December 2023

LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION
Clerk’s Corner
The 47th Annual Louisiana Municipal
Clerks Institute, was held on October 22
- 27, 2023, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in
Baton Rouge.
There were 149 attendees, including 39
first-year clerks, who attended the institute.
This year’s curriculum included
multiple workshops: Building a Positive
Workplace Culture (Shantelle Jacobs,
MA, LPC-S); Understanding Legislative
Process, Resolutions, and Ordinances
(Karen White); Parliamentary Procedure
(Nicole Learson); Your Response to an
Active Shooter (Captain Kyle Weber); and
Domestic Violence 101 (Tayor Robinson),
just to name a few. We also hosted our
3rd Athenian Dialogue class, which was
open to all clerks and centered around
the General Colin Powell novel, “It Worked
For Me In Life and Leadership.” Athenian
Fellow, Mary Lynne Stratta TRMC, MMC,
the Secretary/Legislative Director for the
City of Bryan, TX, Past President of IIMC,
and President of IIMC Foundation, led the
discussion to how the novel relates to the
jobs of municipal clerks as leaders.
This year, six clerks and deputy clerks received
the Gloria King Memorial Scholarship:
Peggy Hollis (Clarks); Fredrika Ruffin
(Kentwood); Margra Steele (Folsom); Barbara
Hall(Oil City); Karla Cohea (Georgetown);
and Angela Jackson Cotton Valley).
Six clerks and deputy clerks received the
Mayor Eugene Smith Memorial LaMATS
Scholarship: Chance Gowan (Oil City);
Dianne Futch (Dubberly); Genia Humbles
(Ida); Shaunica Pates (Bonita); Halli
Polotzola (Washington); and Annissa
Woodard (Jackson).
During this year’s institute, 19 clerks and
deputy clerks graduated from the LMCI:
Ashley Augustine
(Cottonport); Kayla
Bannister (Mansura);
Allicie Briggs
(Tangipahoa); Deborah
Durham (Pollock);
Nicole Guidry
(Youngsville);
Kimberly Guillory
(Iowa); Tronda Gallow
(Grand Couteau);
Barbara Hall
(Oil City); Angela
Jackson (Cotton
Valley); Keyunda
James (Ponchatoula);
Valisa King,
(Many); Mindy
Marcantel, (Lake
Arthur); Tammy
Payton (Walker);
Misty Pee (Haughton);
Halli Polotzola
(Washington);
Rindie Racca (Anacoco);
Rose Roche’
(Port Allen); Katina
Smith (Winnfield);
and Christine Tidwell
(Leonville).
Two clerks and
three deputy
clerks
obtained
certification
as Louisiana Certified Municipal Clerks
(LCMC) and Louisiana Certified Municipal
Deputy Clerks (LCMDC): Kimberlee Cooper,
LCMC (Albany); Jennifer McCallie, LC-
MDC (Oak Grove); Tammy Page, LCMDC
(Pineville); Blaine Rabalais, LCMC (Brusly);
and JoAnn Stevenson, LCMDC (White
Castle).
Two clerks and one deputy clerk obtained
status as Louisiana Master Municipal
Clerks Academy (LMMCA) Entry Level:
Melissa Baum, LCMC (Georgetown);
Heather Jones, LCMDC (White Castle);
and Tiffany Parish, LCMC (Cotton Valley).
One clerk and one deputy clerk obtained
(LMMCA) First Sustaining Level: Donnisha
Alexander, LCMDC (Kentwood); and
Tonya Pennywell, LCMC (Colfax).
After the presentation of awards, this
year’s Banquet entertainment was Royal
Essence Show Band.
The LMCA membership would like to
thank LMCA President, Lora Johnson, for
planning a wonderful and informative
week of classes and setting the atmosphere
so that lasting friendships were
harvested. As a family, we will reap the
blessings for years to come.
The IIMC Region IV meeting will be held
in Fayetteville, AR, December 13-15, at
The Graduate Hotel; and the LMCA
Spring Conference will be held on April
24-25, 2024, in Lafayette at the Double-
Tree Hotel.
by Meshaun
Arcenaux
LMCA
Arcenaux is Clerk for the Village
of Napoleonville, and LMCA Public
Relations Officer.
LMR | DECEMBER 2023 Page 29