NLA ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, September 29th, 2005
The Cornhusker, a Marriott Hotel, Lincoln
Submitted by Julie Simpson
President Brenda Ealey called the meeting to order at 12:40 pm.
1. Announcements
· The NLA Membership Directory on CD format is available at the membership booth
2. President’s Report
· Written copy
· Board meetings were moved around the state this year: Alliance, York, Omaha and Lincoln
· Conference Executive Secretary: Ann Ames’ contract will be open for renegotiation and/or renewal in December.
· The Adhoc NLA Diversity Committee was organized by Charlene Maxey-Harris
· The Qwest Center, where the conference is being held next year, requires liability insurance. The board is comparing the benefits and costs of one-time event insurance to an annual policy
· By-Laws voting procedures: the by-laws committee is still investigating the issue of quorum voting by email or voting electronically. The issue of changing the fiscal year was dropped due to lack of interest in pursuing this change
· The statewide technical support group has involvement from ITART and Brenda. The group is investigating statewide technical support for libraries, to include central communication and networking of available resources.
· Legislative Day took place February 23rd.
· The mission of NLA to do continuing education, and as President Brenda attended the spring meetings. Sections and round tables should be proud of their programs.
· Letters of literature ---inspiring event to hear young people’s readings!
· Attended the ALTA /ALA awards Advocacy awards during the 2005 ALA conference in Chicago where Kathy Tooker, Eastern Library System, Doug Roesemann, ReferenecUSA, and Wally Seilor, Bank of the West, Alliance were recognized.
· Worked with Mike Poma to submit titles for the ALA Many Voice One Nation book list: Holding up the Earth by Dianne Gray and Delights and Shadows by Ted Kooser.
· NLA Board unanimously voted to approve spending $500 along with NEMA to support the recruitment and retention brochure excellently designed by Becky Pasco.
· NLA submitted a letter of support for the application for a Partnership for a Nation of Learners grant from the NLC. The project will contribute to involvement by libraries in Nebraska Memories project.
· NLA submitted a letter of support to the Cooper Foundation for funding the Plain Poetry Project in producing a DVD and training from the Plain Poetry reading session.
· NLA expressed an interest in being part of a grant that AARP is submitting to the Beaumont Foundation.
· A committee was formed to investigate available degree programs and the possibility of providing a link on the NLA website about educational opportunities. This was in response to a Drexel University request to work together to promote their program.
· NLA is partnered with AFCON and Nebraska ACLU to put together programs for Banned Books Week, Sept. 24-Oct 1st. NLA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee put together a display and we had a panel of librarians at a banned Books event at Eiseley Library on Sept. 24th.
· NLA organized a conference fundraiser for libraries in the gulf cost hit by hurricane Katrina.
· Future dates for NLA/NEMA conferences: Oct. 25-27, 2006, Omaha; Oct 24-26, 2007 Kearney; Oct. 15-17, 2008 Lincoln.
Written report. Julie Simpson presented the minutes of the 2004 annual meeting. Michael LaCroix moved to accept the report as presented. Jacqueline Crocker seconded The minutes were approved as presented.
Written report
NLA budget is currently fat. Please pay dues because the money important for future projects.
Currently working on final quarter. If you donate to Planned Giving it will be a tax deductible. Lupe’s term is up at the end of the year.
Yesterday’s pre-conferences were fabulous –attendance estimated at 200 to 250.
650 are registered for the conference. Everything going fine, but she has a list of things to do differently and better next year.
G. New Business (this was moved up to give time to count votes.)
Tracy presented the Diversity Committee Bylaws Change
Proposal to change the NLA By-Laws:
Under article VII Committees; Section One – Standing Committees – Add Diversity to the list of standing committees Section two: Standing Committee Membership: Add the following to outline the new committee’s membership: Diversity: 8-10 appointed members.
Tracy explained that 8-10 members is little bigger committee, but diversity committee suggested this. The vote was then taken.
E. Other Reports
1. ALA Councilor Mike Poma
Written report ALA conference still planned for New Orleans in late June, but they do have a contingency plan in the works.
2. MPLA Representative Nina Little
Written report Nebraska has two MPLA Board Choice award winners this year: Rose Shinker and Marty Magee. Nebraska is the featured state in the October MPLA issue. MPLA will be doing electronic meetings this next year. The annual conference is Oct. 12-15 in Jackson Hole.
3. Executive Director Maggie Harding
Written report Increase in membership this year. Hoping to reach 900! Have a new Filemaker Pro program for the database.
4. Lobbyist Ken Winston
Success stories: LB 217, nicknamed the Ted Smith bill, got killed in committee several years in a row. This year the bill did get out of committee and passed and the reasons are: they started early, and went to Senator Flood for support. Early commitment is VIP, and early contacts with the committee. Ted cleared up all the miscommunications with good testimony; and Ken contacted senators to see if they understood it, then monitored it. They coordinated with allies and supporters. The lesson learned is to be persistent! Ken played in a band at the South Loop festival
5. Legislative Committee Kathy Tooker
Written report
Thank you for all your support for legislative day. 175 people attended the luncheon including 34 senators and one aid. Eight youth were recognized for their contributions to their local public or school library. LB 299 we defeated, we had wonderful testimony, LB217 and LB 645 passed. LB 374, access to state benefits for regional systems never made it out of committee; Michael LaCroix will be chair next year.
6. Nebraska Library Commission Rod Wagner
Pick up copy at Nebraska Center for the Book table of Andrew Caroll’s Behind the Lines. If you are enjoying this conference- come to the Nebraska Book Festival, hosted by Wesleyan.
7. Citation Committee Robin Bernstein
John Seyfarth will receive the Meritorious Service Award tonight at the banquet and Dr. Joseph Wydeven will receive the Mari Sandoz award.
8. Nominating Committee Tracy Bicknell-Holmes
The membership voted on the By-Law change: 108 yes’s, 4 no’s, and 2 abstained. The Diversity committee is now official
Nominations--- Thanks to all the candidates for running: Beth Goble, President elect; Devra Dragos, Treasurer; ALA councilor: Mike Poma.
9. Scholarship Committee Theresa Jehlik
No report
10. Diversity Committee Charlene Maxey-Harris
Thank you for your support to make an official committee. Their charge is “..to investigate and make a recommendation on how LA can best address the diversity issues of the organization.” The committee will work with the Commission on the IMLS grant, “Recruiting the Next Generation of Nebraska Librarians”.
F. Unfinished Business
1. Bylaws Voting Procedures
H. 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence Brenda Ealey
To diversity committee: Charlene Maxey-Harris (Chair), John Bernardi, Nancy Escamilla, Jodene Glaesemann, Shalini Miskelly, Gretchen Healy
Brenda turned the gavel over to incoming President Joan Birnie. Joan thanked Brenda for her service the past year. Joan encouraged members to contact her with comments or concerns.
I. Adjournment Joan Birnie
The meeting was adjourned by President Joan at 1:37 pm.