MEMBERSHIP MEETING
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MEMBERSHIP MEETING
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While no one expects the annual membership meeting to offer as many surprises as the convocation, it impressed with the depth and breadth of the Society's past year of activity. President Teague reported on the major accomplishments, including focus on internal management issues; creation of the ARLIS/NA homepage on the Web; publication of three Occasional Papers; a thorough reevaluation of the Society's publications; creation of several new committees (ad hoc Public Policy, ad hoc Finance, North American Relations for liaisons with related organizations, Awards to manage the Distinguished Service and other special achievement awards, Publication to administer the newly created Publication Awards, and Technology Education); appointment of two new task forces (Canadian Representation and Communications Vehicles Review). Last, but definitely not least, we completed the drawing up of the Strategic Plan 1996-1999.
Penney De Pas, Executive Director, noted in her annual report a small decline (three percent) in ARLIS/NA membership for the past year and a significant increase in supporting memberships. The Miami conference was attended by 462 people (340 art librarians and visual resources curators, 100 exhibitors, and 20 guests.
Secretary Snow reported that the proposed bylaws changes to Article XI, Section 1 were approved, adding two new standing committees: Finance and Public Policy. Finance was established with 122 yes votes out of 128 valid ballots, and the Public Policy Committee with 110 out of 128 ballots.
Miami conference co-chairs Stephen Allen Patrick, Anne Ross, and Jim Findlay and numerous volunteers were thanked for their efforts, with Patrick noting that this was a conference organized with a small chapter, considerable assistance from headquarters, and almost exclusively through email. The twenty-fifth anniversary ARLIS/NA annual conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas, April 4-9, 1997, at the Crowne Plaza St. Anthony Hotel. This is a short walk to the famed and fun River Walk. Jeannette Dixon and Allen Townsend are program chairs and Robert Beebe and Craig Likness, local arrangements.
Like the Convocation, there was occasion to reflect on our profession and honor the life achievements of one of our colleagues as Lyn Korenic presented a moving tribute to ARLIS/NA charter member William Treese, art librarian at the University of California, Santa Barbara who passed away last fall.
Ed Teague then thanked ARLIS/NA's numerous volunteers, over 260 in leadership positions. He singled out the Publication Committee and the Communications Vehicles Review Task Force including Jeanne Brown, Joan Stahl, Beryl Smith, Judy Dyki, and Linda Zieper. He commended Deirdre Stam on her development of the first ARLIS/NA homepage. He also congratulated the editor-authors of the recently published Occasional Papers, Eileen Fry, Maryly Snow, Carol Terry and Betsy Peck Learned, Toni Petersen and Carol Jackman-Schuller (Concordance of Ancient Site Names, Standards for Staffing, AAT Sourcebook).
The Western Regional Conference, October 10-13, 1996 in Flagstaff, Arizona was announced by Mary Graham, chair of ARLIS/ Arizona chapter, with a theme of "Don't Fence Me In: the Arts in the Mountain West." Elizabeth Gulascy reminded everyone who has not done so already to send in their library listings to her for the updated IFLA Art Library Directory. Amanda Bowen, chair of the research Committee, announced the September 5, 1996 deadline for the 1997 research awards, including the H. W Wilson Research Award, the Worldwide Books Publications Award, and the John Benjamins Serials Award. Applications are available via the ARLIS/NA homepage and headquarters. Mary Williamson, Chair of the Awards Committee, announced the new guidelines for the Distinguished Service Award and its deadline, now passed.
The traditional changing of the Executive Board followed, with retiring members Janis Ekdahl (past president), Ann Gilbert (Western regional representative), Barbara Sykes- Austin (Treasurer), and Murray Waddington (Canadian regional representative), making way for incoming board members Deborah Barlow as Western regional representative, Jane Devine as Canadian representative, Ross Day as treasurer, and Roger Lawson as vice president/president-elect. Janine Henri has replaced resigning Southern regional representative Jeannette Dixon since fall 1995.
Jack Robertson assumed the role of president when he received the gavel from now Past President Ed Teague. Jack discussed the 1996-98 Strategic Plan, noting that the original goals and objectives of the 1991-1995 Strategic Plan will remain in place, with action items being newly updated and revised. Robert's stated goals are to reinvigorate collaboration among the numerous parts of the Society with emphasis on financial planning, cultural diversity, and working partnerships with other organizations; professional and intellectual rights access; standards and authorities; membership growth through chapters and groups; and the newly created Visual Resources Issues Task Force.
With only moments to spare, Andras Riedlmayer, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University, encouraged the rebuilding of Bosnia's libraries through tax-deductible donations.
A standing ovation was offered for Ed Teague's strong and committed leadership.
Maryly Snow, ARLIS/NA Secretary
Created 1 October 1996. Updated 21 March 1997