ALA Executive Board Orientation highlights

Patricia Hogan, Steven Mathews, I spent April 22 and 23 at the ALA Headquarters for our new ALA Executive Board member orientation. The three of us will be seated on the board at the end of the Annual Conference and serve a three-year term for 2009-2012. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of information we need to know as future board members. Check out the robust itinerary.

April 22
8:15 - 8:45 Welcome and Governance Office Overview
8:45 - 9:20 Budgeting Process
9:30 - 11:00 Memorial service to honor Judith Krug
11:15 - 12:00 Public Information Office / Campaign for America's Libraries
12:15 - 1:30 Open House Lunch with ALA Unit Managers
1:40 - 1:55 Member Programs and Services Overview
2:00 - 3:15 Division Update (with Division Executive Directors)
3:15 - 4:30 Offices and What They Do
4:30 - 5:00 Strategic Planning / Organizational Culture and Change

April 23
8:30 - 9:00 Board Operation and Logistics
9:00 - 9:30 Development Office
9:30 - 10:00 Information Technology & Telecommunication Services
10:00 - 10:15 Break
10:15 - 11:15 Communications and Member Relations
11:15 - 11:45 ALA-Allied Professional Association
11:45 - 1:15 Lunch with Executive Director
1:15 - 1:45 Publications
1:45 - 2:15 Conference Planning
2:15 - 2:45 Washington Office
2:45 - 3:00 Division Update
3:00 - 3:45 Building Tour

I loved every minute of it. It was definitely more information than I could handle, but I took good notes, met so many wonderful people, and am thankful for the nomination to run and my Council colleagues electing me to this position. It will be a lot of work, and at times hard work, but worth it. It is also a reminder that our Association is all about the people.