• President's Message
• 2017 WMCA Conference
• New Officers for 2017-18
• Election for Resolution
• Conference Scholarships
• District T-Shirt Fundraiser
• WCEF Money Raffle
• 2017-18 District Directors

Check Out These Links

• New Job Postings
• WMCA Membership Directory

District 1      
Connie Iacobello, City of Mellen
Cindy Pritzl, Village of Butternut

District 2       
Tracy Carlson, Village of Baldwin
Frances Duncanson, City of Amery

District 3       
Claudia Fields, Alma Center
Michelle Loken, Village of Strum

District 4       
Lois Frank, Village of Cambria
Marie Moe, City of Portage

District 5       
Michelle Ebbert, City of Fort Atkinson
To Be Determined  

District 6       
Cindi Gamb, Village of Kohler
Sue Born, Town of Mosel

District 7       
Angie Cain, Town of Grand Chute
Vicki Tessen, Village of Kimberly

District 8       
Valerie Foley, City of Rhinelander
Kendra Moraczewski, Town of Boulder Junction

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

Seems as though summer is finally here, and we can enjoy the warm weather for the next three + months.  I hope you’re all doing well, and catching up on stuff given there aren’t any elections until February!  May was particularly busy for me as I attended the Northern Conference with around 150 Clerks.  It was another rousing success!  I had a couple of weeks at work, and then travelled to Montreal, Canada for the IIMC Conference, and this year was spectacular.  Perhaps it was the authentic smoked meat, croque monssier, or the delicious cup of chocolate I had, but the classes were awesome and the venue was as well.  If you ever have a chance to go to Montreal, trust me; you’ll love it.  I left Montreal for a week at Walt Disney World to celebrate my wife receiving her Doctorate (I’m married to a Dr.!) and then we came back home to see my nephew graduate high school in River Falls.  I blinked and May was over.

Back here at home, the Conference Committee has been busy planning for our Annual Conference at the Kalahari, and we all think it’s going to be fantastic.  Remember, the President’s Tailgate is already included with the cost of your registration, so come for some fun games and great food!  The classes the PEC lined up for us look awesome and the committee is getting some great door prizes for everyone.  Additionally, the big fundraiser for the WCEF is our baseball shirts.  The order form is attached to conference registration, and we’re looking to get a group picture the night of the President’s Tailgate…so make sure to order one and wear it! 

I want to congratulate the new (and returning) District Directors and Elected Officers for 2017-18.  I am so excited to swear you in at conference!

I also want to congratulate the latest CMC-Certified Municipal Clerk announced by IIMC - Christa J. Miller, CMC - Deputy Clerk - City of Oak Creek.

Big Congratulations to the latest retirees!
Donna Austad, Clerk, City of Eau Claire, will be retiring on July 20^th after 30 years in Eau Claire; Mary Klingenmeyer, Deputy Clerk City of Baraboo, is retiring August 1; Lynn Meyer, Deputy Clerk for the Village of Hartland has just announced she is retiring on September 5, 2017; Laura Johnson, Deputy Clerk from the Village of Richfield is retiring on July 7th; and Lois Havenor, Clerk/Treasurer; Village of Eleva is retiring today, June 23, after 24 years.

I’ve been working with 1^st Vice President Barb Goeckner as we begin our transition from my year to hers her, and I know she’s going to be a GREAT President.  As always if you have anything you’d like to share, ask or comment on my phone and email inbox is always open.  Thank you again for this tremendous opportunity; I really can’t say it enough! 

  

                                               


Chris Astrella WCPC
WMCA 2016-17 President

P.S.  A little hello from the Dr., Montreal and Mary Poppins

EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS JULY 17TH! Get your registration in for the 37th Annual WMCA Conference in Wisconsin Dells August 22-25, 2017. This is a year of the extended Conference.  Pre-Conference Day is Tuesday, August 22nd; The Conference is from Wednesday morning, August 23rd through 11:30 am on Friday, August 25. 

The on-line 2017 WMCA Conference Website and Registration is Available Now!  Click Here!  You can also download the 14-page Conference Brochure to read all about the offerings this year.

PLEASE NOTE:  There will NOTbe a UW-Green Bay Master Academy Class at the conference site on Tuesday.  I know we initially stated there would be a UWGB class coming, however, that option has now been cancelled.  Therefore, there will only be the New Clerks Class or an Athenian Dialog to choose from for Tuesday this year.  But remember, you will want to come in by Tuesday evening anyway, so that you can hit the ground running with breakfast and the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday morning.

All Associate Members should have received their Conference Booth Registrations by now and many have already signed up.  If you have not seen the vendor conference information, please contact Faith Elford at coordinator@wisclerks.org.

My decision to seek the position of 2^nd Vice President was an easy one because I want to serve you and WMCA.  WMCA is a strong organization through past and present leadership and I believe I can keep the momentum moving.  I was asked by one of our past Presidents where should we be as an organization?  My answer was simple – Respected!  Municipal Clerks and staff should be respected and our field should be desired.  For as many clerks that stay the course, we have many who leave the profession after a short time.  We need to continue our march to educate our governing bodies of the importance of our role in local government and about the value of the position.  We need to remain organized by continuing to work together to foster positive change.  We need to have a respected voice at work and to be able to feel good about the job we do and have the confidence to do it to the best of our ability.  We are the frontline in our communities and our opinions and best practice suggestions should be VALUED.  Our jobs are and have always been a professional service career and through WMCA’s efforts of educating and working with others in municipal and State government, we are bringing long overdue respect to our profession.  I believe I can keep that fire ignited and will work hard to do so.  WMCA provides exceptional education for all at an affordable cost and from my personal experience, this was and is a life-line in my professional career.  I am asking you to trust that I am passionate and care very much for each of you, your success and our WMCA organization.  My goal is to help all Municipal employees achieve continued learning, professional development and confidence, and invite and encourage you to grow and extend beyond where you are today.  Supporting continuing education is not only a good idea; it’s a good investment for growth.  I am ready, willing and able to serve you to the best of my ability and promise to invest the time and energy necessary to continue to make you and this wonderful organization shine. 

My name is Wendy Helgeson and I am the Town Clerk for the Town of Greenville. I have a fun, supportive staff of two who help perform the statutory duties and provide customer service to the residents of Greenville.

Prior to becoming the Town Clerk in Greenville, I worked for the City of Appleton for eight years. I started in the Clerk’s office at the City of Appleton as an Administrative Assistant for five years primarily processing licenses, entering voter registrations, absentee ballot requests and providing customer service. I was promoted to Deputy City Clerk for two years before accepting the role of Town Clerk for the Town of Greenville.

Since I am a big believer in education and the power of networking, I support WMCA and the Clerks and Treasurers Institute. I have become increasingly involved in these organizations. I began my involvement by serving on the Advisory Board for the UWGB Clerks and Treasurers Institute. I was then on the WMCA 2016 Conference Committee, elected to serve as the Secretary for District 7 in 2016 and reappointed in 2017. I currently serve as the WMCA Secretary and proud to serve you again in 2017-2018. I was a co-instructor at the Northern Conference this year and will be co-instructing a class this year at the UWGB Clerk’s and Treasurers Institute.

For fun, I enjoy being outside any chance I get! I also like to cook, bike, travel, but most of all, I love spending time and laughing with those I love. I am a proud mother of two – my daughter Madison just turned 18 (graduated, yay!) and my son Hunter is 15, who will be a Sophomore next year!  My children’s involvement in rugby and football has kept me busy after work and on the weekends.

You will recognize me by my Snoopy necklace, one Snoopy earring and one Woodstock earring.  Yes, I am obsessed with the Peanuts characters and Charles M Schulz. The household is run by two cats, Connor (10) and Henry (6) and I have been afforded the privilege of being the live-in help. My weekdays are spent as the Clerk for the Town of Algoma located in Winnebago County. This is a very exciting time to be in this position. The Town now has an Administrator in charge and we are looking at economic growth, the Highway 21 corridor, rebranding and building a new park.   

In the past I have served as Co-Director of District 6 with Barb Van Clake and Debbie Galeazzi. It is time for me to again take a more active role in WMCA by asking for your support as I become your Director at Large for 2017-2018.  

WMCA has always been an excellent source for education and in the future this ability to provide relevant knowledge will become more important. Without WMCA, no clerk would be able to keep up with all the changes in election management, Board of Review, Liquor Licensing, Wisconsin Retirement System and legislative law.

It is not only the education of the clerks that is necessary, but also the education of municipal boards. There are still communities that perceive that the clerk only functions as a secretary. WMCA needs to keep on educating these boards and the public at large.   

One of the fringe benefits of WMCA is the opportunity to create new friendships and acquaintances. Members then have the benefit of contacting others when they run into difficulties. Of course, that goes two ways and others have the benefit of contacting them when they need assistance.  Sometimes, talking through a problem with someone who has a shared knowledge creates a better solution then you could have come up with by yourself.  WMCA is the “premier source for the personal empowerment of municipal clerks in Wisconsin…”

In January 2017, a request for a Constitutional amendment was submitted to the Board of Directors.

Our current Constitution allows for participation in meetings via telephone, but at the discretion of the President.  Based on who is president, this could prohibit WMCA elected directors and officers from participating when they are unable to attend meetings in person.

With the ever increasing responsibilities in our offices, weather conditions, or many other factors, it may not always be possible to physically attend a scheduled meeting.  That said, I respectfully ask for your support in approving this Constitutional amendment as it will provide for greater participation from Board of Directors who volunteer to serve you.

Karen Weinschrott, WCPC/CMC
2016/2017 Manuals Chairperson

Please read over the following resolution and be prepared to vote Yes-to approve or No-to reject the amendment:

WMCA RESOLUTION #2017-01

WHEREAS, at the May 5, 2017, WMCA Board of Directors meeting a motion was made and seconded to approve the newly-revised and codified Constitution:

                Articles 6 has been revised with the addition of 6.8 Attendance by technology.

While in person attendance is encouraged, any and all members of the WMCA Board may attend, participate in discussion, and vote on any matter before the Board by use of telephone or other conferencing technology when at the discretion of the individual board member, they determine they have the need to do so.The Executive Director is responsible for making sure technology is available at all meetings.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the WMCA Board of Directors recommends approval of the newly-revised and codified Constitution as presented.

Adopted this 5th day of May 2017.

You can click here to fill out a scholarship application on-line or Click here for a paper version of the 2017 Annual WMCA Conference Scholarship Application.   The scholarship application deadline is June 30th. The submitted applications will be reviewed and scored for timeliness and completeness and awarded at the WCEF Committee meeting to be held in July. DO NOT FORGET to send in a letter of support from your supervisor or chief elected official.  Scholarship recipients will be notified by email and letter of their award as soon as possible thereafter so arrangements for conference attendance can be made. Apply Now!

Let’s Play Ball!

2017 WCEF FUNDRAISER

Support Your WMCA District Team

These shirt orders must be picked up at the 2017 Annual Conference at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells. 
If you are not attending, make sure to find a friend that is attending and can pick up your order.