Corbitt completes term as MCI president
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Polo City Clerk Susie Corbitt just completed one of the most interesting and rewarding years of her career.
She served as president of the Municipal Clerks of Illinois (MCI), wrapping up her year-long term in early October.
MCI is made up of the clerks of 900 of the 1,300 cities and villages in Illinois, and Corbitt said it was an honor to be elected president a year ago.
“To come from a small community and be elected president by your peers is such an honor and is very humbling to hold that position for a year,” she said. “The important thing is that I couldn’t have done it without the support of the city council and the current and past mayors.”
The most challenging — and the most exciting — part of the year was playing host to the 63rd annual International Institute of Municipal Clerk’s Conference in May.
More than 1,200 people attended the four-day conference, which was held in Chicago.
Attendees came from every state in the U.S. as well as eight Canadian provinces, Belgium, Cameroon, Israel, Nepal, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
As MCI president, Corbitt played a major role in the planning for the conference, greeted guests when they arrived, and made a welcome speech at the opening ceremony at the Chicago Auditorium.
MCI members worked for four years to raise the money to pay for the event, Corbitt said.
Funds came from fundraisers, personal donations from members, the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and corporate sponsorships.
Left-over funds will be used for scholarships.
Corbitt said the importance of being active in MCI was brought home to her in 1993 by former Polo City Clerk Noralee Gray.
“I was going door-to-door campaigning for my first term. When I stopped at her house, Noralee told me to get involved in the Municipal Clerk’s League. I’ve never forgotten that,” Corbitt said.
Once in office, she took that advice and took advantage of the educational opportunities MCI offers, earning her Master Municipal Clerk Certification in 2005.
Part of MCI’s quarterly meetings are continuing education sessions offered through the University of Illinois.
The sessions are taught by attorneys and other experts who educate participating clerks on their statutory duties, laws affecting municipalities, and best management practices.
Established in 1965, the MCI also works to promote intergovernmental and intragovernmental cooperation and communication, uniform methods of procedures, and cooperation with local and other authorities in administering provisions of state law.
Corbitt said the goal is to educate clerks on how to carry our their duties in accordance with state laws and to better serve the public.
“This is an office of public trust. It’s important that we convey that to our citizens as they come in with their needs,” Corbitt said.
The MCI named Corbitt Municipal Clerk of the Year in 2003, the same year she was selected as Polo’s Citizen of the Year.
Corbitt was one of three clerks from Ogle County elected to MCI office for 2008-09.
“That’s rather unusual for a county our size to have three elected,” she said.
Oregon City Clerk Charlene Ruthe served as a district director and Rochelle City Clerk Bruce McKinney was the secretary.
MCI has four officers and nine district directors.
