It is the practice of the Special Libraries Association to provide guidance to each member of the Board of Directors who serve as a Liaison for a committee or representative.

Adherence to this policy assists in keeping the Board of Directors informed of the committee/representative activities and allows the committee/representatives to benefit from the direction/counsel provided by the liaison.

The function of the Liaison is to stay in continuing communication with the chair or representative of each of his/her assigned Association units through attendance at meetings and frequent written communications as appropriate; to see that the Board is kept fully informed of the activities, or lack of them, of the unit through written or oral reports; to represent the committee chair/representative to the Board when the former cannot be present; to advise and encourage the unit in productive endeavors; and to evaluate its accomplishments to the Board.

A. Relationship with Committee Chair/Representative

1. Checks with the committee chair/representative of each of his/her assigned Association units, prior to Fall Meeting (October) of the Board, as to prospective programs for the current year.
   
   

2. Follows up all referrals from the Board to the unit to ensure receipt of directives from the Executive Director.
   
   

3. Communicates on continuing basis with each assigned unit; attends meetings; advises and encourages the unit in productive endeavors.
   
   

4. Emphasizes to the unit the importance of proper reporting to the Board and of meeting the report deadline stipulated in the Board's Call to Meeting announcement; stresses that late reports may be omitted from the Board Meeting Agenda resulting in a delay in Board action and delay in unit progress.
   
   

5. Offers suggestions to the unit with regard to report format, especially the framing of specific recommendations for the Board's ease of handling and conversion into action motions.
   
   

6. Scans Chapter Bulletins and Division Newsletters and refers to the unit by photocopy items which indicate impact of work of units at Chapter and Division level.
   

B. Relationship with President/Executive Director/Board

1. Keeps President and Executive Director fully informed of all significant communications with the chair/representative by the most appropriate means --by telephone, copies of correspondence, confirmatory copies of telephone conversations.
   
   

2. Reports unit's continued inactivity promptly so that the President can provide additional follow-up and make new appointment when necessary.
   
   

3. Presents unit's report to the Board in the absence of the chair/representative, but only when the latter is unable to attend. This should in no way take away form the fact that it is the chair/representative's responsibility to present his/her unit's report in person to the Board and is encouraged to do so.
   
   

4. Makes recommendations with regard to the reports of his/her assigned units.
   
   

5. Evaluates the unit's progress and accomplishments to the Board.
   
   
   IV. Responsibility

   The President of the Association is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy with assistance provided by each Liaison, committee chair, representative and staff liaison.

   Approved: June 1990
   Supersedes: June 1972