Our Association's Strategic Plan states:

The Special Libraries Association must exist to provide a positive environment for networking, communication, research, skills growth, and other developmental opportunities for these professionals to develop and enhance their competencies, aptitudes and attitudes.

One of the strategies detailed is to Build the Virtual Association.  The association will use technology to remove barriers to access to services and programs and will provide the means for members to communicate, learn, govern,  organize and collaborate in a virtual environment.

Tonight the Toronto Chapter is honouring two individuals whose efforts have moved us well along the road to meeting this strategy.

The Chapter has had a website since the fall of 1995.  Brian Moore was our webmaster from its inception until early spring of this year.  Brian worked with Infomart, the site's initial host, and he then transferred the site to the SLA
Headquarter's server in 1998.  Brian not only developed the site, he redesigned it and refreshed it all along.  Brian has also assisted in training other volunteers to maintain the site.

These efforts have paid great rewards.  The Chapter Cabinet Chair and Chapter Cabinet Chair Elect reviewed chapter websites for the SLA Board.  At this past Winter meeting, they identified the Toronto Chapter website as one of the top six chapter websites.

Brian has set a professional standard for the quality of the site and the diligence of updating it.

Tim Tripp is serving the Chapter in many ways.  If you subscribe to the Chapter's electronic discussion list, you will have heard of Tim.  He is the moderator of our list (which is hosted by Micromedia).  Since taking on this position he has added enhancements such as identifying the chapter in the subject of the e-mail and providing a trailer message on how to log off the list.

Tim's efforts have also brought us the electronic, searchable version of the Directory of Special Libraries in the Toronto Area on our website.  The Chapter produced 14 print editions, each requiring many volunteer hours to put together.   This new version will be continually updated and so should be of greater use to our members.

Tim enthusiastically contributes to the Chapter, from his position as moderator of the mailing list, to his contributions to the Courier and his work on the Directory.

Both of our award winners are contributing to SLA's current priority of ensuring the ongoing relevance of SLA to its members in the next century by managing our transition to a virtual association, whereby all members will be able to access SLA services globally, equitably and continuously.

They have given of their time and their efforts to move the Chapter forward.  Please join me in honouring both Brian Moore and Tim Tripp as  SLA Toronto Chapter Member of the Year.

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