Fall 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.

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President's Message

Dear VMCA Members,

Happy Fall Ya'll! I hope you've been enjoying another rewarding year with VMCA and had a wonderful time at the Institute and Academy in Richmond! It was inspiring to see so many members come together to learn, connect, and share ideas that strengthen our community and enhance our professional growth.

As we look ahead, we're already preparing for the Annual Meeting in Blacksburg in April 2026 - and we want you to be part of it. The Executive Committee is working hard to make your VMCA experience as impactful and exciting as ever, with engaging sessions, valuable networking opportunities, and a few surprises along the way.

Mark your calendars now for this special event - you won't want to miss it! Together, we'll continue building on our shared commitment to excellence, leadership, and service.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in VMCA. We can't wait to see you in Blacksburg!

Warm regards,

Kimberly Ellis, MMC

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Message from the 1st Vice President

Dear VMCA Members,

As the crisp air of fall settles in and the leaves begin their colorful transformation, we're reminded that change is not only natural - it's necessary. It allows us to grow, adapt, and improve, both personally and professionally.

I hope that everyone who attended the VMCA Institutes and Academy left with something valuable - whether a new skill, a fresh perspective, or a useful tool to bring back to your office. A sincere thank you to VCU for putting together such a thoughtful and impactful program. I'm especially grateful for the opportunity to return and teach TWO classes this year - it was truly a privilege to engage with so many of you in the classroom setting.

As we continue through this season of transition, I encourage you to consider becoming more involved with VMCA. One of the best ways to make a lasting impact is by joining a Committee. It's a chance to give back, help shape the future of our association, and earn points along the way. Your voice and participation matter, and together we can continue to make VMCA stronger and more vibrant.

I'll leave you with a quote that captures the spirit of leadership and change:

"Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge."  - Simon Sinek

Thank you for all you do to support VMCA. Let's continue moving forward - together.

With sincere gratitude,

Camisha Brown, CMC

1st Vice President 2025-2026

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Message from the 2nd Vice President

I hope this message finds each of you doing well and feeling recharged as we move into the final stretch of the year - a season full of reflection, momentum, and opportunity.

It was such a joy to see so many familiar faces at the VMCA Institutes & Academy this fall. I hope everyone who was able to attend left feeling inspired, refreshed, and armed with new tools and takeaways to support the important work you do each day. Events like this are such a gift - not just for professional development, but for the fellowship and encouragement that comes from gathering with others who understand and appreciate the unique role we play in local government.

I always walk away from the Institutes & Academy reminded of the heart behind our work and the strength of our Clerk family. Your passion, your presence, and your commitment are what make our profession truly exceptional.

And let's be honest... this time of year makes it all feel a little more magical! Bring on my favorite season - FALL! There's something about crisp mornings, cozy colors, and a fresh page on the calendar that feels like an invitation to reflect, reset, and embrace all the good that's ahead.

Wishing you a season full of growth, gratitude, and great moments - both in and outside the office.

Warmly,

Kaylyn McCluster

Clerk to the Board, Pittsylvania

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Welcome New Members

Parisa Attayi - City of Manassas

Cindy Balderson - Town of Kilmarnock

Danielle Barker - City of Hampton

Angela Bland - Town of Windsor

Sarah Burch - City of Buena Vista

Stephanie Dorman - Town of Mineral

Teah Duesbery - City of Falls Church

Leanne Feather - Town of South Hill

Twiglenda Harris - Town of Louisa

Stephanie Hawkins - Loudon County

Molly Henderson - City of Fredericksburg

Donna Jones - Town of Round Hill

Shelley Kozlowski - Town of Vienna

Megan Lawless - Town of Vinton

Mary Beth Mayer - City of Newport News

Cheryl Santos - Town of Dumfries

Mandy Scott - Town of Marion

Jeffrey Smith - Town of Bowling Green

LaToya Smith - Orange County

Dianne Tanner - Town of Appomattox

Alicia Terry - Loudon County

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CMC and MMC

Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation:

Shelley Kozlowski - Town of Vienna (9/29/25)

Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation:

Stephen Clough - Town of Warrenton (6/20/25)

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Executive Committee

President
Kimberly Ellis, MMC
Deputy Clerk
Culpeper County

Secretary
Alicia Finney
Clerk of Council
City of Lynchburg

First Vice President
Camisha Brown, CMC
Executive Assistant to County Administrator / Clerk to the Board of Supervisors
Dinwiddie County

Second Vice President
Kaylyn McCluster, MMC
Clerk to the Board of Supervisors
Pittsylvania County

Historian
Eileen Boeing, CMC
Clerk of Council
Town of Leesburg

Parliamentarian
Travis O. Morris, MMC
Senior Deputy Clerk
County of Albemarle

Treasurer
Teresa J. Saeed, MMC
Deputy Clerk
James City County

Immediate Past President
Katherine K. Glass, MMC
Clerk of Council
City of Hampton

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Getting to KNOW your Executive Committee

Meet Eileen Boeing, Historian:

Where are you from? Born and raised?

I was born in Williamsburg. My father was a Commander in the Navy so we spent a great deal of my childhood moving duty stations (coast to coast) having lived in either California, New Jersey or Virginia my whole life. I call Virginia home and have been here since I was a freshman in high school. I am one of seven kids (fifth in order) so moving often was not so impactful as we always got stationed with a bunch of friends (siblings).

What is your favorite family tradition?

Any time we can gather as a family is always special. There are so many of us that whenever we get together, we take over someone's house. As the family continues to grow, it just gets more festive. I especially enjoy all the holidays but Halloween is my favorite. We are those neighbors that go a little over the top decorating. Halloween is #1 and Christmas is a close second and summer family barbeques playing cornhole is third.

Do you have a hobby you'd like to share? What do you do in your free time?

We love to cook at home. Trying new recipes is great fun! Some work out and some don't, but it is fun experimenting. I made sure all four of our kids learned to cook to sustain themselves. They are all great cooks and one just left to attend the Culinary Institute of America in New York (yes, Chef)! My husband and I love to travel and are hoping to do more of it now that we are empty nesters but our 13-year-old golden retriever isn't much of a traveler so we are limited in where we can go. These days he moves slowly and enjoys napping in whatever room we are in. We enjoy searching for covered bridges in the U.S. - mostly here on the east cost but are excited to expand our search radius. We are also a big sports family and mostly enjoy football and baseball - Go Bears and Go Nats!

Where is your favorite place to travel? What is the best place you ever traveled to?

One of our fondest memories was an 8-night cruise to the Caribbean with the kids and their significant others - Aruba and Curacao were our favorite ports on the trip. We all had a blast and the kids still talk about the trip. Next September, my husband and I are planning a trip to Switzerland as it has long been a bucket list item to see the Alps of Switzerland and beautiful mountainside pastures. Of course we must sample some world famous cheese and have a glass of wine (or two) while we are there.

What is your favorite food or cuisine?

I love Tex Mex and Mexican dishes but we have been recently expanding our horizons and experimenting more with Italian cuisine.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

If all goes as planned, I intend to retire in about five years. I am looking forward to enjoying retirement after a long career. My husband and I go back and forth whether we will stay in Northern Virginia or move to a quieter area near a lake so we can go boating. All the kids live in Northern Virginia so it may be hard to leave if they start having kids. Five years is a long time to decide so we shall see what life brings us.

How did you become a Municipal Clerk? Happenstance or planned?

Becoming a Municipal Clerk was definitely happenstance. I have worked both in private industry, for local government and was also a Marine Corp Reservist when I was younger and just out of school. My last job was with a global aircraft supplier (we made galley equipment for executive jets) and the company had just been purchased. They announced they would be consolidating locations all over the world as part of the buyout. I knew it would be an 18-month transition but I wanted to find something before they closed the local office permanently. I didn't want to move and I also didn't want to be part of the team that closed the location before finding a new job. The Clerk's position came open right as I started looking and since I had worked in Public Works years before, I applied and got the job. It was a learning curve for sure but I think it has been a great fit and I was able to take many of the experiences I learned throughout my career and apply them to my Clerk's position.

If you could be any age for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Why?

Probably 45. You've learned a lot but still have more to learn. And most importantly your body hasn't started failing yet so you can enjoy doing whatever you want. The older you get the more aches and pains you feel getting out of bed. I am happy though where I am in life and wouldn't trade it for anything.

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Volunteer Opportunities

The VMCA thrives because of members like you! We're seeking nominations for the Executive Committee and Standing Committees for the 2025-2026 year. These positions are a great chance to share your ideas, grow professionally, and support your colleagues. Serving is more than a responsibility - it's an opportunity to connect with clerks across the Commonwealth, expand your skills, and help shape the future of our profession. Committee service also counts toward certification: 1 CMC or up to 2 MMC Professional Experience points per year. VMCA is stronger when YOU get involved!

If you would like to serve - or nominate a colleague - please contact Nominating Committee Chair, at [email protected] by December 2, 2025. 

Whether you are brand new or seasoned through and through - VMCA has a place for you!

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Committee Chairs

Audit Committee
Judi Green, Chair
Senior Executive, Deputy Clerk
Matthews County

Budget Committee
Teresa J. Saeed, MMC, Chair
Deputy Clerk
James City County

Bylaws Committee
Wanda F. Watkins, MMC, Chair
Deputy Clerk of the Board
County of New Kent    

Clerk of the Year
Aimee Mann, MMC, Chair
Deputy Clerk / Records Officer
Spotsylvania County

Education & Professional Development
Mina D. Barberis, MMC, Chair
Deputy City Clerk
City of Norfolk

Newsletter
Ashley R. Clatterbuck, MMC, Chair
Town Clerk
Town of Culpeper

Nominating Committee
Rachael Brinson, CMC, Chair
Town Administrator / Town Clerk
Town of Remington

Scholarship Committee
Katherine Maines, CMC, Chair
Deputy Town Clerk
Town of Culpeper

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

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Calendar of Events

2026 VMCA Annual Conference - April 15-17 in Blacksburg

2026 IIMC Annual Conference - May 17-21 in Reno, Nevada

2027 IIMC Annual Conference - May 9-12 in Fort Worth, Texas

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Clerk of the Year

Clerk of the Year Nominations

The Clerk of the Year Committee of the VMCA will be accepting nominations for the Clerk of the Year award, an annual award presented to an outstanding Virginia Clerk or Deputy Clerk at the VMCA Annual Meeting in April. To be eligible for the award, someone must meet the following criteria:

The link for nominations will be emailed on January 12, 2026. Please check that your locality's contact email is in the VMCA database in order to receive the nomination form. Please contact Aimee Mann at [email protected] with any questions.

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Region Directors

2025-2026 Region Directors

Region I
Vacant

Region II
Vacant

Region III
Pamela Ulmer
City Clerk
City of Harrisonburg
Phone: (540) 432-7701
Email: [email protected]

Region IV
Lorraine Spaulding, CMC
Town Clerk
Town of Blacksburg
Phone: (540) 443-1026
Email: [email protected]

Region V
Susan DeMasi, CMC
City Clerk
City of Danville
Phone: (434) 797-8928
Email: [email protected]  

Region VI
Maxicelia (Max) Robinson
Deputy Clerk of Council
City of Charlottesville
Phone: (434) 296-5843 x3036 
Email: [email protected]

Region VII
Stephen Clough, CMC
Town Clerk
Town of Warrenton
Phone: (540) 714-9270
Email: [email protected] 

Region VIII
Heather Oliver
Town Clerk
Town of Colonial Beach
Phone: (804) 224-7103
Email: [email protected] 

Region IX
Susan Wilson
Clerk to the Board
Chesterfield County
Phone: (804) 748-1200
E-mail: [email protected]

Vacant

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Getting to KNOW your Region Directors

Meet Stephen Clough, Region VII Director:

Where are you from? Born and raised?

In South Philadelphia, born and raised…. No seriously. I was born just outside Philly and grew up there until I was about 10. It’s still easily herd in my speech patterns, especially when I get excited as I tend to speak far too fast. My Mom is an Apheresis Nurse that has a very specific specialty, so I started moving around a lot in 2000 and ended up living in Maryland, Virginia, Seattle, Virginia, College in Philly, back to Virginia… then I lived in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia then before settling in Virginia in 2017 after getting married. Once we decided to stay in Fauquier County, we bought our house in 2019 and hope to be here for many more years to come. I’m a little sick of moving if you couldn’t guess, so I’m happy to put down some roots. 

What is your favorite family tradition?

My family holiday traditions revolve around food. (as they should) Specifically though, for Christmas eve, my wife’s family always does Pizza and Joe-Joes (potatoes wedges)  for dinner. Her tradition comes from many years of visiting her grandfather in Ohio with all of her cousins. Sharing those moments and memories with my two boys has been amazing. I’ve loved adapting that tradition and combining it with my family’s tradition of an extravagant unique Christmas dinner. Well usually do something over the top like a prime rib, lobster bisque, a big once in a year kind of dinner that lets me show off my cooking for my family. The traditional Christmas feast of Carving the roast beast is what I strive for.

Do you have a hobby you'd like to share? What do you do in your free time?

Free time? Free time…. With two little kids and the chaos of this wonderful profession I think I can remember what free time was once like…. One of my major hobbies used to be working on my jeep and taking it off road whenever I could. Now a days it’s more about maintaining my jeep or my house with by boys and playing with them however I can.

Where is your favorite place to travel? What is the best place you ever traveled to?

I loved traveling to Europe and Switzerland. My mom worked in Switzerland for a few years, and I got to visit and travel around Europe including Germany, Italy and that area. It was insanely and surreally beautiful and we got to participate in the local traditions like floating in the Rhine with a wickelfisch, taking the train all over, Gondola in Italy, honestly it was a surreal experience that I’d do again in a heartbeat. Every photo was like a post card.

What is your favorite food or cuisine?

I’ve always been a big fan of cooking and crafting my food. I love taking the time to delicately mix and match the flavors to get the best parings and notes to match the occasion. One of my favorite ways to challenge myself is to utilize my smoker and BBQ grills in different ways to make amazing accent pieces for meals, especially my Christmas dinner.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

In five years, I still see myself as a Clerk. Helping others, and serving my community, no matter where that community is I hope to have earned my master’s in public administration in that time as well.. In ten years, I still see myself as a clerk. I hope to be a Town or County Manager with a few years of experience in by then, but especially since finding this calling… I’ll think of myself professionally as a Clerk first. 

How did you become a Municipal Clerk? Happenstance or planned?

I’m thoroughly convinced that the role of Municipal Clerk is a calling that seeks out those who are meant to fill the void. It seeks out those who are needed and claims those who it needs….. One of my first roles after college was retail work which eventually led to retail management. My specialty was the administrative side of things especially the back-room management that was paperwork and documentation heavy. After those stores shut down in bankruptcy (not my fault!) I managed to find an office management role which was fantastic for me until Covid shut down my office. After the PPP loan ran out the company shut down a bunch of roles and I ended up in Government Contracting for about a year. I didn’t do anything in the bearded guys with tactical outfits type of contracting, more filling in at call centers and supporting everything from local governments who need to schedule a few dozen tax assessment valuation hearings to helping run logistics for one of the Afghan Refugee centers. That was one of the coolest and most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had, but that was shut down by a measles outbreak and ended too soon. One of the first public service roles I had was working for the Fauquier County Covid Vaccinee call center assisting in scheduling the community receiving their vaccines. It was my first step into the public side of things instead of private sector. I worked with the heads of Fauquier County and The Town of Warrenton as well as the health department and local Hospital system and loved the work I was able to do to support my community. I knew that public service was the path I wanted to pursue thanks to that job. After that position wound down with the prevalence of the vaccines in the community, I went looking for something permanent, or at least more permanent than temporary contracting. I applied to every single administrative role in the town, and county, and surrounding area as well….. which at the time…. Was only the part-time Town Clerk role.  It was the only administrative role open, and I figured that it sounded close enough to my skillset that it couldn’t hurt to apply. After the weirdest interview of my life where they outlined all of the hard and weird parts about being a clerk that we all know far too well, I was offered the job. I started part time in January of 22 and after an extremely contentious budget season was made full time in August. I had a provision from my Town Council to earn my CMC within two years and thankfully was able to able to earn that within the time frame. I then got extremely focused on some leadership opportunities and earned my associates degree which helped me earn my MMC just under two years later. I went to school for mechanical engineering originally, and now…. I can’t see myself not being a Clerk. I’m thankful the profession found me and allows me to serve the community that I do.

If you could be any age for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Why?

I’m not old yet, no matter how much it feels like that when I talk to the freshmen in some of my college classes, but I’d like to at least think I’ve grown wiser with age. With that reflection, I’ll offer this answer to that question.  

I wouldn’t. When I was 18, or 21 (really this works for either age….) I was naive enough to think I actually knew something about the world. But I wasn’t able to find and meet my wife until I was 24 which is when I really started to learn who I was. I was 30 when my oldest was born, 32 when I found this profession and had my youngest, and I just turned 35 in September. I realize now how much I have left to learn in life and how many challenges I’ll be able to overcome. If I were the same age, I’d never get to see by boys grow as much as they have, see my family grow, see the beauty in my wife’s eyes as they change ever so slightly, but her smile remains the same. So, I’d choose to live my life, be appreciative of the moments granted to me to see, and watch my boys grow to take on this challenging world they would face.  My body and mind bear their scars earned in every battle no matter how hard they be. Some scars have been earned through adventure, others arguing with a copy machine… but they’re still me. As I age, and grow, I see the change that I’ve brought to the world, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to bring it and have the world change and craft me.

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Region IV News

Hello fellow clerks! I hope that everyone is doing well, and getting ready for the colder months! I am looking forward to hosting our annual Clerk Luncheon this December! 

As you may know, I'll be hosting our VMCA Annual Conference in April. I've been hard at work with our other localities to make sure you have the best time yet, as well as some pretty great speakers!

I am excited to see everyone at our upcoming conference in Richmond! If you see me there, say hi!

Looking forward to winter adventures in 2025!

All the best,

Lorraine Spaulding

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Region V News

I took over as Region Director when Kaylyn McCluster stepped into the role of 2nd VP. I look forward to having a meeting soon with the Region V members.

Sue DeMasi

City Clerk, Danville

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Region VII News

Our Region VII clerks have been as busy as black cats on All Hallow's Eve, serving as the backbone of our municipalities and (hopefully) surviving budget season without turning into ghouls! We've seen some clerks moving up, down, and all around us like spirits on a brisk fall wind, so make sure you check your roster and know who's changed recently!

We're working on planning an upcoming in-person meeting and conjuring up the next "Coffee with the Clerks" gathering, as the last one was ghoulishly great - truly a treat, no trick! We had a large coven of the community come together to offer help, guidance, and demystify the CMC/MMC process. Hopefully, we're all taking advantage of those lessons and finalizing what needs to get done before the winter frost sets in. Helping to unmask the process has proven invaluable to some to help them in their studies, so I hope this is something you can plan to Scooby-doobie-do with us next time!

As the leaves turn to fiery colors and the air is crisp enough for a costume change, take a moment for yourself this fall. Enjoy a walk through the cooler weather and the spooky beauty of the season before winter settles in. Go haunt the Clerk next door and scare up some candy with them!

Speaking of gathering your magical ingredients for certification, your must consider attending the ultimate Halloween harvest for your career! We strongly encourage you to view the VMCA Institutes and Academy details here. Attending this essential training - whether it's the Institutes, Academy, or an Athenian Dialogue - will help you take purposeful steps toward your CMC or MMC.

I also encourage you to reach out to a fellow clerk in your area - you might be frightfully surprised by the secrets and shadows that define our individual roles, even when we share the same title. Take the time to connect, share tales from the crypt of your experience, and learn the dark arts from one another. Together, we continue to grow our coven and strengthen our community.

Until next time, don't forget to take a vacation - maybe a trip to a haunted locale - and have an AWESOME FALL!

Stephen Clough, MMC

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Region IX News

As I am writing this, I am one day away from the Athenian Leadership Dialogue at the 2025 VMCA Institutes and Academy in Richmond. Our book is Educated by Tara Westover. I cannot wait to unpack this book with other people. I need someone to validate my feelings about the author's unbelievable life! If you are not joining this ALD, I hope you will look for another opportunity to read and discuss this book. VCU offers multiple opportunities to participate in live online ALDs, and they are only $75 for VMCA members. Click here to view the schedule for the rest of 2025.

Please help me welcome Bishelya Howard to VMCA and Region IX! She is the clerk to the Hopewell City Council. Bishelya looks forward to joining our organization and being part of our group.

Help me congratulate Janice Scott on her recent retirement from PlanRVA (Richmond Region Planning District Commission)! And, help me welcome Sarah-Keel Crews, who will be joining PlanRVA as the new Manager of Executive and Board Operations. I have already had the chance to meet Sarah-Keel, and she is going to be a great asset to PlanRVA. I hope once she is settled in, she will have the chance to join us at a future lunch or conference.

Here are some recent Chesterfield news headlines:

Chesterfield moving full speed ahead with Powhite Parkway Extension and adjacent roadway projects

In Google, Chesterfield Landed the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of Data Center Operators

One hundred years and counting: Chesterfield celebrates its truly remarkable centenarians

Brick by brick: LEGO marks milestone in construction of its Chesterfield manufacturing facility

Take care, and have a pleasant and safe fall!

Susan Wilson

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Region X News

In the absence of a Regional Director, I'm pleased to share some news from Region X.

Congratulations and best wishes to Mabel Washington, MMC, City Clerk for the City of Newport News, who retired in August after a distinguished career in public service. Mabel was recognized by Newport News City Council during her final meeting as Clerk, followed by a retirement ceremony on Friday, August 29th, attended by many of her fellow Clerks.

Although VMCA President Kim Ellis was unable to attend in person, I spoke on her behalf conveying the Association's appreciation for Mabel's many years of dedication and presented her with a Certificate of Recognition from IIMC. Mabel earned her CMC designation in 2003, her MMC in 2010, and was named VMCA Clerk of the Year in 2010.

On Tuesday, September 30th, several Region X Clerks gathered for dinner to celebrate Mabel, share favorite memories, and enjoy a wonderful evening together.

We're pleased to share a few photos from both occasions, along with a personal note from Mabel to her fellow Clerks.

Respectfully submitted by:

Katherine K. Glass, MMC

Immediate Past President

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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.

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