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1 Executive Committee President Sandy Paul President Elect Scott Passey Vice President Diana Quinn Secretary Virginia Olsen Treasurer Gina Anderson Board Members Debbie Burke Debbie Clark Randy Hinchliffe Christy O Flaherty Paula Swisher Bobbie Usselman Visit our Website: Founded in 1970, WMCA is a non-profit association that promotes the professional and education standards of Municipal Clerks, County Clerks, and Transit Board Clerks in various local governments of the State of Washington. WMCA N Editor, Rachel Shaw, City of Prosser WMCA NEWSLETTER President s Message LEARN. GROW. LEAD. Sandy Paul, CMC It is so fall! The car s windows can no longer be down in the morning. The environment along Poverty Bay in Redondo is so fresh, and it now has to be kept out unless, of course, the car s heat is cranked up quite a bit! There is certainly no heat in the damp, salt air! That means that an AWC Regional Meeting is coming to a venue near YOU! September 26th was the first of twelve Regional Meetings that will be held by the Association of Washington Cities. The show went on the road to Kent s Showare Center for dinner and networking. This City Clerk was there, joined by Normandy Park City Clerk and WMCA Board member Debbie Burke. AWC CEO Mike McCarty and the staff led an interactive evening of conversation about the recent City Trends report, key emerging issues, AWC preliminary legislative priorities, expectations for 2013, and much more. Many other regional leaders in the area, including MRSC Director Tracy Burrows, who will courageously and steadfastly attend each session, was also there to discuss local issues, challenges, and opportunities that face your regions and the whole state. These meetings are for elected officials, city managers/administrators and CITY CLERKS. And, yes, you DO have an opinion and, yes, those leaders want you to tell them what it is. Will YOU attend a Regional Meeting in your area? There is plenty of time left to sign up. Meetings will be held October 4th in Walla Walla; October 10th in Ellensburg; October 11th in Chewelah; October 17th in Omak; October 18th in Pullman; October 23rd in Longview; October 24th in Bothell; October 25th in Aberdeen; October 30th in Bellingham; November 1st in Port Angeles; and November 7th in Olympia. Dr. Seuss, in his book On Beyond Zebra, encouraged us to challenge our minds to new possibilities; he also encouraged us to tear down artificial walls that restrict our intellectual and creative growth. Seuss said, there s no limit to how much you ll know, depending how far beyond zebra you go. Open your minds, get outside your box, color outside the lines, and sign up for a Regional Meeting. You will be glad you did. Fall also signals the OAMR Conference (Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders) and Education ON THE INSIDE... Academy, which were held September 19th-22nd. Call for Candidates Page 3 President Tori Barnett MMC and her committees put on the conference in Ontario, OR, her own Featured Clerk/Raffles Page 4 home town, that blew our collective sox off. Just Clerk of the Year Page 5 like our own WMCA Conferences do. At the ICCTFOA Institute Page 5 Wednesday Academy, Dr. De Hicks spoke about Leading from the Middle Effective Leadership Legislative Issues Page 6 Strategies Charge but Other People May Not Know WMCA Website Page 6 It Yet. Did you know that stress is, simply, fear? Membership News Page 7 Think about that the next time you are stretched to the max. Scholarships Page 7 WMCA October 2012

2 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Continued from page 1 The Keynote speaker was former City Clerk Stacey McLaughlin who spoke about Shaping Community Life through Storytelling. She believes that we must lead our organizations with a reverence for all human relationships by sharing our stories. The Region IX Directors Kristi Smithers of AAMC and Joan Tilton of CCAC met with the state presidents, Kacie Paxton, AAMC; Tori Barnett (and Stacie Cook, the incoming President), OAMR; Nancy Lima, CCAC; and Sandy Paul, WMCA. The process for which Region IX directors are selected has worked well since the first policy and contract were drafted in In 2013, the contract will need to be updated, however, with new succession dates substituting those that have long since expired. Tori Barnett, OAMR; NCI Director Dema Harris; Region IX Director Kristi Smithers; Sandy Paul, WMCA; Region IX Director Joan Tilton; Nancy Lima, CCAC; Past IIMC President Colleen Nichol; Kacie Paxton, AAMC A discussion was held and it was further agreed that the assciation would increase the amount contributed for Region IX Director travel from $4 per association member to $5. The reality is that in the years when Alaska Clerks are serving as Region IX Director, the travel expenses are considerably higher than in years when Washington, Oregon, or California based directors attend one conference in Alaska. With increased airfare costs for the Alaska based Director, the fund was short last year and the outgoing Director made up the difference out of her pocket. The states fees have now been paid for 2012 by the respective Associations, and with funds in the purse, that Director was reimbursed. The funds used will be supplanted later by the increased fees. Do not forget to include your training and conference needs as your cities proceed through their budget discussions. Think of creative ways to stretch those scarce dollars by sharing rooms, carpooling, and/or partially funding yourself out of your own pocket. No educational or networking opportunity is a waste of time or money. And to invest in furthering your own knowledge demonstrates that you are sincerely interested in advancing your training, experience and career. Lastly, on a sad note, I need to inform you that due to personal reasons, Treva Percival has resigned her position at Pierce Transit and therefore her position as Immediate Past President of WMCA. She is doing well and enjoying being a stay at home mom for the first time. She said she is so thankful for everything WMCA has given her and will truly miss all of the wonderful colleagues, mentors, and friends she has made over the years. Please join me in thanking Treva for her service and dedication to WMCA and the clerk profession for the past 11 years. We will miss you Treva! ~Sandy WMCA October 2012 Page 2

3 CALL FOR CANDIDATES Call for Candidates! -Candidate Packet Deadline: December 31, 2012 By this notice, the Elections Officer and the Membership Committee announces the annual call for candidates to fill board positions on the WMCA Executive Committee. Service in these positions is a great way to fill service requirements for IIMC certifications and a fun way to be involved in the educational, planning and advocacy activities of the Washington Municipal Clerks Association. The following positions are available in this election: President Elect (1-year term) Treasurer (2-year term) Vice-President (1-year term) 2 Board Member positions (3-year term) Job descriptions for the position can be found at (under the Executive Committee tab) as well as complete instructions for declaring your candidacy. Candidate Packets must be received by the Elections Officer (Elizabeth Adkisson, City of Redmond) no later than Monday, December 31, An electronic copy of the application materials is welcome; however, the signed originals of the Declaration of Candidacy and the Letter of Support must be provided in hard copy and received by the December 31st deadline. Candidate Packets must include the four following pieces of information: 1. Declaration of Candidacy: This is a signed, written document containing the following: I declare myself as a candidate for the office of. I declare that I am an active WMCA 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 (mayor, city manager, city/county administrator or CEO), with a photo and candidate statement which I authorize for use in the election process. 2. Candidate Statement: This statement must be no more than 200 words in length, including your name, title, place of employment and a statement of why election to office is sought and must be submitted with your Candidate Packet. All words of more than one letter, all groups of numbers, and abbreviations or acronyms will be counted as one word. 3. Photo: A (2 x 2 ) black and white or color digital photo of you must be submitted with your Candidate Packet. 4. Letter of Support: A letter addressed to WMCA and signed by your mayor, city manager, city/county administrator, or CEO supporting your candidacy and your increased involvement in WMCA must be submitted with your Candidate Packet. Send your complete Candidate Packet to: Elizabeth M. Adkisson, CMC WMCA Elections Officer City of Redmond MS-3NFN PO Box Redmond WA emadkisson@redmond.gov (425) All submittals must be received by December 31, 2012 WMCA October 2012 Page 3

4 OCTOBER FEATURED CLERK BOBBIE USSELMAN, MMC City of Sequim Deputy City Clerk WMCA Webmaster and Executive Committee Member The city of Sequim is located on the Olympic Peninsula and has a population of just under 7,000. Their 2013 Centennial Celebration kicks off October 27, 2012 and will run for the whole year with events every month. The city is well known as the Lavender Capital of the United States. Most of the Olympic Peninsula is a National Park and Sequim is located near the popular ferry ride to Victoria, Canada. Before taking employment with Sequim over 7 years ago, Bobbie was a legal assistant at the City of Port Townsend also working closely with the City Clerk, and before that a trial paralegal in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 4 years where she met her husband at the Calgary Stampede. She was also a trial paralegal for 20 years in Denver. RAFFLES Bobbie was born in Davenport, Iowa and grew up in Le- Claire, Iowa on the Mississippi River population in 1970 was 569; her father was a city councilor for a couple years. Although none of her family lives in LeClaire now, they live within 20 miles of LeClaire, so she always gets to drive through town when she visits. It is a tourist town now and they have done a great job with their Downtown Revitalization grants. LeClaire is famous for the birthplace of Buffalo Bill and home of American Pickers. Bobbie still has many friends from childhood that live in the area. This summer she vacationed a week in northeast Washington with some crazy friends from Calgary and was shortly thereafter gone for a week to a family reunion in northern Michigan. She and her 3 sisters and other tagalong family stayed at a beach house on Lake Michigan for 3 nights and then back to Iowa for a few days. Bobbie was undecided to attend the reunion but figured life is too short, and she loves her sister time. Bobbie has been married to husband Neil for 11 years, they have been together for 15. She is one of six 4 girls, 2 boys, she is the third born. They lost a brother to cancer in Bobbie is a wonderful musician volunteering her time with local bands and orchestras on the Peninsula and also manages Stardust Big Band. She also enjoys camping, eating, drinking, walking, and relaxing. Her other special interests include card making and geocaching. She loves all colors but is always drawn in by earth tones. She likes pretty much all food and limited shellfish like shrimp, crab and lobster! In addition to serving on the Executive Committee and being our Webmaster, Bobbie is on WMCA Membership, Scholarship and Awards Committees. Pat, Renee, Bobbie & Mary During the WMCA Fall Academy on October 5th in Yakima, the 50/50 raffle brought in $155, with $77.50 to WMCA Scholarships, and $77.50 to Holly Pannell, City of Colville. Thanks to all who participated! NEW THIS YEAR! Raffle tickets will be sold for $5.00 each OR 5 for $20 what a deal! Three chances to win: First Drawing is $500, Second Drawing is $750, and Third Drawing is $1,000. The goal is to sell all 1,500 tickets by the drawing at the WMCA Annual Conference Banquet on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the Murano Hotel, Tacoma, WA. Contact Debbie Jermann at (360) or debbiej@c-tran.org for more information. WMCA October 2012 Page 4

5 CLERK OF THE YEAR Think Ahead Nominate Someone for Clerk of the Year! By Bobbie Usselman, Awards Committee Liaison Perhaps the most prestigious award a Clerk can receive is that of Clerk of the Year it s not too early to start thinking about who you will nominate for this award. That s right Clerks can nominate each other! Just ask Ali Spietz, 2012 Clerk of the Year! Past nominees will tell you that just being nominated for this award is an honor in and of itself. 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: 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: Leadership, organization, administration and communications. Legislative and governing body procedures, records management & public relations. Outstanding service to WMCA (time/length of service; service on WMCA Committees, attendance at State conferences, involvement in regional groups and/or IIMC committees) & contribution to the clerk profession. Special projects and community activities and volunteerism. Please note that it is encouraged that nominations be submitted in collaboration with the nominee s elected and/or appointed officials and/or supervisor. Letters will be sent to all members elected and/or appointed officials in a few weeks. 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, More details to come in the November newsletter. ICCTFOA INSTITUTE IDAHO CITY CLERKS, TREASURERS & FINANCIAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION By Scott Passey, MMC President Elect In September, I had the pleasure of attending the Idaho City Clerks, Treasurers and Financial Officers Association (ICCTFOA) Institute in Coeur d Alene, Idaho. President Sandy Paul would typically attend this conference, however the Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders (OAMR) conference was scheduled simultaneously so she sent me to represent the WMCA. The theme of the conference was Back to the Basics: Building a Strong Foundation, which I found quite instructive and appropriate. The curriculum focused on the fundamentals that all clerks, treasurers and finance professional should have in order to succeed in municipal government. Although some of the classes dealt with issues specific to Idaho law with respect to the Open Public Meetings Act and the Public Records Act. The highlight of the conference for me was the keynote speaker, Mark Towers, who has presented to the WMCA in the past. His use of humor, magic (if you can call it that), and thought-provoking stories and aphorisms was both entertaining and instructive. He definitely lived up to his promise to educate, motivate, and make learning fun. Indeed, it was a privilege and honor to attend the ICCTFOA Institute on behalf of WMCA. WMCA October 2012 Page 5

6 Legislative Committee Report By Carol Etgen, WMCA Legislative Committee Chair (From an from Dave Williams, AWC s Director of State & Federal Regulations to AWC Legislative Committee Members some changes made for brevity/ clarification.) On Friday September 28th, the AWC Board reviewed recommendations from the AWC Legislative Committee s deliberations and polling conducted by webinar on September 19th and adopted the preliminary priorities. AWC staff forwarded the recommendations in 3 tiers and suggested grouping those primarily in tiers 1&2 among 3 key themes: Ensure Fiscal Sustainability and Flexibility Foster and Invest in Infrastructure and Economic Development Enhance Service Provision Following discussion, the Board made minor modifications (making sure transportation issue language addressed both multi-modal and sustainable revenues) and adopted the preliminary priorities. Every other issue not noted remains under active review and consideration. AWC will soon post an updated list of these other issues. Most subcommittee chairs will set one more meeting to determine recommended positions on the array of other issues whether or not it s recommended AWC endorse, oppose, monitor or something else for each item. Recommendations will be considered and voted on at the in-person November 15th meeting of the full committee. LEGISLATIVE ISSUES 2013 State Legislative Preliminary Priorities Ensure Fiscal Sustainability and Flexibility Restore diverted liquor revenue and retain existing state-shared city revenues during these fiscally challenging times. Preserve current local revenue authorities like local business licensing and taxes and seek to develop new options. Foster and Invest in Infrastructure and Economic Development Collaborate with the state to increase multi-modal transportation funding and expand sustainable revenue options. Authorize tax increment financing and fine-tune other tools that help foster job creation and retention in cities. Keep funding for critical infrastructure programs like the Public Works Trust Fund and don t divert capital investment dollars to the general fund. Enhance Service Provision Allow cities to be more flexible and responsive to fiscal challenges, such as managing personnel costs. Fund critical mandates like municipal Stromwater and refrain from adding any new unfunded or underfunded mandates. Strengthen public records efforts by curbing abusive requests. The WMCA Legislative Committee appreciates your input about these priorities we will make sure your comments are passed onto the AWC Legislative Committee. WMCA WEBSITE The WMCA website contains myriad of helpful information for new and seasoned clerks. Don t forget you will need your password to access the Discussion Forum where you can post questions you may have and obtain helpful information, and you can learn from reading others questions. If you have trouble logging in, be sure to let Webmaster Bobbie Usselman know, busselman@sequimwa.gov. Also, be sure to check the Job Opportunities tab as postings change regularly. Visit WMCA October 2012 Page 6

7 MEMBERSHIP NEWS Greetings from the Membership Committee!! MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION (Policies and Procedures): There will be some revisions of the Membership Committee Description submitted to the Executive Committee at their October 19, 2012 meeting. The Membership Committee has updated the Election Procedures to mirror them to more standardized election procedures. Specifically, the procedures now identify two types of elections, General and Special. A General Election on the Executive Board takes place at the end of a term and a Special Election occurs when there is a need to fill a vacant Executive Board position with an unexpired term. Additionally, the outline and procedures for the Partnership Program will also be submitted for approval by the Executive Committee in the Membership Committee s 2 nd Quarter report. NEW MEMBERS: Yes, WE ARE GROWING!!! We are now up to THIRTY (30) NEW MEMBERS this year! Please join me in welcoming the newest WMCA members! Dana Daniels, Clerk of the Board, Kitsap County Amber DuCharme, Deputy City Clerk, City of Rainier Brenda Arline, City Clerk, City of Puyallup Lee Knottnerus, Administrative Services Director, City of Ridgefield Additionally, if you know anyone that is considering membership or wants to know more about WMCA, please contact Ronald F. Moore, MMC, Membership Committee Chair. WMCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE This year s conference will be held at the Murano Hotel located in downtown Tacoma from March 19 22, Scholarship applications can be found on the WMCA website and are due on December 7, WMCA SPRING ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY! Have you obtained your CMC status and are now working towards your MMC? If so, you may be eligible for a Margery Price Scholarship. Please look at the Margery Price Scholarship guidelines on the WMCA website. Applications are also due December 7, Questions about scholarship opportunities may be directed to Dee Roberts, City of South Bend at dee.roberts@southbend-wa.gov. October 2012 Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival Port Angeles October 12th 14th Easrshot Jazz Festival Seattle October 12th to November 4th Bird Fest and Bluegrass Ridgefield October 13th & 14th birdfest.html Sekani Trail Run k & 10k Run Spokane October 13th Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival Tacoma October 17th 21st Enumclaw Oktoberfest Enumclaw October 19th & 20th m Gig Harbor Film Festival Gig Harbor October 19th to 21st Portland Expo & Collectibles Show Portland October 27th & 28th Oktoberfest Leavenworth October 12th, 13th, 19th & 20th It s time to fall back. Time change Nov. 4th Published by Clerks for Clerks! If you have any great news to share or ideas for articles for the October edition of the WMCA Newsletter, be sure to them to Melody Valiant at mvaliant@ci.tumwater.wa.us and Rachel Shaw at rshaw@cityofprosser.com WMCA October 2012 Page 7