[Read the full report from the meeting and provide feedback to Dan Trefethen at ice9@eskimo.com.  He will take input until the Task Force has to submit their report in June 2001.] 

The Pacific Northwest Chapter held a short session on the Simplification of SLA, focusing on streamlining SLA structure and procedures. The session was conducted by Dan Trefethen, a member of the Association-wide Simplification Task Force.

PNW members wanted more electronic delivery of information, and assistance from SLA staff with some of the more time-consuming elements of volunteer work. It was felt that the best use of volunteer hours was for value-added things like programming, mentoring, etc. While members recognize the limitations of staff doing the drudge work for 57 chapters and 25 divisions, they felt that staff should be available to assist when asked.

The chapter members did not propose a radical restructure of the basic organization of chapter, division, caucus, committees, etc. They resisted a dissolution of the division's power, while acknowledging the usefulness of trimming or eliminating committees.

Fundraising was a controversial issue. They liked the idea of an Association-wide distribution of vendor funds, freeing the local members from constant fundraising. However, the logistics and fairness of such a distribution were unclear. Left unanswered was the question of whether vendors would prefer this, and how they would get credit for it.