Oakland, Michigan, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 -- Ruth Johnson, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, hosted a seminar on the handling of birth and death records today.

Nearly 40 clerks from Oakland County and surrounding counties attended the seminar, presented by the Michigan Department of Community Health and sponsored by the Michigan Association of County Clerks.

Tonni Bartholomew and administrative aide Aileen Bittner (see attached photo) were among those who attended. Most of the records officially filed with the city of Troy stem from births and deaths at Troy Beaumont Hospital.

The focus of the seminar was the handling of vital records, including access concerns, new technology systems and changes in security and regulations stemming from the Intelligence Reform and Real ID acts.

"The safeguarding of our documents is critical in today's world," Johnson said. "We all have a role in that."

Oakland County processed 20,262 birth certificates and 11,638 death certificates in 2006.