Taken from the ALSC Community Forum – August 2012
It has been sixteen years since the last ALSC dues increase….
At the 2012 ALA Annual Conference, the ALSC Board of Directors discussed a proposal by the Budget Committee to implement a dues adjustment. There was a discussion on the proposed dues adjustment that took place during the ALSC Membership meeting in Anaheim.
To address the Budget Committee’s proposal, the Board held ALSC Community Forums on August 8th and 9th. During the second half of these open meetings, we opened the discussion to members to give us their input on a possible change in the ALSC dues structure.
In early August, the ALSC Budget Committee released the Dues Structure Change FAQ (log-in required) to introduce our members to the proposed dues increases and the new proposed member categories. To better understand the dues adjustment…please take time to read the thoughtfully prepared FAQ which includes considerations and cost thoughts provided by the Budget Committee.*
Some background information on the dues adjustment. One of the ALSC Budget Committee’s charges is “to review for the ALSC Board, on a regular basis, the dues structure.” The Budget Committee recently reviewed the structure and has recommended adjustments to the ALSC Board. If the Board agrees with the recommendation, they will vote to have the recommendation placed on the 2013 ALSC ballot for the entire ALSC membership to review and to vote on the recommended changes.
ALSC currently has only two personal membership categories:
The proposal provides for four new personal member categories: Support Staff; Non-Salaried; Retired; Advocate. These new category areas carry the same definitions as ALA membership category areas.
The proposal would slightly increase the two current categories and expand the personal categories:
- Regular $50;
- Support Staff $35;
- Non-Salaried $35;
- Retired $35;
- Advocate $25 (authors, teachers, parents, etc.);
- Student $20
Even though the August Community Forum has concluded, the conversation can continue on ALA Connect. Whether or not you are able to join a live Forum, you can always add your thoughts by leaving a comment. The ALSC Budget Committee will post questions on ALA Connect regarding the ALSC dues adjustment proposal. For information about ALSC Community Forums or if you need help logging in please visit the ALSC Community Forum site. The August transcripts are posted.
We hope that you’ll come to the Community Forums to give us your thoughts. Through your participation, we can gather more input into how this proposed dues change will affect members and how it will shape the future of ALSC membership.
In closing, one of the questions asked of our members during the dues adjustment proposal discussion on the August Community Forums was “What aspects of your ALSC membership do you value most?” Some of the member replies are displayed in the word cloud at the top of this blog. Please feel free to add the aspects of membership that you value the most as a comment below.
Thank you for your dedicated service to ALSC and for creating a better future for children through libraries—every day!
*Please keep in mind this is a current proposal as of the annual conference, the ALSC Board has asked the Budget Committee to reexamine the student proposed rate and the existing organizations and corporate rates. A recommendation from the Budget Committee is due to the ALSC Board no later than ALA Midwinter 2013.
***********************************************
Our post today is from ALSC President Carolyn Brodie. Carolyn is a regular blogger with ALSC.
And, so my year as ALSC President has begun with a month already past, can it really be August?
The weeks of July since ALA Annual Conference were very busy with an abundance of ALSC correspondence, reading post-conference committee reports, working on ALSC committee placements, creating charges for new task forces and for the new ALSC Website Advisory Committee and preparing for this week’s ALSC Community Forums. (I did manage to squeeze in a few days for Arkansas family to visit here during our Ohio heat wave. My southern relatives were very disappointed they experienced no relief from their summer heat during their days in Ohio!)
Our very busy and energetic annual conference was filled with a host of events that offered us the opportunities to connect through attending exemplary ALSC programs, meeting up on the exhibit floor and sharing dinner during our glamorous Newbery/Caldecott Banquet with the stellar speeches by Chris Raschka and Jack Gantos. We made even more connections with each other by attending ALSC 101, participating in committee meetings, chatting at parties or just running into each other on an Anaheim street.
It was indeed a great pleasure to meet with many ALSC members in Anaheim as we work together this next year and focus on this year’s theme of “Connecting Communities” that will focus in part on the goal area of “Advocacy” from our ALSC Strategic Plan. We will work on connecting through our communication and information venues, through our advocacy initiatives and through our programming.
When I had the chance to meet members, many asked great questions about our association’s work and many also expressed an interest in how to get involved in ALSC through committee work. It was rewarding and heartwarming to feel so much dedication from so many.
So, if you aren’t already serving on a committee — how do you volunteer your service to the ALSC community? Here is some information on how the ALSC committee appointment process works:
First, where do you find out more about the work and the structure of ALSC committees? Go to the ALSC Committees page to learn more about the possibilities. The page includes a link to ALSC Committees: A Guide to Participation that provides additional information.
The next step is to fill out a volunteer form which is available on the ALSC Website at www.ala.org/alsc. You’ll find the form under the “members” tab. Complete the form and make sure to note your background, note your experience in particular areas such as budget or programming. This extra information certainly helps in making a good committee match. Make sure to mark the appropriate box if you require a virtual assignment. It is also really important to clearly indicate your preferential choices (as many as you can where you have interest and/or experience) on the form, not just by priority group, but also by committee. If you’re willing to mark the box that says “I will serve wherever needed!” then that is great too!
Don’t hesitate to send your form in during any time of the year. There are unexpected vacancies that occur all during the year and new appointments are made when this happens. For example, during this past month, I made several replacement appointments. And, if you haven’t been appointed and it has been a while, please send in another form.
A great time to volunteer is February through June for the ALSC process committee appointments. Starr Latronica, our Vice-President/President-elect will make appointments to process committees (non-award committees) next spring. So certainly after the first of the year or after ALA Midwinter in Seattle, make sure to send your form for a p
