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Special Libraries Association Boston Chapter
Board Meeting
January 14, 2003
Cambridge HealthTech
Minutes
Attending: Liz Bibby, Leslie Knapp, Kathy McCabe, Margaret Howe-Soper, Danielle Barney, Mary Chitty, Hope Tillman, Helen Keil, Liz Peoples, Sandra Peters, Mary Jo Boland, Jessica Baumgart, Tom Clark, Bob Moore.
The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. The minutes of the December 2, 2002, Board meeting were reviewed. Motion to accept the minutes was made by Mary, seconded by Liz Bibby.
Program Committee Report
Upcoming programs: Liz Bibby distributed a calendar of events for the year. The first event is the Winter Networking Social at Three Cheers Pub on Jan 30th. An announcement will go out on the discussion list. It should be like last year's, cash bar and hope for good weather - there is no snow date.
A challenge faced by all the upcoming programs is fixing dates, as most of the speakers are not local and our programs are subject to their travel schedules.
Videoconference: this one is a challenge, in booking speakers and meeting the technical challenge of a three-way VC. We're trying to push it back from Feb. 10th to its snow date of the 25th, because of technical issues. Hopefully Bill Fisher, SLA President, can fit us in. Though Smith College has tested their equipment successfully, Tom has concerns. To promote Simmons students' attendance, they get in free. Hopefully all will fall in place as the announcement is about to go out.
Sci-tech: 'the Semantic Web'. Helen Keil reported: Tom has arranged with Eric Miller of OCLC to speak but we're awaiting commitment on the date. It may go to the snow date of early April. Liz expressed concern over the delays and whether a single speaker would be able to do a half-day; Helen is sure Eric is up to it.
Southern program, 'Beyond Degrees: Professional learning for Knowledge Services', coordinated by Liz Winiarz and to be held at Umass Dartmouth. The date was changed to Wednesday, April 23rd , to accommodate religious holidays. Liz W. expects Guy St.Clair to fill the program. Interest was expressed in an academic speaker to discuss academic training for knowledge management.
Business Meeting. Scheduled for May 15th at Sheraton Newton. It seems accessible to all modes of travel and the hotel just renovated and price negotiation seems fruitful. There is no speaker planned. Music might be arranged.
Professional Development Program report
Linda has nothing to report.
Director of Finance Report
Tom dashed in and distributed spreadsheets of a closed budget for 2002 and a finalized budget for 2003. Though an imbalance between receipts and budgets makes us appear to be deficit spending, it will all be okay. Tom reinforced Leslie's confidence, noting that we don't need to worry about money from programs, we need attendance. Some thoughts on improving program attendance: the Boston tradition of mid-day meetings perhaps should be changed in favor of evening programs, which may be more convenient. Other chapters use the pattern of an hour of networking, an hour of food, and an hour for a speaker.
Leslie noted that we have an overall savings account of $24K. Hope urged the board to spend money on members. We're fiscally healthier than a lot of other chapters.
Treasurer's Report
Leslie: we're holding our own. Minority Scholarship fund: $277.06, the Project Account: $5006.48. We paid a deposit for Three Cheers [Social gathering]. We deposited a check for bulletin advertising from Sarah Warner. Our total inflow was $34,929.04, the outflow was $32,465.92, generating a slight profit. Our account balance: $23,599.56. Nothing to worry about. We completed one 1099, paid one scholarship to Stephanie Kincaid.
Membership Report
Sandra: We have 602 members as of the end of December, which is down compared to 2001. One reason: people lost to economic downturn. It was agreed that we need to do more outreach to unemployed members. Among the suggestions: publicize SLA's unemployment enrollment option; a flier at the networking meeting at Three Cheers; at local programs, hold a special event for lapsed members. We will produce a flier and post it on the web to announce unemployed discount for access to videoconference.
Employment Report
Clare emailed about the WGBH telethon volunteer plan. Apparently we were mistaken about WGBH charging non-profits to take part in their fund-raising telethon. They charge for-profits for the more desirable weeknight slots. Non-profits get in free, but are encouraged to cover the weekend shifts. We have locked in 20 slots on Sat. March 1st , 3-7 pm, which we will share with the Brockton HS National Honor Society. Weekend evening slots run from 5:30 - 11, with the first hour being food and training. The slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We get two "mentions" of SLA on the air, and are encouraged to wear logos. Open dates in March: 15th, 22nd, 29th . Those assembled chose March 22nd, with the 29th for backup. How to manage the signup? Email will work, and since it's first-come first-served, we can have a stand-by list. Will we be able to fill a total of 90 slots? Tune in. Kathy will liaise with GBH on dates. There was abundant discussion on how best to show our colors: shirts? buttons? hats? other? Keeping in mind we'll be sitting at desks, and at a distance from the cameras, the logo should simply be "SLA". Hope noted that the Toronto chapter has done this successfully so we might want to check with them. Kathy will get quotes on clothes. Remember: high contrast colors.
Vendor Support
Liz: Sue Wolfman produced a spreadsheet on sponsors and the meetings to which they've committed money. We seem to be ahead of last year in support. A suggestion: let vendors sponsor music at socials?
Logistics Report
Jessica: last meeting called due to snowstorm.
Student Relations Report
No report.
Chapter Discussion List
Hope: we've expired 117 people. Boston Chapter members total 471, 31 unsubscribed. David Whitmire at HQ can produce a report with which to email the 117 expired people, directing them to contact Hope to get back on the list, and encourage them to join. She has a short list of people who "bounced", polled those attending and identified a few. The new software seems to be catching the spam. Nothing without a subject line can come through.
Affirmative Action Scholarship report
Margaret and Danielle have plans for a $2000 scholarship [including funds to be transferred]. They will produce publishable guidelines by the end of January, and an application form. It will be open to minorities, as defined by SLA HQ, who are either New England residents attending an ALA-accredited library program anywhere, or non-New Englanders attending a New England school. Applicants must complete the form, provide letters of reference (2-3), proof of residency, and some proof of acceptance/enrollment in a library program. Suggestions on judging included: phone interviews, a 500 word essay, perhaps read anonymously and ranked, and proof of financial need. The deadline is tentatively the end of March. Perhaps winners could be announced at the business meeting.
Other issues
Mary Jo reported on the technical issues with Paypal - it isn't worth it. The html "is a pain", and it has to be redone for each program.
Kathy: A Nominating Committee has been formed. Chair, Ruth Kampen, with Jonathan Rosenthal and Amy Pietrowski. Betty Edwards can supply the committee with records from last year.
Next Board Meeting When & Where
March 11th. Echo Bridge Location. Motion to close the meeting was called by Helen, seconded by Leslie. Meeting closed at 7:30 p.m.
Bob Moore
Secretary
Past minutes:
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Executive Board Meeting Minutes
SLA
SLA-Boston