The International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) has granted Yelm City Clerk Kathy Linnemeyer the designation of master municipal clerk (MMC)after she completed demanding educational requirements and made significant contributions to her community.
“I am very thankful for the opportunities to continue learning that help me be the best clerk that I can be,” Linnemeyer said. “The support and friendships in the clerk world are beyond anything I have ever experienced.”
The master municipal clerk is one of two professional designations granted by IIMC. Linnemeyer has been an active member of the IIMC while also obtaining 60 points in advanced education and 40 points in professional contributions through classes.
This includes training on public records by the Washington Association of Public Records Officers, being a member of the Washington Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA) Executive Board, completing sessions on Northwest Clerks Institute professional development, and attending state association conferences. Linnemeyer also participated in Athenian Leadership Society dialogues. All of this is also assessed to ensure the knowledge is being transferred into the role of municipal clerk.
Linnemeyer started her career in local government in 2002, when she began working as a utility billing clerk for the Town of Eatonville. She was later promoted to deputy clerk and then city clerk in 2012. She joined the City of Yelm in 2020 and has been an active member of the WMCA since 2006.
“In the world of municipal clerks, earning the MMC designation is a big deal, as it should be,” Linnemeyer said. “It takes a lot of time and effort to achieve this designation, and I am extremely proud of myself for fulfilling this accomplishment.”
The IIMC has given the MMC designation to 1,460 clerks worldwide, including in England, The Netherlands, Wales and Canada.
“It is exciting to be a part of this group of professionals all over the world that do similar things that I do,” Linnemeyer said.
Linnemeyer will be honored along with others at the 78th annual IIMC conference in Calgary, Canada, for being inducted as a Paul Craig Athenian Fellow in the Athenian Leadership Society.
“I don’t think anyone plans to be a municipal clerk. It is something that just happens,” Linnemeyer said. “I keep doing what I do because I love what I do and where I work. Also being a part of professional organizations like WMCA and IIMC provide so many educational opportunities that help me keep up with ever-changing laws and rules regarding records and meetings.”
Linnemeyer added that the networking and support among municipal clerks is amazing.
“If I ever run into something that I need help with, I have a network of clerks all over the state of Washington who are subject matter experts who are always willing to help,” Linnemeyer said.
Municipal clerks manage official city records, fill public disclosure requests, prepare agendas and take minutes for meetings, do legal notices, manage records and work on the codification of the Yelm Municipal Code.
