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Barbara Roberts' Inaugural Speech
Thank you everyone.
It is such a professional honor to be able to serve as CLA president. In this past year as vice president/president-elect I've had the good fortune to work with two pros, Monique le Conge and Margaret Todd. Their work has enabled us to build a new nimble governance infrastructure. My goal is to continue this work toward the revitalization of CLA by building on their good internal work while at the same time expanding our outside relationships and strengthening our image as an organization.
CLA remains the pre-eminent "umbrella" organization for CA libraries and those who work in and for them. So we must use this transition time as a wonderful opportunity to re-energize our image as we develop a stronger and more inclusive organization - one that appeals to a broad spectrum of members and potential members.
Clearly, the election this year demonstrates our membership's desire to transition CLA into the 21st century with the passage of the bylaws changes that will take effect in June 2009. These new bylaws flatten the structure of our organization in ways that can help us: connect better with each other, provide for virtual participation in CLA, provide a mechanism for growing leaders within the organization, and help members form groups of like minded colleagues to explore all sorts of interests, and issues and collaborations. Thus it is incumbent upon me in my year as president to focus on planning for the debut of this more nimble structure and ensure that it allows CLA to concentrate on: providing enhanced member benefits, ensuring transparent communication, and building a robust business operation.
To start this very large ball rolling, I will concentrate this year on doing the following:
- Work with the Executive Committee, Assembly and our interim executive director, to complete a thorough assessment of CLA operations and develop an appropriate business and management plan.
- Convene a summit of representatives from different library types and other library organizations in CA with the express purpose of exploring our commonalities, and discussing our collaboration and partnership potential.
- Within the next two months, make certain there is a transition tool kit for all sections, committees and round tables to help members explore their future options for participation within the new CLA structure.
- Continue the dissemination of "Your Leadership Shares" emails and blog posts that I initiated after this year's Leadership Retreat, to help make CLA's work more transparent.
- Develop and recommend a career development benefit for members.
- Identify how CLA can best use technology to improve communication to members, between members and to enhance and simplify the work of our organization. Hopefully we can also help reduce CLA's carbon footprint in the process!
The theme of my year and next year's conference will be "REACH OUT!" Just as our libraries can no longer believe that just having an existing building or space makes them relevant to their service community, neither can CLA believe that members will join just because we are here. CLA must be active in REACHING OUT to the library community and demonstrating our continuing relevance to our members through our advocacy and member benefits. We must:
- Continue to REACH OUT to our political representatives at the local, state and national levels, led by our exceptional Legislative Committee. But each of us must work at the grassroots efforts by making a phone call, writing a letter or email and doing what we can do to help them.
- REACH OUT to other library related organizations and join forces when appropriate.
- REACH OUT to every member to build relationships and offer support, continuing education, and career guidance.
- REACH OUT to find the best practices of business and other nonprofit organizations to ensure CLA is operated in the best way possible.
- REACH OUT to our student members and involve them in meaningful work that promotes their personal and professional growth.
But I think most important of all, is that within CLA each of us must REACH OUT to each other. As vice-president, I had to reach out to many members to fill all the committee vacancies coming open in 2009. Fewer than 5 people turned me down. This willingness of our members to work for CLA speaks volumes about the existing commitment to this organization. And the organization needs to make sure we give back because this is what keeps CLA alive.
I challenge each of you that before this conference ends, REACH OUT to someone outside your regular circle of friends and colleagues. Have lunch or coffee with someone from a different type of library and explore what you have in common and what you can learn from each other, then continue that new connection using the digital, mobile, and virtual means we have available at our fingertips.
We must begin right here, right now to REACH OUT of our silos of specialties and join hands to work for the common good of all libraries in CA. CLA needs all of us in all our incredible diversity in order to continue the journey we've begun toward CLA's revitalization.
I look forward to a productive and energetic year.
Barbara Roberts, 2009 CLA President
Posted by Barbara Roberts, CLA President 2009 on November 20, 2008 8:44 AM | Permalink