BOLINGBROOK CLERK ELECTED TO HEAD STATE ORGANIZATION

Carol Penning, Bolingbrook village clerk, recently was sworn in as president of the Municipal Clerks of Illinois.She will serve a one-year term as president of the professional organization, which educates and mentors professional clerks around the state.

She has served a one-year term as vice-president of the organization as well as a two-year term as its secretary.

In addition, she was instrumental in founding the Municipal Clerks of Will County in l994, and served as that organization's first president from l994-95.

The responsibilities of a village clerk are diverse and can include all record management, licensing, collection of election balloting, keeping the village seal and dispersing public information.

"I think the most important aspect is that my office serves as a liaison between the government and the citizens," said Penning, who turned 45 the day she was sworn in.

"It is an information center."

The challenges of a new millenium and rapid changes in information technology keep Penning seeking ways to improve the system.

"I have always felt that since we are a relatively young municipality, we have been able to move forward and be on the leading edge," she said.

"We have been innovative."

She cited the village's Internet link with other municipalities as a way of accessing information quickly and efficiently, more so than in the past when phone calls and mountains of paperwork were the order of the day.

"As the age of technology expands, I am a believer that we have to expand with it," Penning said.

"You need to find a way to ride the wave of change or you will find yourself beneath it."

As the new wave of technology approaches, Penning is busy assisting in a project to keep local citizens informed about precautions for Y2K.

"We will be making available a simple brochure that steers residents to other centers of information that can help as we approach 2000," Penning said.

"This will include other branches of government and emergency organizations, just so that we let people know what is available."

That brochure will be finished and available shortly, she said.

Penning is serving her third term as village clerk and will be up for re-election in 2001. She served in the office in various capacities from l977 to l985, at which time she left for work in state government.