Founded in 1947 and located in Southern California since the mid-1970s, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) is a non-profit professional association with more than 15,000 members in North America and 12 other countries, representing municipalities with populations ranging from 1,000 to more than 10 million.  IIMC prepares its members to meet the challenges of the diverse role of the municipal clerk by providing services and continuing professional development opportunities in 46 permanent learning centres at colleges and universities.  IIMC offers a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) programme, a Master of Municipal Administration (MMA) program and other opportunities for municipal clerks for members and the government entities they serve.  ICMI is governed by a 26-member Board of Directors. Its current IIMC President is Lana McPherson, MMC, – 2019 - 2020

Territorial leaders are the hub of government, the direct link between people in their communities and the government.  They are the historians of the community, as they are entrusted with the entire recorded history of their municipality. There is no other office in the municipal department that has so many contracts. The office of the leader serves the mayor, the council, the city manager and all administrative departments without exception.  

All citizens call the clerk's office almost daily for services or information. The clerk's job is not spectacular, but it requires diplomacy, leadership, management, versatility, precision, patience, communication skills, problem solving, tolerance and a love of learning.  It is true that the public does not realize the myriad of skills required to do this work with precision, dignity and professionalism. 

At the international level, the IIMC is affiliated to the following associations: Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC - UK); Administrative Democratic Services Officers (ADSO - UK); Vereniging Van Griffiers (VVG - the Netherlands); Excello.Net (Belgium); IAM (Israel); IMASA (South Africa), SOLAR (Scotland) and UDITE (Europe); NBAMCB (Bulgaria); AMCTO (Ontario - Canada); PMA (Newfoundland - Canada); AMCA (Alberta - Canada) and LGMA (British Columbia - Canada).

IIMC supports its international affiliations through regional and conference grants. The IIMC Board of Directors is constantly looking for ways to add value to these relationships as they are considered extremely important and essential to the mission, purpose and vision of IIMC.  To this end, the IIMC has played a leading role in organising three international symposia (2014, 2017 and 2019), the first two of which were held in Brussels and the last in England. Currently, the IIMC is working on the production of its fourth colloquium in the Netherlands as well as a study abroad programme.

In the US, the  IIMC congress that was due to take place in Saint Louis this month (April) has unfortunately been cancelled  due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the current uncertainty and with no definitive end in sight to travel restrictions, travel bans and combined with an overall loss of confidence to convene in 2020, it became evident that the Conference needed to be cancelled. On Thursday, April 9th, 2020, the IIMC Board of Directors in conjunction with the 2020 St. Louis Conference Host Committee officially decided to cancel the 2020 IIMC Annual Conference. IIMC also voted to award the 2025 conference to St. Louis.

This is a tremendous disappointment regarding all those participating in the Conference, from the Board to the Host Committee to the attendees. Member safety was and always is our primary concern. In the end, this was the right decision.

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