To make sure you receive future emails, please add info@wisclerks.org to your address book or safe list. September 2025 WMCA E-Newsletter Issue 09 - 2025 In This Issue: President's Message 2025 Conference 2026 Conference WCMC & WCPC Applications Due Our Address has Changed! WMCA Recipe Book Submissions Upcoming Meetings Links: Career Ads 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. President's Message Hello WMCA Members, Thank you for trusting me with this role as your President.  I am excited, deeply humbled, and extremely nervous to serve in this capacity.  It has been a quite journey to get here and I am forever grateful for all the lessons this journey has taught me.  November 1, 2021, I began my journey into Clerk World and had no knowledge of what being a municipal clerk entailed so I studied everything...every manual, every state statute, every training guide, registered for every training, and joined as many clerk-related committees as I possibly could. This journey has taught me that self-doubt was okay to have, your colleague’s skepticism of your ability to lead was okay, not knowing the process and making mistakes were okay, but giving up was never okay.  I took all the culminated doubt from all around me and used them as fuel in my motivation tank and pressed on. This journey placed remarkable people in my life–people like Anne Uecker, Joan Andrusz, Biana Shaw, Janis Bates, Dr. Jai Ulrich, Kelly Meyer, Cindi Gamb, and my Village Manager, Rebecca Ewald, who’ve all helped me to see that I've always possessed the visionary, resilient ability to lead; I just had to believe in myself and valued my worth. To the full WMCA Board and committee chairs, your behind-the-scenes collaborative work has made a significant impact on my professional growth. To all who’ve volunteered their time and talents to serve on our committees, I appreciate you for all your compassionate labor of love in keeping this organization connected. Your efforts will never go unnoticed by me. I look forward to continuing to work alongside such a dedicated group of professionals. Thank you to my husband who is my rock, my life-partner, and my greatest cheerleader.  Thank you for your unwavering love and support.  I truly could not have made it to this point without you by my side. To my amazingly intelligent, multitasking, problem solving, hardworking, dedicated, strong, good troublemaking clerks, each of you play a pivotal role in keeping our local governments running with integrity, professionalism, and excellence. Whether a veteran clerk or one who is new to your role, WMCA should be a source of motivation, support and encouragement for all and I will lead in providing that to you.  We can only provide the best of ourselves when we are at our best and as we look towards the upcoming year, my focus as your President will be on you in making sure you are taking care of yourselves so that you functioned at your very best, because you matter. I promise to listen to your needs, advocate loudly for you and lead with the same level of professionalism you all bring to your communities daily.  Thank you again for this incredible honor. I’m excited about our journey together. Toya Harrell President, Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA) 2025 Annual Conference Reflection 2025 WMCA Annual Conference La Crosse Center - La Crosse, Wisconsin Conference Highlights: Rising Star Award - First ever recipient Kaitlyn Bernarde 30 Clerks received their WCMC certification awards Anne Arndt was awarded with her WCPC certification and  Lisa Pelkey and Becky Tellier received their IIMC CMC Certification 8 Clerks received Awards for Professional Education 8 Clerks celebrated 25 years or more of being a municipal clerk Chris Dehnert, WCMC, City of Oconomowoc  Jaymie Kunkel, WCMC, CMC, Village of Sharon  Julie Strutz, WCMC, CMC, City of Reedsburg  Barbara Van Clake, WCPC, MMC, City of Omro  James Wendt, WCPC, CMC, Town of Watertown  Susan Westerbeke, WCMC, City of Port Washington  WCEF raised $9,413 from Silent Auctions, 50/50 raffles and raffle tickets Over 360 municipal clerks from accross Wisconsin were in attendance From dueling pianos to friendship bracelets, it was a week of connection, laughter, learning, and lasting memories   2026 Annual Conference Updates KI Convention Center - Green Bay, Wisconsin August 18 – August 21, 2026 When one conference ends, another is on the horizon! Looking ahead to the 2026 WMCA Conference in Green Bay, rooms filled up quickly at our host hotel, The Hyatt Regency. While they have sold out of rooms in our WMCA block, we are setting up additional room blocks with area hotels and will list these on the conference page on our website as they come in!  Please check our website for updates: 2026 Conference Info   WCMC & WCPC Applications Due Soon! Deadline: October 1, 2025 October 1st is approaching soon – are you ready to apply?   Applications for those pursuing Wisconsin Certified Municipal Clerk (WCMC) status are due October 1st.  We are very excited to review your application and share joy when we can check the box, “Approved”!  Be sure to read the application carefully and thoroughly.  We have made updates to the application, but don’t worry you can use the prior version.  Don’t forget to submit your payment, check all of the applicable boxes, sign, notarize, include letter of support and of course – proof of your points!   Achieving certification is an amazing accomplishment and we can’t wait to celebrate you! Co-Chairs Steve Braatz and Michelle Ebbert   Scan and email all required application materials to info@wisclerks.org and pay online with credit card or E-Check, or mail all applications to: Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association C/O UW–GB 2420 Nicolet Drive CL109 Green Bay, WI 54311 Make checks payable to WMCA, or pay online here: Pay Here   Our Address Has Changed! Please note that our address has changed! Please send all physical correspondance to: Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association C/O UW–GB 2420 Nicolet Drive CL109 Green Bay, WI 54311 There's Still Time to Add to the WMCA Recipe Book! Do you have a go-to dish that always gets rave reviews? A family favorite, crowd-pleasing appetizer, or irresistible dessert? We want to feature your recipe in the WMCA Recipe Book! We're collecting recipes from our members to create a delicious collection that reflects the creativity and community spirit of WMCA. Whether it’s sweet, savory, simple, or gourmet—we’d love to include it! Click on the button below to submit your recipe today! Submit your Recipe!   Upcoming Meetings You'll Want to Attend! District 8 Meeting in Rhinelander | Wednesday, September 17th 8am-3pm Join WMCA President Toya Harrell and fellow District 8 members at the Oneida County Law Enforcement Center, Rhinelander, WI for a day of education, networking, and certification credits. Lunch will be provided and there will be a drawing for free admission to the next meeting as well as another surprise prize. Sign up here: District 8 Meeting Registration   Board of Directors Meeting (hybrid) | Friday, October 3rd 10am -3pm Join us via Zoom: Meeting ID: 913 4045 0821 Meeting Passcode: 647187 Here is the Zoom Link: Join the BOD Zoom Meeting (10.3.2025)   Save The Date: District 5 Meeting in Sussex 10/23/2025 District 2 Meeting at the Village of Baldwin EMS building on 11/13/2025 Associate Ads www.wisclerks.org Copyright © WMCA, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association C/O UW-GB                                                              CL 109                                                              2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311 info@wisclerks.org If you no longer want to receive emails from 2025 WMCA E-Newsletter, please Opt-Out.