By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

HARPERSVILLE – City Clerk Jackie Ingram recently earned the designation of certified municipal clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Ingram, who has been Harpersville’s city clerk since July 2009, began working on her accreditation in August 2009.

“IIMC grants the (certified municipal clerk) designation only to those municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements; and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state,” IIMC President Brenda Cirtin wrote in an email.

Ingram said she had to accumulate 60 “education points” by attending classes through the Alabama League of Municipalities. She attended six three-day sessions in Tuscaloosa, as well as two annual conferences, a summer conference and a “grueling” four-day international conference in Nashville, Tenn.

“Each institute you attend has different agendas,” Ingram said. “You learn things like bid law, how to manage your council, understanding the Open Meetings Act, which is commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law, how to organize your time, customer service and dealing with the public.”

The accreditation is not required, but “highly recommended” by the Alabama League of Municipalities, Ingram said.

“Any mayor is going to want you to have that accreditation. When I attend the conferences, there are clerks from all over the state trying to earn it,” Ingram said. “Now that I’ve achieved it, continuing education is not required, but it’s recommended and very beneficial.”