CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
Official Word
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
HOLIDAY TEA WITH JB
UPCOMING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
SANTA CRUZ CLERK-A-PALOOZA!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
MENTOR PROGRAM UPDATE
TREASURER’S REPORT AND BUDGET OVERVIEW
IIMC FOUNDATION –CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT FUND
BOOK CLUB
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
JESSICA BLAIR, MMC
Happy New Year, everyone!
I hope each of you had a nice holiday season with a chance to take a break and enjoy whatever it is that recharges you. I enjoyed spending time at my dad’s for a few days before Christmas, enjoying Christmas at home, then spending a week in Louisiana with my partner’s family. It was a nice ending to the year, and I look forward to what’s to come this year both for each of us personally and professionally and together as an Association. The future is bright!
ALASKA STATE CONFERENCE
In December, I had the honor of representing CCAC at the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks Annual Conference in Anchorage, Alaska! It was my first time to Alaska, and I have to say, I was so impressed by the Alaska clerks! What an awesome group of dedicated people. Many clerks were friendly and introduced themselves and I enjoyed talking about the differences in how they do their jobs there compared to us here. It’s always eye-opening to realize how different our roles are in the global clerk community but at the same time, so similar. I loved watching April Trickey, who you all met in April in San Diego, finish her Presidency and to see the joy on her face during the week. She did such a great job representing AAMC And putting together a stellar conference for members. Congrats to Dani Snyder who was sworn in as President (and will join us in San Jose!), and to Kim Lane who won Clerk of the Year and was sworn in as 1st VP.
JESSICA BLAIR
2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE –SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER!
Join us this spring for the Annual Conference at the Signia Hotel in San Jose, April 30-May 2!
This year’s conference education will feature a variety of general session topics in addition to breakout sessions geared toward both beginners and intermediate / advanced attendees. Topics include minutes, communication, legislative body services, and a featured general session will discuss the importance of election integrity. The conference is worth 3.5 CMC/MMC points (pending IIMC approval).
Pre-Conference Sessions will take place on Tuesday, April 29. Registration is limited to 30 attendees, so register early if you’re interested! Institute Director Randi Johl will lead the Advanced Academy focused on “Contributing to the Creation of a More Inclusive Organization.” Hollister City Clerk Jennifer Woodworth will facilitate the Athenian Dialogue, covering Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know.
In addition to our exciting slate of sessions, we have some fantastic events lined up for you! Please join us for lunch on Wednesday to honor our fellow clerks with recognitions and the presentation of our Awards of Distinction. On Thursday, we have a special lunch planned with remarks from our Honored Guests and the ever-popular live auction! Wednesday evening is a free night, perfect for spending time with your peers or exploring the vibrant city of San Jose. This is also the evening when our generous sponsors typically host fun networking events, so be sure to check those out!
To close out the conference week, don’t miss the Annual Banquet, where we will honor the Clerk of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award winners. The Board will also transition for the next year. The night will conclude with a DJ and dancing, making it a great event to continue networking and celebrating our peers. The banquet is included as part of your conference registration, so make sure to join us! This year’s banquet is ‘come as you are’ and celebrate our awardees, new board members, each other, and CMCA’s future! Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable, we just want to see you there!
If you haven’t already, please check out the 2025 Conference webpage here, which includes the link for the hotel room block as well as the draft schedule of events.
If you’ve never been to San Jose, check out some fun facts here!
CMCA LOGO!
Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey! With almost 400 responses… the winning logo is…
There was a lot of great feedback included with the votes. We will use that feedback to modify this logo set very slightly, but the response and excitement was great, and I truly appreciate each of you that took the time to respond and provide thoughtful comments. We will be making a round version as well!
Keep an eye on emails for merchandise with the new logo to be available on our online store before the conference. There just might be a surprise between now and then as well.
CCAC BOARD ELECTIONS
Ballots will be sent to membership on January 13, 2025. Thank you to those of you who stepped up to run for leadership – giving your time to volunteer to help see our association forward is an honorable task! I encourage each of you to volunteer for committees or other opportunities as you’re able and consider leadership positions in the future. It’s a rewarding task!
Below are the candidates for this year’s election:
• President – Ashton Arocho
• 1st Vice President – Suzanne Guzzetta
• 2nd Vice President –Britt Avrit; Michael MacDonald
• Recording Secretary – Debra Black
CCAC BOARD MEETING – JANUARY 21, 2025
• Director of Legislative Affairs – Kerry Bigelow
• Director of Member Services –Thai Nam Pham; Jennifer Woodworth
• Director of Professional Development –Holly Charlety
The Board of Directors will hold its first meeting of the year on January 21 at 11 a.m. Zoom link will be included in email when agenda is distributed. Join us if you can!
HOLIDAY TEA WITH JB
MARY CUSICK, DIRECTOR OF NETWORKING
On December 17, President Jessica Blair held a Holiday Tea with JB. Members who joined in with their beverage of choice received some “face time” with several members of the board to hear updates of general interest, including the final nominations for the 2025 election, upcoming education opportunities, mentor updates, changes to the Scholarship Policy, legislative updates, and the membership-chosen logo for the association name change to California Municipal Clerks Association.
December’s Tea with JB ended with a holiday-themed Kahoot! and prizes donated by our generous sponsors:
• Mike Garcia from Sweetwater Authority was at the top of the podium taking first place and received a laptop donated by NetFile.
• Joey Blaine, McKinleyville Community Services District, was the runner up in second place and was awarded a $100 Amazon gift certificate donated by Granicus. Kerry Bigelow, City of Chula Vista, took third place and received a $50 Amazon gift certificate donated by eScribe.
The next Tea with JB will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 10. Mark your calendars now!
SYLVIA M. BERMUDEZ
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UPCOMING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
HOLLY M. CHARLÉTY, MMC, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Check out these upcoming education opportunities through CCAC! You can always find upto-date information on the CCAC website community calendar For questions, please feel free to email pdd@ californiacityclerks.org
Where When Topic
Virtual 1/15/2024
Virtual 1/22/2025
Virtual 1/23/2024
New Mentor Training Register Here
New Law Recap Webinar with CCAC Lobbyist
FREE Education Event!
Leadership for City Clerks: Leading People, Projects, and a Positive Culture for your City Sponsored by Netfile
Registration Closes 1/17/2025
Registration Closed
La Mirada 1/23/2025
Brea 2/6-2/7/2025
Hayward 2/7/2025
Virtual 2/12/2025
San Marcos 2/14/25 and 2/18-2/21/25
Fowler 2/28/2025
Fowler 2/28/2025
San Jose 4/30/25–5/2/25
Athenian Dialogue: Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls
Southern Nuts and Bolts
ARMA/CCAC Education Event
Registration Closes 1/17/25
Registration Full
Certified Records Analyst (CRA) Designation Prep Registration Coming Soon
Municipal Book Club: Chapter 16 – Records Management Register Here
CMC Institute (Series 300)
Athenian Dialogue: The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
Registration Full
Registration Closes 2/14/25
Networking Event! Happy Hour at Station 48 Taproom Registration Coming Soon!
CCAC Annual Conference Shaping our Future Together Register Here
HOLLY M. CHARLÉTY
SANTA CRUZ CLERK-A-PALOOZA!
BRITT AVRIT, CCAC REGION 14 REP, SARATOGA CITY CLERK AND JEN WOODWORTH, CCAC REGION 13 REP, HOLLISTER CITY CLERK
You won’t believe what we forgot to tell you about in our previous newsletters! Clerks from across the region gathered in Santa Cruz for Clerk-a-Palooza, a weekend packed with workshops, networking, and insightful discussions and an Athenian.
On Friday, Britt Avrit and Jen Woodworth led a training on two topics clerks often encounter but receive little practical training for: taking minutes and writing staff reports. Attendees learned about minutes basics and then had the opportunity to apply these to real world examples. Participants also shared their knowledge and experiences from the trenches as they discussed best practices and how to handle those uncommon and at times uncomfortable situations, such as hate speech, acrimonious legislative bodies, and frustrated members of the public.
After lunch, Jen and Britt helped attendees learn how to draft a staff report on “darn near anything” as they discussed the various elements of a staff report and the differences between academic and policy writing. Attendees again gained practical experience as they participated in an exercise aimed at creating and revising a staff report on a topic about which they had little knowledge.
After the training, participants had the opportunity to have professional headshots taken by Shutterbug. We then headed to a local restaurant for more networking before heading home or to the hotel for those attending the Athenian Dialogue the next morning. A huge THANK YOU to Tom Diebert and NetFile, who sponsored the headshots and networking event.
On Saturday, eleven clerks from around the state discussed the book No Pains, No Gaines: The Good Stuff Doesn’t Come Easy. Chip Gaines, from the show Fixer Upper and the Magnolia Network, explored the need for people to create networks not by simply adding people to your network to facilitate favors, but by seeking to build authentic and lasting relationships. Gaines encourages everyone to be uncomfortably kind as they connect and get to know people from all walks of life and be willing to take risks as we turn off our daily autopilot way of walking through life.
If you are interested in hosting a future regional event or Athenian Dialogue or have a topic you want to suggest for a future training, please let us know or contact Holly Charléty, Professional Development Director.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
KERRY BIGELOW, MMC, DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
A NEW YEAR OF PROGRESS: LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM OUTLOOK FOR 2025
As we welcome the new year, the Legislative Program is poised for an exciting and impactful 2025. Our commitment to advancing key policies, supporting members, and advocating for change remains strong. This year, we will continue to focus on critical issues facing the municipal clerk profession, including legislative reforms, regulatory updates, and fostering positive relationships with policymakers.
With a renewed focus on collaboration, we look forward to working with our CMCA members to amplify our collective voice and ensure our priorities are heard. As always, our advocacy efforts will center on supporting a thriving and sustainable future for the municipal clerk profession.
We encourage you to stay engaged with us in 2025—whether through attending training, contributing to our policy discussions, or reaching out with your thoughts on key legislative matters. Together, we can make a difference.
Happy New Year! Here’s to a year of progress, partnerships, and positive change.
UPCOMING TRAINING:
2024 Legislative and Legal Recap: Key Updates and Implications for Municipal Clerks Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 10 AM – 12 PM (Virtual) Cost: Free (open to CMCA members only) Register online here
For more information, visit the CMCA website or contact Legislative Affairs Director Kerry Bigelow at kbigelow@chulavistaca.gov. Stay connected and involved as we step into an exciting year of advocacy and growth.
KERRY BIGELOW
CLERK SMARTER ,
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MENTOR PROGRAM UPDATE
BY CANDICE ALVAREZ, MMC, MENTOR DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
As we step into 2025, it’s a natural moment to reflect on the past year’s milestones and successes while setting our sights on the possibilities ahead. The year 2024 was remarkable for our mentoring program and for the many municipal clerks who achieved significant professional accomplishments. These achievements demonstrate not only individual perseverance but also the collective strength of our community in fostering growth, collaboration, and excellence within our profession.
First, I’d like to highlight the progress of mentor assignments for the mentees who attended the August Nuts & Bolts training, the October CMC Institute, and the November Nuts & Bolts training. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our mentors and the eagerness of our mentees, the total number of mentor-mentee connections made in 2024 reached an impressive 138. These partnerships are the heart of our program, creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing, professional development, and lasting connections within our field.
It’s also my privilege to celebrate the municipal clerks who earned their Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) and Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designations in 2024. These certifications represent the pinnacle of our profession, achieved through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
In 2024, we saw an outstanding 56 individuals achieve their CMC and 16 earn their MMC designation. These accomplishments are a testament to personal determination, the strength of our mentoring program, and the unwavering support from colleagues and agencies statewide. Following are those who earned their designations since our last issue of the Official Word:
CANDICE ALVAREZ
CMC
Wendi Simons City Clerk Executive Assistant City of Gover Beach
Dayna Willians-Hunter City Clerk City of Hawthorne
Additionally, I’d like to express my gratitude to the 30 clerks who stepped forward to become mentors in 2024. By sharing their time, knowledge, and experience, these mentors are helping to shape the next generation of municipal clerks. Their leadership has enriched the program and created countless opportunities for success.
This year, we were also inspired by the mentors who attended the League of California Cities City Clerks New Law & Elections Seminar. Their dedication to ongoing professional growth and their commitment to mentoring others exemplify the very best of our field. Be sure to check out the photo below of some of our amazing mentors!
Looking ahead to 2025, I’m thrilled to announce the development of a new MMC Mentor Program. Building on the success of our CMC mentoring model, this initiative will focus on addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by clerks pursuing their MMC designation. The program will include specialized mentor training and resources designed to support advanced professional growth. Stay tuned for updates as we move closer to launching this exciting addition to our mentoring offerings.
Don’t forget! The next New Mentor Training is just around the corner. If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, join us for the upcoming online session on January 15, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Click here to register!
Every milestone we achieve, whether through certifications or mentoring connections, reflects our shared commitment to excellence in municipal service. Let’s carry this momentum forward into 2025, continuing to support and celebrate one another’s successes.
Congratulations to all of our 2024 designees, mentors, and mentees—you’ve set an incredible example for our profession. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of even more remarkable accomplishment and collaboration.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND BUDGET OVERVIEW
RICCA CHARLON, CMC, CCAC TREASURER CITY CLERK, CITY OF RIDGECREST
We’re pleased to share the latest Treasurer’s Report and budget for the City Clerks Association of California (CCAC). We understand that financials can be tricky and hard to interpret, so we work hard to present this information clearly and understandably.
Financial Snapshot as of November 30, 2024:
This report provides a transparent view of our financial health and how we allocate funds to support the valuable work we do for our members. We encourage you to review the details to see how your contributions are making a difference.
For any questions or further details, I am only an email away rcharlon@ridgecrest-ca.gov. Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
RICCA CHARLON
City Clerk's Association of California Balance Sheet
As of November 30, 2024
City Clerk's Association of California Profit & Loss
July through November 2024
6:28 PM 12/22/24 Accrual Basis
City Clerk's Association of California Profit & Loss
July through November 2024
60100
Page 3 of 12
City Clerk's Association of California Profit & Loss
July through November 2024
Association
City Clerk's Association of California Profit & Loss Budget Performance July through November 2024
400.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
400.00 Advanced Academy Fees
400.00 Advanced Academy Fees
400.00 Advanced Academy Fees
400.00 Advanced Academy Fees
400.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
400.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
500.00 Advanced Academy Fees
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 100) - Kallison Leahy Leahy
Master Clerks Institute - Johanna Ota Ota
Master Clerks Institute (CMC Series 100) - Vanessa Castillo Castillo
Municipal Clerks Institute (MMC Series 100) - Francisca Alvarado Alvarado
Municipal Clerks Institute (MMC Series 100) - Becky Romero Romero
Municipal Clerks Institute (MMC Series 100) - Siana Emmons Emmons
Municipal Clerks Institute (MMC Series 100) - Edna Aguilar Aguilar
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) - Frances Jimenez Jimenez
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) - Tanesha Hudson Hudson
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) - Daysi Alcocer Alcocer
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) - Staphany Arriola Arriola
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) - Charity Tatlow Tatlow
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) - Araceli Hernandez Hernandez
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 200) - Kallison Leahy Leahy
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) - Kayla Valdovinos Valdovinos
Municipal Clerks Institute (CMC Series 300) Vences 7,300.00
100.00 Conference:Advanced Academy
125.00 Conference:Banquet Tickets Banquet Guest Ticket Brown
125.00 Conference:Banquet Tickets Banquet Guest Ticket - Elizabeth Adkisson Adkisson 250.00
100.00 Conference:Conference Athenian Dialouge Athenian Dialogue - Dillon James James 100.00 Conference:Conference Athenian Dialouge Athenian Dialogue 2024 Benton 200.00
595.00 Conference:Registration
75.00 Education Workshop
Workshop Registration - Sharlene Tipton Tipton
75.00 Education Workshop - 10/18/2024 - Liana Campos Education Workshop - 10/18/2024 - Liana Campos Campos
75.00 Education Workshop - 10/18/2024 - Alejandra Pacheco Education Workshop - 10/18/2024 - Alejandra Pacheco Pacheco
75.00 Webinar Edu Workshop Succession Planning (Member-please sign in) - Toni Coates Coates
75.00 Webinar Edu Workshop
125.00 Webinar Edu Workshop
Workshop Registration - Gabrielle Christakes Christakes
Workshop Registration - Daisy Guzman Guzman
75.00 Webinar Edu Workshop Workshop Registration - Laura McDowall McDowall
75.00 Webinar Edu Workshop
125.00 Webinar Edu Workshop
Workshop Registration - Kayla Valdovinos Valdovinos
Workshop Registration - Charles Benjamin Benjamin 775.00
20.00 Networking - 10/18/24 [CCAC Members Only]
20.00 Networking - 10/18/24 [CCAC Members Only]
Networking - 10/18/24 [CCAC Members Only]
Networking - 10/18/24 [CCAC Members Only] Charlety 40.00
125.00 Region 4
75.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
75.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
150.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Training:Athenian Dialogue
100.00 Athenian Dialogue
1,100.00
200.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central
Essentials of Records Management (Sign-in for Member Rate) - Griselda Contreras Contreras
Creativity, Inc: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way - Khaleah BradshawBradshaw
1/26/24 - Athenian Dialogue - Siana Emmons Emmons
1/26/24 - Athenian Dialogue - Sharlene Tipton Tipton
Athenian Leadership Dialogue –See Change Clearly: Leveraging Adversity to Sharpe - Janell MartinMartin
Athenian Dialogue - Martha Alvarez Alvarez
Athenian Dialogue - Dillon James James
Athenian Dialogue - Leticia Revilla Revilla
Athenian Dialogue - Marco Ahumada Ahumada
Athenian Dialogue, 10/19/2024 - Liana Campos Campos
Athenian Dialogue - Kayla Reaster Reaster
Athenian Dialogue Benton
Nuts and Bolts (Central): May 9 & 10, 2024 - Dave Leon Leon
250.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts and Bolts (Central): May 9 & 10, 2024 - Mariann Stolte Stolte
200.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts & Bolts (Virtual): August 29 & 30, 2024 - Kayla Reaster Reaster
250.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts & Bolts (Virtual): August 29 & 30, 2024 - Keely Royas Royas
200.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts & Bolts (Virtual): November 21-22, 2024 - Jacquelyn Gordon Gordon
250.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts & Bolts (Virtual): August 29 & 30, 2024 - Marc Lafuente Lafuente
200.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts & Bolts (Virtual): November 21-22, 2024 - Rebecca Evans Evans
250.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts & Bolts (Virtual): November 21-22, 2024 - Gail Duncan Duncan
200.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts Central Nuts & Bolts (Virtual): August 29 & 30, 2024 - Lissette Nock Nock
200.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts North Nuts & Bolts 6/1/23-6/2/23 (Member: Please Sign in) - Hope Ithurburn Ithurburn
250.00 Training:Nuts & Bolts North Nuts and Bolts (Northern): February 8 & 9, 2024 - Desiree Calleros Calleros 2,450.00
15,031.00
IIMC FOUNDATION – CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT FUND
Help grow CCAC’s endowment to fund CMC and MMC scholarships through the IIMC Foundation! Donations are invested and interest only is used to fund scholarships for California’s CMC/MMC Institute.
CCAC’s endowment earnings are used for California municipal clerks only. Support the profession now and into the future by donating today.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
CHAPTER 16: Records Management
Contact Information: Pam Caronogan Region 16 - North Bay pcaronongan@ci.rio-vista.ca.us
MARCH 12, 2025
CHAPTER 1: Professional Development
Contact Information: Siana Emmons
Region 1 - Redwood Empire semmons@ci.fortuna.ca.us
APRIL 9, 2025
CHAPTER 2: Clerk - One of the Oldest Professions
Contact Information: Amy Lind Region 2 - Sacramento Valley alind@auburn.ca.gov
MAY 14, 2025
CHAPTER 3: Office Structure, Responsibilities, & Leadership
Contact Information: Cassandra Candini-Tilton Region 3 - Central Valley ccandini@ci.manteca.ca.us
JUNE 11, 2025
CHAPTER 4: Community Relations & Communications
Contact Information: Melissa Herman
Region 4 - S. San Joaquin Valley mhermann@tulare.ca.gov
JULY 9, 2025
CHAPTER 5:
Legislative Procedures
Contact Information: Maribel Hernandez
Region 5 - Desert Mountain mhernandez@barstowca.org
AUGUST 13, 2025
CHAPTER 6: Board, Commissions, and Committees
Contact Information: Genoveva Rocha
Region 6 - Inland Empire rocha_ge@sbcity.org
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
CHAPTER 7: Meetings, Agendas, Minutes, Follow-up
Contact Information: John Paul Maier
Region 7 - Riverside County jmaier@hemetca.gov
OCTOBER 8, 2025
CHAPTER 8: Elections
Contact Information: Norma Wyles
Region 8 - Imperial County nwyles@cityofelcentro.org
NOVEMBER 12, 2025
CHAPTER 9:
Establishing Districts and Redistricting
Contact Information: Faviola Medina
Region 9 – San Diego County faviola.medina@carlsbadca.gov