Your New 2021-2022
President's Message |
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August 26, 2021 at the Sheraton Brookfield Ballrooms:
President Bruckman’s Inaugural Speech:
Wow, nothing feels better than to be in this room together, with this group of people. I’ll keep this brief as I know most of you are not here for the speeches, but to see and spend time with the friends that we haven’t been able to connect with in the past two years. As I tried to reflect and find the silver lining in the past two years, the one question that resonated with me is “why do we do what we do.”
It is a question I get asked several times and it is always difficult to find the right words to answer. I believe it is a passion you have deep inside you to want to serve others. It was that passion to serve others that keeps you going even when you think you no longer can.
That is why I chose the theme, Back to the Future. I want you to remember and find your “WHY.”
Think back to the time you started out in local government… you were called to a life of public servitude, why did you answer that call? What is your why? What is your passion? Steve Jobs said it best “The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.”
Thank you for trusting me with the leadership of the WMCA. I hope you will join me at Chula Vista in 2022 to return “back to the future” and find your why.
Sara Bruckman WCMC/CMC
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Recap of the 2021
41st Annual Conference
Together Again!
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"Happy to be here TOGETHER!" Those were the welcoming words from President Wendy Helgeson.
"I’m more than excited to be here, in person, with all of you at conference! Many of us have not seen each other in quite some time and I hope you are as excited as I am! My vision for 2020-2021 was that we are "All in this Together". The theme seemed like an obvious fit at the time."
Wendy was so right and apparently our members felt the same way. The attendance at our first conference since the pandemic shutdown was as high as most of our conferences pre-COVID. 331 clerks and deputies attended the 41st conference along with 43 of our Associate (Vendor) member companies. In addition to three and a half days of great education, we honored many members for their accomplishments not only in the last year but also in the 2019-2020 year.
We say, "Congratulations" one more time to the following members. Click on the following lists to see the WCMC's and WCPC's and IIMC certified members; the clerks that are celebrating their 25th & 26th Work Anniversary this year; the PEC-Professional Education certificate winners; and the long lists of our fellow members that have retired in the last two years.
Congratulate Our Members for their Great Educational Achievements in 2019-2020
Congratulate Our Members for their Great Educational Achievements—2020-2021
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Congratulations to the
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
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The Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA) awarded Marie Moe, City Clerk for the City of Portage with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award during the Annual WMCA Banquet held on August 26th, 2021 at the Brookfield Conference Center.
Marie is a Wisconsin Certified Professional Clerk as well as a Master Municipal Clerk. She has been a member of WMCA since 1989 and is currently serving as First Vice President and will ascend into the role of President in 2022. She has also served on numerous WMCA committees.
Marie has been a professional municipal clerk for 32+ years. Her career in government has been with the City of Portage. Mayor Rick Dodd and City Administrator Shawn Murphy stated, “Marie’s experience, knowledge and commitment as the Portage City Clerk has been a huge asset to the City and she is highly valued by the Mayor and Administrator.” Marie is a role model both as a clerk and a person and her commitment to the Clerk profession and leadership is impressive and has benefited many. Several Past Presidents of WMCA remarked that Marie serves WMCA with pride, patience, commonsense and quiet strength in addition to being an awesome, reliable and respected Clerk in her profession.
Over her career, Marie has attended 30 WMCA conferences, 50 WMCA District trainings, and 12 IIMC Conferences (held in various locations in the United States and Canada). Marie has attended many other training opportunities over her career to benefit her community and her service as a Municipal Clerk.
Marie is also active in the Wisconsin League of Municipalities as well as attending meetings with Wisconsin State Legislators. She is an active member in her church, Portage Historical Society, Portage Center for the Arts, Friends of the Portage Public Library and Historic Indian Agency House along with many other community activities. Needless to say, Marie serves her community inside the walls of the City Hall and also in other community organizations and events.
We extend our congratulations to Marie in obtaining the highest award from WMCA.
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Our Latest Honorary Member!
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President Wendy Helgeson gave out a Honorary Member Award this year. This is a very special award that is not given out very often. This is a special honor given to only the most extraordinary Associate or Liaison members that have really gone above and beyond in their support of the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association. This award has only been given out seven times before in the WMCA’s 41-year history.
President Wendy addressed the attendees during the Thursday Annual Meeting. She talked about the history of the Honorary Member award and then went on to talk about the recipient.
"I think you will all agree that this person is one of the most exceptional people that has ever been associated with the WMCA. She has worked tirelessly for you – the Wisconsin Clerk – for 20 years now. The quality of the education that she has developed and put out for us through the UW-Green Bay Clerks and Treasurers Institute and Master Academy classes have been second to none! She has even won not one but two International Institute of Municipal Clerks Awards for the excellent education she has provided at our institute."
Yes, the very worthy recipient of the WMCA Honorary Member Award for 2021 went to Kassie Van Remortel, the Director of Government Affairs & Economic Development at the UW-Green Bay. President Helgeson presented her with a plaque that said:
Kassie Van Remortel is hereafter designated an Honorary Member
of the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association this 25th day of August 2021
In Appreciation for your Years of Passionate and Dedicated Service
in Providing Award-Winning Education to the Municipal Clerks of Wisconsin
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Winners of the 2021 WCEF Sweepstakes
and 15 Winners of the
$100 Scholarship Drawings
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The following winners of the 2021 WCEF 2nd Annual Sweepstakes were drawn on Friday, August 27th at 11:30 am at the Brookfield Conference Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin:
$1000 – Jim Verbick, City of Madison
$500 – Shelby Hanewold, City of Madison
$250 – Bonnie Chang, City of Madison
$250 – Carolann Yeska, Town of Springwater
$100 – Marilyn Larson, Town of Darien
$100 – Michelle Ebbert, City of Fort Atkinson
$100 – Bonnie Chang, City of Madison
$100 – Happiness at Work Fund, City of Madison
$100 – Peggy Fischer, Town of Sheboygan
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Next, the WCEF Committee gave out $100 scholarship checks to the following 15 conference attendees that attended the full conference and were in attendance at 11:30 am on Friday. Congratulations!
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Virginia Brost, City of Medford
Camila Ramos, City of Superior
Sabrina Waswo, Village of Twin Lakes
Janine Micke, Village of Kimberly
Gwen Watson, City of Mellen
Angela Morgan, City of Durand
Steven Braatz, City of Wauwatosa
Lisa Moen, Village of Cambridge
Amy Vanderhei, (V) of Menomonee Falls
Vicki Tessen, Village of Harrison
Melissa Hongisto, Village of Suamico
Georgia Stanford, City of New Berlin
Becky Bolte, City of Eagle River
Kelly Hurst, City of Black River Falls
Lisa Blechinger, Town of Bear Lake
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Check Out The Following On-Line Webinars & Workshops
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Click here to read all about this great series of five 2-hour sessions put on by the UW-Green Bay this fall. Each session qualifies for 2 hours toward WMCA (WCMC or WCPC) certification.
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The Wisconsin Historical Society has one more Records Management Workshop this year. An overview of the workshop and registration information for the Friday, October 15, 2021 workshop can be found here: https://shop.wisconsinhistory.org/local-government-records-management-oct-15-2021
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The League of WI Municipalities is once again offering a HR for Small Communities Webinar Series. To be held November 9-11 at 10AM each day for 60 minutes. Human Resources for Small Communities | LWM, WI (lwm-info.org)
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"Save the Dates"
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Kassie VanRemortel, Director of Government Affairs & Economic Development, at the UW-Green Bay, would like you to "Save the Date" and watch your email for an invitation to the Gubernatorial Election Academy coming November 18-19.
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WMCA District 6 Co-Directors Barb Van Clake and Cindy Gamb want all District 6 members to save October 8th on your calendar for an in-person Fall District 6 meeting in Stockbridge. Watch your email for details next week.
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| Vendor Demonstrations on our Website |
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Due to circumstances beyond our control, our vendors were not able to have the usual 45 minute vendor demonstrations at our conference this year. Therefore, they have been offered to make a demonstration video and send it in and we posted them on the WMCA website. Check out the first Associate members that took advantage of our offer. Click here to check out the products and services they have for you.
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Get the 2022 42nd Annual WMCA Conference in Your Budget!
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The 2022 42nd Annual WMCA Conference will be at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The actual conference will run from 8:00 am on Thursday, August 25 through Friday, noon, August 26th. There will be Pre-conference classes starting at 8:00 am on Wednesday, August 24th, so make your hotel reservations accordingly. While the true registration fees for this conference will not be finalized until Spring, $175 in your budget for conference registration should cover it. Pre-conference classes run $80-$85 on average. You can click here to go to the 2022 Conference page in the WMCA website for the hotel room costs and reservation information. Please note that Chula Vista does charge your credit card for the first night at the time of making the reservation.
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