11 December 2008
The conference call was called to order by Stephen Abram at 12:02 pm US Eastern Time
On Call:
- Board Present-- Abram, Zamora, James, Trudell, Fifer Canby, Frank, Rink, Romaine, Sarmiento, Arnold, McCollough, Hunt, Webb
- Board Excused -- Lachance , Vargha
- Staff Present -- Sansalone, Kenner
- Board Elect -- Caputo, Lee, Seaberry, Sweeney, Wolfish
- Board Elect Excused -- N/A
2. Roll call
See above for attendees.
3. Minutes from October 2008 Board call
Approved with following amendment: Rink was on the call, Frank was excused.
Abram reminded everyone that the Board minutes are posted on the SLA website under the governance section.
4. Departing Comments from Board Members
(Libby Trudell, Robyn Frank, Roberto Sarmiento and Cindy Romaine)
Abram acknowledged this was his last meeting as chair and was the last meeting for 4 board members who would be leaving at the end of the month. So he asked the departing members to share anything about their time on the board.
5. OM1208CC-A01 Finance Committee Report and General Operations Budget
(Nancy Sansalone and Sylvia James)
James thanked the Finance Committee and staff for thinking on how to manage our finances and deal with the recessionary economy. James then gave a report on the Finance Committee meeting which had taken place 10-11 November 2008 at HQ. It will be an extremely difficult year so the committee adopted a very cautious approach to its job by reviewing every item in the budget. By way of explanation for board elect members James explained that we do two budget presentations:
- General Operations Budget covering fixed costs which is effective from 1 January 2009 and so is being discussed today as its approval can't wait until the January board meeting
- Program Budget to be discussed at the Board meeting at Leadership Summit in Savannah in early January 2009
James proposed a motion: 'I recommend that the Board of Directors approve the proposed 2009 General Operations Budget.'
Discussion followed about the budget. Abram pointed out that taking an aggressive stance on salaries was a risk, but that non-monetary remuneration would be important. Trudell asked if we had to trade off other opportunities in order to continue funding the strategic alignment initiative. Sansalone confirmed that there was no trade off as funding for the alignment project had been approved to come out of the long-term reserve. The bulk of the funding was moved from the reserves to pay for the alignment work prior to banking problems so saved money. Romaine asked what had been anticipated in terms of membership growth. Sansalone replied that the numbers were conservative across the board, except for the new tier of membership which was expected to see an increase in numbers.
Several others said it was important for members to see that SLA is tightening its belt and being as economic as possible. It would be worth highlighting this to the membership, particularly at Leadership Summit.
Motion: 'Approving operations budget for year beginning 1 January 2009.'
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE
6. OM1208CC-A02 Proposed Academic Division (Robyn Frank and Tom Rink)
Accompanying Documents: OM1208CC-A02 Attachment and Seattle Petition
Frank introduced this item for discussion by proposing a motion: 'I recommend the Board of Directors create the Academic Division'.
She then provided some background to this proposal prior to discussion by the Board. Frank explained that the cabinet chairs became aware of a desire to create an academic division in spring 2008, and following due process (outlined in Recommended Practices for Divisions document) they looked at any overlap/duplication with existing divisions. The leadership of both the Education division and Business and Finance's College and University Business Libraries section were contacted asking them if they foresaw any problems or issues of duplication. The Education Division decided to edit the scope note to make it clear they were about the subject of education. While the Business and Finance's section said they saw no duplication as their remit was business subject area. Further discussion ensued throughout the summer and fall at joint cabinet meeting in June 2008 and during a virtual town hall meeting in November 2008. Meanwhile those who wanted to create the Academic Division collected over 100 signatures for their petition and secured volunteers to fill key leadership posts should the request be approved by the Board of Directors.Rink added that he was in favour of the creation of this new division, and emphasised that its creation had followed an established process. Despite following due process some members saw the creation of this new division as contentious.
Discussion ensued about the fact that the established process had been followed and that this had been used previously for the creation of the CI and KM divisions. Members needed to realise that they shouldn't be afraid of change and that creation and dissolution of divisions was part of a natural process.
Following discussion Frank reiterated the motion: 'I recommend the Board of Directors create the Academic Division'.
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS VOTEZamora thanked Frank and the team for all their work on this over the year.
7. First Five Years Task Force recommendations (Gloria Zamora)
Zamora introduced this item by proposing the following motion: 'I move that the Board of Directors create a new advisory council to focus on the needs and concerns of SLA members in their first five years in the association and further that we refer this to the governance committee for action.'
Having explored options on taking the First Five Years Task Force work forward with the group's co-chairs Zamora suggested the creation of an Advisory Council focusing on new members. Task Force members are happy with this suggestion and are willing to serve on the Council if asked. Zamora wanted to thank Abram for his help in getting this work started. Sarmiento pointed out that the Advisory Council needs to be aware that there is little extra funding available for next year.
Board voted on the motion Zamora had proposed.
APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE
8. Leadership Summit (Susan Fifer Canby)
Canby ran through the program for Leadership Summit and reminded the Board members that they were expected to attend networking lunches and breakfasts.
On dinners at Leadership Summit: Zamora suggested a Board dinner on Tuesday 13 January and on Monday 12 January she invited all those Board members who weren't on the Awards Committee to dinner.
9. Update from AOOC meeting (Stephen Abram)
Abram provided a summary of the AOOC meeting on 17-18 November 2008. There was discussion about the role of the AOOC as the committee's charge was up for review. Abram raised the AOOC charge review during the Board's October 2008 conference call and asked for feedback on this. AOOC asked Lachance to review the impact of abolishing the AOOC on Association operations and to present a discussion paper on what to do with the AOOC for January 2009 Board meeting.
The AOOC also referred to the Awards Committee the creation of a new member rising star award, and asked them to report back at the January 2009 Board meeting.
10. Update on Centennial Planning Committee (Gloria Zamora)
Zamora reported that the Boston Chapter had decided to pull the plug on the Bretton Woods conference scheduled for fall 2009. The New York Chapter has raised a lot of money and is thinking about having an event in the fall. Zamora confirmed that the Centennial Commission has done most of the work it was set up to do and has no funds left for major projects.
11. President's Update (Stephen Abram)
Abram and several other HQ staff and SLA members attended the very successful Asia Chapter conference in India in November. Over 40 new members were recruited on the new lower membership tier. Zamora added that she, Anne Caputo and Stacey Bowers had a successful trip to the UK in early December to attend the London Online Conference and exhibition. 15 new members signed up, a couple on the new lower membership tier.
12. New Business
Trudell wanted to check on the status of the Information Ethics Advisory Council. Zamora confirmed that she had several possible members but no one had been appointed as yet.
14. Adjourn
Call adjourned at 1:24 pm US Eastern Time
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