August 12, 2003

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is looking for better ways to serve customers, and shared her plans today during visits to the Newberry, Manistique, Munising, Marquette and Ishpeming branch offices.

Land met with employees and the public at the offices. She offered her own ideas – and listened to those of others – regarding ways in which the Department of State can enhance service to Michigan residents. Beefing up the department’s menu of online services to enhance customer convenience is one of Land’s priorities.

"This era of shrinking state revenue and increasing customer expectations challenges us to be more creative in the way we deliver services," Land said. "A greater reliance on technology is one way that we can give customers the convenience that they deserve. Exploring these options, as well as personally engaging with the public, is helping the Department of State to become more efficient and innovative."

Land has committed to visit all 173 Secretary of State branch offices this year. She already has been to more than 150 branches since taking office in January.

Land is a strong advocate of using Internet technology to improve customer convenience and staff efficiency. Her new campaign "Skip the Trip! Save Time, Renew Online!" creates awareness of services available via the Internet. As part of that effort, Land recently asked that outdated branch office signs still bearing her predecessor’s name be modified to incorporate the department Web site, www.Michigan.gov/sos. Only signs in disrepair will be replaced entirely.

She also is exploring ways to improve service for those visiting branch offices. Possibilities include extending office hours and offering Saturday morning hours in select locations; expanding the use of credit-card transactions to include branch office services; overcoming language barriers by posting multilingual signs in offices that help people understand what information they must bring to conduct business; and improving office accessibility by working to repair pavement in parking lots, improve lighting, and providing timely snow removal.

The Secretary commended area employees for their performance and pointed out the tremendous volume of work handled in each branch office.

Last year, the Newberry branch office processed over 23,000 transactions, the Manistique branch processed nearly 22,000 transactions, the Munising branch office processed over 16,000 transactions, the Marquette branch office processed nearly 82,000 transactions and the Ishpeming branch office processed nearly 40,000 transactions.

>  To "News & Headlines"

>  To "Skip the Trip! Save Time, Renew Online!" Press Release

>  To Photo Gallery 1