President's Message

Scott Stauffer, MMC, City Recorder, City of Milwaukie

As I reach the midway point on my term as your president, I find myself writing this update amid the chaos of travel, budget season, board and committee interviews, and the busyness of life at home. It’s a busy moment and yet, as I pause to reflect, I am overcome with appreciation for you and our association. Thank you for lifting me up in all the ways that you show up for each other and OAMR. 

First off, I want to give a huge thank you to Ronnie Smith, King City, our Education Chair, and everyone who helped make our first-ever hybrid Mid-Year Academy a success. From the region directors who hosted to everyone who registered and attended, aside from Canadian power issues, it went off seamlessly and I’ve heard nothing but praise for how well it went. Thank you for your tireless work to lift up OAMR’s learning opportunities, Ronnie!

As mentioned above, I am in the middle of the busy months of presidential travel. In March, I drove to Kennewick, Washington, where I attended the Washington Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA) conference, catching up with our Region IX colleagues and learning about the ways our northern neighbors conduct their conference and lead their cities. It was, as always, great to catch-up with our friends from the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks (AAMC), WMCA, and California Municipal Clerks Association (CMCA), as well as our International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Region IX Directors, Shawn Campbell of Washington and Marc Donohue of California, and our IIMC President Dawn Abrahamson. 

True to form, for me, I got plenty of selfies while at WMCA, including one of all attendees during my Oregon report; see photo of my forehead. 

Up next, I am off to Anaheim, California, and the Disneyland Hotel for the CMCA conference. It promises to be a magical experience – I am sure I’ll get plenty of steps in while visiting our California and Region IX friends and the theme parks!

Also on the horizon, just two weeks after CMCA, is the IIMC Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada. I look forward to representing Oregon during the annual Parade of Flags and helping staff the Region IX booth in the exhibitor’s hall (while also going to classes, of course). OAMR will have a great delegation of 11 members heading to Reno. I look forward to catching up with each of them and making new friends from around the world as well. 

Closer to home, we have many committee meetings and a Board meeting or two coming up. The Board is scheduled to meet on April 16 to hear various reports and consider a few motions, including financial policy changes and a budget adjustment, and updated records retention policies, among other things. I hope to see you at one of these meetings and thank you for all that you do to lift up our association! 

And I am pleased to share with you the logo for our 2026 annual conference! Our Events & Fundraising Committee (EFC) and the many planning subcommittees are hard at work preparing a wonderful time at the beach for us. Watch for more information in the summer newsletter!

2026 Save the Date!
September 21-25 – Annual Conference at Chinook Winds Casino & Resort, Lincoln City. 
Visit www.oamr.org for more information on both events!

Welcome New Members! Since the winter newsletter, OAMR has welcomed several new members. When you see them on the listserv or at an OAMR event, or out and about in our great state, be sure to say hello!
•    Courteney Halstead, Waterloo
•    Desyree Ambriz, Gervais
•    Nicole Tritten, Westfir
•    Jessica Isley, Condon
•    Anthony Pagano, Gold Beach
•    Monica Burmeister, Sisters
•    Shiela Kowling, Mount Vernon
•    Jennifer Hummel, Aurora
•    Susan Roberts, Culver
•    Loran Jessee, Gold Hill
•    Kim Karber, Columbia City
•    Pamela Dornbusch, Monmouth
•    Cyrstal Rey, Spray

We also congratulated several members who have earned the coveted certified municipal clerk (CMC) or master municipal clerk (MMC) designations. Congrats!
•    Rachel Thomas, Newberg – CMC 3/6/2026
•    Rachael Bateman, Cornelius – CMC 3/23/2026
•    Hanna Bentley, Warrenton – CMC 3/26/2026

For everyone pursuing either the CMC or MMC, a great way to receive points is by attending the Northwest Clerks Institute (NWCI) Professional Development I, II, III, and IV. Registration closes two weeks before each session starts. Please reach out to me or NWCI Director Joan Tilton at [email protected] if you have any questions.

It is a pleasure to serve as your president this year. I hope you are enjoying your time as an OAMR member, and I hope you can take advantage of all the opportunities to learn and connect that our association provides. It is certainly always a great time to ask yourself, "how am I lifting-up my colleagues today?"

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Call to Leadership

2026-2027 DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY

At the September 2026 OAMR Business Meeting, the membership will be asked to elect officers for the 2026-2028 term. Offices of Vice President and Directors for Regions I, III, V, and VII will be up for election.

Please consider applying for OAMR leadership roles. Our organization gives so much to its members and serving on the Board is a very rewarding way to give back to a fabulous organization. OAMR provides a leadership mentoring program, so if you feel like you need a mentor to assist with Board or Director development, a mentor can be assigned to you.

Below is a summary of the job description for positions available. (You can find complete descriptions on our website at www.oamr.org. Click on “ABOUT OAMR”, then scroll down to “Board Applications”.)

The term of office for Vice President is a three-year term. The Vice President succeeds to President, then Immediate Past President.

The term of office for Region Directors is two years. Duties shall include, but are not limited to: 

•    Attendance at all Board meetings and conferences 
•    Encouraging membership in both OAMR and IIMC
•    Encouraging attendance at OAMR mid-year and annual conferences
•    Contributing articles and/or information for inclusion in the OAMR quarterly newsletter
•    Coordinating region basket for fundraising at conference 
•    Writing letters of support for members applying for their CMC designation  

Region Director Positions up for election include (covering cities located within the listed counties):

REGION I DIRECTOR: (Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties)

REGION III DIRECTOR: (Benton, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, and Polk Counties)

REGION V DIRECTOR: (Coos, Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lake Counties)

REGION VII DIRECTOR: (Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallow, and Wheeler Counties)
 
General eligibility criteria are that you must be an active member in good standing and have actively participated in an OAMR committee for two years. 

If you are interested in submitting your name as a candidate for any of the above positions, please complete the following steps, and submit a completed application to the Nominating Committee Chair by Friday, June 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at [email protected]

•    Declaration of Candidacy Form 
•    Candidate Statement 
•    Letter of Support from the Mayor or municipality you represent 
•    Recent Photograph (high quality digital) 
•    Copies of OAMR certificates issued for participation on OAMR Committees for two years, within the past four years.

Information will be provided for publication in the OAMR Newsletter, as well as the Annual Conference program. Elections will be conducted in accordance with Article VI of the OAMR Bylaws at the Annual Conference.

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IIMC Annual Conference

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NCI Update

2026 Northwest Clerks Institute Programs Are Filling Quickly

Hosted at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, the Institute delivers structured, IIMC-approved education supporting both Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) and Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) certification pathways.

Serving clerks across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, the Institute is administered through Washington State University Professional Education in partnership with regional clerk associations.

Registration for the 2026 Professional Development programs is open, and early numbers show strong demand; participants are securing their spots early.

Space remains across all three tracks, but capacity is tightening. PD I leads with 52 registered, nearing its goal of 60 and approaching its 65-person limit. PD III continues to build with 37 participants, while PD II sits at 30 and is trending upward.

Seats are filling. Don’t wait -- secure your spot TODAY at https://go.wsuprofed.com/website/80373/home/ 

About the Programs: 
PD I: A Proven Foundation That Still Delivers

The PD I program continues to serve as the foundation for professional clerks, delivering structured, essential training that addresses both the technical and leadership responsibilities of the role.

The week begins with a variety of interactive exercises pertaining to team-building that establish trust, define communication styles, and create a working dynamic that carries through the entire program.

Participants develop practical writing skills focused on producing clear, concise meeting minutes that highlight decisions and actions.

Legal sessions provide a working understanding of Oregon's applicable laws, emphasizing the real-world consequences of both action and inaction.

Parliamentary procedure training reinforces the clerk’s role as a procedural authority, equipping participants to support elected officials with confidence. 

Learn how your agency’s rules interact with parliamentary procedure, practice motions that you are likely to encounter, and become familiar with the rules for debate and voting.

Records management sessions address compliance, accessibility, and accountability—core functions that underpin public trust.

The program also challenges participants to define their role as leaders and confront ethical decision-making in complex situations.

Professional development includes guidance on the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation and long-term career growth.

The program closes with applied learning, including codification and ordinance drafting, followed by a structured wrap-up focused on real-world application.

PD II: Targeted Training for Real Operational Gaps

PD II sharpens performance by addressing inefficiencies, communication breakdowns, and process gaps.

Clerk Busters focuses on documenting workflows and eliminating reliance on institutional knowledge.

The Data Strikes Back builds practical Excel skills to improve data organization and usability.

Finding Hidden Records provides strategies to locate and manage difficult records efficiently.

Communication Begins With Presence emphasizes leadership awareness and perception.

Onboarding sessions introduce structured systems for councilmembers and staff.

Build Your Conflict Capable Leadership Skills provides a framework for managing conflict constructively.

PD III: Leadership, Influence, and High-Stakes Communication

PD III focuses on advanced leadership and communication under pressure.
Leading With Purpose centers on defining professional direction and navigating conflict.

Power Talk and Public Speaking Training strengthen communication in high-stakes environments.

As a reminder, Professional Development IV (PD IV) will not be held in 2026 or 2028 to avoid overlap with the IIMC Annual Conference in Reno (2026) and Bellevue (2028). PD IV will return in June 2027.

In the meantime, the Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders will offer PD IV Master Academies and Athenian Dialogues during its Annual Conference and Academy at Chinook Winds Casino Resort, scheduled for September 21–25, 2026. Participants will have opportunities to earn both CMC and MMC education points.

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Annual Conference

Strengthening Local Government from the Inside Out

The Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders Annual Conference & Academy

The Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders Annual Conference & Academy remains one of Oregon’s most important professional development events for municipal recorders, clerks, and administrative leaders. Designed to strengthen both technical expertise and leadership capacity, the conference continues to serve as a central gathering point for those responsible for the integrity and function of local government.

The 2026 Conference & Academy is scheduled for September 21 - 25 at Chinook Winds Casino & Resort in Lincoln City, bringing together professionals from across the State for a full week of education, collaboration, connection, and great food. 

At its core, the Conference & Academy is built around practical, real-world learning. OAMR emphasizes sessions that go beyond theory, focusing instead on tools, strategies, and examples participants can immediately apply in their daily work. 

The OAMR Education Committee has taken an intentional and disciplined approach to building this year’s program, with a clear focus on quality, relevance, and impact. The committee received 23 proposals spanning keynote presentations and general sessions, covering critical areas such as leadership, emergency management, conflict management and de-escalation, and human resources. This content reflects both the complexity of the municipal recorder role and the committee’s commitment to delivering a well-rounded, high-value educational experience. Each session has been carefully evaluated to ensure it provides practical insight, applicable tools, and meaningful professional development for attendees.

The event also reinforces the critical role municipal recorders play in governance. From public records management and legislative compliance to elections administration and council support, these professionals are foundational to maintaining public trust. The conference creates space to refine these responsibilities while adapting to evolving legal and technological demands.

Beyond training, the Conference & Academy is a working network. It connects professionals who often operate in highly specialized roles, offering opportunities to exchange solutions, share challenges, and build lasting professional relationships. That peer-to-peer engagement is not a side benefit; it is a core function of the event.

The 2026 theme, centered on “Lifting Each Other Up,” reflects a broader cultural emphasis within OAMR: collaboration over isolation, shared knowledge over silos, and mentorship as a pathway to long-term institutional strength.

Ultimately, the OAMR Annual Conference & Academy is not just a training event; it is an investment in the systems that keep local government accountable, functional, and trusted. By equipping municipal professionals with both the technical skills and leadership perspective they need, OAMR continues to shape the future of public administration across Oregon.

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Welcome New Members

By Committee Co-Chairs Stacey Stockhoff, La Grande and June Hinojosa, Bandon
 
On behalf of the Membership Committee, please join us in extending a warm welcome to our new members!

REGION I
Kim Karber, City Administrator/Recorder, City of Columbia City.

REGION III
Desyree Ambriz, City Clerk/Assistant City Recorder, City of Gervais.

Jennifer Hummel, City Recorder, City of Aurora. 

REGION V
Courteney Halstead, City Recorder, City of Lakeside, previously served as the Deputy City Recorder to the City of Reedsport from 2020-2023.  We’re delighted to welcome Courteney back to OAMR and look forward to seeing her active involvement once again. Welcome back, Courteney!

Anthony Pagano, Community Development Director/Recorder, City of Gold Beach.

REGION VI
Monica Burmeister, City Recorder, City of Sisters.

Susan Roberts, City Recorder, City of Culver.

REGION VII
Jessica Isley, Interim City Recorder, City of Condon, has been with the City since October 2019, serving as an Administrative Assistant, and stepped into the Interim City Recorder role in January 2026. Although she is new to municipal government and still getting oriented in her interim role, she brings professional experience from both the newspaper industry and the healthcare field.
Originally from South Carolina, Jessica relocated to Oregon in 2012 and has made it home ever since. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and is learning the art of gardening. One of her go to local hangouts is The Condon Local, where she swears the coffee and breakfast are worth getting out of bed for!

Sheila Kowing, City Recorder, City of Mt. Vernon.

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CMC and MMC Awards

Rachel Thomas, City of Newberg, Earns CMC

By Crystal Robles, City of Molalla

The Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders (OAMR) is proud to recognize Rachel Thomas of the City of Newberg on earning her Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation. This prestigious credential reflects Rachel's dedication to professional development, her expertise in municipal governance, and her commitment to serving her community. 

Rachel has been with the City of Newberg for two and a half years and joined OAMR almost immediately after starting. "I had heard from many that it is a great opportunity to learn and a community of support and collaboration — very true!" she shared. She quickly became involved, serving on the Events and Fundraising Committee in her first year and now serving on the Membership Committee. Thankfully, she is also a regular on the listserv.

For recorders considering certification, Rachel offers practical advise: sit down with someone who has recently been through a process, treat every training, class, and leadership opportunity as a chance to accumulate points and document everything. She also strongly encourages applying for scholarships offered by both IIMC and OAMR. "Chances are good you can get at least one, and they go a long way!" she noted.

Rachel's perspective on OAMR membership is simple: you get out what you put into it. "It can be easy to be a wallflower and just observe, and you will get some benefit from watching," she said, "but when you dive in to volunteer, speak up and share ideas, the impact this organization will have on your career will increase exponentially."

At work, Rachel is especially proud of leading the City of Newberg’s transition to a paperless operation. Over the past two years, her team has worked diligently to digitize archives, eliminate paper-based processes across the city, and bring records into excellent condition—an effort that is now nearing completion.

Looking ahead, Rachel is already thinking beyond the CMC designation. She recently began pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and plans to graduate in July 2027, with a long-term goal of becoming a city manager.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys cooking, gardening, yoga, water aerobics, singing and teaching at her church. Much of her free time, as she puts it, is spent “shuttling kids to appointments and activities.” At home, she considers raising her three children among her greatest achievements. She also shares that raising her daughter with Down syndrome has been “a big, beautiful journey” of care and advocacy.

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Region News

Region II

Krystal Stevens, Willamina, Region II Director

Region II held our region lunch at the Thirsty Lion in Tigard on February 12. We had seven people attend and had a great lunch together! Delicious food as well!

Region II held two in-person gatherings during the Mid-Year Academy, one was hosted by Sue Ryan in Beaverton and the other was hosted by Rachel Thomas in Newberg. Each location had a great turnout. In addition, we have begun collecting items for our region basket for the Annual Conference. After taking a vote, it was decided that our basket will have the theme of Baking and Cooking.

Region III

Gloria Tucker, CMC, Port of Newport, Region III Director

The City of Newport is excited to announce that Newport has successfully relaunched its Sister City Program and are actively gearing up for a major milestone — the 60th anniversary of the sister city relationship with Mombetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.

As part of the celebration, the City will be hosting a delegation from Mombetsu here in Newport, including their Mayor and several other City officials. Newport is looking forward to commemorating six decades of cultural exchange, friendship, and international partnership. It’s a meaningful moment for the community, and they are thrilled to continue strengthening this long-standing relationship.

Congratulations to Phyllis Boleman, MMC, City of Monmouth, on her retirement. She's been a great part of OAMR and taught so many Recorders. Monmouth may be losing its cornerstone, but we're keeping her!

Region V

Winnie Shepard, CMC, Region V Director

The City of Jacksonville has been named the recipient of the 2026 National Fire Mitigation Award. This is the highest national honor one can receive for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation. Established in 2014, the Wildfire Mitigation Awards are jointly sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the USDA Forest Service. Since the award’s inception, this is the first time it has come to Southern Oregon.

The award recognizes groups, organizations, or communities that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in reducing wildfire risk. Jacksonville’s selection not only reflects the effectiveness of its mitigation initiatives but also the strong partnerships that have formed among all stakeholders committed to preserving and protecting their community.

In her letter of nomination, Jacksonville City Councilor Andrea Thompson cites fuel reduction efforts across the city on both public and private lands, and important partnerships with local agencies, including Jacksonville Fire, Lomakatsi Restoration Project, Grayback Forestry, Oregon Dept of Forestry (ODF), Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative (SOFRC), and the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM).

The City of Jacksonville’s updates to building codes with an eye toward improved fire safety standards, its changes to tree-removal policy, and its educational efforts through Firewise model gardens were all noted. Similarly, the City’s initiation of Blackberry Removal grants to assist property owners, regardless of property size, helps them recoup some of the expense of removing the blackberry hazard.

Jacksonville Fire Dept, in collaboration with Jacksonville Firewise communities, set up semiannual green waste drop-off days and a Neighborhood Green Waste Dumpster Program. At the same time, City leaders created a Citizens Fire Safety Guide to accompany the Fire Dept’s Evacuation maps. Working together with an “All Hands Onboard ”approach, City staff, agency partners, volunteers, and citizens continue to take meaningful steps to protect lives, property, and the natural environment that defines the Community. While Jacksonville is a small city, the collective efforts of its residents, elected leaders, City staff, and volunteers have earned a national spotlight in fuel mitigation efforts.

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Committee News

scholarship committee

Cathy Nelson, MMC, Harrisburg

Scholarships to attend the upcoming Annual Academy and Conference at Chinook Winds Resort in Lincoln City, Oregon on September 21-25, 2026 are being accepted from July 1 through August 15. You can apply for both scholarships. These scholarships cover the registration of the events and are a reimbursement type. Once you have completed the training and received your certification you would then submit the reimbursement form and receive the funds. 

All forms can be found online at Oregon Association of Municipal Recorder - Scholarships (oamr.org). Please review the guidelines for obtaining a Conference scholarships through OAMR which include becoming a member of the Conference Committee and submitting a letter of support with your application.

The Committee looks forward to awarding 10 Academy and 10 Conference scholarships.

EVENTS and fundraising committee

Krystal Stevens, Willamina

New Member Introduction Subcommittee: Held our first meeting and began outlining plans for the annual conference. The group is proposing shifting from an evening event to a continental breakfast on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., before the conference starts at 9:00 a.m. This would give new members the opportunity to get oriented right away, pick up bags, review materials, ask questions, and feel settled from the start.  We are hopeful that promoting it to new members earlier, they can plan to attend this event before the Wednesday Academy Session. We are currently waiting to hear whether this proposal is approved. The Subcommittee plans to meet again in May to finalize additional details.

Fundraising Subcommittee: We raised $370 in the 50/50 raffle fundraiser. The drawing was held during the Mid-Year Academy resulting in Susan Reeves winning $185! We also want to remind you to collect silent auction and region basket items for the Annual Conference in September. 

Host Recorders Subcommittee: The 2026 Conference Host Subcommittee is working hard behind the scenes to make this the best, and most fun, conference yet! Our team is busy planning, coordinating, and building an experience that reflects the spirit of OAMR and the incredible work municipal recorders do across Oregon. We are working on getting items unique to the host community and area for the conference. 

The Sponsor/ Exhibitor Subcommittee: At the Annual Business Meeting, members discussed reviewing the conference Sponsor and Exhibitor fees, which had remained unchanged for many years. The Board approved a new sponsorship structure to help offset rising conference costs while keeping registration affordable. We have been working on a list of sponsors and will be sending out information about the new packages early next month.  

Events Subcommittee: Met and discussed the banquet theme of Bowties at the Beach. We are thinking bow ties, beach theme, nautical, and possible beachy photo booth. Trivia is being planned again for the All-Conference Event. We also hope to have a bonfire on the beach after the trivia night. 

Facilities Subcommittee: Planning a site visit to Chinook Winds April 10 to finalize details and layout of the 2026 Annual Conference. We are working to finalize the contract for the 2027 Annual Conference with Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond. We are also working on sending out RFPs for 2028 venues. 

strategic Planning Group

Cathy Nelson, MMC, Harrisburg

The SPG Committee has continued to meet on a regular basis. We have completed several Governance tasks in length such as removing board positions, adding board positions, reevaluating all job descriptions for the board and committees, combining committees and dissolving committees. We have finished the process of holding a virtual mid-year academy and meeting within the regions and moving to a rotation of Annual Conference sites. 

We are brainstorming different ways to change the regional areas to accommodate more membership engagement. Right now, we are working on moving from a geographical aspect to city-population. 

We are also reaching out to other organizations to help increase awareness of OAMR and begin creating relationships to get more educational opportunities for our membership.     

We hope to focus more on action steps to address Membership Engagement and Professional Development. 

We are in our 4th year of the 5-year Strategic Plan. 

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Representatives

OAMR Board Members Pictured Above

Front row (L-R): Vice President Claudia Cisneros, CMC; Secretary Melissa Bisset, MMC; Region IV Director Allyson Pulido; & Immediate Past President Kayla Duddy, MMC

Back row (L-R): Region III Director Gloria Tucker, CMC; Region VI Director Keli Pollock; Treasurer Kim Herring; Region I Director Lisa Scholl, MMC; Region II Director Krystal Stevens; and President Scott Stauffer, MMC

2025-2026 OAMR Board

2025-2026 OAMR COMMITTEE CHAIRS

IIMC Region IX
alaska * California * Oregon * Washington * Hawaii

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Oregon Association of Municipal Recorders is to enhance the quality of our office and to encourage dedication to our profession, by providing educational experiences of the highest quality as well as promote the professionalism of the office of municipal recorder.

Newsletter Submission Deadlines
Summer 2026 – June 12, 2026

Fall 2026 - October 23, 2026

Winter 2027 - December 11, 2026

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