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Inside the LMA<br />
Director’s Viewpoint<br />
CLERKS KEEP THE SHIP SAILING!<br />
BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
I am very pleased that we are focusing the <strong>October</strong><br />
issue of the Louisiana Municipal Review on recognizing<br />
the hard work and dedication of municipal clerks.<br />
From Mound to New Orleans, and regardless of size,<br />
the municipal clerk plays a huge role in keeping the<br />
municipal ship sailing. In my career at the LMA, I have<br />
probably talked to almost every municipal clerk at<br />
some point. I always enjoyed, and still do, answering<br />
technical assistance questions. Not only did I enjoy<br />
sharing those “eureka” moments with a laugh, but<br />
also working through operational frustrations, or even<br />
consoling a clerk who was working through the pain<br />
of an unexpected transition. We are pleased that the<br />
Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association (LMCA) has an<br />
affiliate seat on the LMA Executive Board and helps<br />
to guide our organizational decisions. The LMA staff<br />
works closely with the LMCA Executive Board and<br />
its members to organize training and conferences.<br />
The clerk’s annual fall training event, the Louisiana<br />
Municipal Clerks Institute, will take place later this<br />
month in Baton Rouge. The LMA is proud to commit<br />
$2,000 per year toward scholarships for clerks to<br />
attend this important training. Congratulations in<br />
advance to those clerks who will graduate with their<br />
Master Clerk certification, an accolade that is achieved<br />
only after several years of dedicated training and<br />
education. I encourage all clerks to join the LMCA<br />
and attend these conferences, not only for the<br />
education, but for the networking opportunities that<br />
are invaluable to your position. I am looking forward<br />
to speaking to attendees this year on the Lawrason<br />
Act, legislative charters, and home rule charters, and<br />
I appreciate being invited annually (I guess I must be<br />
doing something right!). The LMA is proud to sponsor<br />
the Louisiana Municipal Clerk Technical Assistance<br />
Program. Through this program, a veteran certified<br />
clerk provides technical guidance to a new municipal<br />
clerk. This is enabled through the LMA reimbursing the<br />
mentoring clerk for mileage, food, and lodging. The<br />
LMA offers a hearty salute to all Louisiana municipal<br />
clerks – we commend you for your professionalism and<br />
hard work!<br />
Our prayers and thoughts go out to our colleagues in<br />
North Carolina and South Carolina, as they deal with<br />
the devastation from flooding caused by Hurricane<br />
Florence. We in Louisiana know all too well what they<br />
are going through and what lies ahead for their long<br />
recovery. I have been in contact<br />
with my counterparts and have<br />
offered any assistance from the<br />
LMA that may be needed as they<br />
work with their members to begin recovery.<br />
As <strong>2018</strong> begins to wind down, we will look ahead to<br />
the 2019 LMA Mid-Winter Conference and reenergize<br />
our focus on the 2019 Legislative Session. The 2019<br />
session will be a shorter, 65-day fiscal session. The<br />
LMA legislative team has already begun visiting with<br />
legislators about the issues local governments are<br />
facing and will continue to do so throughout the<br />
remainder of the year.<br />
Have a great <strong>October</strong> and enjoy a safe and happy<br />
Halloween.<br />
<strong>LMR</strong> | <strong>October</strong> <strong>2018</strong> Page 3
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