Awards of Distinction

On behalf of the California Municipal Clerks Association (CMCA), we are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 CMCA Awards of Distinction. The purpose of the Awards of Distinction is to recognize Municipal Clerk professionals who have made significant and exemplary contributions to their agency, community, or profession. From amongst the nominations for the Awards of Distinction, one nominee will be selected for the following award categories:

• Municipal Clerk of the Year

  To honor a Municipal Clerk who has made significant and exemplary contributions to their community, demonstrates professional and personal qualities that represent the best of our profession, and helps grow the profession through the promotion of education during the last year.

• Assistant/Deputy Clerk of the Year

  To honor an Assistant/Deputy Clerk of the Year who made significant contributions to the profession, provided extemporarily support to their Clerk’s Office, and helped grow our profession during the last year.

• Lifetime Achievement Award

  Recognizes an individual with a minimum of 15 years in the profession who has significantly contributed to the profession and impacted the association throughout their career. The impact may be demonstrated through programs & projects, the profession as a whole, presentations & publications, and service and mentorship.

• Innovative Program of the Year Award
  
  Recognizes an outstanding CMCA member or group who implemented a creative and innovative program within the prior year. The member or group receiving the award must introduce, manage, or implement this innovation. Included in the impact that must be demonstrated are cost savings, innovative customer service, innovative outreach to citizens, and innovative ways of collaboration.

There are also Award of Distinction categories that may be awarded based on the following areas:

• Education
• Elections and Voter Outreach
• Humanitarian/Good Samaritan
• Organization, Administration, & Communications
• Public Relations
• Mentoring

Although this announcement is also being sent to Mayors and City Managers, we encourage you to submit a nomination letter to recognize a colleague, staff, or even yourself, who may have exceeded the call of duty in one or more areas. The depth and breadth of the nomination will help support your nominee’s selection for an Award of Distinction or the Municipal Clerk of the Year Award. The more details the better. Tell us the story.

Please take this opportunity to complete recognize a deserving colleague. All nominations will remain confidential until presentation of the Awards of Distinction at the CMCA Annual Conference in April 2025. The deadline to nominate is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025. If you have any questions or if you are ready to submit a nomination letter, please email us at awards@californiacityclerks.org.

Jessica Blair, MMC
President

Spirit of Service Award

New this year, the CMCA Executive Committee has established the “Spirit of Service Award” in memory of all former clerks who have passed. This award is intended to recognize a member who embodies the true spirit of community service, with a giving and passionate nature.

The purpose of the award is to recognize a Municipal Clerk professional who exemplifies the spirit of service in an outstanding way. The single requirement is that any nominee be a member of CCAC. Other attributes to consider in your nomination are:                                                       

• CCAC Mentor – a clerk who has been willing to spend his or her time and expertise guiding the development of another clerk
• Promotion of the profession through specific actions or events individually or within CCAC
• Is an inspiration to other Municipal Clerks
• Significant personal sacrifice of time, labor, or financial resources to CCAC – someone involved to make a difference
• Courageous – someone with resolution and confidence who demonstrates they can make hard decisions
• Compassionate – treats others as they would wish to be treated
• Tenacious/Resilient – someone who is assertive, decisive, hangs in there when or because things get tough; maintains a positive perspective and stays strong during difficult times and is action-oriented
• Committed – someone who is selfless; volunteers at Region or Association level for projects/tasks, large or small – the “I can help with anything” spirit cheerleader
• A champion for continued education and the elevation of our profession
• Lifelong learner/commitment to continued learning – someone who has not stopped at the CMC/MMC certification, but believes in life-long learning and improvement
• A builder of partnerships

I invite you to write to me to recognize a Municipal Clerk who may have exceeded the call in these areas. Please share specifics and tell me how s/he has influenced you or a group or team. The more details the better. Tell me the story.

All nominations and the award will remain confidential until it is presented at the CMCA Annual Conference in April 2025 along with the Clerks of Distinction. The difference between the Spirit of Service Award and the Clerks of Distinction is that the Distinction Awards consider abilities, skills, and really nailing being a clerk. The Spirit of Service Award is about attitude, commitment, and overall presence in our clerk community.

Please take this opportunity to honor that outstanding clerk who makes a difference. The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025.   If you have any questions, please contact me at mdonohue@eastvaleca.gov.

Marc Donohue, MMC
CCAC Immediate Past-President