As we get ready for the 2011 holiday season, I hope everyone will have a safe a happy holiday season and a glorious New Year in 2012.  As the New Year approaches we look forward to all the new things that it will bring. 

We will continue to work closely with the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) and the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) to put together another successful Fall Training School.  The 2012 NYCOM Fall Training School will be held from September 10 – 14, 2012 in the beautiful Village of Lake Placid.  Lake Placid is my personal favorite location to attend the Fall Training School with the stunning views, beautiful colors of the changing seasons, Whiteface Mountain, the history of the 1932 & 1980 Winter Olympics and the Adirondack hospitality from all the citizens and businesses in the community.  So please mark your calendars.  We will begin working on the 2012 Fall Training School program in February.  If you have any ideas or suggestions for the 2012 Fall Training School, please feel free to contact me or any member of the Executive Committee. 

Our association is also a primary sponsor of the Cornell Municipal Clerks Institute (CMCI) and the Master Municipal Clerks Academy (MMCA).  If you are interested in attending, please look into applying for a scholarship through our Association.  Applications are due by June 1st and are available on our website:
http://www.nysclerks.com/prog_award/scholarshipapp.pdf. 
This year’s Institute and Academy will be held from July 8-12, 2012.  If you are a member of a local or regional clerk’s association, please inquire if they have any scholarship opportunities.  For more information on the Institute, please visit the Institute’s page listed below:
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/training/cmci/index.cfm

I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend the members of the Executive Committee for their commitment and dedication to our Association, along with our profession as demonstrated, by their continuing interest in serving as officers of the New York State Association of City and Village Clerks (NYSACVC).  In September, the NYSACVC will be looking to fill up to three positions on the Executive Committee, if you are interested in becoming more involved with the Association, please feel free to contact me or any member of the Executive Committee.    

I would like to thank Sheila Gillespie (Village of Cobelskill) for her years of dedicated service to the NYSACVC as a Director, 2nd Vice-President & 1st Vice President.  It was a pleasure to have you apart of our Executive Committee. 

I am very proud to be serving as your president for the next year, along with our Executive Committee, we intend to do our very best to serve the needs of our membership.  Please feel free to contact any of us with any of your questions, ideas, and or concerns.  I am always reminded of the words by IIMC Past-President, Jean Bailey (Rocky Mount, NC) “Municipal Clerks, Simply the Best”.  I look forwarding to serving you as your president of this great organization again this year.