WASHINGTON MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MONTHLY REPORT

MARCH 2008

By JoAnne Trudel, Board Member

Dear WMCA Members,

I can’t believe how quickly the year has flown by!  It seems only yesterday that I took office as your President, and now my term is nearly complete.  I can’t think of an experience that has been more gratifying both professionally and personally.  I have learned so much from you and our Regional and State Associations and have made many friendships.  It has been gratifying to discover just how immensely talented and committed we all are to our professions and development.  You are to be congratulated for all the work that you do!  Our communities are truly blessed to be in the care of our services.

I look forward with anticipation to see many of you at our Annual Conference.  You should feel proud for taking the time to invest in yourself to learn new things, network, rekindle old friendships and make new ones.  Please join me in celebrating this year’s conference, which is themed:   

“Embracing Unity – Together We Can!”

… achieve greater results …break down barriers… promote positive reinforcement … discover the perfect solution … bring excitement to every day … make an impact in the community … educate one another … help those in need … make a difference.

Through teamwork, all things are possible!

Again, thank you for the opportunity to represent you and serve as your President.  I am honored to be part of a great organization! 

Sincerely,

Alice M. Bush, MMC

WMCA President

CONFERENCE BOUND!!

Are you ready for a fantastic learning and networking experience?  We hope you are registered for our 2008 conference in Wenatchee March 19-21.

The Planning Committee would like to remind everyone that it is still chilly in March.  As we have to walk across a covered, but open on the sides, breezeway from the hotel to the center, you may want to bring along a jacket to guard against the cold.

Also, NCI Director Dema Harris will be staffing a booth and available to answer questions you may have about IIMC certification and points.  Please bring any paperwork or forms that you would like Dema to review with you.  She will also be available to answer questions you may have about NCI’s professional development training sessions. 

SPONSORSHIP RECORD!!

The Vendor Subcommittee of the Conference Planning Committee has been working hard to ensure that your conference experience is the best ever!  The fruits of those efforts are indicated by record-setting numbers of sponsors and vendors.  Thirteen sponsors have pledged financial support and twenty-five vendors will join us at the conference.

This year, we’re pleased to recognize not one, but two Diamond Sponsors—Code Publishing and iCompass Technology.  Diamond Sponsorship is awarded with a donation of $3,000.  Platinum Sponsorship is recognized with a donation of $1,250.  Bias Accounting is a Platinum Sponsor this year.

In addition to the sponsors listed above, the following vendors are confirmed and will join us:  Lexis Nexis, Association of Washington Cities, Quality Code Publishing, JCG Technologies, Master Business Licensing/State of Washington, Questys, FTR/Efficiency, Destiny Software, Granicus, Imagetek-Inc., Office of the State Treasurer, Vision Municipal Services, Cities Insurance Association of Washington, Municipal Research & Services Center, Sire Technologies, YCCS, US Archive & Imaging Services, Integra Information Technologies, All City Credit Union, LR Hines Document Management, NW Publishing Center.

Other contributions have been made by K & L Gates, Bank of America, Gray & Osborne, Olympic Region Clerks Association, Foster Pepper, Puget Sound Energy, DataBar, Snohomish County Clerks & Finance Officers Association, and King County Municipal Clerks Association.

Total sponsorship revenue is $11,820; total vendor revenue is $11,500!  Way to go Vendor Subcommittee:  Virginia Olsen, Gina Anderson, and Irene Mock.  You rock!

SILENT & LIVE AUCTION UPDATE

Going, going, gone!  That’s a phrase we want to hear plenty of at our live auction on Wednesday evening, March 19.  Our very own Bob Baker has kindly agreed to serve as auctioneer for the evening.

If hollering out your bid is not your bag, on the quieter side of fundraising the silent auction is also an excellent way to support your organization.  Remember how fun it is to be the highest bidder and go home with your treasured item or items?  Better yet, bring something with you to donate and you’ll have room in your suitcase for your winnings!  Watch out eBay!  You’ve got nothing on the Washington Municipal Clerks when they put their minds to bidding!  For those with a dollar (or two or twenty) to spare, you can take part in the fun by purchasing a $1 raffle ticket.

The Scholarship Committee would like to send out one last request to bring your auction items and/or $$ (!!) with you to conference.  Ideas for both the silent and live auctions include gift baskets, bottles of wine, hand-crafted items, overnight stays, gift certificates for spa treatments, and jewelry.  Auction proceeds benefit the scholarship fund to assist Clerks in receiving professional training essential to our jobs.  If you’ve been the lucky recipient of one of those scholarships, we know you’ll find a special item to bring or bid on to pay it forward!

SUPPORT WMCA BY VOLUNTEERING

Serving on a committee is a great way to be involved in the future of WMCA.  If you’ve only thought about it, let 2008 be the year you participate.  If you’ve served on the same committee for a few years, consider signing up for something new.  Not only do you do a good thing for your organization, you do a good thing for yourself.  The rewards are many—new friends, leadership skills, travel, meetings (did I just say meetings? Okay, maybe not meetings!), and points toward your CMC/MMC.

There’s a committee for every taste and talent:  Audit, Awards, Bylaws, Communications, Conference Planning, Education, Elections, Fundraising & Special Projects, Historical, Legislative, Membership, Scholarship, Zoological—okay, with that last one I’m just seeing if you’re still with me!

For more information about the committees see the descriptions on the WMCA Web site.  Some of these committees work year round, while others are mostly busy around conference time.  Sign-up sheets will be at the annual conference in Wenatchee, or you can contact President-Elect Ali Spietz at ali.spietz@mercergov.org for more information.

SPEAKING OF COMMITTEES…

The Legislative Committee did a great job of lobbying on behalf of the membership in response to two bills that would have significantly impacted our agencies.  Both bills died in committee, although it’s anticipated they will be brought back at next year’s legislative session.

HB 3292 would have required recording of Executive Sessions.  SSB 5420 would have required posting of information to agency Web sites.

Thanks to the Committee Members and co-Chairs Myrna Basich and Sandy Paul for keeping on top of these two bills and preparing thorough letters of opposition for President Bush’s submittal to the appropriate legislators.

THIS JUST IN…SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

President Alice Bush has received word that the Municipal Clerks Education Foundation (MCEF) is offering two grants for each region to cover the cost of registration ($560) for the IIMC Conference in Atlanta this May.  Basic eligibility requirements are (1) member of IIMC; (2) have attained CMC; (3) have not attended an IIMC conference; or (4) have not attended an IIMC conference in the last five years.

With only a small number of applications submitted, MCEF has extended the application deadline to March 14.  The application is available on the IIMC Web site, www.iimc.com, and click on “MCEF Conference Grants.”

MORE IIMC NEWS

If you are a member of IIMC, please watch your mail in April for a ballot!  For the first time, ALL members of IIMC, not just those who are attending the annual conference, will be voting in the election for Vice President.  Similar to WMCA, the Vice President will serve for one year then move up to President Elect, and then President of IIMC.  There are two candidates, Ronny Frederick of Belgium, and Sharon Cassler of Cambridge, Ohio.  You have received election materials from both candidates via e-mail, and each has a Web site you can check for further information.  WMCA members will have the chance to meet Sharon Cassler, who will be attending our conference to meet the Washington Clerks (she is paying to attend the conference on her own, with no funds coming from WMCA).  Please take the opportunity this year to make an informed decision and vote in the IIMC election.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE UPDATE

Congratulations to our six WMCA Conference Scholarship recipients:  Sara Chase, Lalena Johns, Becka Maxwell, Virginia Olsen, Susie Oppedal, and Tracy Wood.  We look forward to seeing you at conference!

 ELECTIONS & BYLAWS UPDATE

Included with your Annual Business Meeting Notice is a proposed Bylaws amendment, providing for Board Member term limits and Pro and Con statements developed by the Bylaws and Election Committees.  All paid active WMCA members will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed amendment at the Annual Business Meeting on March 20.

The Executive Committee extends its thanks to these members for all of their work on this project.

Updated: 12/01/2007