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Spring 2025 
VMCA Mission Statement
VMCA MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association is to promote professional development through continuing education and networking opportunities. The VMCA challenges its members to use their abilities, talents and strengths in the proficient and effective delivery of local government services.
President's Message
Dear Colleagues,
Time certainly flies when you’re having fun! It has been an absolute pleasure engaging with Clerks from across Virginia and beyond. I’ll keep this message brief, as our fantastic newsletter editor asked me plenty of questions—you’ll find my (over)sharing later in this issue!
Since our last newsletter, I had the opportunity to attend two days of the IIMC Region II Conference in Henrico. A heartfelt thank you to Teresa Saeed, MMC, and Tonya Brackett, CMC, for their outstanding work in planning and hosting such a wonderful event. Unfortunately, my Council meeting schedule prevented me from attending the entire conference, and I truly regretted missing more of the exceptional educational sessions. We were also honored to have a special guest, Dr. Jai, from IIMC. If you ever have the chance to attend one of her sessions or simply chat with her, I assure you, it will be time well spent.
I’m pleased to share that VMCA’s Memorandum of Agreement with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has been extended for another year, allowing us to move forward in planning the next Institute and Academy. The Executive Committee intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to establish a new agreement—either with VCU or another educational partner. The Education Committee will be leading this effort, and we welcome any input you may have. If you have ideas, suggestions, or constructive feedback, please reach out—I’ll gladly connect you with the committee.
As a reminder, since we hosted the IIMC Region II Conference this year, VMCA will not be holding a separate conference this spring. Instead, we will host a virtual annual meeting, and we’ll share more details as plans are finalized.
Now is also a great time to consider stepping up to chair or serve on a committee. If you’re interested, I’d love to hear from you and can help get you connected. Feel free to email me at [email protected] or reach out via call or text at 757-751-5909.
As we welcome the arrival of spring, I send my best wishes to each of you. The work we do as Clerks is essential to our localities, and I truly appreciate all that you contribute.
Warm regards,
Katherine K. Glass, MMC
Selfie with Dr. Jai at the IIMC Region II Conference:
Message from the 1st Vice President
Greetings,
I am very blessed to be a part of this organization and in a capacity I never dreamed I would hold.
I want to give a big shout out and congratulate Tanya Brackett and Teresa Saeed on the success of their IIMC Region II conference in Henrico. What an educational experience and it is always great to see clerks from around the Region. I am happy our localities are eager for us to continue our education and further our knowledge of governance through the conferences allotted to us.
The Executive Committee has agreed to meet in person in Culpeper as part of this year's Annual Conference, on April 17th, which will be held virtually. We look forward to connecting with everyone on the screens!
On another note, if you were not aware, Travis Morris, our IIMC Region II Director and VMCA Parliamentarian is running for IIMC Vice President and I encourage each of you to participate in the upcoming election and cast your vote for him! It is interesting to note that Virginia has not held the IIMC Vice President position since 1980. So let's all vote.
Lastly, I know that some of you have asked the question "What does IIMC do for me?" Well, here are a few things to check out when the newsletter hits your email... IIMC offers a broad selection of online professional development programs to help you on your CMC and MMC journey. Additionally, there are links provided to help you with your questions and give you some guidance regarding submissions for certification. There are also volunteer positions available within IIMC that you may find exciting and that offer points towards your certification. Additionally, they offer scholarship opportunities for you to attend IIMC conferences. Lastly, IIMC offers a Windfall Affinity Program that offers a savings from various vendors. As you can see, there are many reasons to take a look at the IIMC Newsletter take from it what resonates and leave the rest.
It's been a pleasure serving as your 1st Vice President. Continue to shine!
With Gratitude,
Kimberly Ellis, MMC
Message from the 2nd Vice President
Dear Fellow Clerks,
How many more Winter Wonderlands will we walk through before Spring? I enjoy the winter and snow but like most people it has happened and I’m done with it!! Let’s move on to Spring please!!
I attended the IIMC Region II Conference and it was so nice getting to see some familiar faces and to also meet new faces from across our region!! It was a great few days of classes and fellowship. Huge shout out and thank you to Tanya Brackett and Teresa Saeed for all their hard work in putting together a successful conference! I hope all that attended enjoyed themselves.
I just want to remind everyone of a few important dates coming up:
First, the election for the IIMC Vice President is taking place in March, and your vote matters! This is a crucial opportunity to help shape the future leadership of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Your voice is essential in ensuring strong representation and leadership for our profession, so please take the time to cast your vote!! Voting starts March 4th and concludes on March 18th!
*Fun Fact*: VMCA’s very own Travis Morris is one of the candidates running for IIMC VP!! GO TRAVIS!!! J
Additionally, please mark your calendars for the VMCA Annual Business Meeting on April 17th at 12PM. This meeting is an important occasion for us to come together, discuss key updates, and make decisions that impact our association and its future. Your engagement is invaluable, and we encourage all members to attend. Friendly reminder! This meeting will be held virtually.
As my term as 2nd Vice President of VMCA comes to a close, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this role over the past year. I truly appreciate the dedication and hard work each of you brings to your communities every day. Thank you for all that you do!
As most of us have probably started Budget Season, I want to remind you all to stay cool, calm and collected! One day at a time! If you need anything (vent, cry, yell, etc.) please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!! We are in this together!!!
With sincere gratitude and appreciation,
Camisha M. Brown, CMC
Message from the Past President
Dear Fellow Clerks,
As we embrace the vibrant energy of spring, I hope this letter finds you rejuvenated and inspired. I am thrilled to reflect on the tremendous success of our recent IIMC Region II Conference, which took place from January 21-24, 2025 in Henrico, Virginia.
The conference was a testament to our commitment to professional growth and excellence. With a diverse array of sessions, from "The Coffee Bean - Be the Transformer" to "Building Relationships with Community Stakeholders," we explored crucial topics that enhance our roles as municipal clerks. The Athenian Dialogue and the engaging keynote address by Dr. Jaimis "Jai" Ulrich further enriched our learning experience.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this conference a resounding success. Your participation and enthusiasm were truly inspiring. Special thanks to Tanya Brackett, CMC, and Mina Barberis, MMC, for their tireless efforts, working with me, to organize this outstanding event.
As we move forward, let us remember that our journey of learning never ends. The VMCA remains dedicated to providing ongoing educational opportunities that will help us serve our communities better. I encourage each of you to stay engaged with your regional directors and take advantage of the networking and learning opportunities they organize throughout the year.
On a personal note, I am excited to share that I completed my second master's degree in November, and I have been accepted into the Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) program at Liberty University. This new academic journey represents my continued commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.
In closing, I want to express my pride in being part of such a dynamic and committed group of professionals. Your dedication to continuous improvement and service excellence is what makes the VMCA truly exceptional.
Here's to another year of growth, collaboration, and success!
Warm regards,
Teresa J. Saeed, MA, MBA, MMC
Photos from the IIMC Region II Conference:
Getting to KNOW your Executive Committee
Meet Katherine K. Glass, President:
(I'm wearing the white glasses!) With two of my scrapbooking 'besties' ... Laura (red glasses) is from New Jersey and is a neo-natal radiology technician ... Robin (pink glasses) is a high school teacher in Northern Virginia ... While our costumes were almost identical, Robin was "Malibu Barbie" :)
Where are you from? Born and raised?
I am a lifetime resident of Hampton and, with the exception of a very few years as a young adult, I’ve lived in the same neighborhood (Fox Hill) for my entire life. I now live in a house that I built on a creek with my only neighbors being a family who bought my childhood home next door.
What is your favorite family tradition?
Christmas Stockings! My grandmother would pick up small items for our stockings all year long (for the kids and the adults) and it was always so exciting to see what treasures the stockings held. Most years, she would make stockings and when my daughter and her cousin were pre-teens, she made their stockings out of pink felt with black marabou trim and they looked like something straight out of Whoville.
Do you have a hobby you’d like to share? What do you do in your free time?
I’m an avid scrapbooker. I really enjoy putting journaling together with photographs in an artistic way to share stories. I also enjoy the creative aspect of scrapbooking. Each generation of my family is ‘crafty’ – my grandmother sewed beautifully, my mother over the years painted, did ceramics, embellished jackets, seashell crafts and stunning seed-bead woven jewelry. My daughter is also extremely creative and is a talented decorator, party planner, and has recently become a stained-glass artist.
Where is your favorite place to travel? What is the best place you ever traveled to?
I’m down to go anywhere! My favorite trip was about 20 years ago when I travelled to Thailand for two weeks with family friends. We were a motley crew of me, my friend, her mother (who was Thai), three kids between 9 and 10 years old and a 3-year old. If any of you are ever looking for international travel tips when traveling with small kids, I can hook you up!
What is your favorite food or cuisine?
There are not many types of food that I don’t care for. I particularly enjoy Thai and Mexican but steak and potatoes is great too!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
I hope to retire within the next 5 years and in 10 years I hope I’m able to travel extensively.
How did you become a Municipal Clerk? Happenstance or planned?
That’s a story best told in person. Career-wise I did about 20 years as a Legal Assistant and then become Clerk in Hampton 20 years ago. I was always a citizen activist and previously served on different boards and commissions in Hampton.
If you could be any age for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Why?
Tough question … I really enjoyed my free-spirited teen years (I was a handful!!!) but how awesome would it be to go back in time but to retain all the lessons you learned along the way? As I look back, every phase of my life led me to the person I am at this ‘seasoned’ age … I’d do it all again and probably wouldn’t change a thing!
Executive Committee
President
Katherine K. Glass, MMC
Clerk of Council
City of Hampton
Secretary
Kaylyn McCluster, MMC
Clerk to the Board of Supervisors
Pittsylvania County
First Vice President
Kimberly Ellis, MMC
Deputy Clerk
Culpeper County
Second Vice President
Camisha Brown, CMC
Executive Assistant to County Administrator
Dinwiddie County
Historian
Mina D. Barberis, MMC
Deputy City Clerk
City of Norfolk
Parliamentarian
Travis O. Morris, MMC
Senior Deputy Clerk
County of Albemarle
Treasurer
Jennifer Green
Executive Operations Manager
City of Hampton
Immediate Past President
Teresa J. Saeed, MMC
Deputy Clerk
James City County
Committee Chairs
Audit Committee
Libby Hume
Town Clerk
Town of Cape Charles
Budget Committee
Jennifer Green
Executive Operations Manager
City of Hampton
Bylaws Committee
Wanda F. Watkins, MMC, Chair
Deputy Clerk of the Board
County of New Kent
Clerk of the Year
Aimee Mann, MMC
Deputy Clerk
Spotsylvania County
Education & Professional Development
Mina D. Barberis, MMC, Chair
Deputy Clerk
City of Norfolk
Newsletter
Ashley R. Clatterbuck, MMC, Co-Chair
Town Clerk
Town of Culpeper
Nominating Committee
Kirstyn Jovanovich, Chair
Town Clerk
Town of Herndon
Scholarship Committee
Wendy J. Chewning, MMC
Town Clerk
Town of Orange
Website Development
Travis O. Morris, MMC, Co-Webmaster
Senior Deputy Clerk
County of Albemarle
Kyna Thomas, MMC, Co-Webmaster
Clerk of Council / Chief of Staff
City of Charlottesville
Calendar of Events
2025 VMCA Annual Business Meeting - April 17 @ 12:00pm VIRTUAL
2025 IIMC Annual Conference - May 18-22 in St. Louis, Missouri
2026 IIMC Annual Conference - May 17-21 in Reno, Nevada
2027 IIMC Annual Conference - May 9-12 in Fort Worth, Texas
Educational Opportunities
Check out the IIMC and VMCA websites for lots of information and opportunities!
Also, pay close attention to the weekly IIMC email blast for upcoming webinars and courses.
Region Directors
2024-2025 Region Directors
Region I
Vacant
Region II
Kimberly S. Kingsley, MMC
Clerk
Town of Abingdon
133 W Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24212
Phone: (276) 492-2149
Email: [email protected]
Region III
Pam Ulmer
City Clerk
City of Harrisonburg
409 S Main Street, 3rd Floor
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: (540) 432-7701
Email: [email protected]
Region IV
Lorraine Spaulding, CMC
Town Clerk
Town of Blacksburg
PO Box 90003
Blacksburg, Virginia 24062
Phone: (540) 443-1026
Email: [email protected]
Region V
Kaylyn McCluster, MMC
Clerk to the Board of Supervisors
Pittsylvania County
P.O. Box 426
Chatham, VA 24541
Phone: (434) 432-1987
Email: [email protected]
Region VI
Maxicelia (Max) Robinson
Deputy Clerk of Council
City of Charlottesville
605 E Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 296-5843 x3036
Email: [email protected]
Region VII
Stephen Clough, CMC
Town Clerk
Town of Warrenton
21 Main Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (540) 714-9270
Email: [email protected]
Region VIII
Heather Oliver
Town Clerk
Town of Colonial Beach
315 Douglas Ave
Colonial Beach, VA 22443
Phone: (804) 224-7103
Email: [email protected]
Region IX
Susan Wilson
Clerk to the Board
Chesterfield County
9901 Lori Road, Room 504
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 748-1200
E-mail: [email protected]
Patricia "Trish' Cronin, CMC
Deputy Clerk
County of Gloucester
6489 Main Street
Gloucester, VA 23061
Phone: (804) 693-4042
E-mail: [email protected]
Getting to KNOW your Region Directors
Meet Lorraine Spaulding, Region IV Director:
Where are you from? Born and raised?
I am originally from Annapolis, Maryland and moved in high school to Southwestern Virginia.
What is your favorite family tradition?
My favorite tradition is going to eat Chinese on Christmas Eve. My husband and I have done this since our children were very little (yes, we did steal this idea from The Christmas Story). It started as a way for me to have a night off from cooking, and became a tradition.
Do you have a hobby you’d like to share? What do you do in your free time?
When our kids were younger, I started to take photos of their sports teams. It has grown into my favorite hobby. I was able to photograph my girls’ graduation photos as well as their friends.
When my husband and I were newly married, we visited London. It was an amazing trip, and I am glad to have checked this off of my “bucket list.” This summer we are travelling to Utah to see Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. I am excited to see this part of the country, maybe more than London!
All things pasta!
In this same position, hopefully! I feel so blessed to have this job and have such a great Council to work for. I have a great Town Manager and Town Attorney to help guide me in my career.
I previously worked as a local government paralegal for a mid-sized law firm. I noticed there was an opening at the Town for a paralegal, and applied. I worked for the Town Attorney for three years when our Town Clerk retired (after 41 years!). I wasn’t initially planning to apply for this positon, but decided to ‘give it the ‘ol college try’ and became the Town Clerk.
If you could be any age for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Why?
Honestly, I would probably want to be my current age. My husband and I are very young empty-nesters, and we are currently enjoying some remodels at our home (he may not say he’s “enjoying” the remodels!). We love having our college kids come in occasionally for a visit, but we do like less responsibility!
Nominating Committee
Seeking Nominations: Volunteer to Serve!
We are still in need of volunteers to serve for the 2025-2026 term!
Current Openings:
Regional Director: General Responsibilities: represent your region and communicate with clerks in the region; promote certification and participation in continuing education and conferences; coordinate regular regional meetings (monthly or quarterly); prepare articles 3x a year on Region activities; and prepare a regional annual report for the Association President.
Immediate appointment needed: Region I Director
Standing Committees: Volunteer to chair/co-chair or be a member of one of the Standing Committees: Audit, Budget, Bylaws, Clerk of the Year, Education and Professional Development, Newsletter, Nominating, Scholarship, and/or Website.
Immediate Need: Chair nominations for Nominations Committee and Audit Committee
EARN POINTS! If you are working on your CMC or MMC certification, volunteering to serve on a VMCA Committee can earn you 1 CMC or up to 2 MMC Professional Experience points for every year of service!
If you are interested in serving or would like to nominate a member to serve as a Region I Director, serve as Chair of the Nominating or Audit Committees, or be a member of a Standing Committee, please contact Kirstyn Jovanovich, Nominating Committee Chair, at [email protected] by February 28, 2025.
Region II News
This year holds great promise, and I am filled with optimism and enthusiasm. Over the past few years, our roles as Clerks have evolved significantly, bringing both challenges and opportunities. Now is the perfect time to reflect on past achievements while setting ambitious goals to better serve our communities.
I encourage you to pursue your CMC and MMC certifications this year! Additionally, please remember to join or renew your membership with VMCA and IIMC to stay connected and supported in your professional growth.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the governing bodies and managers who recognize, support, and advocate for the Clerk's vital role in local government. Together, we can achieve great things in 2025!
Region II also welcomes Megan Erwin (City of Bristol), Sarina Collins (Region I, Town of Wise), Amanda Hawkins (Region I, Town of Big Stone Gap).
Sincerely,
Kim Kingsley, MMC
Region IV News
Hello fellow clerks! I hope that everyone is doing well, and getting ready for spring! I am most looking forward to warmer weather!
This fall, I joined our Town Council at the Virginia Municipal League's Annual Conference in Virginia Beach. A few sessions that I attended included AI and Cybersecurity Considerations for Local Governments and Respond Ready Workplace: Naloxone. I did manage to get outside a bit and step onto the beach. I felt it was my duty to go! :)
Additionally, I was able to attend the 2024 VMCA Institutes and Academy in Richmond. I was fortunate to see Clerks that I rarely have the opportunity to see, and learn some great concepts that our other regions are doing. Some of my favorite sessions included Strategies for Managing Confidential Meetings, Challenges in Local Government Ethics and Leadership and Followership Skills.
To finish up October, I participated in the Town's Annual Halloween Costume contest. I hope everyone can recognize who I was dressed as. I'm pretty sure it was spot on!
This December, I hosted our Clerk luncheon at the Inn and Virginia Tech. This is always a fun event with Clerks from many southwest localities. We share ideas and fun stories and wrap up with a walk around the decorated trees.
Looking forward to new opportunities and adventures in 2025!
All the best,
Lorraine
Region V News
Happy New Year to all!
I had a wonderful time reconnecting with fellow Clerks at the IIMC Region II Conference last month in Richmond. It's always a great opportunity to learn, share experiences, and strengthen our professional network.
I'm hoping to see many familiar faces at the IIMC annual conference in May in St. Louis.
Looking forward to the year ahead and all the exciting opportunities it brings for VMCA. Wishing everyone a productive and fulfilling start to 2025!
Best regards,
Kaylyn McCluster, MMC
Region VII News
Happy Spring from Region VII!
I hope you’ve all been staying safe and warm and had an amazing holiday season with loved ones. Hopefully you got to attend the IIMC Region 2 meeting this year and learned something awesome from your fellow clerks!
Our Region VII clerks have been busy in all aspects of our organizations, serving on committees, hosting delegates, working on General Assembly Work groups and more! Progress is being made towards achieving CMC/MMC designations and we’ve even been fortunate enough to have some new members for our region! We’re in the process of setting up a Regional meeting thanks to Lee Ann Henderson with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.
We look forward to the upcoming business meeting in April and can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the year!
Our Next Coffee with the Clerks is Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 1-2:30pm and will be hosted via teams. If you’d like to join, just drop me a line. Coffee with the Clerks is an informal opportunity to share our experience, guide those who have come after us, and learn from those all around us. We can’t wait to host our next one!
Our Region’s hearts go out to those affected by the recent tragedy at Regan Airport and the communities impacted by it. We offer our prayers, our thoughts, and our shoulders for support.
Don’t forget to take a moment for yourselves this season. Go for a walk and enjoy the snow (or spring if that’s more your style). Take a day for an Athenian Dialogue and some extra training so that you can work towards your CMC or MMC with some deliberate steps. I invite you to take a moment to go for coffee with a clerk in your area. Take a moment to get to know who is around you and what they’re facing as well. Together, we’re a stronger community.
Until Next time, Happy Spring from Region VII!
Stephen Clough, CMC
Region IX News
Well, 2025 came in pedal to the metal! At least it did for many of us in central Virginia. Nevertheless, we are clerks, and clerks Get. The. Job. Done. If your year started in a whirlwind, too, we are sending you all the positive vibes and encouraging thoughts.
Pamela Wallace, City Council Clerk for Colonial Heights, is proud to announce her daughter, Laurel Elizabeth Wallace, completed Virginia National Guard Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as a Distinguished Honor Graduate at Ft. Sill, OK in December 2024. Congratulations, Pam and Laurel!
I recently recorded a podcast on The Process of Holding Government Meetings (Episode 106). I was very nervous, as that was something outside of my comfort zone, but I do love talking about being a clerk and the mechanics of having a successful public meeting. I hope you’ll give it a listen. It’s only 20 minutes long…perfect for a commute!
I’ll wrap this up, as I know many of us are busy with budget season: legal advertisements, ordinance amendments, town hall meetings, and public hearings. May all of your ads run on time, and your citizen speakers comply with time limits!!
Looking forward to spring,
Susan Wilson
Region X News
Hello everyone,
It was great to see so many clerks at the Region II conference in Henrico in January! Kudos to our conference committee co-hosts Tanya Brackett and Region X's own Teresa Saeed. The conference program was packed with great sessions, well done!
Mina Barberis, City of Norfolk, gave a great presentation on the digital divide and how to bridge that when considering our citizens.
In other Region X news, congratulations to Judi Green, Mathews County, who shared that her daughter Janie recently got engaged to her fiancé Tanner while on a cruise. AND she welcomed her new beautiful granddaughter Josie Quinn, on January 23rd, while the Region II conference was in progress!
I hope that as the weather starts to warm and the sunshine starts to stick around a little longer, we all are able to take time to refresh in the midst of busy days. If you need a place to stop and smell the daffodils, Gloucester County will be hosting the 39th annual Daffodil Festival April 5-6!
Trish Cronin, MMC
Contact the Editor
Do you have an idea for another topic to include in our newsletter? Have you noticed a typo or an error?
Please don't hold back and let us know what you see, think, or would like to see in the next publication. We want to keep our members excited about the content of this newsletter and are open to any new ideas.