EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MONTHLY REPORT
JUNE 2007
by Sandy Byers, Past President

Communications Committee Members Wanted
Do you have a nose for news?  A desire to keep the WMCA membership up-to-date on all that’s going on with our organization?  We could use another person or two on the Communications Committee.  The committee is new this year and combines the tasks of the former newsletter and website committees.  Much of the material for your Executive Committee monthly update originates here as they coordinate with committee chairs, the Executive Committee, and members.  Other projects include assisting the Executive Committee with the annual report (also new this year) and designing surveys for the membership.  If you’re interested in helping out, please contact Pam Kolacy at pkolacy@cityofpt.us or call 360-379-5045.

New Region IX Director Pam Kolacy
Nineteen WMCA clerks attended the IIMC Conference in New Orleans the week of May 20^th.  The IIMC Board of Directors includes two representatives at large from each of 11 different regions in the world.  Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, and Hawaii comprise Region IX.  The states have an agreement that our regional representatives will rotate from among the states, and this year it’s our turn to designate a representative for a three-year term on the IIMC Board.

Pam Kolacy, CMC, City Clerk of Port Townsend, was sworn in as a new IIMC Director at the annual business meeting on May 26.  Pam will attend IIMC business meetings and will also travel to the state conferences of each of the Region IX states during her term as she works with Representative Colleen Nicol of California to maintain the lines of communication between IIMC and the Region IX states.

Professional Development (PD I, II, III, and Master Academy) Classes
Just a reminder that classes are being held this month.  Thanks to all of you who’ve made a commitment to furthering your education.  Enrollment numbers look good.  Enjoy the sessions and take time to get to know your peers.  Not only is this a great educational offering, but also provides invaluable networking opportunities.

Executive Committee Meeting
The next quarterly meeting of the EC is on June 22.  Please contact President Alice Bush or any EC member if you have comments or questions you’d like shared.

Clerk of the Year Award
Just a reminder that the call for nominations will occur in September, so be thinking about who you may want to nominate.  More information about the award can be found on our website at Clerk of the Year Policies.

Fall MMC Academy
Save the Date:  A Fall MMC Academy will be held on Friday, October 26 at the Coast Wenatchee Center.  A block of rooms has been reserved for Thursday night, October 25 at $60/single, $80/double rate plus tax.  Further details will be announced as we have them.  This will be an IIMC sanctioned session good for three education points (CMC or MMC).

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
June 2007

Dear WMCA Members,

I am pleased to report on two conferences I recently attended – the Local Government Management Association Annual Conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Conference, held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Local Government Management Association (LGMA) Annual Conference The British Columbia Local Government Management Association (LGMA) conference was held in beautiful Vancouver, BC on May 15-17, 2007.  Over 400 City Administrators, City Managers, Finance Officers, City Clerks, Deputy Clerks and other municipal employees throughout BC attended the conference as well as representatives from the United States (WMCA), New Zealand and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario.  The theme of the conference was “All In a Day’s Work – Meeting the Challenge.”  Keynote speaker, David Chilton, author of “The Wealthy Barber,” opened the conference with his story on how he took the intimidation and dryness out of financial planning.  With a combination of knowledge and humor, he transformed that topic into Canada’s all-time best selling book.  As one of the most sought after speakers, he spoke not about just making money, but about believing in yourself, overcoming your mistakes and appreciating the goodness in what we all have today and removing the complaining and negativity. 

The training sessions covered a range of topics from legal updates, extending the life of landfills, human resources succession planning for local governments as baby boomers depart the workforce, global competition for skilled employees, affordable housing, managing municipal fleets, records management, reducing gangs, stress management, utilities (power supply) and water rights, watersheds, managing municipal cemeteries and effective decision making.

Throughout the conference most speakers made mention of the importance of global climate changes and taking measures for conserving energy.  British Columbia set a provincial goal to reduce energy use by 50% in 2020.  On May 16, 2007, British Columbia, declared that day as “Turn It Off Day in BC.”  A conservation challenge was instituted whereby BC municipalities are taking part in a competition to conserve energy.  The competition is focused on behavioral changes among employees, such as, turning off bathroom lights, reducing printing jobs, etc.  Fifty (50) municipalities are participating in the competition so far.  BC believes if City employees can participate, they become ambassadors in their cities and set examples for their citizens so everyone can make a difference no matter how small, for the betterment of generations.  The conference concluded with President Gord Horth handing the gavel to Elsie Lemke, incoming President of LGMA. 

International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Conference
The very next week (May 21-26, 2007), I attended the 61^st Annual IIMC Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.  It was my first IIMC Conference.  Approximately 780 delegates (not including guests) attended the conference themed “Parading Into the Future.”  An impressive 110 delegates were from Region IX!   Way to go Region IX!  Delegates from 48 states, and the countries of Australia, Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, Israel, Nepal, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom attended the conference.

The opening ceremony started with the parade of flags.  I was most honored to proudly carry the Washington state flag and represent WMCA as your President Photo.

Highlights

• A special Region IX recognition gathering was held in honor of former Region IX Director Sheri Pierce of Alaska Photo for representing Washington, California, Oregon and Alaska the past three years.  A diamond necklace was presented to Sheri in appreciation for all her hard work by the State Associations and Region IX members in representing our Region IX states on the IIMC Board. 
   
• Pam Kolacy, City Clerk of Port Townsend, Washington, was sworn in as our new Region IX Director for the next three years (2007-2010). 
   

• Chuck Tokar, Village Clerk, from Chicago Ridge, Illinois, was sworn in as IIMC President.
   
• Dyanne Reese, Clerk of the Council from Savannah, Georgia, was sworn in as President-Elect of IIMC.
   
• Mary Lynn Stratta, City Secretary, from Bryan, Texas, was sworn in as Vice President of IIMC. 
   
• Chris Shalby was officially appointed as Chief Executive Officer (from Interim Executive Officer) of IIMC.
   
• Region IX Director Colleen Nicol and NCI Director Dema Harris are serving on the IIMC’s Conference Education and Program Review Certification Committee.
   
• Region IX Director Pam Kolacy is serving as Board liaison to the IIMC Mentoring Committee and Jodi Warren, City of Snoqualmie is a member of the Committee.
   
• WMCA President Alice Bush and Jodi Warren, City Clerk of Snoqualmie, are serving on the IIMC Regional Restructuring Task Force with Shalice Reynoso, President of the City Clerks Association of California and Tracy Davis, City Clerk of Keizer, Oregon.  The Task Force will be studying how to increase the Canadian membership in IIMC.
   

• Helen Kawagoe Photo with Region IX Director Colleen Nicol from California was recognized for her heartfelt bequest of $100,000 to IIMC! Helen also was most generous for picking up the beverage tab at the Region IX dinner. 
   
• The four-day conference was filled with so many educational speakers and concurrent training sessions.  The sessions I attended were about the municipal clerk maintaining the continuance of a crucial public function when communities are being transformed by rapid demographic, economic and technological changes; ethics in local government; the Clerk as peace maker (transforming your municipality through conflict resolution); technical writing like a pro; an interactive session explaining the needs and wants of elected officials; knowledge management; how to put proactive conference learning into proactive common sense; implementation strategies that work in the real world workplace; and building equitable communities. |
   
• The evenings consisted of an opening reception at the Audubon Aquarium hosted by the Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association, IIMC incoming VP reception, and a tour of Mardi Gras World.
   
• It was WMCA’s turn to host the Region IX gathering and 71 delegates attended the Region IX dinner.  We had a special treat and enjoyed some entertaining yodeling by Region IX Director Colleen Nicol!  What a voice!    
   
• Outgoing IIMC President Marcella O’Conner from Australia and former City Clerk of North Bend, Washington, asked that I send all of you her greetings and best wishes.  She spoke about her fondness for Washington and stressed the importance and value of networking not only within WMCA and Region IX, but further beyond to other regions and internationally.
   
• Although I stayed in the downtown core, it was amazing to see some of the effects of Katrina and talk with the locals about the disaster and how it affected their lives.  It was evident that the survivors remain strong and committed to their community and traditions.  The famous beignets at the Café DuMonde were as delicious as ever and the jazz and buzz of Bourbon Street continues to thrive 24/7 Photo.

I want to thank you again for another invaluable experience to represent WMCA as your President.  This experience was another validation of the importance for WMCA to be actively involved with IIMC and be represented nationally and internationally as leaders of our profession.  Go WMCA!

Sincerely yours,

Alice M. Bush, MMC

President

Updated: 04/24/2008