AMENIA — Over a decade since she first joined the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks (NYSAMCC), Dawn Marie Klingner’s time, leadership and commitment toward her duties with the association were recognized as she was designated as its president earlier this fall.
For Klingner, this honor has been a long sought-after accomplishment that she’s been working on for the last few years. She was elected to serve as a director on the Board of the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks in 2010. Along with serving on a number of committees, Klingner served as the board’s secretary for four years.
Though Klingner, also Amenia’s town clerk for many years as well as one of its justice clerks, said she found her niche through the time she spent as the group’s secretary, her colleagues had other ideas. One of the board’s former presidents encouraged her to lead the NYSAMCC.
“It was kind of a joke why I stayed as secretary instead of making the jump,” Klingner said, adding she never forgot that day.
She later took the plunge, joining the Executive Board and serving in various capacities: as third vice president from 2016 to 2017, then as second vice president from 2018 to 2019. She currently serves as the executive board’s first vice president.
All the while Klingner has been Amenia town clerk since 2013. She was recently re-elected to her fifth two-year term during the Nov. 2 election.
In between her official duties, Klingner volunteers with the Amenia Fire Company as an EMT and serves as 1st Lieutenant for the Rescue Squad and as a Fire Prevention Officer. In 2018, she earned her designation as a Registered Municipal Clerk, followed by her designation as a Certified Town Official in 2020.
On Tuesday, Sept. 14, Klingner was sworn in as president of the New York State Association of Magistrates Court Clerks during the annual conference and banquet dinner held at The Desmond in Albany. Though away in Albany for the event, Klingner said she felt she was at home surrounded by her loved ones.
“Just to have those friends and family there with me, I didn’t worry,” she said. “I had my support with me.”
NYSAMCC President Jonah Triebwasser swore Klingner into her new position, and as a special touch to the evening, Klinger said she “was able to do something for the first time in 41 years in creating a hometown color guard.”
Klingner’s color guard was comprised of Sgt. Joseph Perusse from the New York State Police; Deputy John O’Brien from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office; Amenia Fire Company Chief Aaron Howard Jr.; her husband, Amenia Police Constable and Town Justice-elect Christopher Klingner; and her son, Amenia firefighter Zachary Klingner.
“They really brought that hometown feel, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them coming up and being part of such a memorable night for me,” Klingner said with feeling. “The evening is intended to be a personal event and it was awesome to have these men come up and present the colors for me. I had Jonah, the outgoing president of the magistrates, swear me in.”
Reflecting on what this new position means to her, Klingner said, “It’s just such an accomplishment. It takes a lot of time away from your family with all my travels that it means something to be able to represent [my community], and I want to do it the very best I can and I want to continue to be the professional I know I can be as I represent my colleagues.”
Klingner said she looks forward to her year as president and to working with her new board, along with her myriad other responsibilities.
