*Note: The following is from our archived collection of older documents, and may not reflect the most current information.

A Message from Janice R. Lachance

Dear SLA Members and Friends:

For SLA and the global community of information professionals, 2005 was particularly exciting because it brought a range of transitions that I believe mean great things for our future. This report is a guide through our experiences as the premier association for information professionals and their strategic partners.

Our year started with a newly-formatted SLA Leadership Summit in Tampa, Florida. Historically, this event has focused on leadership training for SLA volunteers. Starting in Tampa, we expanded the focus to include workplace leadership development. During a speech at the Summit, I openly challenged the volunteer leaders of our chapters and divisions to make our community supportive, nurturing, and innovative for all members and partners. Too often, we care so much about something that we lose sight of the need for positivism and comity, which hinders the growth of the very thing we love. I continue to remind SLA members to support one another and respect opinions that differ from our own, no matter the outcome.

At headquarters, the SLA Annual Conference became our passion through the early months of the year. Many new elements were designed to make the experience attractive to you and your colleagues, and I think we succeeded ? particularly judging by the dramatic increase in attendance over the previous year. Being in Toronto with so many inspired and motivated SLA members and partners confirmed my belief that the library and information profession is full of great people. We celebrated the best of the profession in our award winners and honorees; we talked about the opportunities that lie ahead, keeping an eye on the many challenges facing us; and we heard from some of the best minds in the world on topics ranging from business strategy to blogging and RSS feeds. And the hundreds of companies participating in the Info-Expo helped to generate a great deal of energy and coolness about the total SLA 2005 experience.

During the Annual Conference, we launched SLA?s Click University, the first and only online learning community designed specifically for librarians and information professionals. This service, available only to SLA members, is beginning to serve as the cornerstone of our efforts to prepare you for the workplace of the future and position SLA as the preferred community for librarians and information professionals of all backgrounds, in all areas of expertise or practice, regardless of geographical or time zone limitations, to learn and grow together. You will find that Click University is anticipatory of your needs, but also flexible enough to be shaped by the growing demands of this profession. I can?t think of a better way to drive value for you and your colleagues and show a return on investment for years to come! Take a look at Click U today by going to www.clickuniversity.com ? and let us know what you expect from your new online learning community!

While we were in Toronto, SLA members in attendance voted on two changes to the association?s bylaws. The first aligns our governance year (when officers and Board members are elected) with our fiscal year (when our budgets take effect). The second ? my personal favorite ? paved the way for SLA members to vote electronically on future bylaws amendments and in Board elections. I cannot emphasize how important that change is, and will be, for future generations of SLA members.

We didn?t have to wait long to witness the impact of the decision. The SLA Board of Directors, while meeting in Toronto, approved a restructuring of SLA?s dues system. This move represented the culmination of two years? hard work by the Board, the SLA Finance Committee, the association?s Chapter and Division Cabinets, and the SLA Kentucky Chapter ? who broached the subject in the first place. Many SLA members worked hard to find an effective way to lower the costs for participation in our community without damaging the financial stability of the association. The restructuring required the elimination of the SLA Bylaws? 12 percent cap on dues increases ? a provision that had only been in effect since 2002. And so, armed with our newfound freedom to conduct electronic voting, we set about the process of asking SLA members to eliminate that cap in order to facilitate the implementation of the dues restructuring plan. With over 2,700 members voting, the amendment was approved with 77 percent of the vote.

The entire voting experience in September and October was a great lesson in participatory democracy in action ? with a modern twist. Those of you who never had the opportunity to vote because of your inability to travel to SLA Annual Business Meetings must have felt some exhilaration over the ease with which you could determine the future of your professional association. From our perspective here at SLA Headquarters, the dialogue and the balloting were very instructive and energized us as we began to plan for 2006.

Finally, the last major association-wide event took place in late October here at SLA Headquarters, as the Board of Directors met to approve the 2006 operating budget and consider a wide range of opportunities facing us. I must commend our colleagues on the Board for their professionalism and candor during those meetings. I was truly impressed by the level of dialogue and the focus on transparency, strategic goals, and member/partner needs. You can be proud of the people you?ve elected to represent you on the Board. They are doing a great job of leading us in the right direction.

As we look forward to 2006, you can be sure of one thing: we will replicate the successes of 2005 by refusing to stand still and keeping our focus on innovation, quality, and your professional needs. Remember to help us make SLA a positive and supportive community for all information professionals. I look forward to the journey with you. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year ? and don?t stop thinking about tomorrow! Your enthusiasm for our collective future will breed enthusiasm among your colleagues.

Janice R. Lachance
Chief Executive Officer