In this issue:
Important Leadership Dates
A Message from the Chief Executive Officer - Keeping Bylaws Current
SLA Board Actions
Who Will Lead Your Association?
2009 January Leadership Summit Registration Now Open
Documents Deadline for January Board and Cabinet Meetings
SLA Scholarship Interviews
Division Idea Bank Launched
Recruit-A-Member Campaign
18 November 2008 |
Board and Cabinet Document Deadline |
30 November 2008 |
Scholarship Interviews Completed |
1 December 2008 |
Chapter, Division and Caucus Annual Reports Due |
14-17 January 2009 |
Leadership Summit, Savannah, GA, Hyatt Regency Savannah |
A Message from the Chief Executive Officer - Keeping Bylaws Current
Bylaws govern all non-profit organizations. They set the foundation for the policies and procedures of the organization. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary says: "Bylaws are the rules adopted by an organization chiefly for the government of its members and the regulation of its affairs."
There is understandably a resistance to wholesale changes in bylaws because of the importance of continuity and tradition to a nonprofit. Few organizations can afford to remain static over the years and often find themselves with different needs than they had at their founding.
It is important for any association to have bylaws that are responsive to the organization's constituents and needs. Organizations that never review their bylaws sometimes end up burdened with antiquated bylaws that no longer reflect the organization's mission, needs, or direction.
There are common reasons associations change their bylaws. Some of these include: change in constituent demands; change in organization mission; change in organization operation; response to specific situations; practices that need documenting; change in social or legal environment.
One of the most important reasons to change bylaws is that the organization's stakeholders see a need for change - a change in constituent demands. The bylaws must remain responsive to the changing demands of the people it serves.
Last week a notice to amend SLA's bylaws was sent to all eligible voting members of SLA. Almost all of SLA's members are also members of chapters and divisions. In recent years, the cabinet chairs have taken on more responsibilities as the services to our units have increased. The four cabinet chairs have been the only board members to serve two years. The Board recommends that members reconsider their structure. The recommendation is based on the fact that the workload of the individuals in cabinet posts has increased in recent years because of changes that include the Leadership Summit in January and the Leadership Development Institute at the annual conference. The change, if approved by the membership, will also give the cabinet chairs an additional year to work with chapters and divisions and allow them to be more fully involved in complex and long-term task groups and board projects. The number of members serving on the Board will remain the same. This can be accomplished by reducing the number of directors from six to four and increasing the number of chapter and division cabinet chair positions to six: a chair, chair-elect, and adding a past chair. This would increase their terms to three years like the remainder of the members of the Board.
Please encourage all members to vote by 24 November. If you have questions, please contact your cabinet chair and chair-elect, any member of the Board, or Nancy Sansalone.
--- Janice R. Lachance
SLA Board ActionsEach month the SLA Board of Directors meets via conference call. Documents are posted on the Web. This month the SLA Board of Directors approved the merger of the SLA Central Pennsylvania Chapter with the SLA Philadelphia Chapter effective 1 November.
The Board approved a third tier of dues for the full member class of membership. Adding to its existing tiers of dues for full membership based upon annual salary is a new tier for members making less than US$18,000. Dues for this tier of full member is US$35 making membership in SLA affordable for members in developing economies, unemployed, part-time workers, paraprofessionals and those new to the profession. If you have been promoting the unemployed member benefit of a one-time dues renewal at US$49, this has been eliminated and replaced with this more attractive dues rate.
The virtual member class of membership has been eliminated and all existing members transferred to full members. This will allow them to now join a chapter and a division as well as receive the full benefits of membership.
Who Will Lead Your Association?
Now that you have your unit's appointments made, help identify a slate for SLA's Board of Directors. Look within your divisions, chapters, and committees to identify those who are ready to take on that next level of leadership. The Nominating Committee is looking for "a few good people" to populate the slate. And, it might well be you! Leadership of SLA is always important, but now more than ever we need strong and visionary leaders who, while grounded in the present can see where the Association needs to be. Send names along with some background information on the person (i.e., SLA activities, other volunteer activities, civic experience, etc.) to the Nominating Committee via the chair, Lynne McCay. Other members of the Nominating Committee are listed on the Web and you may contact them, too.
President-Elect Gloria Zamora is seeking your input on committee appointments. You can contribute your ideas for these committees and board of directors through completing the call for volunteers form.
2009 January Leadership Summit Registration Now OpenOn-line registration is now available for the 2009 Leadership Summit to be held in Savannah, Georgia, 14-17 January 2009 This unique leadership development program offers attendees a one-stop opportunity to develop leadership skills in their careers--and also skills specific to volunteerism in SLA. Seize this chance to step back from your day-to-day routine and engage in group learning and skill-building exercises guaranteed to push your thinking and advance your leadership and management skills. At the same time you'll have fun and build lasting relationships with other information professionals. Make a difference in your career and SLA. Join us in Savannah as we build a strong future and remember to pass along this information to your newly elected leaders for 2009.
Leadership Summit will also officially kick off activities for the SLA Centennial. Past president and author of SLA at 100 Guy St. Clair will share the highlights of our rich history. See the unveiling of the commissioned artwork which will be available for use at your chapter and division events.
Documents Deadline for January Board and Cabinet Meetings
All prepared Board
SLA Scholarship Interviews
The deadline for the 2008 SLA Scholarship Program was 30 September. One of the many duties of an SLA chapter president is to assist the SLA Scholarship Committee by interviewing applicants who live within their chapter boundaries. An evaluation of a scholarship applicant cannot be made from the application and reference letters alone. Therefore, your assistance in conducting a personal interview is a significant contribution to the selection process. Chapter presidents will receive an e-mail from Rebecca Ellis, SLA's director of membership soon which will include complete instructions for evaluating and additional information to assist in the evaluation. If you have questions please contact Rebecca Ellis in the SLA Membership Department +1.703.647.4926.
Division Idea Bank Launched
We now have both a division idea bank link with other leaders to learn and contribute. We are please to announce that the Division Idea Bank is now up and running on the SLA Wiki site.
Recruit-a-Member Campaign
The annual "Recruit-a-Member" campaign is back in 2008. Our annual SLA membership drive runs 1 October - 31 December. We hope you will participate and encourage all unit members to do their part, too. For those who are especially skilled at recruiting NEW members, SLA will reward your efforts with some great prizes. You will also find links giving you Tips for Recruitment, a Toolkit for Recruiting and a Template E-Mail from Members to Recruits. If you have questions about the campaign, please contact Rebecca Ellis, Director of Membership.
If you have any questions or comments about Leadership Connections, we would like your feedback. Please share your comments with krichter@sla.org and visit the Leadership Resource Center on the SLA website for information on Leadership.
©2008 Special Libraries Association. All Rights Reserved.
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