The North Carolina Association of County Clerks honored Henderson County’s Libby Corn as its Outstanding Clerk of the Year and welcomed Martin County’s Linda Hardison as its new president April 19 during the organization’s 21st Annual Conference, held at the Doubletree Biltmore Hotel in Buncombe County.

     Corn, who presided over the organization in 2006-07, credited her Board of Commissioners with providing her with the support she needed in order to carry out the many duties she has performed for the Association over the years.

     “Being real active in the Association … takes a little extra,” she said. “You might have to travel a few extra days, so you do have to have your board’s backing.”

     Corn said she is particularly proud of the role she played in the creation of a cookbook during her term as treasurer. The fund-raiser was the brainchild of Craven County Clerk Gwen Bryan, and Corn chaired the Association’s cookbook committee.

     “My deputy clerk at the time and I retyped every recipe,” she said, “and there are around 500 recipes in the book.”

     The book, made up exclusively of recipes from county clerks, probably still sells a dozen or more per year, she added.

     Joining Hardison and Past President Brenda Hunter (Davie County) as officers for 2008-09 are Caldwell’s Kathy Myers as vice president, Brunswick’s Debby Gore as secretary and Carteret’s Jeanette Deese as treasurer. Ashe’s Ann Clark and Lee’s Gaynell Lee were sworn in as members of the Board of Directors along with returnees Angelena Kearney-Dunlap of Warren, Effie Varitimidis of Guilford, and Marcia Wilson of Wayne.

     Buncombe County Clerk Kathy Hughes and Deputy Clerk Stacey Keith, along with Corn and Henderson Deputy Clerk Terry Wilson, hosted the conference, which kicked off April 17.

     The Association also recognized several members who had achieved Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) or Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designations.

     Iredell’s Jean Moore, Wayne’s Wilson and Rockingham’s Pam McLain, who in 2004 became the first county clerk to receive the MMC designation, all received their MMC nameplates.

     Those receiving their CMC nameplates were Rowan’s Carolyn Athey, Edgecombe’s Carolyn Hedgepeth, Johnston Deputy Clerk Deva Holt, Cabarrus’ Kay Honeycutt, Onslow’s Beth Purcell and Durham’s Vonda Sessoms.