5 June 2007
SLA Annual Membership Meeting, featuring Candidate Speeches
Speech given by Tom Rink, Candidate for Division Cabinet Chair-Elect
Good afternoon! Thank you for being here. I really appreciate this opportunity to provide some brief remarks about my reasons for my acceptance of the nomination to run for Division Cabinet Chair-Elect. By way of a brief introduction, I haven't always been a librarian. My initial career was as a police officer for the Tulsa Police Department. Midway through this 25-year career, I became the "Gun-Carrying Librarian" and transitioned from "catching crooks" to "loaning books," until my retirement on May 1, 2007. As a solo librarian in this highly specialized field and very non-traditional setting, only SLA was able to provide my professional development needs sufficiently. I'm a firm believer in giving back, especially to the Association that has given me so many opportunities for leadership training and continuing education throughout the years; so when I was asked to run, saying "no" was really not an option -- not in my opinion.
Much like most of you, I truly value my membership in SLA. What we value may not be exactly the same, but I'm going to hazard to guess that they are probably one or more of the big three which I will characterize as SLA's very own L-A-N (on a global and virtual scale). The LAN I'm referencing is not the generally known or defined L[ocal] A[rea] N[etwork], but rather the SLA version where the "L" stands for Learning, the "A," Advocacy, and the "N," Networking. These initiatives represent the backbone of SLA's mission statement; a mission statement that focuses on the membership. SLA is an association that is willing to listen to and learn from the membership and adapt to both the needs of the membership as well as to an ever-changing technologically advanced world. And yes, our membership has a voice; between the composition of the Board of Directors, to the unit leadership of the Division and Chapter Cabinets, to the individual member, we are not shy about speaking up on the issues that impact us (nor should we be).
I think the biggest issue facing SLA today involves the process change. Of course, SLA is not the only entity that is wrestling with this. Change is everywhere! And whether we are talking about new technologies or new processes, or even totally new concepts or visions, the one thing for certain is that change is inevitable. The successful organizations are the ones that are able to adapt to and embrace these changes. As SLA nears its 100th Anniversary, I think it has established that it understands this concept of change and has been able to adapt quite well. SLA must continue to search for and/or utilize innovative, cutting-edge methods and technologies for delivering the content of their existing and future programming, educational opportunities, and communications.
This is an exciting time for SLA. Many new initiatives are being addressed both technologically as well as procedurally. The focus is on the future. Now, let's return to SLA's LAN.
On the topic of LEARNING
Within SLA, the learning is for life! Some examples include:
- Click U.
- Annual Conference Programming.
- Leadership Development Institute.
- Committee/Taskforce Membership.
With regard to ADVOCACY
SLA advocates for the individual or collective membership as well as for the profession as a whole. A few recent examples include:
- The dues restructuring.
- Electronic balloting.
- Lobbying against the recent EPA library closures.
- The Competencies for Special Librarians in the 21st Century document.
Regardless of the issue, SLA is there for the membership.
When I think of NETWORKING, I think SLA.
One of the many strengths of SLA is its diversity. Whether you are addressing the standard membership demographics, or extending beyond this to the diversity of the assorted units within this international association, I think it would be safe to say that there is something for everyone, and the strength is in the networking. Whether virtually or face-to-face at meetings, programming and open houses, the value of the networking opportunities is unparalleled.
It is an honor to be nominated as a candidate for the Division Cabinet Chair-Elect position. And it will be my privilege to serve you, the membership, as well as the association, in carrying forward the many existing programs, as well as any new and exciting initiatives or programs, that define SLA as the premier international library association.
As music is one of my passions, and we are in Denver, and one of my favorite artists is John Denver, let me encourage you to continue to enjoy these "Rocky Mountain Highs" with "Sunshine on Your Shoulders" until you find yourself "Leaving on a Jet Plane" later this week. I'll be driving down some "Country Roads" to take me home, but in the end, regardless of the mode of transportation, we will all have a sense of "hey it's good, to be back home again." Once again, my name is Tom Rink and I would appreciate your vote. Thank you for your time and your attention.
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