October 2010 Board of Directors Meeting
SLA Board of Directors Teleconference Call
October 14, 2010 - Noon (Eastern)
Welcome
President Anne Caputo called the meeting to order at 12:02pm US ET, and welcomed newly-elected members of the Board.
Roll call
Board members present: Caputo, Romaine, Zamora, Trefethen, Wolfish, Blankson-Hemans, Fifer Canby, Sweeney, Bates, Rink, Hunt, Webb, Lee, Seaberry. Absent: Lachance
Elects present: Hurst-Wahl. Absent: Mai, de Stricker, Huffine, Tompson
The Minutes from the previous month's Board call were approved.
Finance Committee update
Treasurer Dan Trefethen reported that overall membership is down about 10% from last year, although there has been an increase in the number of retired members. The lowest tier numbers are still holding. SLA staff is sending a summary of demographics to each membership chair. The status of the $600,000 deficit remains the same.
Staff continues to work on consolidating unit bank accounts including investigating other alternatives beyond Wachovia.
The Guidance Document that was created by the Board has been given to the Finance Committee to provide an awareness of the will of the Board. The 2011 budget is being prepared by staff for the review of the Finance Committee at the end of this month with the expectation of completion before the US Thanksgiving in November. The Board will receive the Operations Budget for approval at the December Board call. The full budget will be voted on by the Board in January.
Project Phoenix
President-elect Cindy Romaine described the Project Phoenix of the Society of Technical Communicators, an association experiencing challenges similar to those of SLA. This organization has also recognized that the internet is transforming the association model and is taking steps to change accordingly, basically by monetizing their internet presence and implementing certification. President-elect Romaine recommends that the SLA Board continue to observe what they are doing.
Alignment Toolkit update
Chapter Cabinet Chair-elect Mary Ellen Bates announced that all but four of the twenty-three tools are assigned and those that are assigned are all in process. She will wait to promote the toolkit until a critical mass is ready.
Update on Headquarters staffing
Doug Newcomb, SLA's Chief Operating Officer, recognized Linda Broussard as SLA's Chief Administrative Officer. COO Newcomb presented an overview of staff changes that have occurred recently primarily because five good staff members have moved on in order to take their next career step. One of the ramifications will be a reduction in the number of webinars offered through Click U in 2011. President Caputo congratulated Doug and Linda on their new positions.
Update on Leadership SummitCabinet Chairs-elect, Mary Ellen Bates and Liz Blankson-Hemans, reported that they expected an announcement regarding the keynote speaker within the next week and that the agenda has been loaded onto the wiki. CAO Linda Broussard announced that the website is now live.
Leadership Summit meeting logistics
President-elect Cindy Romaine reported that Natasha has sent information to the Board regarding the logistics of the meetings. She followed with an announcement that she was establishing a sub-group of the Board to look at the format of the Leadership Summit. Members of this group will include Gloria Zamora, Tom Rink, Liz Blankson-Hemans, Deb Hunt and Linda Broussard.
Visits
President-elect Cindy Romaine is heading to a Texas Chapter meeting, then joining Director Deb Hunt at a meeting of the Southern California Chapter before heading to a meeting of the San Diego Chapter. These meetings will be followed by a Portland Chapter meeting with three SLA Presidents and the new President-elect all in attendance. She will appear in 2nd Life in November and in Washington, DC in December.
President Anne Caputo attended the Boston Centennial Celebration along with Past-President Gloria Zamora, CEO Janice Lachance along with 125 SLA members and friends. The occasion was preceded by a vendor/customer interchange. Earlier in the day, she met with Simmons students. She will be in Kentucky next week, then Pittsburgh and Tennessee before heading to London for the online meeting and returning for the Military Division's event.
Natasha Kenner reported that CEO Janice Lachance is currently in Mexico and then will be in Chicago for a chapter event.
New business
President Caputo reported that SLA's Headquarters will be closed on Thursday, November 11. The November Board meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday, November 10.
Adjourn
President Caputo adjourned the meeting at 12:43pm US ET.
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