Message from the Chair Cynthia Holt
It's getting down to the wire for the Annual Conference in Toronto. The final division program is packed, especially with added Association sessions and no-conflict times, but I think we have something for everyone. Thanks to session moderators for all of their hard work over the past year to create such an impressive program. Check out the conference information article in this issue for more detailed information.
Division Governing Documents
We will be voting on the Governing Documents (in this issue of the Bulletin and at http://www.sla.org/division/dpam/governingdocs/PAMdraftGD2.pdf) for the Division that our Governing Documents Task Force, Chaired by Kristine Fowler, have laboured on over the past year, with copious feedback from Division members. Please take the time to read them before the Annual Business Meeting and Breakfast so that you are familiar with them.
International Membership Award Winner
On behalf of the Division, I would like to welcome Mr. Cornelius Ngang to the Division as the International Member Award winner. I'm sure you will all welcome him in your usual friendly PAM way when you see him at the conference. I would also like to extend my thanks to Debra Bailey and her committee for all of their hard work in finding us such a worthy award winner.
PAM Awards
Remember to send nominations for the PAM Division Award and the PAM Achievement Award to Madeline Needles, Chair of the Awards Committee (mmn@haystack.mit.edu). More information is available in this issue of the Bulletin.
SLA Elections
It's time once again for SLA elections. Please participate in the governance of the Association and send in your ballot when you receive it. Profiles of the candidates are available in the January 2005 issue of Information Outlook.
New Association Year
The Association is moving its current governance year, July ñ June, to coincide with the fiscal year, January ñ December. The primary advantage is for financial reporting reasons. Another advantage is that newly elected officers just starting out will receive valuable training early in their terms at the January Leadership Summit. This change will take effect starting January 2007.
It was recommended that Division officers normally serving through June 30, 2006 extend their term by six months to end December 31, 2006 to cycle into this new year. What this means for the PAM Division is that current officers whose terms end June 2006 will have their terms extended by six months to December 2006 and new officers with one year terms starting in June 2005 will also have an extended term until December 2006. To maintain the staggered terms for the Secretary and Treasurer, the new Secretary starting in June 2005 will have their term shortened by six months to end with December 2006. Happily, all have agreed to do so. As this also affects the timing for conference planning and fundraising by the Chair and Chair-Elect, we will be reviewing the duties of these positions, in addition to investigating the creation of a new fundraising position. This change will also affect Division elections starting in 2006 but we'll work that out as there are several options. As the year progresses, we will provide more detailed information on how this change is being implemented in PAM.
SLA University Online
At the Leadership Summit this year, SLA unveiled a prototype of its new SLA University Online (working name). The full-scale launch will be at the Annual Conference. This site, hosted on the Learn.com platform, will intitailly feature:
The exciting part for PAM is that each Division will have its own area where we will be able to run virtual courses for members; something we have wanted to do for years. As well, there will be space for threaded discussion forums and chat rooms. Access will be via a username and password and a "transcript" will be kept of all of the courses you take so you will have a record.
If you have any feedback on this please email SLA at Learning@sla.org and put "OnlineU Ideas" in the subject line.
Dues Fee Restructuring
The Association to looking at restructuring the dues fees for membership. Two proposals presented during the Joint Cabinet meeting, one based on salary and one tied to the CPI, were discussed. The Joint Cabinet recommended that these proposals be referred back to the Board. The Board referred it back to the Finance Committee for more work. It is important to note that the Board will make the final decision on how membership dues will be restructured. It will not come back to the membership for discussion or vote.
holt@gwu.edu
