History

The New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks was organized on September 18, 1979, at Brown's hotel in Lock Sheldrake, New York. There were 12 people present. Constitution and By-Laws were adopted on September 15, 1980. The clerks organized and volunteered their hard work and time for the Association.

First Officers

The following officers from the start are as follows:

• President, Evelyn Sivecz, Town of Alden, Erie County
• First VP Sheryl Lipps, Town of Clifton Park, Saratoga County
• Second VP Rita Cilchrist, Village of Freeport, Nassau County
• Third VP, Margaret Kopunck, Village of Blauvelt, Rockland County
• Secretary, JoAnn Dixon, Town of Chatham, Columbia County
• Treasurer, Dora Schultz, Town of Gallatin, Columbia County

Goals & Initial Actions

It was an exciting time and an enormous undertaking. President, Evelyn Sivecz said The aims of the new association should encompass education, improve the Court Clerical system, accomplish a closer liaison with other departments, Courts and clerks in the state and allow us to be a greater service to our justices and the communities they serve.

By our first conference, we were paying dues of $5 and $10 was the registration fee. The conference was held with the Judges at the Nevele in the Catskills. We had an informal bulletin that Sybil Kennedy issued until 1984.

On May 9, 2000, the New York State Legislation adopted a resolution proclaiming May 20th Court Clerks Day (PDF).

Timeline of Events

• 1980: First annual Conference held at the Nevele in Ellenville, NY 9/14/1980-1/17/1980.  Join conference with the Magistrates.  The conference registration fee was $10 and membership dues were $5.00.  103 paid members. 
• 1981: Conference held at Grossingers in Ellenville, NY.
• 1982: Conference held at the Nevele in Ellenville, NY.  Sybil Kennedy elected President and membership dues increased to $10.00.
• 1983: Conference held at the Nevele in Ellenville, NY.  The Court Clerk logo was adopted. 176 paid members.  
• 1984: Conference held at the Nevele in Ellenville, NY. Bonnie Reed was elected President.  "The Docket' was adopted as our official court clerks magazine. Patricia Coffey was the editor. TSLED (Traffic Safety Law Enforcement and Disposition) was developed and implemented.
• 1985: Conference held at the Nevele in Ellenville, NY. From the Docket November 1985 by Sybil Kennedy: when I became President, I remember saying to the clerks we had to crawl before we could walk. We've crawled, we've walked and now we've ready to run.  Membership grew to 421 paid members.
• 1986: Conference held at the Fallsview in Ellenville, NY. 196 clerks were in attendance.  Arnold Bronstorph was elected President.  First Court Clerks annual banquet held at the Fallsview. The judge's banquet was the next night next door at the Nevele. DMV Commissioner Patricia Aducci was our first speaker.  NYSAMCC was incorporated on 2/6/1986.  
• 1987: Conference held at the Fallsview in Ellenville, NY.  187 clerks were in attendance.  The highlight of the conference was a skit on Dos and Don'ts for Court Clerks.  Membership grew to 533 members.  
• 1988: Conference held in Ellenville, NY at the Fallsview. Barbara Hodom was elected President.  Patricia Coffey resigns as Editor of the Docket, Amy Harter becomes Editor of the Docket.
• 1989: Conference held at the Concord Hotel in the Catskills on Kiamesha Lake. The surcharge goes from $10 to $17 for traffic infractions. First Court Clerk of the Year award given to Amber Rose from the Town of Victor.  
• 1990: Conference held at the Fallsview in Ellenville, NY.  Barbara Rinaldo was elected President.  Gloria Morse from the Town of Wappinger Falls was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Jackie Smith from DCJS exploring court automation. The Town and Village Resource Center in Albany became operational.  Mark Glick, Esq. and Maryrita Dobiel, Esq. were named attorneys appointed to serve the Town and Village Resource Center.  Membership grew to 600 members.  
• 1991: Conference held at the Fallsview  in Ellenville, NY.  238 clerks were in attendance.  Gloria Morse resigned as 3rd VP as she was elected Town Justice in the Town of Wappinger Falls. Bail poundage was adopted.
• 1992: Conference held at the Fallsview in Ellenville, NY. Joyce Mahoney was elected President. President Mahoney's goal during her presidency was to strengthen the affiliation between the organizations of the NYSAMCC and NYSMA as well as enhance classes for the new clerks. She achieved both.  
• 1993: Conference held in Rochester, NY. Gala 50s party at conference in Rochester. The jitterbug was the style for the evening.  Lynnette Lemcke became Acting President.  Sybil Kennedy from the Town of Grand Island was awarded Court Clerk of the Year. 
• 1994: Conference held in Rochester, NY.  Lynnette Lemcke was elected President.  Dora Schultz from the Town of Gallatin was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Membership grew to 672 members.
• 1995: Conference held at the Hilton in Lake Placid, NY. Helen Jean Schneider from the Town of Marcellus was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  All courts became required to provide protection orders to the NYS Registry.  Membership grew to 699.
• 1996: Conference held at the Hilton in Lake Placid, NY.  Sharon Wilder was elected President.  Barbara Hodom from the Town of Bethlehem was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Conference registration was $20.00.  
• 1997: Conference held at the Hilton in Buffalo, NY.  Rolf Schweigardt from the Town of Colonie was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  
• 1998: Conference held at the Adam's Mark in Buffalo, NY.  Richard Szarowicz was elected President.  Amy Harter from Town of Schodack was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  
• 1999: Conference held at the Nevele Grande in Ellenville, NY. Linda McCartney from the Village of Malverne was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Joint website was launched with NYSMA.  Membership grew to 737 paid members.  
• 2000: Conference held at the Nevele Grande in Ellenville, NY. Terri Bolt was elected President.  249 clerks were in attendance.  NYSAMCC celebrates 20 years! 1st teleconference held in Albany.  Richard Szarowicz, Mary Spicalsky, and Barbara Hodom participated along with various state agencies.  Sandra Stapleton from the Town of Cheektowaga was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Membership grew to 800.
• 2001: Conference held at the Hotel Syracuse in Syracuse, NY. 200 Clerks were in attendance.  Joyce Mahoney from the Town of Seneca Falls was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Hon. Gene Salisbury retired after 40 plus years of service to the bench. He was a very big supporter of Court Clerks and he is truly missed.  Town and Village Resource Center created a new segment for Court Clerks.  Mandatory training committee appointed.  NYSAMCC store established.  Dues and conference registration were increased to $25.00.  Membership grew to 852.  
• 2002: Conference was held at the Bonnie Castle Resort in Alexandria Bay, Jefferson County. 258 clerks were in attendance.  Mary Spichalsky was elected President.  Richard Szarowicz from the Village of Blasdell was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  "E" Ticket (electronic ticket) was in the development stage.  First scholarship was awarded to Lisa Mitchell from the Town of Nanticoke.  NYSAMCC established our own website - www.nysamcc.com.  The association received a $7,000 JCAP grant for computer equipment.  Membership grew to 868.  
• 2003: Conference was held at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs.  Gloria Wendell from the Town of Mohawk was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  The Association of Towns conference was held during a blizzard.  2 plus feet of snow in the "Big Apple".
• 2004: Conference was held at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs. Margaret "Peg" Palmer was elected President.  Sue Taylor from the Town of Arkwright and Town of Sheridan was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  New format for Docket was established - an upscale magazine by Amy Harter.  Membership hit over 1,000 members for the first time!  (1,029 paid members)
• 2005: 25th Annual Conference was held in Niagara Falls. Judy Bromley from the Village of Scarsdale was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Jackie Smith retires from DCJS with over 25 years of service.  Membership grew to 1,102.
• 2006: Conference was held at the Nevele Grande in Ellenville. Linda McCartney was elected President.  Janet Smith from the Town of Chenango was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Amy Harter visits Herkimer Co. Courthouse celebrating its 100th anniversary.
• 2007: Conference was held at the Marriott in Tarrytown (Westchester) with 273 clerks in attendance. Maria Burns from the Town of Grand Island was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Amy Harter retired as Editor of 'the Docket' and received a Dedication Award.  Janet Smith is the new Editor.  A new director position was added to the board.  
• 2008: Conference was held in Niagara Falls at the Quality Hotel and Suites with 258 clerks in attendance.  MaryAnn Baake was elected President.  Ramona Persan from the Village of Valley Stream was awarded Court Clerk of the year.  Membership grew to 1200!
• 2009: Conference held in the Town of Colonie at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road. Welcome to the Capital of New York for first annual conference without the Judges.  250 Clerks were in attendance and the keynote speaker was Past President Sybil Kennedy. Ursula Plock from the Town of Milan was awarded Court Clerk of the year.  6 scholarship winners were able to attend this conference.    
• 2010: 30th Anniversary Conference was held at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road in Colonie. Judy Bromely was elected President.  Terri Bolt was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  We remain over 1000 paid members.
• 2011: Annual Conference was held in Niagara Falls at the Holiday Inn jointly with the Judges. Annie Raskoskie from the Town of Ulster was awarded Court Clerk of the year.  Kevin Reilly of OCA was able to secure salary increases for several Court Clerks. The Ethics Committee was established.
• 2012: Annual Conference was held in Albany at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road. Velma Richardson was elected President.  Vicki Coraci from the Town of Aurelius and Town of Owasco was elected Court Clerk of the Year. Celebrate the season with a beach luau, Neal Shoen, Chief Council to NYSDMV was our Key Note Speaker; and our Association welcomed a new member of the team, Assistant Docket Editor Stephanie Timm-Austin.
• 2013: Annual Conference was held in Albany at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road. On March 27, 2013 - The loss of an Icon, Mentor and Friend - The Honorable Eugene W Salisbury - Judge Salisbury was very supportive and instrumental in our association.
• 2014: Annual Conference was held at the Hilton in downtown Albany. Julie Gansle was elected President and was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  NYSAMCC celebrate the relaunch of our website and joins Facebook…don't forget to "like" us.   
• 2015: Annual Conference was held joint with the Judges at the Niagara Falls Convention Center with 258 clerks in attendance. Jane Curtiss from the Town of Malta was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Kevin Reilly, a friendly smile that accompanied the familiar greeting of "Hello my friend" retires. He will be missed by many and be remembered as the great supporter who not only answered our questions, he supported us when asking our towns for raises.  MaryRita Dobiel, Esq, instructor and valuable resource for NYSAMCC retires.  Hon. Joyce Mahoney memorial scholarship was established for the Potsdam training.  Potsdam was one of her favorite conferences.    
• 2016: Annual Conference was held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Binghamton, NY. Gillian Koerner was elected President.  Sandra McKee from the Town of Onondaga was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Adoption of a New NYSAMCC Logo. Congratulations to Janet Smith as she was appointed to the newly created position of Editor in Chief of The Docket. Co-editors, Stephanie Timm-Austen and Maureen Roberts.  Neil Schoen retires from DMV.   She set and achieved many goals for the association - implementing much-needed technology upgrades, following up on the mandatory education proposal, creation of a mobile office, updating the court clerk manual and forming a closer bond with NYSMA.  2 director positions added to the Board of Directors.  
• 2017: Annual Conference was held at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, NY. Court clerks enjoyed the relaxed resort atmosphere with record high temperatures. Pam Thurber from the Town of Attica was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Contracted with Steven Preston of Conference Direct to assist with conference management.  Mandatory training is here!! On January 3rd, we were notified that the Rules of the Chief Judge had been amended to add a new subdivision which will require each court clerk in a town or village court to annually complete a training or continuing education program approved by the Chief Administrator of the Courts.  Hon Donald "Dutch" Magill past president of NYSMA and author/publisher of the Magill's manuals passed away.  
• 2018: Annual Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza in Lake Placid. Annie Raskoskie was elected President. Terri Sandifur from the Town of Romulus was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Bill Leonardo retired from DMV/TSLED.  Jackie Ricciardi creates the quote: Justice is blind, court clerks shouldn't be, education is the key.
• 2019: Annual Conference was held at the Doubletree by Hilton in East Syracuse. Tracy Moran from the Town of Wilton and Kelly DeSimone from the Village of Bronxville were awarded Court Clerk of the Year awards.  Bylaws were changed regarding the Executive Board terms.  Terms were reduced from 2 years to 1.  New updated website launched.  Mandatory training requirement begins.  Membership hit 1300!  
• 2020: Annual Conference (in person) was cancelled due to COVID-19.  This was the 1^st Conference that was held virtual.  Jane Curtiss was elected President.
• 2021: Annual Conference was held at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.  Julie Molisani from the Town of Geneseo was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Dawn Marie Klingner was elected President.  This was the 1^st Conference that was held both in person and virtual. 
• 2022:  Annual Conference was held at the Desmond Hotel in Albany.  Patti Maquire was awarded Court Clerk of the Year.  Jackie Ricciardi was elected President.  250 Clerks were in attendance.