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From the President posted 29 May 2007 To those of you who made it to the Atlanta conference, I imagine you are settling back into your routines, again, at work and home. And to those of you who were unable to join us in Atlanta, look for the conference proceedings soon! Plans for next year's conference in Denver are well underway. Information about submitting program proposals is available on the conference Web site. The Atlanta conference was a terrific success with useful and invigorating programs like the New Voices, Hot Topics, and the joint ARLIS/NA and MCN sponsored session; and the delightful special events including the convocation reception at the High Museum of Art, and the inspiring personality of the convocation speaker, Michael Luckovich, political cartoonist. Much praise to the Atlanta Conference Planning Committee for their stellar performance and to bringing us a little closer to the appeal of the Southeastern U.S. The Assessment Task Force recommendations filtered into all of the business meetings and I'm sure in dinner conversations and other venues. The board liaisons to our committees, chapters, divisions, sections, and round-tables, and various task forces are in the process of summarizing what was shared at the meetings concerning the Assessment Task Force recommendations. The board will be reviewing those reports, the data from the blog, and the ARLIS-L messages. Thank you all for your thoughtful input. Please be assured that our process for determining next steps will take all of your wishes, concerns, wisdom and advice into consideration. We will be balancing the membership feedback with the research and survey conducted by the Assessment Task Force and subsequent recommendations. As I promised at the Membership Meeting, the Executive Board mapped out a time for when we will be ready to outline some decisions concerning the reconfiguration of the ARLIS/NA organizational structure. The board will be reviewing the feedback from now through July, and will report to the membership by mid-July. Between now and then, we will continue to welcome your input. The Executive Board agreed at our post-conference meeting that it would useful for each of the board members to communicate readily through the ARLIS/NA Web site News section. We will send an ARLIS-L message when a piece has been submitted and posted. As president and spokesperson for the board, I will be in touch via our listserv as frequently as necessary and possible. Please welcome the ARLIS/NA Executive Board for 2007-2008: Cate Cooney, Northeastern Regional Representative; Susan Koskinen, West Regional Representative; Marilyn Nasserden, Canadian Regional Representative; Elizabeth Schaub, South Regional Representative; Amy Trendler, Midwest Regional Representative; Rebecca Price, Secretary; Fran Scott, Treasurer; Ken Soehner, Vice-President/President Elect; Ann Whiteside, Past President. As I stated at the Membership Meeting in Atlanta, it is with great honor that I accept the role of ARLIS/NA President and the opportunity to serve the Society to make a meaningful difference for all of us individually and to our profession. Respectfully, Deborah K. Ultan Boudewyns ARLIS/NA President, 2007-2008 Top of Page