January 2015 WMCA E-News

In This Issue

• Clerks Testify for the GAB
• 2015 Institute Scholarship App
• Did you receive your Dues Email?
• Rural Development Funding

Check Out These Links

• New Job Postings
• Membership Directory
• Purchase a WMCA Name Badge

About Us

THE WMCA MISSION:
To be the premier source for the personal empowerment of municipal clerks in Wisconsin through education, professional development, and the promotion of excellence.

Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Assoc.

Website:  wisclerks.org

The Joint Legislative Audit Committee held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 14th in Madison as a result of the December 2014 GAB Audit Report.  Over 100 clerks emailed written testimony to the Committee and 25 clerks were in attendance at the hearing.  Kudos to all who were able to participate in one way or the other.  I provided written and oral testimony on behalf of the WMCA. 

Deceased Voters

During my opportunity to speak, Co-Chair Kerkman asked that I follow up with clerks regarding deceased Individuals reported on pages 26-29 of the December Audit.  As a point of information, clerks must go into the system and conduct matches, even if a person has been marked inactive.  This pertains to deaths and felons alike.  Although the number reported with no determinations is quite small with respect to 1852 municipalities, it proves that some are not paying attention to this detail and thus it was an item in this report.  If you have not been able to take care of this detail, please contact an SVRS specialist for assistance.

Clerk Certification

The other topic from the report that I wanted to bring to the clerks’ attention today is on pages 19-21 of the Audit Report pertaining to clerks reporting their required election training to the GAB and becoming certified during a two-year election cycle.  This is a mandatory requirement, not an option.  I would ask that all clerks please check to insure that your training has been report on the MCT form.  Click here to connect to the GAB website for more information on clerk certification and download the MCT form.

Watch the Public Hearing

If you were not able to be in attendance on Wednesday or watch the broadcast live, Wisconsin Eye does have the taping of the public hearing available on their website.  Every clerk should check out what the Joint Legislative Audit Committee had to say, as well as, your fellow clerks’ testimony.

I believe the Committee understood the importance of the GAB in keeping Wisconsin a leader in election administration.  Senator Macco stated they are not looking to remove the education and tools clerks rely on to perform our duties.  That was a huge relief!  I will report any updates I receive.

The UW-Green Bay Clerks and Treasurers Institute in Green Bay is a great place to learn the skills you need to be the best Clerk you can be. For more information regarding the curriculum and registration for the 2015 Clerks Institute on July 12-17, go to the UW-GB website.

Any member planning to attend the Clerks Institute may apply for a scholarship to help with the costs and the 2015 UW-GB Scholarship Application is available now. Completed applications, along with a letter from your Supervisor, Mayor, or Board President stating their support for you to attend the UW Clerks Institute, must be mailed in with a postmark no later than April 15th.  Applications are rejected if they arrive late; the application is incomplete and/or if there is no letter of support from the municipality.  Please read and comply with the rules and stipulations listed above the signature line of the application.  “Don’t forget to sign your application!”

All members are encouraged to apply for a scholarship no matter which year of the institute you are in.  In addition to the scholarships for each of the three years of the Clerks Institute, there are scholarships available for members attending Clerks Completion; the Master Academy or for going back to the Institute on the Alumni Track.

2015 Dues Emails Are Out -
Did you receive your email?

If you are a Regular member or an Associate, your 2015 Membership Dues Email was sent out on December 30th with a due date of January 31, 2015.  The dues for a renewing member are $65 for 2015. 

Have you not received your dues email? OR Did you get the email, clicked on the link to the Dues Website, asked for a password and have not received a password email? OR Have you renewed your membership on-line but have not seen the invoice/receipt email come back to you?

• Is the email sitting in your Junk Mail?
• Have you changed your email address and have not asked us to update your record?  Sometimes even when your provider says your old email address still works, our emails may not get through.

The WMCA has sent out at least 40 different emails in the last year to you, from news updates; district meeting invitations; and conference materials, besides membership emails.

If you have not received your membership dues email, or if you have not received at least one email from the WMCA each month of the last year, click here for the Cvent-WMCA Whitelisting Instructions you should pass along to your internet provider.  They can whitelist the necessary domains so that all of our correspondence will come through to you.  It will only take them a few minutes.  After they have completed the whitelisting, please contact the WMCA Executive Director and let her know you would like the dues email re-sent and you will be able to renew your membership in a matter of minutes.  

Contact Brian Deaner, Community Programs Director, at Rural Development for more information.  Brian’s office is at the United States Department of Agriculture, 5417 Clem’s Way, Stevens Point, WI 54482.  Telephone number: 715-345-7615 ext. 141; email address:  Brian.Deaner@wi.usda.gov.