Karolyn Thompson
BCALA President
2008-2010 |
Karolyn Thompson, BCALA President 2008 - 2010
Colleagues:
As I begin my two-year tenure with BCALA members, friends, sponsors and vendors, I thank each of you for collaborating with BCALA. I feel it is important that we maintain our excellent relationships, and, therefore, I welcome the opportunity to serve you as we build on our past successes and foster an invigorating future. I encourage you to maximize your involvement and participation in BCALA activities.
We have enough activities and committees for anyone interested in participating in our mission. The chairs and co-chairs have been selected. Their names, as well as the names of our talented and dedicated BCALA Board, are available on our website.
So, your active role in BCALA activities can begin NOW. Please note that committee chairs are needed for the upcoming conference for 2010, and NOW is your time to step up and say, "YOU CAN COUNT ON ME!"
Often when a new president assumes office, work done by the previous administration is discarded. I will, however, show support for the existing plan. What we have done has been good work and we have many issues which require closure. In that vein, rather than covering too many, I will only address three initiatives at this time. Please note that it is my expectation that our mutual efforts in addressing initiatives will forge camaraderie, improve productivity, and strengthen our relationships with each other. These initiatives will give us an opportunity to engage in thoughtful deliberations, reflect on our mission, and to implement a self-assessment strategy for the successful fulfillment of the vision of the Strategic Plan.
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The process of change begins with three initiatives which reflect the Town Hall Meeting concerns for positive enhancement of the original Strategic Plan:
1. Retaining and increasing membership
We know membership is the catalyst of any thriving organization. One image development proposal is the Gold and Silver Membership levels as indicated by your gold or silver BCALA commemorative pin. Your pin can be worn for all to see your commitment to BCALA. Be assured that we will see a difference in the growth of our membership within six months!
2. Networking and partnership
We must continue to talk to all our stakeholders who have invested in the BCALA vision. These include members, vendors, other ethnic caucuses, special interest groups, sponsors, publishers, etc. Ask questions relative to what we can do for them and what they can do for us in a mutual profes-sional growth experience. One proposal to implement this initiative for all stakeholders would be our focus on the BCALA Archives at North Carolina Central University as we prepare to inventory, digitize and preserve the history of BCALA. This initiative will foster the successful fulfillment of the BCALA mission and vision and YOU CAN COUNT ON ME to take the fist step in implementation of this proposal by researching, collaborating and assisting in our fundraising efforts to ensure that our history is preserved. During the BCALA general membership meeting and reception at the ALA 2008 conference in Anaheim, California, I presented a gift of $500.00 to the BCALA treasurer Dr. Stanton Biddle to be earmarked for this endeavor. If you, too, are interested in supporting this effort, please contact me at Karolyn.Thompson@usm.edu. Another means to support this initiative will be a Silent Auction, coordinated by the President and the Secretary and held in the Presidential suite at each midwinter and annual meeting. The logistics for the auctions will be posted on the list serv. We must remember that it is only by working together that success can embrace us all.
3. Improving effective communication strategies within the organization at all levels
Simply stated, we must become more effective "listeners and doers." Toward this end, the proposal to be implemented will be a revision of the BCALA organizational structure. The board will be reshaped to reflect the most effective policies for designated staff who report directly to the President. You can be assured that the Office of the President will be open, candid, and address issues in a timely manner. YOU CAN COUNT ON ME to put my stamp on things that will be in the best interest of BCALA in an expeditious manner.
In conclusion, I recognize that the pathway to a successful tenure will be a challenging one as we address the diverse mission and vision strategies for BCALA. I hope that all of you will join in this challenge. I cannot think of three more fitting and inspiring words for us to say as we embark on a new chapter in BCALA's history, than, "YOU CAN COUNT ON ME!"
You can count on me to foster the active engagement of all BCALA members in the growth of our shared BCALA vision. Together, hand in hand, we can meet any challenge.
Karolyn
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