5 June 2007
SLA Annual Membership Meeting, featuring Candidate Speeches
Speech given by Ty Webb, Candidate for Director

Reading a speech is different than hearing one, so I've revised this just a little from what you will hear on the recorded version. I'm excited about running for the Board, and I hope my enthusiasm shows!

By the way, people are always curious about the name "Ty." It's a nickname from my middle name. Ptolemy. Yes, Ptolemy. With a name like that, I had to be a librarian!

The scrolls collected by Ptolemy I were used by Ptolemy II to establish the famous library in Alexandria. Ptolemy III decreed that every visitor to the city must leave their scrolls at the library to be copied. They could pick up the originals on their way out of town. The Ptolemies were all about continuous improvement, and so am I, both at work, and in SLA.

SLA has always been an important part of my career, and I've always been active.

Two years ago, the SLA Board asked me to lead the 2007 Denver Conference Planning Committee. The committee chose the theme, selected the keynote speakers (so exciting to have Al Gore and Scott Adams!), created the Synergy Session concept and worked closely with headquarters and with all of the Division planners to develop the schedule and put the sessions together (something like 250 sessions). I hope you enjoyed the conference!

During the same two-year period that we were working on the conference, I was also the Past-Chair for the IT division -- they surprised me with their Outstanding Member Award last year, primarily for mentoring -- and then this year, I was their PR Chair.

But in addition to that, for 18 months of that same 2-year period, I was the President of the Rocky Mountain Chapter, the chapter that hosted this conference. The local arrangements committee got creative. I hope you've seen our wiki, and that you visited our booth to buy your RMSLA denim shirt to wear to the ball game.

Oh, and I also served on the association's task force for conference modeling.

So, that means I wore five SLA hats in two years... Association committee leader, two division positions, chapter president and task force member.

I've been in SLA for a long time. Instead of listing all of the positions I've held, let me just mention that I've been the President of three chapters, chair of a division and the chair of three of SLA's association level committees.

It's not that I can't say "no." I can when I need to. It's just that I'm easily bored, so I like to work on several things at the same time.

Whether it's as a manager, or as an SLA volunteer leader, my passion is to look at the status quo, evaluate the need and the available resources, find the right people, and then work with those dedicated, creative people to improve the existing situation.

I like a challenge and I like to get things done.

During the 18 months while I was chapter president and working with the Rocky Mountain Chapter's local arrangements people on the conference, our chapter also did several other things.

We held 19 events, granted 5 scholarships, established a sponsorship program, replaced the newsletter with a blog, introduced a new chapter logo, and started a student chapter.

We saw a lot of changes in 18 months. Change can be scary, but if it's managed correctly, it's exciting. After teaching seminars in change management, I actually enjoy it!

SLA is constantly changing, and there are some significant changes coming in the near future.

A large part of my work involves tweaking technologies, so helping to implement the SLA learning laboratory appeals to me. As does the idea of developing a recruitment plan for GenY members. They love playing with technologies as much as we do! I'd also like to see SLA offer distance-learning modules on management topics, with face-to-face interactions during the January and June meetings.

This is an exciting time to be a part of SLA's leadership.

You get out of something what you put into it, and I've received a lot from SLA. Your vote will allow me to continue to give back to the Association that has given me so much.

Thank you!