NCSLA President,
Eliza Robertson

Letter from the President,
December 2005

"There and back again.." Caught in that funny feeling I get after being away a while, that I'd not left home at all. But I have the proof - vivid, wonderful memories of a great trip to northern California, of places seen and people met during a fascinating SLA-focused tour.

The first week of December, my husband Dav campaigned for SLA president-elect in the San Francisco-Sacramento area at the invitation of some SLA stalwarts. We met chapter officers and other members, made connections, talked SLA, and talked non-SLA.

I return with clearer insights about how other chapters work, and how SLA is all about - maybe ONLY about -- the people who unselfishly devote their time and energy to make great chapters.

At all these gatherings, SLA members communicated the clear value that SLA has for them. For some, SLA means networking and support, especially at the local level; for others the value is SLA's education component; still others appreciate SLA's advocacy in the face of challenges like copyright. Funny how they're probably the things WE value most about SLA and NCSLA. Why did I have to go so far away to see them more clearly?

I've got a recommendation to make to y'all, too -- when you travel, check out the possibility of planning a short visit to an SLA colleague's information center. It might be enriching fun for you, and the affirmation it gives to your host will probably be valuable to her or him, too.

Trip Notes: Read more about Eliza's travels.

Take care,
Eliza