President

President Hope Tillman guided the membership through a very rigorous review of the bylaws. After the animosity and lack of communication during the winter meeting this was a welcome change. Many people, including several from our Chapter were intimately involved with this process. You will be happy to know that a very reasonable set of bylaws has emerged, was approved to send to the membership for a vote, and will be in your mailboxes in the fall. I would urge everyone to review these and hopefully you will come to the conclusion that this is the first step towards making us a much more agile association.

Incoming President, Bill Fisher outlined his priorities for his presidential year. They are:

1. Bylaws: If the Bylaws are approved by the membership on a mail ballot, they will then come to the Board to be ratified in October and they will be effective November '02

2. Executive Director search: A committee has been put together for this search under the able leadership of former Board member Lynn Berard. If you care to comment on qualities needed in an executive director, please call Lynn.

3. Branding initiative: The branding initiative will continue.

This initiative is looking at our image, who we are, to whom we appeal. A possible name change is only a part of this initiative. This group is close to reaching some conclusions for the membership to consider.

Bill is enthusiastic and bright and will be a real asset to our association. I am looking forward to working with him this next year.

Highlights? LA temps. In the 70s & not that much smog. Enthusiasm of the Lakers fans (even tho I’m a Celtics fan); Paul Revere and the Raiders in concert at … The Dialog party. Meeting Jane Kelly, author of Isabella in L.A. (a murder mystery serial on the Factiva.com site – yes, they were a major SLA sponsor). Winning a Jane Kelly book (Cape Mayhem) at the Information Technology Division (ITE) Open House. Bumping into old friends.

… Oh! You meant professional highlights?

Chemical Librarianship for the Intrepid Non-Chemist Librarian – a half-day CE course.

Judith Currano of the University of Pennsylvania Chemistry Library was especially effective at introducing chemistry to us non-chemists. She teaches U Penn classes on “Chemical Information and How to Find It” – for related information visit http://www.library.upenn.edu/scitech/chemistry/infoclass/index.html

Dana Roth of CalTech practically overwhelmed us with a set of handouts on chemical information sources. I haven’t quite gotten my nerve up to start working my way through it yet, but I will, I will!

The “roundtables” – I made it to the Materials Properties Information Blitz Roundtable and to the Polymers & Plastics Roundtable. Missed the Manufacturing Information Blitz Roundtable because it conflicted with Mary Ellen Bates’ talk, but I’m hoping a can sweet-talk the moderator into sharing the info.

There’s always a chance that these kinds of information-sharing sessions will result in everyone sitting around hoping someone else actually knows something, but no, in fact, there was some good discussion and I walked away with some new sources to think about, such as:

Don’t forget government information! For example, the DoD Advanced Materials and Process Technology Information Analysis Center (AMPTIAC) http://amptiac.iitri.org/ Select “Information Resources” for a way to search their collection.

While you’re at it, consider some of the other DoD “IACs” (Information Analysis Centers) http://iac.dtic.mil/iacdir.html

A reminder about … MatWeb (Material Property Data) http://www.matweb.com/

Not to forget Plaspec Materials Selection Database http://www.plaspec.com/ , hosted by Plastics Technology Online http://www.plasticstechnology.com/ Or, of course, Plaspec on Dialog, file 321.

For materials and chemistry-related business information, see Dialog’s Chemical Industry Newsbase, file 319, and Chemical Industry Notes, file 19, Materials Business File, file 269.

Don't forget good old print - the Composite Index for CRC Handbooks

And these are just a few of the many resources mentioned!

Mary Ellen Bates - entertained and educated with her lively presentation on "Unanswered Questions: When What They Want Just Isn’t There" I wish I could share her Powerpoint slides with the chapter- I asked, honest! But as she very kindly replied, she does make her living in part from presentations and really prefers to deliver them herself. Perhaps the chapter can find a sponsor for Mary Ellen during the SLA Mid-Winter meeting in 2004 (that's me talking, not Mary Ellen).

Doris Kearns Goodwin – what a great storyteller! She linked the history of our larger-than-life leaders of the past – FDR and Eleanor too, LBJ, Lincoln – and the challenges they had to step up to - with the challenges facing our country today. And we heard about her time as a “24-year old White House intern”. And her stories of the Brooklyn Dodgers of her youth. And the Boston Red Sox of her adulthood. (She is a notable baseball fan, after all!) A wonderful closing address!

The conference was huge and grand and fun and educational! The Big Apple (SLA 2003) has a lot to live up to!

In terms of the overall health of SLA, there were many indications that the turmoil and dissension of the past 8 months have resulted in much-needed attention to a number of relationships.

The departure of the Executive Director after only a few months’ troubled tenure has been damaging but the resilient staff that remain appear comfortable in their new roles and demonstrated responsiveness to member needs. I did not sense instability or inner staff conflict. Bill Fisher has appointed a search committee to select a new Executive Director (se SLA Web for details) and that committee has already met to begin its work. Members with suggestions for qualities desired in the new Executive Director are encouraged to share those suggestions with members of the committee.

The lack of consensus among Board members that was particularly troubling over the winter and spring seemed a thing of the past. A renewed commitment to thoughtful change – not for the sake of change alone, but rather to move the Association forward – seemed evident to this observer. Bill Fisher’s leadership is already apparent in leading the Association forward. I get the sense that his centered and straightforward approach is reassuring and positive.

One of the issues that has caused a great deal of recent conflict resulted from poor communication last winter over the need for bylaws revision, and perceived problems with the process being used for the bylaws revision procedures. It is my impression that the Board has been very responsive to criticism along these lines, and has taken great care to improve communications and make the bylaws revision process as open to member input as possible. I was personally involved in helping to correct oversights in the proposed bylaws revisions that affected the nominations process (since I am incoming chair of the Nominating Committee, I was very concerned about this area). Other members were able to make their concerns heard on other areas where the proposed bylaws needed to be made more accurate or changed. It is my impression that the process works very well for members who take the time to inform themselves, and who work within established guidelines. After amendment based on input from a number of people, the proposed bylaws were approved in the Annual Business Meeting on June 12th. Look for a mailed ballot to arrive in the mail soon for your vote. If the membership as a whole approve the bylaws changes, they will then take effect.

Aside from Association issues, the Annual Conference was rewarding in other ways. The two keynote speakers were management guru Peter Drucker and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. For whatever reason, I found myself responding to each in a philosophical way rather than responding to the technical content of their presentations.

I found Peter Drucker to be inspirational not so much for his wisdom about the American business climate (although he did speak of this and stated that information is one of the three key elements needed for success in the business world today) but because he is so powerful an example of the potential of the human mind and spirit. He is 92 years old and still teaches, writes and consults extensively. An avowed workaholic, he also recommends balance in one’s life, and cautions that one should never confuse work with life.

I found myself responding to Doris Kearns Goodwin in a similar way, admiring her formidable research and story-telling skills but appreciating even more the human side of her continuing commitment to the value of history in informing decisions today. She reminds us that political figures represent the tremendous promise as well as the great limitations of the human condition.

As usual I also learned a great deal from the professional presentations I was able to attend, as well as from the vendors. Sessions I found especially useful covered specific Web sites for finding toxicological and pharmaceutical information; trends and experiences in electronic licensing of full text content; continuing issues in copyright and digital rights; the usability of corporate intranets; and advice on training clients in information literacy. Many Divisions are planning to put copies of Division-sponsored programs up on their Web sites, so look for these to appear over the next couple of weeks to see what you missed

There are two studies on the impact of electronic journals.

http://ejust.stanford.edu - Highwire has made all of the survey and interview results available. 75% of surveyed users prefer electronic version. You can view the data and draw your own conclusions.

http://www.ucop.edu/cmi/. This study from University of California Santa Barbara focuses on managing a mixed media collection.

There is a new player in the personal bibliographic management software RefWorks - http://www.refworks.com/. The model is a bit different. The software and your reference database reside on their server (it can be locally mounted).

Drucker encourages everyone to enjoy life. Do not be defined by your job. Volunteer. Find other interests.

Doris Kearns Goodwin wishes President Bush would use more history. The turnaround of the munitions industry in WWII could be used as an example of what the American people can do in a crises mode. This should be the model of reacting to the war on terror.

Pam MacKellar began a new part-time position at the State Library in March. Albuquerque NM 87185-0131 844-0811; f 844-8496

Marie Harper has moved to the S-7 Group at LANL Laboratory. S-7’s mission is to correctly identify information that requires protection in the interest of national security, balanced with the requirement to properly scientific and technical information to the maximum extent possible, consistent with the common defense and security.

It is recommended that the committee have an additional two to three members who would be willing to look at ways of adding value to the work of this committee for the chapter and beyond. Additional members would then make it a true committee.

Because the Chapter’s Strategic Plan for 1998-2001 expired this year, the committee worked to create a new one. The efforts began in fall 2001 with President Heather Hlava’s survey designed to gauge member interest and program times and preferences. The survey also asked members in what type of facility they worked and whether they identified themselves as librarians. The results of the survey factored greatly in the revised plan the committee offers this year.

The committee then met via e-mail and in person to hammer the new revised plan from the old. The new plan, both an edited copy, and a “clean” copy were placed on the RGC website for review. Also posted on the website was an introduction containing the committee’s guiding principles, issues, and concerns as they worked on the new plan. The chair heard no comments from members during the two plus months review period. The plan will be submitted to the members present at the annual business meeting May 30, 2002.

I would recommend that this committee, or any members of it who are interested, be part of any chapter work plan initiatives next year. Otherwise, we’ll see you again in three years!

In attendance: Heather Hlava, President Gloria Zamora, Vice President Judy Neff, Treasurer Theresa Connaughton, Secretary

Absent: Pam MacKellar, Former president

1. President Hlava brought the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. The November Exec. Committee minutes were approved as e-mailed. The agenda was approved as presented by the President.

2. Treasurer’s report: There is a balance of $1512.55 in the checking account as of today. The Treasurer reported that the Chapter’s finances passed the SLA audit recently conducted. The Chapter’s allotment will be received in April this year as Headquarters is moving the date of allotments to April (from February) in order to complete their books of the prior year before sending out allotments.

3. Vice-president report: The Vice President reported on the success of the Juarez meeting in February. Though only a few members were able to attend, the program was very well received and Jesus Lau was a magnificent host.

The Exec. Board agreed to set fees for the May 30 workshop “Evaluating library space: Developing creative learning environments." at $50 for members, $60 for nonmembers. The speakers will receive $3000 to cover all expenses. The Vice President is looking for sponsors. If members have a suggestion, please contact Gloria Zamora.

Program plans forthcoming:
April 5 lunch: Bill Fisher, SLA President, will be guest speaker. This is a “Bring Your Boss to Lunch” program. If more invitations are needed, please contact President Heather Hlava at hlavaheather@yahoo.com

April 30 at 5:30pm: Joyce Van Berkel, from Sandia National Laboratories, who has recently will talk about her experiences at the IAEA in Vienna where she resided for 3 years at an informal dinner at the home of Carmen Ward.

May 30: Annual meeting and workshop “Evaluating library space: Developing creative learning environments." Speakers will be Aaron and Elaine Cohen.

The Vice President reported that the SLA Winter meeting would be held in Albuquerque in January 2004 at the Hyatt. It is tradition for the local chapter to sponsor a reception or social on the Thursday evening. Some ideas were discussed though no action was taken pending a final decision the Winter meeting, it's pending a decision by the SLA Board of Directors in June.

Committee reports

Nominating Committee
The President reported for the Committee Chair who was absent at the meeting. The Committee is continuing to look for candidates for all offices. They have secured a candidate for Secretary thus far.

Awards Committee -- No report.

Membership
The President reported for the Membership Chair. Present membership is at 69, down from 89 in one year. Increased recruiting effort by every member will be encouraged.

Action: The President and Vice President will hold two “town hall” meetings, one in Albuquerque and one in Los Alamos, to gather input from members on the future of the association.

Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan proposed by the committee was discussed and a few changes were proposed.

Action: The Board review will be discussed with the committee before the plan in brought to the membership for a vote.

New business
Twinning Project

The President announced a “Twinning” Project proposed by the D.C. Chapter of SLA. It suggests that each Chapter and Division “twin” with a librarian from a developing country to promote membership and professional activity. The eligible librarians are those from the Global 2000 conference from developing countries. The Chapter’s obligations to the twin would be to pay $246 to cover 90% of the membership fees in SLA for the librarian for two years. The candidate would be expected to pay the remaining amount. It was suggested that Rio Grande Chapter membership fees be included in the support given the candidate. . The Board agreed to participate in the program.

Action: Theresa Connaughton will review the candidates and make a recommendation.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Theresa G. Connaughton,
Secretary
March 29,2002

Rio Grande Chapter, Annual Business Meeting, May 30, 2002
Hotel Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM

2. The agenda was approved as presented by the President.

3. President’s report : President Hlava summarized the association and Chapter year’s activities to date. Lively discussion on association business and upcoming bylaws changes occurred.

4. Treasurer’s report : The President read the Treasurer’s report in the absence of the Treasurer. There is a balance of $2268.20 in the checking account. A motion was made by Heather O’Daniel and seconded by Marge Hlava for approval of report. It passed unanimously.

5. Vice-president report : The Vice-president reported on the success of the May 30 program “Evaluating library space: Developing creative learning environments”. She also reviewed the year’s programs and meetings.

Committee reports

Archives Committee
Judith Bernstein reported that the reorganization of the Archives was completed this year. 15 boxes were weeded down to 5. Subject and year indexing was also done. There was a request to members for Chapter photographs to add to the Archives.

Awards Committee
President Hlava read the report submitted by Donna Berg. Further work on developing nominations for awards will continue next year.

Bulletin Committee
Heather O’Daniel submitted her resignation as Bulletin editor. She offered to edit one more bulletin and suggested the print bulletin be replaced with an electronic version.

Employment Committee
Mary Ellen McMurtrie reported that there was little activity as the Chapter listserve seems to function well for posting job vacancies.

Government Relations
Heather Gallegos-Rex reported that information on government activities has been published on the Chapter listserve throughout the year. There is a recommendation that the Committee have two to three additional members to explore ways of adding value to the work of the committee.

Membership
Donna Cromer reported that information on membership from Headquarters was spotty throughout the year. There are nine new members and 15 members left the Chapter. There are currently 66 members.

Professional Development
President Hlava read the report for Sandy Spurlock. The committee investigated the possibility of joint program development with sister organizations but found no interest. There is some question as to whether or not a committee for this is necessary since Program planning seems to fulfill members needs for professional development.

Public Relations and Advertising
Linda Morgan Davis reported for both committees. PR: International Librarian’s Day fax campaign was determined to be a success. Fifteen positive responses from members who received recognition from their management were reported. Advertising: $450 was reported as advertising income.

Strategic Plan
Heather Gallegos Rex reported on the revised Strategic Plan. After discussion the Strategic Plan was adopted unanimously.

Webmaster
Frances Knudson reported that there were 100 visits to the website for May.

Nominating Committee Report: Pam MacKellar
As published to the membership, Pam Mackellar presented the nominations for 2002-2003 officers for the Chapter:
Vice-President, President-elect - Sarah Knox Morely
Secretary - Stephanie Rawlins Gerding
There being no nominations from the floor the motion to adopt the Nominating Committee report and elect new officers was made by Marge Hlava and seconded by Mary Ellen McMurtrie. The motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Theresa Gonzales Connaughton,
Secretary
June 10, 2002

Rio Grande Chapter
Special Libraries Association
c/o 455 Wagon Train
Rio Rancho, NM 87124

RGC Home SLA Home Copyright © SLA. All rights reserved.   Disclaimer Email suggestions and announcements to: Frances Knudson. (fknudson@lanl.gov)   Author: Frances Knudson   Last update: March 2002   URL: http://www.sla.org/chapter/crio/bulletin/2002/rgcb0602.htm