In this issue:

Important Leadership Dates
A Message from the Chief Executive Officer
Money Matters
SLA Unit Leaders at Annual Conference
Technology Update
2008 Annual Conference Call for Courses

Important Leadership Dates

A Message from the Chief Executive Officer - The New Teamwork
Teamwork is not a soft skill or style. It is the unleashing of talent that allows the best achievement of an organization's objectives and leads to organizational success. Traditional studies have shown that successful teams are built upon trust, cohesion, clear goals, clear roles, clear agenda, clear mission, motivated members, people who get along with each other, good problem solving and rational decision- making, and good communication and coordination.

I'm adding a new book, X Teams: How to Build Teams that Lead, Innovate, and Succeed by Deborah Ancona and Henrik Bresman, to my reading list. It describes a new teamwork where all of the traditional factors are still necessary but stop short of succeeding in today's environment. Traditionally, teams have focused internally. Functional teams today need to be focused on their external environments as well.

The profession knows the importance of scanning the external environment and practices it daily in the work environments. The world is changing in a variety of ways. The problems we face are very complex, meaning the probability of having all the needed expertise and knowledge within the team itself is very low. We have a lot of dispersed information and expertise in other parts of the association--and even outside the association. Are we practicing it in our SLA teams?

Yes, SLA is operating today as an X Team. At their meeting in June, the Board approved a plan to work with a team of researchers, brand experts, and a futurist to help define what the profession will look like in the years ahead, what your employers will require of you and what you will need to remain successful. The ultimate goal of this alignment process is to ensure that your association will help you to be and remain successful in a dynamic profession. For additional information on this alignment process, read the latest SLA Connections.

I encourage each of you, as you charge your boards and committees, to look beyond what has traditionally been done. Put your finger on the pulse of the changing technologies, member needs, competitor initiatives, and any formerly unseen threats or opportunities. Use the technologies that SLA provides through survey instruments, wikis, communities of practice, blogs and discussion lists to do your work and communicate the outcomes. I'll be sharing more in the next months about how SLA's leaders can become a key part of the process.

--- Janice R. Lachance 

Money Matters
Do you have excess funds in your unit's checking account that you need to transfer to reserves? SLA maintains a pooled fund for chapters and divisions to contribute to and possibly earn a higher rate of interest than a checking account. If you need further information, contact CFO/COO Nancy Sansalone.

SLA Unit Leaders at Annual Conference
Hundreds of SLA leaders from around the globe gathered for the Leadership Development Institute and represented chapters and divisions at their respective cabinet meetings. For the first time, leaders from all chapters attended.The SLA Board of Directors approved a change in the charge of the SLA Bylaws Committee that will result in a change to the chapter and division recommended practices. Each chapter and division should review its Governing Document at the beginning of each year to ascertain conformity with the model-governing document and determine whether any changes are needed. If a revision is requested, the unit should submit requested revisions of their Governing Document to the Bylaws Committee for review and approval prior to membership vote. And, finally, SLA leaders and award winners were feted at the SLA Salutes! Leadership and Awards Reception held at Coors Field and sponsored by getAbstract, Inc. and LexisNexis. Photographs from SLA 2007 are up and available for viewing and purchase at: www.thephotogroup.com. To view the pictures taken in Denver, go to Online Proofing and enter sla07mbr when asked for the event password.

Technology Update
Testing by staff is underway for the association?s new data management system. The system is scheduled to go live next month. There may be a few days where web access to the membership directory, online dues and renewal may not be available. We will announce these as they become firm.

2008 Annual Conference Call for Courses
Division chairs, please alert your professional development chairs that the 2008 Call for Courses is available and the deadline for proposals is 24 August 2007. By presenting a CE Session at SLA 2008 Annual Conference in Seattle, WA USA, your division has the opportunity to share knowledge and experience with those new to the profession. Proposals should designate only one contact person. For questions, contact Learning Coordinator Shelva Suggs (+1.703.647.4925).