At the May 1 meeting, the Town Council adopted a proclamation in recognition of the 50th Municipal Clerks Week for all the services the Office of the Municipal Clerk performs and the dedication to citizens it represents, and to the manner in which it has been and continues to be an essential component of the Town’s own local government operations.
Initiated in 1969 by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and endorsed throughout the United States, Canada, and 15 other countries, including by the Office of the President of the United States of America, the annual Municipal Clerks Week is a time for celebration of and reflection on the clerk’s office and its many responsibilities.
The Office of the Municipal Clerk is instrumental in the administration of democratic processes through the provision of access to municipal records, the fostering of good citizen-to-local-government relations, and the upholding of transparency and neutrality. It always strives to better serve the community with knowledge and understanding, and regards continuing education efforts as imperative in the evolving environment in which Clerks work.
The proclamation was transmitted to both the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and the Florida Association of City Clerks, professional organizations which have been extremely supportive of the Town’s current Town Clerk, Cherry Stowe, who has benefited a great deal from their educational opportunities.
Cherry Stowe accepted the proclamation on behalf of the aforementioned organizations. She shared that she was glad that this oldest of public offices had changed a lot from the days in old England, when the town clerk was responsible for receiving crows killed by the local population to stem the growth of that bird population and providing a reward for each such fowl.
She also shared that she had learned that centuries ago, town clerks would speak a curse at the start of every meeting upon anyone who would come before the Town Council and tell a lie!
She thanked the Town Council for the recognition of her office, the highlighting of these organizations of which she is a proud member, and the recognition of the 50th Municipal Clerks Week. This May 5 through May 11, take a moment to consider how the office of the town clerk in Orchid or in another municipality has been of service to you.