President's Corner: Planning for SLA’s Future By Diane R. Schnurrpusch, dschnurr@dtic.mil Leadership Summit: The January 2008 Leadership Summit in Louisville, Kentucky drew together SLA Chapter and Division leaders from all over the world. As is usual with these meetings, we were trained for our duties as elected officers. But, this particular gathering also focused on how our association is responding to changes in the information environment and planning for its future. Our association’s centennial celebration in 2009 is a perfect time for us to reflect on both challenges and opportunities. SLA is embarking on a strategic alignment plan to ensure the association’s membership growth and relevancy to the needs of the profession. Two groups engaged by SLA to facilitate this plan were presenters at the Summit. Futurist Andy Hines of Social Technologies was our keynote speaker. He explained that futurists don’t predict the future, but instead help organizations understand and shape their futures. Representatives from Fleishman-Hillard (a communications firm which has worked with AARP) stressed that organizations that survive have core values and purposes that remain fixed; it is the business strategies and practices that change. Outsell, a research and advisory group for the information provider community, is the third organization that will help SLA's alignment process. These three companies will collaborate with staff and members to lead us into the next century. Green Initiative SLA has initiated a Green Initiative, and demonstrated its environmental stewardship by dramatically reducing the amount of paper at the Leadership Summit. Additional measures will be incorporated in this summer’s SLA Conference in Seattle. Speakers have been asked to provide their electronic presentations for the Web site, and vendors are asked to give away services or “really useful stuff.” The Seattle Chapter is encouraging members to bring their own tote bags, badge holders, water bottles, and (appropriately enough) coffee cups! Stay tuned for more information about how you can do your part.
March 2008 Volume 69, No. 2 Inside this issue: President’s Corner …..……..1 Ellen Tise of IFLA Visits......3 International Relations Committee…..……………...4 Joint Spring Workshop.……5 How Can Special Libraries Thrive?.......………………...5 SLA 2009 Wiki…………….9 Meet a New Member...........10 Spring Dine Arounds……...13 Upcoming Events………....14 Member Notes………….....16 Book Club………….……..16 New DC/SLA Members…..17 Read about new products and services from: • • • • • • •
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