In this issue:
Important Leadership Dates
A Message from the Chief Executive Officer
Show Off Your Unit Ideas at Conference
Annual Conference
Chapter Idea Bank Wiki Launches
Unit Finances - Allotment Checks
| 5 May 2008 | All documents for Chapter and Division Cabinet Meetings Due to Headquarters |
| 5 May 2008 | All documents for the 13-14 June 2008 Board Meeting Due to Headquarters |
| 15 June 2008 | Leadership Development Institute (LDI), Seattle, WA, USA |
| 15-18 June 2008 | Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, USA |
| 17 June 2008 | Chapter and Division Cabinet Meetings |
A Message from the Chief Executive Officer - Leadership and Dreams
What is the unifying experience that winning teams, great endeavors, and remarkable achievements have in common?
What is the unique characteristic shared by people who achieve the extraordinary--creating revolutions, founding nations, climbing Everest, reinventing organizations, achieving breakthroughs, or changing the way we live or work?
Each of these is powered by the passion of a dream.
In just a few short weeks, thousands of SLA members will be gathering in Seattle. As you meet with your respective Boards and committees, of course, you will want to get updates and make sure that all is on target for the conference and the immediate future. Some of you may be reviewing a strategic plan or other more long-term efforts, but don't miss this opportunity to dream what your future and that of our profession may be, and how SLA can be a vehicle to achieve those dreams.
Over the last 50 years, we have expanded our capacity to acquire, measure, and analyze information. But has all of this analysis stifled our capacity to dream? The conventional wisdom in business is that dreaming is too "out there," so we no longer talk about it in an organizational context. Instead, we create mission, vision, values statements and strategic plans. SLA has all of these. But these seem stale and barren compared to the inspiring power of a dream.
What I am talking about here is not a two percent increase in membership or a five percent increase in meeting attendance--but a bold, daring, impudent, outrageous, thrilling, exhilarating, inspiring dream.
We do not require charts and graphs and matrices and complex theories for this. It is pretty simple. When we try to think about what we want to be accomplish, even if never attained before, and identify it as a dream we hold dear --and then make a commitment to align our entire team or organization behind what is necessary to achieve that dream--it can become a reality.
As we celebrate the first hundred years as an association and aim toward a second, let us remember to dream. You, as leaders, have a dream with a deadline. Make sure that you take advantage of the opportunities at this conference to learn how your chapter, division, caucus or committee members can make their dreams come true.
--Janice R. Lachance, Chief Executive Officer
Show Off Your Unit Ideas at Conference
Following the success of the first "Idea Showcase" in Denver, we invite you to highlight your unit's good ideas at the Annual Conference during SLA 2008 in Seattle. We are looking for examples of successful program topics or unusual meeting formats, membership recruiting ideas and brochures, joint activities with other groups, professional development programs, sub-units that work well in your units -- or any other ideas or activities that you want to share with fellow SLA leaders.
The showcase will be located in the exhibit hall and you will be able to create a display on a bulletin board space of about 2 by 3 feet. Space is limited, so it will be on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve your space, please complete the request form. Additional information, including set-up, exhibit and dismantle hours, is available in the exhibitor section. Each unit reserving space will have a preprinted header on the reserved space; pushpins will be provided. You may bring your materials already on a display poster or you can post items directly onto the board space.
Please consider joining in the showcase and sharing your good ideas and practices.
Annual Conference
Have you registered for the SLA 2008 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO to be held in Seattle 15-18 June 2008? Register by 2 May to maximize your membership benefits and save US$100 off the regular member registration amount.
The Leadership Development Institute will be on Sunday morning. Please invite all of the elected or appointed leaders attending conference to participate in this year's programming and dialogue. A breakfast will be served at 7:30 am and the Institute will begin at 8:00 am. It's a great place to find out what other chapters and divisions are doing and how each others' ideas can enrich your own. There is no additional charge to attend.
Each chapter and division has two seats on their respective cabinets. The Chapter and Division Cabinet meetings will be Tuesday at 5:00 pm. These two seats are usually held by the president and president-elect for Chapter Cabinet and the chair and chair-elect for Division Cabinet. If neither is able to attend, the head of the unit may appoint another member of the unit as a delegate. Remember to pick up your cabinet ribbon at the Information Booth near registration.
While you are in INFO-EXPO, visit the Idea Showcase where the best practices of SLA's units will be featured. To reserve your space, please see article above.
And, finally, mark your conference planner to attend the SLA Salutes Awards & Leadership Reception high in the sky at the Space Needle following the Opening General Session on Sunday.
If you would like a consultation session with SLA's Chief Community Officer Linda Broussard during the conference, please send her a request and suggested time via e-mail in order to assist with planning. You may also contact her onsite at +1.571.201.2916 to schedule a meeting.
Chapter Idea Bank Wiki Launches
Chapter Cabinet Chair Libby Trudell announced last month that you have a place to learn about, share and contribute ideas and programs that are working well in your chapter. Visit the Chapter Idea Bank wiki soon.
Unit Finances -- Allotment Checks
Allotment checks will be mailed to unit treasurers this month. Notifications of available allotment will be mailed to caucus conveners.
If you have any questions or comments about Leadership Connections, we would like your feedback. Please share your comments with leadership@sla.org and visit the Leadership Resource Center on the SLA website for information on Leadership.
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