ICMA Annual Conference. The committee will meet virtually in the fall of 2026, and the committee’s main in-person meeting will be held in January 2027. Committee members will participate in conference calls, as needed, throughout the year. Committee members are responsible for reviewing and scoring educational session submissions to assist in determining the educational content of the ICMA Annual Conference. They will also serve as liaisons to assigned sessions. Committee members are appointed for a term of one year.
Credentialing Advisory Board (Not in the Call for Volunteers)
The Credentialing Advisory Board is responsible for implementing the Voluntary Credentialing Program and advising the ICMA Executive Board on issues related to the program. Implementation includes reviewing applications and making recommendations on granting credentials; and reviewing annual reports on professional development activities and what was learned. The 15-member board serves 3-year terms, meets at ICMA’s headquarters in the fall, and otherwise conducts its business via regular conference calls. Members are appointed by the ICMA President based on recommendations from the executive director. Must be credentialed for at least 3 years or be an academic, available to attend meetings and conference calls, and review annual reports on schedule.
Global Engagement Committee (formerly International)
The Global Engagement Committee (GEC), formerly the International Committee, was formed in 2004 and its purpose is to communicate the value of having a global perspective to members, and state and other organizations, through connecting with ICMA members at ICMA events, building relationships with international local government associations, sharing the value of their own international experiences to their careers and their communities, and promoting global content and the sharing of knowledge, tools and best practices in good governance from around the world. The committee works closely with staff to support ongoing relationships with local government and professional associations around the world. The committee supports the implementation of the Tranter-Leong Fellowship program that promote member engagement with counterparts in other countries. The committee meets each year in person at the ICMA Annual Conference and participates in virtual quarterly meetings. A knowledge exchange is held every year outside of the United States where committee members are encouraged (but not required) to participate in to support professional, peer-to-peer exchanges and contribute to growing ICMA’s knowledge base.
Committee members should have international experience related to local government or military service, or experience working for a local government with international focus/strategies and an interest in promoting the “I” in ICMA. Committee members are appointed to three-year terms with the ability to renew one time for a maximum of six years total service as a committee member before needing to rotate off the committee. Committee members can return to the committee after an absence. Attendance at the committee meetings and participation in committee projects and ICMA’s global engagement activities are important factors that will be considered for reappointment after the term ends. The committee is led by a chair and vice chair, each appointed for one-year terms, who can serve longer if reappointed. The ideal committee size is 40 volunteer members.
Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee
The Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee (GAPC) is tasked with reviewing current and proposed federal, and in some cases state, legislative, and judicial action for impacts on local governments. The committee periodically provides feedback to ICMA on a current policy or regulatory issue. The committee is made up of approximately 60 members and meets in person or virtually twice annually: at the ICMA Annual Conference and in conjunction with the National League of Cities' March Congressional Cities Conference. Members serve staggered 3-year terms. Members should have significant experience working with local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials and advocacy groups, be familiar with state and federal legislative and budget processes, and be able to understand and communicate the impacts of proposed legislation and/or pending litigation to local governments.
Academic Relations Committee (formerly Graduate Education Committee) (Not in the Current Call for Volunteers)
The Academic Relations Committee (ARC), formerly the Graduate Education Committee, was formed in the 1990s to strengthen the connection between academia and local government, by convening practitioners and professors within ICMA’s membership to co-develop initiatives and resources to advance the field of public administration; enhance the education of future local government management professionals; and develop strategies to attract more students to the field of local government management. The ARC meets jointly with professors of public administration for the purpose of enhancing the education of future local government management professionals. ARC members have created a number of useful tools for improving the education of future managers, including Model Internship Guidelines and Guidelines for Managers Who Teach. They work in collaboration with NASPAA's Local Government Management Education Committee to revise/update local government management competencies for MPA programs and with ICMA Student Chapters and other academic stakeholders. The ARC is composed of 91 members who meet annually at the ICMA Annual Conference and virtually throughout the year. The committee is working to downsize over the next couple of years, to an ideal size of around 60 members. Volunteers should be adjunct faculty, guest instructors/lecturers, full-time academics, local government professionals, or otherwise interested in developing the future of the profession and academic/practitioner relations.
Harvard Kennedy Scholarship Committee
The Harvard Kennedy Scholarship (HKS) Committee was created in 2011 when ICMA obtained the first funder for a member scholarship to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. The purpose of the committee is to evaluate and rank applications and select the candidate to receive the ICMA scholarship, renamed in 2024 in memory of The Ferguson Group founder, William Ferguson Jr. The committee reviews the criteria for the scholarship and provides guidance as necessary. To serve on the committee, members must have attended Harvard’s 3-week Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. The committee size of 10-15 members can include former ICMA scholarship recipients. Committee members are appointed by the president-elect for three-year terms.
ICMA Welcome Ambassadors
The Welcome Ambassadors Committee utilizes ICMA’s best resource—its current members—to welcome new members to the community. The Welcome Ambassadors provide personal, peer-to-peer outreach to members who recently joined ICMA and serve in local government or are students in MPA programs. The committee consists of approximately 30 members from across ICMA’s six regions who meet virtually each quarter. Ambassadors are asked to contact new members each month using email, phone or LinkedIn; provide feedback to ICMA; and act as an ICMA Ambassador when attending state and regional meetings. Members must have the ability to complete their monthly assignments, participate in quarterly conference calls, have a passion for the profession and a strong knowledge of the value of ICMA membership. Ambassadors will contact more than 100 new members over the year. The committee members are appointed by the president-elect for two-year terms.
Performance Management Committee (Not in the Current Call for Volunteers)
ICMA’s Performance Management Committee is charged with helping to advance the practice of performance management in the profession and in individual local governments. Committee members do this by providing advice to ICMA regarding leading practices in performance management and analytics and by encouraging their peers to adopt these practices. The committee of approximately 24 members meets virtually on a quarterly basis and may meet at the ICMA Annual Conference. They also share their knowledge and experience from time to time on specific research questions and serve on conference panels within their states. Appointments are for two-year, renewable terms. Committee members should be familiar with leading practices in performance management and analytics.
SheLeadsGov Committee (Not in the Current Call for Volunteers)
The SheLeadsGov Committee advises ICMA on how to best promote programs that support, encourage, and prepare future and current women leaders of all backgrounds for professional positions in local governments and works to mitigate the effects of gender bias in the profession and ensure that ICMA membership is inclusive and mirrors the diversity of the communities served. The committee provides mentorship and networking opportunities for women in local government, attracting women to local government leadership and supporting women in leadership roles, and guiding best in class gender-balance initiatives that produce information, resources, and programs to support women in the profession. The committee is led by two chairs and two vice chairs and is composed of about 25 members. ICMA's SheLeadsGov Committee appointees should have expertise in current content areas, and in helping women succeed in their career transitions to professional local government management. Additionally, ICMA seeks representation among the membership from different regions, local government type and size, career positions or job functions, and diversity of gender, race, age, and intersectionalities. Identifying as a woman is not required to service on the committee, but ICMA seeks to have women occupy half or more of the roster.
Smart Communities Committee (Not in the Current Call for Volunteers)
The Smart Communities Committee provides support for ICMA’s Local Government Reimagined initiative, a new effort by the association to identify and share innovations in local government leadership, management, and service delivery to create more resilient, equitable, and livable communities. The committee helps with content offered under the Local Government Reimagined initiative, including writing articles and identifying potential topics and subject matter experts for webinars, podcasts, and more. It seeks to address the information and content needs of all ICMA members, providing information to all ranges of knowledge and experience. The Ideal committee member will be either interested in innovation or a subject matter expert in one or more innovative concepts within local government to aid in the development of educational content. Appointments are for a three-year term. The committee will meet at least quarterly and may be engaged more often as needed.
Veterans Committee (Not in the Current Call for Volunteers)
The Veterans Advisory Committee (VAC) was established in October 2020 and its mission is to enhance local government through the inclusion of veterans who share the passion, skills, and knowledge to succeed in public service. The Committee is charged with bringing awareness to ICMA members about the skills of Veterans; raising the visibility of a local government career path among military members and developing and strengthening relationships between the Veteran community and local governments. ICMA’s Veterans Committee appointees should have a passion in helping Veterans succeed in their career transitions to local government and integration to ICMA. Additionally, ICMA seeks representation among the membership from different regions, career positions or job functions and diversity of gender, race, and age, as well as levels of experience in local government. The ideal committee size is approximately 25 members to assure strong meeting attendance and development of subcommittees to oversee specific priorities/programs. A military background is not required to serve on the board, but ICMA seeks to have Veterans occupy 50% of the VAC roster.
