Executive Committee Report

Transcription

1 Executive Board President Karen Kuznek-Reese President Elect Treva Percival Vice President Sandy Paul Secretary Erin Larsen Treasurer Gina Anderson Board Members Debbie Burke Debbie Clark Claire Lider Virginia Olsen Scott Passey Diana Quinn Past President Ali Spietz Executive Committee Report Compiled by Secretary Erin Larsen, CMC President s Message Karen Kuznek-Reese, MMC Can you believe it s December already! The time is just flying by. Our committees are busy making plans for the 2011 conference in March at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver. The theme is "Believe It! Achieve It! Reach for the Stars." Our academy session takes place on March 22, with David Rabiner as our speaker. We will have an optional event again this year. It will be a dinner cruise on the Willamette River aboard the Portland Spirit. In an effort to keep the cost down for the attendees, we are hoping to obtain a sponsor for the transportation costs from the hotel to the cruise terminal. The cost is $60 per person (normally $72.) We need at least 35 participants and pre-registration is necessary. If you would like to participate in this event, please send your check to our Treasurer, Gina Anderson, at the City of Woodland. It should be a lot of fun! At the March conference we will also be collecting stuffed animals to donate to The Children s Center. There is more information on Operation Fuzzy Friend available in this newsletter. Thank you to Debbie Jermann for finding this terrific cause. In November, I made my last trip on behalf of WMCA. I flew to the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks Conference in Juneau. Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot to report about my trip to Juneau. December 2010 Due to a death in the family, I arrived one day and left the next. I did get to spend one night there and see that it is a beautiful area with a lot to offer. Thank you to the Alaska Clerks for their hospitality. We are still working on our new website. Our hope is still to have the new site up and running by the end of the year! Stay tuned Are you feeling creative??? We are also looking for a new WMCA logo. We would love to have our new logo designed by one of our members! Get your creative juices flowing and submit your design!!! More information is also available in this newsletter. Our membership has grown! We now have 268 members. We will soon begin a marketing campaign in an effort to increase that membership. Many cities and clerks are unaware of the benefits of membership in our state associations. This campaign will provide that information. Continued on pg. 2 Inside this Report: Call To Conference 2 Operation Fuzzy Friend 3 Meet, Share, & Save 4 Clerk of the Year... 5 WMCA Logo Contest 6 PD Institute Scholarship 7 Call for Candidates 8

2 Continued from pg. 1 The campaign is also an attempt to increase awareness for our profession. As Clerks, we take our jobs seriously and do a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes. We have many important responsibilities, many with legal requirements. We need to come out from behind the scenes and promote ourselves and our profession. Once our logo is developed, we will update our WMCA brochure, which we will distribute everywhere we possibly can! You can also look for a WMCA booth at the AWC Conference in June! More information about that will be provided. Page 2 whether it's serving on a committee or holding an office. It s not too late to submit your name for a spot on the Executive Committee!!! Or if you re interested in chairing a committee, contact Treva Percival at Pierce Transit and let her know. I wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday season and a Happy New Year! -Karen Kuznek-Reese, WMCA President It's been a great honor to serve as WMCA's President! I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience! I would strongly encourage everyone to become involved with WMCA, Brody loves hats! 2011 CALL TO CONFERENCE P.S. I m going to be a Grandma again! Brody and Wyatt are both going to have a little brother or sister sometime in July! The WMCA Annual Conference is right around the corner. We will be at the beautiful Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA! Advanced Academy will be held Tuesday, March 22, Conference begins on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, and ends on Friday, March 25, Please come and join the fun! Make your reservations now! The block of rooms for our conference is open. Room rates are $ and $10/person per night for each extra person (taxes not included). Business Level Guestrooms are $125. Believe it! Achieve it! Reach for the Stars. Please call to make your reservations. Don t forget to say you are with the Washington Municipal Clerks Association for the conference rates. You must make your reservation prior to February 28, 2011, to receive the special rate.

3 Page 3 HELP WMCA REACH OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO WELCOME US! Let s give back to the communities we visit for our conference! During the 2011 Annual WMCA Conference in Vancouver, WA (March 22 through March 25, 2011), WMCA will be conducting: Operation Fuzzy Friend! The Children s Center helps children and families of Clark County with mental health needs relating to domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, parenting issues, school- related behavioral problems, adoption, and much more. Over 90 percent of the families served live in poverty. Throughout the year, the center provides a small stuffed animal upon a child s first visit to the center. The Children s Center is running low on stuffed animals and needs our help! Volunteers at the center also use stuffed animals and create Heavy Helpers by taking new stuffed animals, removing the stuffing and replacing it with washed aquarium rock, then sewing it back up. The Heavy Helpers weigh between 5-8 pounds. The ideal stuffed animal would be large enough to sit across a child s lap. Some of their young clients with sensory issues greatly appreciate the calming influence of a weighted stuffed animal. WMCA members are welcome to bring stuffed animals to conference to donate to the Children s Center. If you would like to learn more about the Children s Center, visit their website at:

4 Page 4 Meet, Share, and Save By The Membership Committee The Membership Committee is expanding the mentoring program to include a conference welcoming program and it s not just for new Clerks or first time attendees. This program is designed to enable attendees to save money while attending the conference, as well as making new contacts for all attendees. This could include one or all of the following: carpooling, sharing a hotel room and accompanying to group events or functions on our free night. Conference Highlights: Spring Master Academy President s Reception Breakfast networking Opening Ceremony and Keynote speaker Break out educational and roundtable sessions Lunch Networking Silent auction and raffle drawings Annual Banquet, great food and fun MRSC, AWC and Industry Vendor Exhibit Booths WMCA Store Sales, Book Sale and Historical Photos Free Night for escaping to do something of your choice The Membership Committee will do our best to match Clerks interested in participating in any aspect of the program. If you are interested in participating in the Meet, Share and Save program, contact: Kammy Hill, WMCA Membership Committee Chair, at or khill@ci.walla-walla.wa.us. Important Deadlines December 31, 2010 Clerk of the Year nomination forms are due December 31, 2010 Declaration of Candidacy forms are due December 31, 2010 Last day to submit logo for WMCA contest February 7, 2011 PD Scholarship Deadline February 28, 2011 Last day to receive discounted hotel rate for Annual Conference

5 CLERK OF THE YEAR NOMINATION DEADLINE IS APPROACHING! By Past President Ali Spietz, CMC Page 5 Perhaps the most prestigious award a Clerk can receive is that of Clerk of the Year and the deadline for submitting a nomination is quickly approaching. Did you know that the award originally started as a way for WMCA members to recognize each other? Do you know of someone who deserves this recognition? Submit a nomination today and let your peer know how much they are appreciated and that they are a fabulous clerk! Nomination forms and information on the process can be found under the Clerk of the Year Policy and Awards Committee description on our website at You can also see a list of past Clerk of the Year Award recipients, as well as those honored with the President s Award of Distinction. The criteria for the Clerk of the Year nomination include: Eligible nominees shall be active WMCA members (fully paid dues) for the preceding five consecutive years. The nominee must have made significant contributions or performed outstanding service to WMCA, to the profession of municipal clerk, and to his/her individual municipality in the following areas: 1. Leadership, organization, administration and communications. 2. Legislative and governing body procedures, records management and public relations. 3. Outstanding service to WMCA (time/length of service; service on WMCA Committees, attendance at State conferences, involvement in regional groups and/or IIMC committees) and contribution to the Clerk profession. 4. Special projects and community activities and volunteerism. Letters were sent to all members elected and/or appointed officials in early November and a reminder letter will be going out next week. The only WMCA members not eligible to be considered for nomination are those holding the office of President, President-Elect, Vice President and Past President. Don t let this opportunity to recognize one of your peers pass you by! Nominations must be postmarked by December 31, 2010, and submitted to Past President Ali Spietz, City of Mercer Island, 9611 SE 36 th Street, Mercer Island, WA Guess Who? Answer to last month s mystery Clerk Christy O Flaherty

6 PRE-HOLIDAY AND POST-HOLIDAY SHOPPING? KEEP WMCA IN MIND! While you are out shopping this season, keep WMCA in mind. Each year at conference we hold auctions to raise funds for the scholarship program. The items we auction are donated by members and businesses in your local communities. If you have ever been a beneficiary of a WMCA Scholarship, you are well aware of the educational benefits. Wonderful auction baskets can be put together with some bargain items maybe a basket of socks, foot lotion, an outdoor candle, and a bottle of wine. Or how about thinking spring some garden gloves, fall bulbs, garden tools, all packaged in a nice pot. Thank you for your continued support of WMCA and from your WMCA Fundraising Committee, health and happiness to you and your families in 2011! DESIGN A NEW LOGO & WIN We know there are a lot of creative Clerks out there and here is your chance to show us what you ve got! The Executive Board is giving you a chance to make history by designing a new logo. The sky is the limit and you can be as creative as you want. The winning logo* will be used across the state to represent WMCA. The winner will also receive $300 toward any WMCA Academy or Conference. Judging will be done by the Executive Board at the January 2011 meeting. Good luck everyone! Submit your design to: President Karen Kuznek-Reese kkuznek@ci.sequim.wa.us before December 31, *The Board reserves the right to slightly modify the chosen design if necessary. Page 6

7 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP BY Board Member Claire Lider, CMC Page 7 The Washington Municipal Clerks Association, Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders and the Alaska Municipal Clerks Association sponsor this Institute which is held in Tacoma, WA, at the University of Puget Sound every summer. This year s schedule is as follows: Professional Development I June 5 10, 2011 Professional Development II June 12 17, 2011 Professional Development III June 19 24, 2011 Professional Development IV June 15 (1PM), 18 (noon), 2011 Completion of 120 hours of approved Institute training fulfills educational requirements for IIMC's Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation. IIMC encourages Municipal Clerks to continue learning and growing personally and professionally. University of Puget Sound First time Institute scholarship applicants are eligible for award of both registration and lodging if needed. PD II and PD III scholarship awards are for registration only. You can find more information about scholarship awards and requirements at WMCA s website: Announcements... Congratulations are in order for City of North Bend Deputy City Clerk Susie Oppedal as she has earned her CMC designation. City of North Bend City Clerk Cheryle Proffit- Schmidt stated, What a fantastic asset she is to our City, and the WMCA organization! Do you know a Clerk that deserves recognition? Send an to WMCA Secretary Erin Larsen at elarsen@ci.dupont.wa.us Congratulations! Congratulations are also in order for Snohomish County Assistant Clerk Barb Sikorski as she retired this December. We wish you a happy, healthy, and fun retirement.

8 WMCA Wants You! CALL FOR CANDIDATES Deadline: December 31, 2010 Page 8 It s not too late to throw your hat in the ring to represent YOUR association. The positions available in the 2011 election and their terms are as follows: President-Elect (1-year term) Vice President (1-year term) Treasurer (2-year term) One board position (3-year term) The job descriptions for each position can be found at under the Executive Committee tab as well as complete instructions for declaring your candidacy. The application materials referenced below must be received by the Elections Committee no later than Friday, December 31, An electronic copy of the application materials is welcome; however, signed originals of the Declaration of Candidacy and the Letter of Support must be provided in hard copy and received by the December 31 deadline. Submit the candidate packet to the Elections Committee Chair, Bobbie Usselman, CMC, Deputy City Clerk, City of Sequim, 152 W. Cedar Street, Sequim WA address: busselman@ci.sequim.wa.us. Phone: 360/ DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY I,, declare myself a candidate for the office of (Your Name). I also declare that I am an active WMCA (State Elected Position Seeking) Member in good standing. I request that my name be printed on the official ballot for election. Attached is a Letter of Support from my (please check one) organization s top administrative official, chief executive officer, or immediate supervisor, a Candidate Photo and Candidate Statement which I authorize for use in the election process. (Candidate Signature) (Date) Send Declaration of Candidacy with original signature and other required materials to: Bobbie Usselman, CMC Deputy City Clerk City of Sequim 152 W. Cedar Street Sequim WA All submittals must be received by December 31, 2010

9 Helpful Hints for Winter Page 9 These tips come from Edmonton, Canada and they know cold! Keep your headlights clear with car wax! Just wipe ordinary car wax on your headlights. It contains special water repellents that will prevent that messy mixture from accumulating on your lights-lasts 6 weeks. Squeak-proof your wipers with rubbing alcohol! Wipe the wipers with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol or ammonia. This one trick can make badly streaking and squeaking wipers change to near perfect silence and clarity. Ice-proof your windows with vinegar! Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water and spritz it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they'll be clear of icy mess. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water-preventing water from freezing! Prevent car doors from freezing shut with cooking spray! Spritz cooking oil on the rubber seals around car doors and rub it in with a paper towel. The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber. Fog-proof your windshield with shaving cream! Spray some shaving cream on the inside of your windshield and wipe if off with paper towels. Shaving cream has many of the same ingredients found in commercial defoggers. De-ice your lock in seconds with hand sanitizer! Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key and the lock and the problems solved! December 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat