August 2011 News Digest
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News Digest™ August 2011 The Premier Organization for Municipal Clerks Since 1947 The City of Roses, Portland, OR, home to the Delegates and Guests of the 2012 IIMC Annual Conference IIMC STAFF DIRECTORY BOARD OF DIRECTORS News Digest™ ADMINISTRATION PRESIDENT Professionalism • Executive Director Colleen J. Nicol, MMC, Riverside, California In Local Government Chris Shalby [email protected] PRESIDENT ELECT Through Education [email protected] Brenda M. Cirtin, MMC, Springfield, Missouri Volume LXII No. 7 ISSN: 0145-2290 • Office Manager [email protected] Denice Cox AUGUST 2011 VICE PRESIDENT [email protected] Marc Lemoine, MMC, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Published 11 times each year the News Digest • Finance Specialist [email protected] is a publication of Janet Pantaleon IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT The International Institute of Municipal Clerks [email protected] Sharon K. Cassler, MMC, Cambridge, Ohio 8331 Utica Avenue, Suite 200 [email protected] Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 • Administrative Assistant Chris Shalby, Editor Maria E. Miranda DIRECTORS - 2012 EXPIRATION ([email protected]) [email protected] JAMES G. MULLEN, JR. CMC - I, Milton, Massachusetts Telephone: 909/944-4162 • (800/251-1639) [email protected] FAX: (909/944-8545) EDUCATION MELISSA (LISA) SMALL, MMC - III, Temple Terrace, Florida E-mail: [email protected] • Associate Director of Education [email protected] Jennifer Ward DEBORAH MINER, MMC - IV, Harrah, Oklahoma Founded in 1947, IIMC has more than 60 years of experience [email protected] [email protected] improving the professionalism of Municipal Clerks. IIMC TAMI K. KELLY, MMC - V, Grove City, Ohio has more than 10,000 members representing towns, small • MMC Verification Specialist [email protected] municipalities and large urban jurisdictions of more than Emily Maggard JULIE R. HELT, MMC, XI, Waunakee, WI several million people. [email protected] A portion of your annual membership dues goes toward [email protected] publishing and distributing the monthly News Digest. • CMC Verification Specialist KAREN GOODWIN, MMC - VII, Florissant, Missouri Ashley Carroll [email protected] PEGGY HAWKER, MMC - IX, Newport, Oregon IIMC is affiliated with 49.S., U & Nine Canadian Associations. [email protected] [email protected] National affiliations: MEMBERSHIP FRANCOIS ALLERS - XI, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan, South Africa • ATAM (Portugal) • JOSZ (Hungary) • Director of Member Services [email protected] • IAM (Israel) • SLCC (England) Janis Daudt • UDITE (Europe) • VVG (The Netherlands) [email protected] DIRECTORS - 2013 EXPIRATION • IMASA (South Africa) • SOLAR (Scotland) LINDA L. SPENCE, MMC - I, Manchester, Vermont • Member Services Representative • NAMCB (Bulgaria) • ADSO (England) [email protected] Tammy Schultz DIANE G. FITZHENRY, MMC -- II, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania [email protected] [email protected] TINY B. WASHINGTON, CMC - III, Columbus, Georgia Inside… Accounting & Association [email protected] President’s Message .........................................................3 • Software Group DEBRA BATLINER, MMC - V, Simpsonville, Kentucky Pilar Archer [email protected] 2011 IIMC International Exchange Program .....................4 [email protected] DEBRA OWEN - VIII, Sioux Falls, South Dakota MCEF Programs for Municipal Clerks, [email protected] and State/Provincial Associations ...................................5 Computerized Business Solutions KRISTIE L. SMITHERS, MMC - IX, Wasilla, Alaska • Doug Griffith Rhode Island State Senator Elizabeth A. Crowley .............6 [email protected] [email protected] LAURIE DARCUS, MMC - X, Pitt Meadows, British Columbia Tips for Managing The Meetings You Attend ....................8 [email protected] The Voices You May Not Be Hearing ................................10 DIRECTORS - 2014 EXPIRATION 2012 Distance Learning Scholarship Application ............11 VINCENT BUTTIGLIERI, CMC -- II, Township of Ocean, New Jersey 2012 State/Provincial/National [email protected] Association Grant Application .......................................11 MARY J. KAYSER, MMC - IV, Garland, Texas [email protected] Conference Highlights ....................................................12 ROXANNE SCHNEIDER, MMC - VI, Dysart, Iowa The Value of Public Service .............................................14 [email protected] KITTIE KOPITKE, MMC - VII, Streamwood, Illinois IIMC Region of the Month - Region X .............................17 [email protected] IIMC Region of the Month - Region XI ............................22 DONNA GEHO, CMC -- VIII, Glenrock, Wyoming Recruit a New Member ...................................................25 [email protected] GAIL E. POMROY, MMC -- X, Conception Bay South, NF, Canada Recruit a New Member Application ................................26 www.iimc.com [email protected] Calendar of Events .........................................................27 Copyright 2011 by the SAMANTHA SHIPPEN -- XI, Seaford, East Sussex, UK International Institute of Municipal Clerks. [email protected] All rights reserved. 2 August 2011 IIMC News DigestIIMC President’s Message Colleen J. Nicol, MMC IIMC President, 2011-2012 Once a year, the Riverside Youth Council honors the and powerful sentence, “Sometimes the notes are hard City’s 25 Most Remarkable Teens. Every year, without to read, so I just play from my heart.” Those were his fail, the ceremony brings tears to my eyes as the stories only words. With that, he was headed back to his seat, of amazing young folks inspire and amaze everyone in smiling again. the room. This year’s event was no different, but one Anxiety, stress, and worry are out of place when you play student stood out from the rest - not only because of from the heart. I want to be more like Israel Tucker - a what he’s accomplished, but also his demonstration of lot more like Israel Tucker. When budgets are tight, humility and a simple, straight-forward assessment of workloads become overwhelming, personnel issues arise, life. or family matters trouble us, it’s easy to get tense or, Recognized in the worse yet, start whining, complaining, sharing our woes category of Cour- with others, and dragging them into our misery. Instead age to Overcome, of being inwardly focused “trying to read the notes,” let’s Israel Tucker listen closely to the people we trust and what is going on smiled broadly as around us and then play from the heart. Our personal a Youth Council values, support system, and professional training will member described take care of the rest, just like Israel. his amazing In looking around at family, friends, mentors, and artistic abilities coworkers in my personal and professional life, I found and persever- some Israel’s. I now appreciate and listen to them more ance to excel in often and more sincerely. numerous extra- curricular activi- I recently volunteered to take on a task that I later ties. Despite discovered was beyond my scope of knowledge - exceed- living with autism, ingly beyond my scope of knowledge. I decided giving in Israel is a self- to panic was not an option. Reneging on my commitment taught pianist, would be the easy way out, but also not acceptable. I organist, and took a step back, weighed my available resources, and composer who immediately identified five or six colleagues who, not surprisingly, answered my call for help. I now have the Israel and Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge practices daily and shares his direction I need to tackle the task in a constructive way, music with his community church. He listens to music and I suspect I will be appreciated for that effort. I took carefully, then his fingers replay effortlessly only from an “Israel” moment and the solution became clear. what he heard. If that’s not enough, he’s also an excel- Any Israel’s in your life? Listen to their wisdom, and lent sculptor and painter. then play life and work…from the heart. His ability to overcome autism and learn to express himself through music and the arts earned Israel the Remarkable Teen award. As he accepted the trophy and applause, Israel bravely stepped up to the podium for his remarks. Where the teens before him fittingly offered the traditional thanks to their families and teachers for the honor, Israel paused at some length, thinking. A serious look replaced the smile and he shared one simple August 2011 3 2011 IIMC International IIMC News DigestIIMC Exchange Program An Exciting Opportunity to Broaden Your Horizons The purpose of the IIMC International Exchange Program is to provide an oppor- tunity for Municipal Clerks to gain knowledge and improve their skills by interacting with their counterparts in other countries. Its aim is to encourage IIMC members to broaden the frame of refer- ence for their thinking, through firsthand experience of a different work environment. IIMC provides two candidates each year with a $1,500 maxi- mum contribution towards their cost of flight/travel. Don’t miss the next opportunity, the Deadline has been extended. Please contact IIMC for more details. Visit our Global Network section on our website at www.iimc.com and apply today. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime! 2009 Exchange Participants The Netherlands United States of America Andries Knevel Pamela Smith, MMC Griffer for the City Clerk, Municipality of Maasbree City of Sanibel, Florida City of Gennep 4 August 2011 MCEF Programs For Municipal Clerks, and State/Provincial