Happy Fall Everyone!

I just can’t believe that it is September already, time sure flies, especially when one is busy.

My July consisted of attending the UW Green Bay Clerks & Treasurers Institute, which was terrific fun.  Even though I was there working the MTAW information booth, I was able to spend time talking with many of the clerks or treasurers that were institute students.  Everyone I talked with found it to be a positive experience with lots of information to take back to utilize in their municipality.  The Institute celebrated their 40^th Anniversary in 2018 and the “All Conference Event” was a 70’s themed SINGO night (musical version of BINGO).  Oh what fun that was – lots of laughter!   It would be great to have SINGO for our entertainment event at a future MTAW conference (hint, hint).

The following week I traveled to Memphis to attend the Association of Public Treasurers of United States and Canada (APT US&C) conference!  This was my first APT conference and I am really grateful that MTAW allows the President to attend.  The conference agenda included interesting topics and great presenters.  I would love to attend another APT conference in the future.

Next up is the MTAW Fall Conference which is September 20^th & 21^st in Eau Claire at the Lismore Hotel.  Those that are attending will be able to meet the new Executive Secretary, John Schlice.   John was an active member in the association for many years prior to his retirement from his position at Stevens Point.  Please take the time to chat with John and make him feel welcome.  On behalf of the association I would like to welcome John to MTAW and look forward to working with him in the coming years.

If I don’t see you in Eau Claire, I hope to see you in Oshkosh for the Spring Conference.

My wishes to everyone for a safe and happy fall & winter!

Beverly Langenback

MTAW President

 

 

 

 

Agenda and registration here.

May 2, 2018

RE:  MTAW John Schlice Scholarship

My name is Connie Zimmerman, Clerk/Treasurer for the Town of Fulton.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the MTAW for awarding me the John Schlice scholarship.  Awards such as these enable many treasurers, such as myself to continue attending training, reducing some of the burden on the budget.

I’ve been a clerk/treasurer for 12 years, and this conference was one of my favorites.  It was held at The American Club – Kohler, WI.  I’ve never been to Kohler before.  What a beautiful conference center and community!  If you attended, you definitely know what I mean, and if you were not fortunate enough to attend, rumor has it, we may be having a future conference there in the next few years, so possibly you can attend then, to see it for yourself.

We were welcomed by Village President Thomas Schnettler, who gave us a brief history of the community, and explained how involved Kohler Co. is with the community.  As Thomas Schnettler explained, it is a unique relationship, like a marriage, between Kohler Co., and the Village of Kohler.  I’ve never known of a community where a company is so greatly involved.  I have to admit, I am uncertain if that “marriage” would work in other communities.  Kudos to Kohler Co. and Village of Kohler for making it work!  The rewards are very evident to visitors.

The conference committee did an exceptional job for the educational classes and speakers, as well as planning the extracurricular activities.  From the hotels to the food we ate, and everything in between, everything was superb!

Baker Tilly did a great presentation on audit readiness, things that we all need to know.  The presenter explained the year end closing process, tax process for municipalities, clearing taxes, and recording taxes.  Some of the items she spoke about did not apply to the town I work for because we are on a cash basis rather than an accrual basis, but it was good information to listen to, and store in the back of my brain should I need it in the future.  She also included examples of forms treasurer’s use, which are always good to reference to.

With the ever changing laws, the DOR updates proved to be very informative.  This session provided us with information on tax law changes, expenditure restraint program, levy limits, documentation and resources.   What I truly liked about this session, was the many questions and answers that were asked of the DOR.  Often times, other treasurers have questions about laws, and circumstances in their communities that they just aren’t sure how deal with, and by hearing the questions/answers, I am able to gain more knowledge.

Elhlers Inc. provided another informative session on GO Notes, Revenue Bonds, and TIFs.  While this class didn’t particularly apply to my municipality, again, it was very interesting to learn about.  I can only imagine that larger municipalities have to deal with this topic quite often.

There was a great variety of Municipal Service Providers at the conference.  It is always nice to stop by the booths and visit for a short time with them.  Some of them are providers our town uses, and others I have gotten to know throughout the years of attending conferences, while others were new, or at least new to me.  It’s always interesting when I return to the office with the few trinkets I’ve collected and then one day I look at that item, and end up calling that Service Provider for a price quote for something the town needs.

There was a brief overview of the MTAW website, definitely beneficial to all of us!  It’s one of the websites we visit often, and pointers are always helpful.

Employee issues for leave of Absences, and Reasonable Accommodations and how they are related to workers compensation was the final session on Friday.  Attorney James Macy was extremely knowledgeable, and presented in a manner that wasn’t “over our heads” as many times attorneys can be.  He added humor, and real life examples to what he was presenting, making it even more relatable.

Again, I would like to extend my gratitude to the entire MTAW for continuing to provide conferences where we can learn, network with other treasurers, experience new places and things, and have fun!

Sincerely,

 

Connie Zimmerman, WCMC, CMTW
Clerk/Treasurer
Town of Fulton

September 2017 – MTAW received one (1) John Schlice Scholarship application by the August 1 deadline and the Board awarded the following:

Connie Zimmerman, Town of Fulton Clerk-Treasurer

April 2018 – MTAW received twenty-seven (27) UW-GB Institute Scholarship applications by the March 1 deadline and Board awarded the following:

2018 Scholarships
#	Scholarship	Contributor	Recipient	Municipality	Year
1	$702	Ehlers & Associates, Inc. (Dorothy Berkan Memorial (tuition/lodging)	Anandhi Krishman	V of Somers	1st
2	$472	Baker Tilley Virchow Krause, LLP	Meagan VandeBerg	C of Fox Lake	1st
3	$472	Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc.	Amy Hall	V of Mount Horeb	1st
4	$472	Workhorse Software Services, Inc.	Sue Born	T of Mosel	TC
5	$100	Quarles & Brady, LLP	Melissa Kempen	T of Merton	1st
6	$100	Quarles & Brady, LLP	Jessica Legois	V of Suamico	2nd
7	$100	Quarles & Brady, LLP	Tasha Rass	V of Sister Bay	3rd
8	$100	Quarles & Brady, LLP	Lori Phelan	V of Ridgeway	TC
9	$472	MTAW	Nicole Mrzena	C of Adams	1st
10	$100	MTAW	Sara Regenauer	T of Beloit	1st
11	$100	MTAW	Kay Weisensel	T of Sun Prairie	2nd
12	$100	MTAW	Melissa Blease	V of Cambria	TC

New – MTAW Conference Registration Scholarship – The Conference Registration Scholarship Program began in 2017 and is funded by pledges received from Municipal Service Providers. The number of scholarships awarded may vary each year based on available funds. Recipients shall use their scholarship, which will be distributed as a reimbursement to the recipient’s municipality, for the current year’s Spring or Fall Conference. The scholarship cannot be carried over to the following year. Limit one scholarship per MTAW member per lifetime. Current MTAW Officers and Board members are ineligible for this scholarship.

MTAW received seventeen (17) Conference Registration scholarship applications by the March 1 deadline and the Board award the following:

Scholarship	Contributor	Recipient	Municipality
$120	League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance (LWMMI)	Becky Frederick	V of Hixton
$120	Workhorse Software Services, Inc.	Jenny Salvo	C of Edgerton
$120	Ehler’s & Associates, Inc.	Lori Breiwa	V of Cobb
$120	MTAW	Shelly Bull	V of Linden

 

Municipal Treasurers Appreciation Week Proclamation

Angie Sterling, Village of Waterford Deputy Treasurer/Utility Clerk

Describe your current government position.
I am the Deputy Treasurer and Utility Clerk for the Village of Waterford. I support our Treasure and our Public Works Department and water utility team.

Why did you accept a public administration position?
I worked in an administrative assistant position got over 20 years for a local cable company. I decided that I wanted to continue to be in some type of assistant role but at a smaller scale that still had importance.

How has MTAW helped in your career development?
MTAW helped in career development: They are very informative and supportive in keeping their members informed and offering training, conferences and continuing education opportunities. You can embrace it as much as you’d like at your own pace.

What is the most challenging aspect about your current position?
We are a small municipality so we support each other no matter what department you work in. One of the challenges I have is making sure I know the correct information when assisting those other departments. It’s a blessing in disguise because I feel you can never learn too much.

What are you most passionate about as a leader in public administration?
Most passionate about being a leader in public administration: The people, I enjoy helping the public and educating them on our procedures and why we do things the way we do.

What is on your wish list or agenda for the next 5-10 years for your municipality?
I would love to complete the Treasures Institute and certification program. That is my biggest goal. Hopefully become a full-time treasurer down the road.

Share a proud job-related moment.
I enjoy supporting our Water Utility team and being able to be involved in helping with calculating their reporting. When they get an A+ on all the Confidence Data reports I’m really proud that for our municipality and community.

How or where do you like to spend your time to recharge yourself?
I love spending time with my 2 daughters, whether it’s doing activities, volunteering, watching movies or cooking. That’s the best way to keep me grounded and rejuvenated.

What three words best describe you?
Dedicated, giving & happy.

What advice/tips do you have for new treasurers?
Keep an open mind and embrace the changes as they occur.

Anything else you want to share with the MTAW membership.
I truly believe in giving back, I sit on multiple volunteer Boards for non-profits; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Optimist International (an organization that supports youth programs) and LOVE INC. which is our local food pantry, thrift store financial & educational support for poverty level residence. I participate in annual walks for Down Syndrome of Southern WI and JDRF. My motto is “Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.”

Three favorite websites.
Favorite Village Weblinks: http://www.waterfordwi.org/DocumentCenter/View/4109 – Our Newsletter
River Rhythms, our summer concert series right outside Village Hall: http://www.waterfordriverrhythms.org/
Kayaking on the River. Our office sits right on the Fox River: http://foxriverpaddlesports.com/

Here is Rex Roehl, City of Neilsville, with his 4th CMTW Re-Certification engraved watch at the April 2017 conference. He is one of the very few MTAW members to reach this level of re-certification.

Biographical Q&A with Valerie Clarizio

1. Tell us about your background.
I was born and raised in Door County. I attended Lakeland College where I earned a bachelor degree in Accounting. Years later, I went back to Lakeland and earned an MBA. Before I worked for the City of Sturgeon Bay I worked at a manufacturing plant. I also teach part time at NWTC–accounting and business classes.

2. How long have you been a treasurer and where (include your municipality’s website)?
This coming June I will celebrate my eighteen year anniversary at the City of Sturgeon Bay.
http://www.sturgeonbaywi.org/

3. How did you get where you are today in governmental treasury/finance work?
I was working in accounting at a manufacturing plant during the weekdays and waitressing on the weekends. One of my restaurant customers came in on a Saturday morning and asked if I had seen the advertisement for a Deputy Clerk/Treasurer. This customer was an alderperson who knew I had an accounting degree. I applied and now here I am, the Finance Director for the city.

4. What do you enjoy most in your position?
Mostly, I like the actual hands-on financial work like running analyses.

5. What do you enjoy least in your position?
I can’t please everyone no matter how hard I try.

6. Describe the funniest thing that has happened to you as a treasurer?
Nothing is coming to mind.

7. What is your best asset?
The staff – on all levels.

8. What is your greatest accomplishment as a Treasurer? (most proud of)
Obtaining the CPFO designation from the GFOA. I studied long and hard for those exams.

9. Explain a work-related innovative process or procedure you initiated that may benefit other municipalities?
At the City of Sturgeon Bay we eventually grew to the point where we needed an IS Department but could not afford one. After some negotiating, the City contracted with the County of Door for IS services. The County already had experienced and trained staff in place and with our financial assistance they were able to hire a helpdesk operator. I think it turned out to be a win for both entities.

10. Describe the most important lesson you have learned from your position.
Think before you speak and don’t be afraid to tell the Council you’ll have to get back to them when you can’t exactly remember what they are asking you for during a meeting.

11. What is the work-related website you visit most frequently? Leisure/entertainment website?
For work, I would have to go with our banking provider. For leisure, I will go with Facebook since I tend to get hooked on all those cat and dog videos.

12. Describe, in any manner you select, your office/work station environment (view too – if you have a window).
I have two windows in my office overlooking one of our main roads in town. It’s not very exciting. As for my desk area, I like to keep it tidy but that doesn’t always work. Luckily, we moved into a new City Hall almost ten years ago and everything is still clean and fresh. It’s nice.

13. How do you spend the first 30 minutes of a ‘typical’ day?
Checking email, putting out fires, and catching up with staff on outstanding projects.

14. What advice/tips do you have for new treasurers?
Join organization such as the Municipal Treasurers Association and the Government Finance Officers Association. Not only will you benefit from their learning opportunities but the networking opportunities are phenomenal as well.

15. How long have you been a MTAW member and what have you gained from your membership?
If memory serves me, I have been a MTAW member since I began working for the city, so about eighteen years. In addition to being educated in the many areas of municipal treasury management, one of the biggest benefits I’ve received from being a MTAW member is meeting and networking with other treasurers, and municipal service providers, who have helped me every step of the way. Countless times, I’ve picked up the phone and called other treasurers for advice and help, and countless times these folks have gone above and beyond to help me.

16. Any special MTAW memories you would like to share?
I really enjoy going to the conferences and each one lends a little something special.

17. Anything unique about your municipality?
Nope. I think we are just like everyone else. We try to do a good job serving our public.

18. Any family info you wish to share?
My husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We have two cats who allow us to share their house.

19. What hobbies/interests do you have?
My husband and I enjoy the outdoors so we do a little fishing, hunting, and hiking.

20. What is your favorite food – is it available here – do you have it on vacation?
I love pepperoni pizza and chocolate.

21. What is your favorite vacation destination? Why?
In 2009 I had the privilege to travel to Alaska and I would love to go back someday. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and the wildlife we saw was amazing.

22. Tell us something about yourself that most people do not know or would never suspect, i.e. took tap dance lessons, does sign language at a deaf institute, whatever.
I write novels. When I first told people that I wrote a book they assumed it was an Accounting textbook.

23. Anything else you would like to add?
As I’ve mentioned before, it is a privilege to serve the members of MTAW. THANK YOU!

Hello MTAW members!

First of all, I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you this year. Through the years, MTAW has provided me with valuable educational tools and immeasurable networking experiences. I am very grateful and proud to be a member of such a wonderful organization.

Second, I’d like to thank all of you who volunteered to serve on committees and as District Directors. I know with our busy work and family schedules it is sometimes difficult to carve out time for the extras, so please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed and you are very much appreciated. There are still a few volunteer opportunities available. They can be found under the ‘Committees’ tab on the website. Serving on committees is a great way to meet other members and earn points for certification and/or recertification.

Now that I’ve made mention of our busy schedules, and asked for more of your time by volunteering for committees, I also want to ask you to make sure you take the time you need for yourself. Very few of us are good at this, yet it is so important. I’m embarrassed to say that our health insurance experience in Sturgeon Bay was so bad last year that we were kind of forced into a new wellness program. Recognizing the need for change, I volunteered for the committee and we are working toward achieving a healthier staff both physically and mentally. With this program, came the fancy new Fitbit I’m wearing. Currently, the Fitbit is telling me that I’m not getting enough sleep or exercising enough, however, according to the device, I do have a good resting heartrate when I’m home watching TV, so I have that going for me. Anyhow, part of what I’ve learned through this is that we really need to carve out time for ourselves. Take time to do something you enjoy, and take time to relax. A healthier and relaxed you will make for a more productive you. The end result – you’ll probably get the same amount of work done as when you run yourself ragged, only now you’ll be healthier and happier.

I’m going to close this message with a little story. Today I called our very own Helen Schmidlkofer, Madam President of APT US & C, because I had a question about something. After a few minutes we ended our conversation and I hung up the receiver. I thought about the things we talked about and found myself inspired by Helen. She’s so motivating and continues to give back to our organization time and time again, and now she’s serving on the national level too. I felt so good when I was done talking to her I decided that I was going to call her every Monday for a weekly pep talk. Sorry, Helen, you’ve been warned. I don’t want to stop here with just Helen because our organization has many members like her. I have been helped and inspired countless times by countless MTAW members and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a member of such a topnotch organization.

Who in MTAW inspires you? Drop me an email, I’d love to hear about it!

Valerie Clarizio
City of Sturgeon Bay
MTAW President

Happy Spring Everyone!

I must say life in my office was very interesting in March. We have the usual day-to-day activity, which always keeps us hopping. On top of that we always have our audit in March. We were very busy making sure our records were complete and accurate but somehow our auditors always seem to find some little detail that we miss. I am happy to say they were able to leave just in time to make it home before the big snowfall we had on March 23rd. Now this week we collect our second installment of taxes since our City collects on a four-installment plan. Of course there were a lot of last minute people getting their pet licenses yesterday as well. Oh yes and we had absentee voting going on! Life in a city office is anything but dull. I enjoy the diversity of the career path I have chosen – no two days are ever the same.

As we head into April, I near the end of my term as the President of our organization. Valerie Clarizio is busy putting together next year’s board and committees. I want to remind you members that there are always opportunities to get involved with this group. This is such a great way to learn more about MTAW and about the people who do the same job as you do in other communities. Don’t be afraid to volunteer.

Mark your calendar and make sure that you have registered for the Spring Conference “Go Green” at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, April 21-22. That is just weeks away now! For all you who are new treasurers or those who would like a review, there is also a Treasurers Workshop on Wednesday, April 20th. There is an additional registration and cost if you would like to attend this. I look forward to seeing everyone at the spring conference. Please stop me and introduce yourself.

One more reminder on the education front! The Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute is being held July 10-15, 2016 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay. I cannot say enough about the quality of this educational opportunity. This is University for Clerks and Treasurers! You will learn so much from it and it will help greatly with your positions as clerks and treasurers. The website for this is www.uwgb.edu/govt. This is also a great help in receiving points for your CMTW Certification.

I will close for now. Have a wonderful day. See you at the spring conference!

Best to you all.
Julia Mann, CMTW
City of Tomah Treasurer
MTAW President