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October-December 1998 Volume 19 Number 4
Letter from the Chair
Maryanne
Blake
Another successful PNC/MLA annual meeting has come and gone. Mary Ellen Lemon and her stalwart helpers on the 1998 Annual Meeting Committee deserve high praise. Since the meeting in Boise I have heard colleagues talking about "self-actualization" in both work and personal terms, echoes of our keynote speaker, Dr. Albert Bandura. I have heard numerous compliments for the wonderful CE courses and panel discussions that were presented. My favorite times were those when we could get together and talk - at the welcome reception at the Idaho State Historical Museum; informally, at lunch or in the hotel lobby or over a cup of coffee in the hallway during a break; at our 45th banquet and the accompanying "walk down memory lane" PNC/MLA trivia contest. Have you ever noticed that Mary Ellen Lemon bears a strong resemblance to Vanna White? And the meeting brought some new partners to join us and share information with us - health educators and public librarians.
Some business was transacted at the meeting as well. The two important discussions we had concerned, first, a dues increase and second, where to hold the annual meeting in the future. In some respects these two topics have an impact on each other. If annual meetings are held in places like Montana and Idaho where so few members attend we will not make any money on the meeting. Are the annual meetings meant to make a profit that will then be used to run the day-to-day business of the chapter? Why should only those attending the annual meeting be expected to bear this additional expense? And if we cannot rely on making a profit at the annual meeting then should we raise the dues to cover the expenses of the chapter? Pam Spickelmier, PNC/MLA Treasurer, has written an article on the possibility of a dues increase, covering these and other points, for this issue of the newsletter. Please read Pam's article since the chapter will be voting on this important matter this month. You should be receiving your ballot in the mail in early December. Read the issues. Make your decision. Cast your ballot by the end of December.
The second issue discussed at the Business Meeting was where to hold annual meetings in the future (see my last "Letter to the Chair"). Members spoke their minds, and sometimes their hearts, on this topic. By the end of the discussion it was agreed that we should hold meetings in alternating years in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Flexibility was encouraged so meetings could be held either at a resort or in a city, leaving open the possibility of Salishan, on the Oregon coast, in the year 2001. The other decision was that the newly constituted Conference Planning Committee would take a major role in assisting with the routine tasks connected with the annual meeting, while the Professional Development Committee would take on the role of arranging continuing education. The Annual Meeting Committee for any particular year would be made up of members from as many states and provinces as possible. These changes would go a long way to ensuring that the burden of arranging a meeting would not be on the same individuals every three years. This plan will only work if everyone in PNC/MLA feels that they have a role to play in making the annual meeting happen. It is up to you to get involved, in some way, small or large, in our one meeting that each year brings us from far and wide to share our ideas and talents.
So be a part of PNC/MLA. Vote! Participate! Don't just join - BELONG!
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