Thursday, September 9, 2010

Announcing the KMMC Certification!

Through completion of the three-year program known as KMCI (the Kentucky Municipal Clerks' Institute), the certification of CKMC (Certified Kentucky Municipal Clerk) is obtained. Those who have become a CKMC may also choose to work toward a CMC (Certified Municipal Clerk) designation through IIMC. In fact by completing KMCI they will be well on their way toward having the education points required to do so. For those who are IIMC members, after obtaining a CMC status, they are encouraged to work toward the distinguished MMC (Master Municipal Clerk) designation.

Now, starting in 2009, there is a new, intermediate designation that can be achieved by Kentucky Clerks. KMCA has announced the introduction of the KMMC (Kentucky Master Municipal Clerk) designation. For those who have received the CKMC, they may choose to work toward a KMMC - they can do so while working toward a designation through IIMC or this new designation can stand alone. If you have questions about the new program, please contact one of the members of the KMCA Education Committee. If you would like to file your application to the new KMMC program, the application and instructions are available by clicking here.

Calendar

Mark your calendar for these upcoming educational opportunities!

August 18 - 20, 2010 Master Municipal Clerks Academy (MMCA) at Barren River State Resort Park, Lucas, KY
August 2010* - Tentative date - KMCA Membership Meeting during MMCA
Sept. 14 - 17, 2010 KLC Convention in Louisville
Sept. 15 - 18, 2010 Region V Conference in Frankenmuth, MI
May 8 - 12, 2011 IIMC's 65th Annual Conference in Nashville, TN hosted by TAMCAR, our Region V neighbors
July 2011 Kentucky Municipal Clerks Institute (KMCI) tentatively scheduled for Georgetown / Lexington area

Education Overview

Kentucky Municipal Clerks Institute (KMCI)

Since 1980 this educational training program is the only one of its kind in the Commonwealth of Kentucky officially recognized by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). The weeklong program is tailor-made to teach what city clerks in Kentucky need to know. The Institute has also been designed to satisfy the educational requirements necessary to earn the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from IIMC. Upon completing the program by attending the Institute for three years (a total of 120 hours of instruction) and being a dues-paying member of KMCA for at least two years, the Certified Kentucky Municipal Clerk (CKMC) designation is presented by the KMCA. Those who are members of IIMC and interested in pursuing CMC status through that organization will also be ready upon completing the Institute to move forward with that application process. The Institute is held in July and has traditionally been held in Lexington. The Institute Director is Barbara Combs and the program is planned each year with the KMCA Education Committee.

2007 Graduates of the KY Municipal Clerks Institute gathered at Spindletop

Master Municipal Clerks Academy (MMCA)

This training program was started in 1984 so that clerks who have completed the training at KMCI may return for two days of continuing education eacy year. This IIMC recognized program allows the opportunity for additional training that suits several purposes:

Professional development and updated training on issues pertinent to clerks
Satisfying IIMC's re-certification process for CMC's
Earning education credit toward the Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation through IIMC

Education Foundation / Kitty Johnson Scholarship

The Education Foundation was created in 1987 to memorialize the contribution of "Kitty" Johnson, retired Council Clerk of Lexingon, to KMCA. She was a founding member of the KMCA and was instrumental in initiating the KMCA Certification Program in 1980. The KMCA Board continues the vision of Kitty, that all Kentucky Clerks have the opportunity for educational development. Applications are available on the website and are accepted each year from January 1 - March 1.

CMC certificate from IIMC

Those who complete KMCI (over 3 years) and are KMCA members for at least 2 years become a CKMC.

They may then choose to put this training toward educational requirements to receive CMC status from IIMC.

After becoming a CMC through IIMC, many clerks work toward the prestigious MMC designation.

Other Training Opportunities/Conferences

REGION V CONFERENCE

KMCA also meets with the representatives from Region V of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, comprised of clerks from the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, and Michigan. The location rotates through these five states. The conference consists of one full day of training and one half-day session which includes the annual business meeting. In recent years this meeting has been held in early December though the date changed temporarily to February and has now been pushed back to fall.

The 2010 Region V Conference will be held Sept. 15 - 17 in Frankenmuth, MI.

The 2009 Region V Conference was held February 19 -21 in Columbus, Ohio; click here to see a review and photos.

The 2007 Region V Conference was held in the Franklin / Cool Springs area just south of Nashville, TN (Anyone who attended the conference in TN is welcome to submit comments for addition to this space. - There is no conference listed for 2008 because of a gap when the date changed from late fall to February.)

A review of the 2006 Region V Conference KMCA was proud to host the annual Region V Conference 11/30/2006-12/2/2006 in Covington, Kentucky. The total registration was one hundred fifty four clerks and their guests from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Participants arriving Thursday evening were able to enjoy a networking suite and visit a vendor exposition by five diverse companies: United Systems, American Legal Publishing, Capital Software, BIS Digital, and Sherrill D. Morgan and Associates. After a welcome by Mayor Callery on Friday morning, our speakers were James Driver and Laura Cook. The afternoon session was a unique opportunity for guided or independent tours of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center just across the river in Cincinnati. Friday night's dinner was held at Turfway Park which offered live horse racing and a chance to enjoy conversation with contemporaries from across the Region. As the business meeting wrapped up on Saturday, the clerks from Tennessee invited everyone to attend the next Region V Conference.

IIMC ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Kentuckians Pyles, Lincoln and Kemper pose at the Atlanta Conference. Click here to link to a review of the 2008 Conference! Meet your professional counterparts from across the country and across the world. Attending an International Conference is a one-of-a-kind experience where you will find outstanding educational sessions and incomparable networking opportunities. The 2007 Conference was held in New Orleans and a few Kentucky Clerks made the trip. The 2008 conference in Atlanta was a little closer to home for KY Clerks choosing to drive. The 2009 Conference will be held in Chicago followed by the Reno/Tahoe area of Nevada in 2010. And don't forget our fellow Region V members from TAMCAR will host the 2011 Conference in Nashville. The last time this conference was held in our Region we spent a few days "Preserving the Past, Exploring the Future" at the 2003 Conference in Columbus, Ohio which was very well attended by KY Clerks. The reception at a conservatory which was having a butterfly show is just one fond memory of the special events OMCA planned.

Harris, Batliner, Pyles and Kemper at Stone Mountain in Georgia. Collage from 2003 IIMC Conf in Columbus. Seen at top are Coburn, then KMCA Pres. Scott, Barto and Kramer. Seen at bottom right are KY Clerks at the banquet.