Special Libraries Association Boston Chapter
Board Meeting
April 29, 2003
Cambridge HealthTech
Minutes

Attending: Kathy McCabe, Mary Chitty, Hope Tillman, Margaret Howe-Soper, Helen Keil, Leslie Knapp, Teresa Frydryk, Judy Blaine, Tom Clark, Liz Bibby, Jessica Baumgart, Dave Ware, Bob Moore.

Meeting called to order at 6:15pm. The Minutes of the March 18, 2003 Board meeting were reviewed. Corrections were needed. Stephen Abram’s name was misspelled, and attending for Logistics at the last meeting was Jessica Baumgart, not Claudette Newhall (sorry about that, Jessica). Minutes accepted as amended, Margaret Howe-Soper moved, Teresa Frydryk seconded.

Program Committee Report

May Business Meeting – Stephen Abram wants at least an hour for his presentation. How best to compress the business meeting? It was agreed that awards should be presented, but paperwork, such as last year’s minutes and the treasurer’s report, can be copied and distributed to members. Since we’ll have an LCD for the presentation, we could use that to display awards announcements, etc, then ask for applause for all award winners. This information is all published in the bulletin as well. Essentials: nominating committee will introduce new officers and ask for a unanimous vote to approve the slate. Then we have Kathy’s remarks, she introduces Liz, and we have the passing of the gavel. Liz will close the meeting and introduce Stephen. And anyone presenting needs to be sitting in front.

Complementary meals for vendors and appropriate award winners? Past precedents were reviewed. It is sometimes a question of whether the winner is already registered. Tom needs the list of hosts donating facilities for programs, and of vendors, for recognition certificates. Judy will do the powerpoint. Logistics discussion on laptops and awards ensued.

Sci-Tech Program committee reported on the success of the Semantic Web program. The program was great, well received. Evaluation summaries were distributed to committee members. 66 registered, for a total of $2205. 61% submitted evaluations, which is high. Evaluations suggested new ideas; some wanted a more basic approach to the semantic web. The field being very new, there’s a lot that’s just new. The speaker tried to target the audience, but likes to be thorough, and felt strongly the library community needed to be involved. Discussion ensued.

Director of Finance Report

Haven’t seen bill for Eric Miller yet, for one night’s lodging and airfare. What’s our receipt policy? In the age of e-tickets and email, it’s getting murkier. Kathy: are there deadlines for bill payment? Perhaps a gentle reminder that deadlines exist to close books. Bulletin advertising is over projection. Misc. Expenses: Claire’s food for unemployment group, and other costs. ‘We’re deficit spending but it’s okay.’

Treasurer's Report

Project acct. $5649.47.. Minority scholarship: $277.41. Operating acct.: $30859. Net total $9722.84; we’re in good financial shape.

Membership Report

Sandra emailed: March 2003 new members: 17 Regular, 1 student. YTD: 494 Regular, 5 45-yr, 3 Org., 1 life/honorary, 21 retired, 59 student.

Employment Report

Claire emailed: 5 new jobs posted last month. The first meeting of job hunters was held March 26th ; 13 attendees. After consulting with Liz Bibby, Claire did a presentation on transitions from corporate to academic libraries. Lots of resumes were exchanged, and the group began reviewing them. Mentoring was discussed but more framework is needed. Next meeting 4/30.

Vendor Support

Sue emailed: still waiting for ISI check. We have two vendors supporting the May business meeting. SLA reception has sponsor: $250 from Sarah Warner.

Logistics Report

Jessica: Sci-tech program. The Globe did a blurb on it without any supporting details (like prior registration). Fortunately there wasn’t any scheduling chaos. Guidelines the committee has worked on for handling programs at capacity and for handling meeting postponements and cancellations were distributed. She would like to post the guidelines for future access. It will help institutional memory and help members. Deadline on feedback – May 31.

Consultation report:

Ken: no report

Student Relations Report

Allen has a student stipend winner, announced on the discussion list.

Discussion list management report:

We have 523 people on the list, not all are members of SLA. Eleven others held for bad email addresses. Teresa wished to use the list for distribution of the newsletter, cross-checking against her list. Hope will provide a version of the list.

Affirmative Action Scholarship report

Margaret: The AA Scholarship winner is Copeland Young. There were four applications, three of them complete. Essay readers included two from Harvard, two from BU, one from a newspaper. Three readers outside of Harvard were brought in as soon as we had an applicant from within the Harvard system. Copeland, who works at Radcliffe Institute, was the unanimous choice. His essay will be published in the newsletter. Copeland is interested in Archives and will be attending Simmons. A check will be presented at the business meeting.

Other issues

Do we want to try to subsidize transportation for members for a day trip to SLA to vote in June on the name change? The vote will be held Wednesday morning, after keynote speaker Madeline Albright. Challenges include members’ geographic diversity and liability if we lease a vehicle. Can we otherwise subsidize members’ individual travel? Discussion of pro’s and con’s. Kathy will draft a note for the discussion list to determine the interest level and Teresa volunteered to distribute postcards for members not on the discussion list, about 36 people.

NYC reception
Kathy has set up the Boston Chapter/Simmons reception in New York. It will be at the Sheraton Royal Ballroom B, Monday night, 5:30-7:30 ish. Just for the record, it will cost $55/person. NYC ain’t cheap. Simmons will pay half.

Member survey
There was input on the survey. Kathy wants a second round of input by May 15th, so the next board will have it to work with.

Pauline Leeds: archives, anyone? Please send archival docs to Pauline.
A thank-you note was received from Jim Matarazzo for contributing to the Simmons Scholarship Fund set up in his name.

Transition board meeting when & where:
Liz prefers to have the handoff of materials done ‘offline’, to make the transition meeting a planning meeting. There will possibly be a new name for the organization, new bylaws to digest, and survey feedback. Liz will poll members on time and location.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:02. Jessica moved, Helen seconded.

Bob Moore
Secretary

Past minutes:

• March 18, 2003
• January 14, 2003
• December 2, 2002
• October 15, 2002
• July 31, 2002
• March 5, 2002
• January 15, 2002
• October 18, 2001
• September 6, 2001
• June 26, 2001