Adding to a resume that just seems to keep on growing, Des Plaines City Clerk Donna McAllister was inducted into the Athenian Society Fellowship of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) at the Institute’s 61^st Annual Conference held in New Orleans, LA this summer. A community leader, mentor and spokesperson for Des Plaines and the Municipal Clerks of Illinois, McAllister completed more than 60 hours of dialogues to qualify as a Fellow in the Society, which is a partnership between the University of Illinois and IIMC.

Accredited with the title of the "longest serving City Clerk in Des Plaines," McAllister has become synonymous with the office she has held for twenty-five years, during which time she has earned countless awards and accolades locally and internationally. Being one of 15 colleagues from Illinois and Iowa to be named an Athenian Society Fellow in an organization of 10,000 members, is yet another milestone in her career.

McAllister readily admits that she has "grown with the job" during her tenure as City Clerk in one of the largest Chicago Metropolitan suburban cities in the second largest populated county in the United States. She also readily admits that when she leaves office in the spring of 2009, due to a referendum passed in 1998 limiting an elected official’s time in office, it will be with "a great deal of reservation."

The blond, energetic McAllister readily talks about her own personal growth with the City Clerk’s Office, since coming on board in 1982, and about the political evolution of her office in the community of some 58,000 residents.

"I feel as though my being City Clerk was meant to be. I had reached a point in my working career where I was contemplating a major move out of Illinois, but it just wasn’t my fate.. I just couldn’t leave Des Plaines. While I was rather a newcomer to City Hall, it didn’t take me long to realize I loved the experience, the people- even the politics," McAllister said.

McAllister had been a personal friend of the former Des Plaines City Clerk Eleanor Rohrbach who died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 1981. It was her death that lead to the appointment of McAllister to the office to fulfill the remainder Rohrbach’s term. McAllister had become a friend of Rohrbach’s through Soroptimist International of Des Plaines and their membership in the Chicagoland Chapter of Women In Management. It was Rohrbach who encouraged McAllister to expand her political horizons locally and run for alderman in the eighth ward, a venture, even though unsuccessful, McAllister saw as a challenge to experience life to the fullest.

"From an early age, my mother encouraged me to never close the door on an opportunity to try something new. This led me to my government service in the Far East for a year and Europe for two years," McAllister said.

[In the early 1950s McAllister’s mother, Anna St. Pierre, supported her daughter’s decision to accept a clerical civilian position with the Air Force. It was the start of an international experience that lead her to Japan, where she served as Assistant Historian for the 315^th Air Division. During her stay in Japan she was one of eight individuals to set out to climb Mount Fuji. Of the original group, three women (Donna being one) and two men successfully made the ascent and descent of Japan’s 12, 338 ft. symbol! Following Japan, McAllister went on to Germany.]

Having received the respect of the City Council during her time as an "appointed" clerk, McAllister opted to run for the position in 1985. It was a wise decision, for she set a pace for herself that would continue for the next five municipal elections: 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005. It was a tradition that McAllister would continue had not a referendum adopting term limits been passed in November of 1998.

McAllister had the skills for the City Clerk’s job, having served as the Administrative Vice President of the Greater O’Hare Association of Industry and Commerce located in Elk Grove. During this time she attended the Institute for Organization Management at Notre Dame University. As a vital component of the not- for- profit organization, McAllister had developed organizational, office, finance, personnel and "people skills," talents she put to use again and again in her government position. During her tenure as City Clerk, McAllister has made it a point to increase service to the residents. She immediately extended the office hours in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, making sure the office was staffed during noon hour and some evenings. Recognizing that many people work, McAllister felt it was necessary to provide an evening when residents could use the services of the City Clerk’s Office to register to vote, obtain copies of records, etc…

"I started promoting the City Clerk’s Office as a ‘clearing house’ for the community and local government. Residents with questions regarding services in the community were encouraged to call the City Clerk’s Office," McAllister said.

With the previous City Clerk already beginning to pave the way with efforts to establish the office as the public relations arm of local government by establishing a public relations position in the office, McAllister furthered the efforts.

Cable television operations, which were in their infancy, were headquartered in her office, as well as the production of the employee newsletter and the citywide newsletter. In addition, she became the "go to" person in regards to the appearance of the City Hall and the development of several City publications. The City Clerk’s Office became a hub of activity that went beyond voter registration, record keeping, and secretarial duties.

In an effort to get involved in the community and bring government into everyday living and business circles, McAllister became active in numerous civic organizations and programs including being a founding member of the Des Plaines Sister Cities Association whereby Des Plaines became a partner with Cremona, Italy and Nailuva, Fiji. Other affiliations include Des Plaines Crime Stoppers, the Historical Society, the Senior Center, the Des Plaines Arts Council, the Elks Club, the Center of Concern and The Salvation Army, often volunteering to ring a bell for donations during the holiday season. Whatever the cause, McAllister’s volunteer efforts were all inclusive from selling raffle tickets to flipping hamburgers. If there was a cause- she was there. In 1985 she agreed to serve as the Co-Chairman of the Sesquicentennial Commission celebrating the 150^th Anniversary of the City.

Wanting to get the word out about the function and services of her office, McAllister frequently accepted speaking engagements from local service clubs requesting her to address local government issues. Public speaking was not something she had looked forward to doing, but, never the less, she viewed it as a challenge that went along with her position and she quickly overcame her fears.

"The duties of city clerks throughout our country vary. By Des Plaines City Code and Illinois State Statute, the Des Plaines City Clerk is responsible for retaining and administering the corporate seal, keeping all records, attending meetings of the City Council and maintaining a full record of its proceedings. State Statute also specifies that the City Clerk serve on the Board of Local Improvements. Since Des Plaines City Clerk is an elected position, I have taken great pride in serving the residents while enjoying networking within the community. It is an opportunity I feel fortunate to have had," McAllister said.

According to McAllister, one of her goals as City Clerk was to recodify the Des Plaines City Code, which is comprised of all the ordinances, rules, and regulations that make up

the operation of Des Plaines. The City Code had not been recodified since 1963. She also took on the task of computerizing the office and its records. Today, minutes, ordinances, back records, and cable broadcasts of meetings are stored on CDs in a fireproof vault, an addition to the City Clerk’s Office that was initiated by McAllister.

"I believe we have successfully brought the City Clerk’s Office into the 21^st century. Fortunately, previously clerks had paved a great paper trail, making our job a little easier," McAllister said.

The City Clerk position in Des Plaines was one of longevity. McAllister’s predecessor, Eleanor Rohrbach, served 16 years and prior to that time, City Clerk Otto Henrich served from 1944-1965. The position remains elected having a referendum to change the position to "appointed" defeated by the voters in March 2000.

"I have always loved Des Plaines and my work and have felt that previous city clerks must have shared my feelings and that’s what drove them to seek reelection," McAllister said.

McAllister’s respect and influence transcended into the circles of her professional peers. From her early days in office she became an active member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) consistently attending training courses and serving on IIMC committees and the Municipal Clerks of Illinois, as well as with the Municipal Clerks Association of the North & Northwest Suburbs of Cook County.

McAllister rose through the ranks and titles from "Illinois Registered Municipal Clerk," "Certified Municipal Clerk," and eventually being designated a "Master Municipal Clerk" in 2000, being only the thirteenth Clerk in the State of Illinois to achieve such a designation. Coincidently, the twelfth "Master Municipal Clerk" title was awarded to her best friend Marlene Williams, Village Clerk of Skokie, also in 2000.

McAllister’s efforts and recognitions didn’t stop here. In 2004 she was awarded the prestigious Quill Award from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks at IIMC Conference in Whistler, British Columbia. The award recognizes members who have made a significant and exemplary contribution to their community, state and the IIMC.

Approximately 1500 attended the conference. Ironically, McAllister’s predecessor and friend, Eleanor Rohrbach was the first to attain the Quill Award. It was McAllister who received the award in 1987 on behalf of her mentor, who had passed away unaware of the designation.

While her job related duties occupy a great deal of her time, one of her favorite "away from the office pastimes" is singing in the "Spirit of Life" Chorus, a group of over 100 individuals from throughout the Chicago Suburbs who have a passion and dedication for singing. According to McAllister, whose desire to sing lead her to the chorus although she claims to have no formal vocal training, members of the chorus come from a variety of backgrounds and professions including retired doctors, nurses, grandmothers, housewives, nurses and students. Away from the chorus, McAllister mentors students in reading in the elementary school system.

While spring of 2009 will mark the City Clerk’s final days in office, due to the referendum prohibiting elected officials from serving more than two four year terms affective 1999, it seems unlikely that McAllister will retire to golfing in a warmer climate.

"Service has been my life and I am not anticipating staying home to a life of leisure. I’m keeping all my options open and putting out the word that the Des Plaines City Clerk’s Office has provided me with a lifetime of experience that I would love to share."