Deborah,
I was late in catching up on email and had sent a memo of support
for a printed directory before I read your memo, below. Evidently
the Board is trying to keep costs under control, and printing and
mailing a directory looks like it would cost a bundle that might be
saved by an online handbook.
If the handbook were to be printed where would that be done-- US or
Canada? Would producing it in the US be more or less cost effective
than producing in Canada, give the greater proportion of US residents
in the membership I am aware of the higher cost for us to send a
letter from the US to Canada; is mailing from Canada any less
expensive?
Aside from mailing cost, will the cost of production in the US be
significantly more now than it was a year or two ago? If postage
cost is a significant part of the increase (and I'm aware of the
disastrous postage increase for serials this past year) would a
"postage fee" to all members for the handbook be something that
would (a) make it possible to do the hard copy, and of course (b) be
tolerated by all members? Five dollars US? Ten dollars US?
I hate to add another problem for you and the Board to deal with,
but really hate to see the handbook dissolved into just another
database. You mentioned formatting the online directory in a
printable version. All 74 pages? (or however many pages it would be
from an online format?) I'd rather pay a surcharge and get it ready-
bound. I understand that some members would balk at a surcharge,
and that is where the problem lies.
Regards to you. I hope you will be enjoying the late summer
heat. Here in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains we have been
sleeping under blankets recent nights, but the days, while chilly,
are still sunny and beautiful.
Bill Walker [log in to unmask] Canaan NY
On Aug 16, 2007, at 3:29 PM, Deborah K. Ultan wrote:
> Dear ARLIS/NA Members:
>
> As we hit mid-August the thickness of late summer heat surrounds
> with Black-eyed Susans peaking and evenings awakening with the busy
> buzz of cicadas. I hope, dear Members, that you are taking the time
> to relish the last few pages of your summer reading, hours on
> projects, and just breathing in the summer air!
>
> Since my last message in June, the Executive Board has news to
> share of the business we've attended to, despite juggling our
> vacation schedules! I imagine you are you are wondering where we
> left off with the Assessment Task Force
> Recommendations, how the Denver Conference Planning is going,
> what's on our Mid-Year Meeting Agenda, and the status of our
> Membership Directory/Handbook.
>
> As you were made aware, the Executive Board collected all of your
> feedback from before, during, and after the Atlanta conference. We
> poured through your comments and found some recommendations that
> were accepted without issue and others that brought a range of
> perspectives.
>
> I noted in June, that the EB decided to adopt the functional roles
> recommended by the task force. Regional representation is not lost
> in this transitional move, but instead, is served alongside the
> newly adopted functional roles. This adaption of the
> recommendations has given us the opportunity to exercise the idea
> of the functional roles. The Nomination Committee has been working
> hard to find members who are generous and willing to continue to
> serve these dual roles until we determine the best path in the next
> year.
>
> Concern about losing Canadian representation on the Board was
> raised by a few members. The Board crafted a way to manage that
> issue without having to over-extend the number of seats on the
> Board. A Canadian Ambassador will be appointed to serve for two
> years as the liaison to the Canadian Chapters and the Chapter
> Coordinator position which serves on the Board. As well, the
> Ambassador will liaison to committees as appropriate.
>
> Other significant points that will greatly interest you include the
> status of the Divisions and Sections and Round Tables and
> Committees. All Committees, Divisions and Sections will stay in
> tact. Perhaps the possibility of their dissolution reinvigorated
> everyone's interest and attention to the purpose of these groups.
> How exciting! The Round Tables, however, did not demonstrate much
> in the way of urgency or purpose. And so, we are looking into how
> we might reconfigure these, perhaps into Interest Groups, that may
> serve us all better. More details on how this will play out to come.
>
> I want to tell you how thrilled I am to report on the planning for
> the Denver Conference, May 1-5, 2008. The Conference Planning
> Committee met in Denver on July 26th and 27th. We had a rigorous
> meeting to figure out how to structure a conference schedule that
> would be very appealing to everyone, including our dedicated
> vendors, and which will hopefully make scheduling a little less
> condensed. It deviates slightly from past conferences. But besides
> the schedule you will simply enjoy being in Denver. I am so
> impressed with the city, and because our lovely hotel is right in
> the heart of a hip downtown area you will have easy
> opportunity to explore it. And just wait until you see the list of
> events and tours - they will make you jump a mile high!
>
> Last year, the EB decided to afford (at a minimal fee) Memberclicks
> software, which will give us the opportunity to have a consistently
> updated membership directory. Knowing that we are all accustomed to
> the printed handbook, the EB proposed that the Publishing Committee
> create an electronic format of the handbook/directory which will be
> available to all members in a
> printable version. Since the cost of printing a handbook/directory,
> at this time, is prohibitive, it seemed wise to give this new
> approach a try.
>
> The Executive Board meets September 17th and 18th in Minneapolis.
> We will be discussing a revision of our nomination process based on
> the report from the Nomination Task Force from last year and notes
> from the current committee. We will be discussing the Technology
> Appointment recommended by the Assessment Task Force, and the
> formation of an
> SEI Advisory Group. These are just a few priority items.
>
> This should bring us all up to date, for now.
>
> My very best,
>
>
> Deborah K. Ultan Boudewyns
> President, ARLIS/NA
> Art History & Performing Arts Librarian
> University of Minnesota
> 170b Wilson Library
> 309 19th Ave South
> Minneapolis, MN 55455
> ph: (612)625-6438 fax: (612) 626-9353
> email: [log in to unmask]
>
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__________________________________________________________________
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For information about joining ARLIS/NA see:
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