Want to get involved with SLA Boston?

If you'd like to get more involved with the chapter, but aren't sure how...here's your opportunity. We're currently looking for some Chair positions and are always looking for anyone who wants to join committees or help out with programs (registration table, etc.). (If you volunteer to help with a program in any way, you get to go for FREE.) Here are the Chair positions we're looking for (click for description):

• New Professionals (Co-Chair with Lulu Chen)
• Minority Scholarship
• Suburban Boston Region (Programming)

To volunteer, email slaboston@gmail.com with your name, contact information, and why you want to volunteer for that position/committee/program.

New Professionals Co-Chair with Lulu Chen

The basics: create opportunites for professional development and networking for new professionals in SLA Boston.

The details: The New Professionals Committee is committed to offering programs, social events, networking opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and resources geared towards learning and development to new library professionals. New can mean: new to the profession, new to a specialty within librarianship, new to SLA, new to the Boston Chapter, new to the Northern New England area, etc.

Duties:

1. Committee Chair(s) serves as a member of the Advisory Board.
2. Promotes, encourages and develops relations with alumni of local graduate programs in library and information science and other Boston Chapter members, and informs them of Chapter activities.
3. Works with Membership Chair to recruit additional new professional members.
4. Plans and offers several events each year.
5. Works with Webmaster to develop and maintain a New Professionals section on the Chapter website.
6. Solicits input and feedback on committee programming.
7. Submits announcements and articles concerning new professionals to the Chapter Bulletin.
8. Prepares a report for each Board meeting as needed.

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Minority Scholarship

The basics: forms a committee to publicize, reviews applications, and select an award winner for SLA Boston's Minority Scholarship.

The details: The Minority Scholarship Committee Chair should be an individual who has an interest in encouraging and assisting members of ethnic minority groups in pursuing careers as special librarians and information professionals.

Duties:

1. Committee Chair serves as a member of the Advisory Board.
2. Recruits a committee to review and publicize criteria for applications; review applications and select award winner.
3. Arranges for winner to attend the Annual Business Meeting to receive the award; work with Treasurer to issue payment and file financial data with SLA.
4. Prepares a report of activities for Board meetings as needed.
5. A written report summarizing activities for the past year should be submitted to the chapter president annually. This report may also be submitted to the Association’s Diversity Leadership Development Committee chair no later than April 15th of each year.

For more information, consult the Affirmative Action Handbook.

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Suburban Boston Region Programming Chair

The basics: In conjunction with the President-Elect and a committee of your choosing, plan at least 1 program and 1 Dine Around for the Suburban Boston Region each year.

The details: Regional Committee Chairs’ Duties:

1. Chairs of the regional committee are responsible for holding at least one program each year.
2. Planning responsibilities include:
   • Arranges for speakers, panelists, exhibitors, films, etc.
   • Creates a budget for the program, in conjunction with the Treasurer.
   • Makes arrangements with local facilities (e.g., hotel, conference center, or library) to host the meeting. Ensures that the correct size room is available. Oversees catering arrangements.
   • In collaboration with the Vendor Partnership Committee, engages vendors in program planning and matches programs with appropriate vendors.
   • During the planning process, reports on each meeting to the Board and ensures that meeting highlights are written for the Bulletin.
   • Uses chapter guidelines to set registration fees.
   • Oversees the announcement and registration for chapter events to ensure accurate and complete information (directions to the meeting place, cost, schedule, speakers, and registration form) is distributed. Uses the Discussion List and also works with the Bulletin Content Editor and Webmaster to announce and publicize meetings. Uses electronic applications, such as SurveyMonkey and PayPal, for registration and program evaluations.
   • Works with the Student Relations Chair to promote programs to library school students.
   • Checks with Chapter President for special activities or announcements to be included in the program.
   • If hotel rooms may be needed for members who want to stay overnight, the Program Committee Chair tries to arrange for a special room rate at a local hotel and communicates this information to the membership when publicizing the meeting.
   • Identifies members to staff a welcome table, distribute name tags and other materials, and assist in other ways with the activity.
3. Acts as "master of ceremonies" for the day; introduces speakers, thanks and acknowledges vendor partners, makes announcements, thanks those responsible for local arrangements, etc.
4. Writes “thank-you” notes to speakers.
5. After the program compiles and reports to the board a summary of the meeting, including the numbers and categories of attendees, income received, evaluations, the names of nonmembers, and the names of members wishing to become active. Nonmembers’ contact information should also be sent to the Membership Chair. Contact information for those wishing to become active should be given to the President and President-Elect.
6. Joint programming with other chapters will be coordinated by the closest regional program committee (i.e. Southern and Cape – Rhode Island). Agreement on how the finances will be handled and how profit and loss will be divided should be made early in the planning process. Vendor partnerships should be coordinated to avoid duplication.

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