Dear ARLIS/NA Members:
There are several developments that I would like to bring to your
attention.
As you all are painfully aware, our migration over to MemberClicks -
the online directory and membership renewal system - was delayed.
Believe it or not we are, actually, nearing the finish line and I can
safely say that our new online up-to-date directory will be launched
within the next two weeks.
All of the membership renewals to date have been updated in
MemberClicks. The Board, the MemberClicks Advisory Group, and the
Publications and Membership Committees are previewing the site. A
MemberClicks Support team (Jill Luedke, Jonathan Franklin, and Martha
Ruddy) has been formed so that you will have contacts available to
answer questions and gather feedback as we make the transition. Once
MemberClicks is live, you will quickly see how easy it will be to keep
membership info up-to-date. The MemberClicks Directory will take the
place of a printed directory, though we will have a PDF version of the
Member's Handbook available from the ARLIS/NA website. The Handbook
format and contents will be the same as previous years and will be
archived on the website from year to year.
This has been a difficult year for our Management Firm,
McPhersonClarke. Over the course of the year, they lost employees that
play a significant role in handling our accounts and administrative
tasks and planning our conferences. This has presented extreme
challenges for the Board and some obvious repercussions on you. We are
piecing things back together, however, in order to keep things in
tact. I am pleased to make you all aware that our former Conference
Manager from McPhersonClarke, Susan Rawlyk, is temporarily back to
help us out with the upcoming conference in Denver. Debbie Block who
was with us in Atlanta, recently left. Craig Fleming, our former
Administrative Assistant is back and filling in until HQ replaces
Natasha Bodei. Craig has been processing our renewals and updating
them in MemberClicks. He is assisting us with getting MemberClicks
going and handling various other administrative duties, as well, for
the time being.
The results of the ballots indicate that the ARLIS/NA membership is
interested in seeing the Society become structurally more flexible and
fluid. The changes we are adopting will move us from an administrative-
focused structure to one that will assure members have the opportunity
to coordinate and be involved in Special Interest Groups that will
keep us attuned to current and critically relevant topics. The Board
is currently revising the Policy Manual to reflect this change, and
the ARLIS/NA website will, also, have a page specifically for Special
Interest Groups that will include instructions on how to form and
dissolve them. The new configuration of the Executive Board to have
functional officers instead of regional representatives will better
serve to keep the Society's interests and activities at the forefront.
The Executive Board will now hold the following offices: Past
President, President, Vice President/President-Elect, Secretary,
Treasurer, Canadian Member-At-Large, Communications Liaison,
Development Liaison, Education Liaison, and one Member-At-Large.
While we are making progress through our transitional year, it hasn't
been painless and we've hit some obstacles. But as I observe my 17-
month old, I'm finding out that its really not so terrible to just let
things get messy before they find their place. Isn't change like that?
Thank you, all, for your patience. Look for the launching of
MemberClicks very soon - for real - and look for a few more updates
before we meet in Denver. I am looking forward to seeing you in the
Rockies!
All my best,
Deborah K. Ultan Boudewyns
ARLIS/NA, President
Deborah K. Ultan Boudewyns
Art History & Performing Arts Librarian
University of Minnesota, Wilson Library
[log in to unmask], 612.625.6438
President, ARLIS/NA, www.arlisna.org
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