[Chapters-l] What does it mean to be an ASIS&T chapterinaelectronicage?

Fri Jun 2 21:07:47 EDT 2006

It was me that made the point about the time-crunch.  And I only brought
it up because my experience and observation is technology will not solve
that particular problem.  Indeed, in some cases it contributes to it.
What can contribute is very solid understanding and direction-setting
based on why we have chapters in the first place and what they are
intended and capable of accomplishing.  I couldn't agree more about the
value of in-person meetings.  If agreement on that comes from the
upcoming meetings, we can then examine which technologies support them
and which are most suitable for mitigating the difficulties of getting
together as frequently as we'd like.

I seriously doubt anyone on this conversation would advocate
one-size-fits-all.  Certainly not where technology is the part of the
wardrobe.

Andrew Grove

-----Original Message-----
From: chapters-l-bounces at asis.org [mailto:chapters-l-bounces at asis.org]
On Behalf Of Penny O'Connor
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 5:52 PM
To: 'Wallace, Amy'; chapters-l at asis.org
Subject: RE: [Chapters-l] What does it mean to be an ASIS&T
chapterinaelectronicage?

Hi Everyone,

Amy's point about people being so pressed is a good one. However, there
is no substitute for getting together face to face to share ideas at
least once in awhile. Chapter meetings are chance to get to know your
peers better than by e-mail. Plus, it can be very enriching just to be
able to have an event where one of the members works. People are more
inclined to block out the time, I think, for an in-person event. Plus,
chapters are a way for people to get to know ASIST, and to be involved
on a local level. Not everyone can attend an annual meeting every year.

We all struggle to find leaders and to involve a variety of people in
the business of the chapter. That is an important issue whether the
chapter is virtual or not.

For each chapter there is probably an ideal mix of in-person and virtual
chapter activity. The main electronic meeting-places for my chapter are
the chapter website and impromptu e-mail rings that spring up when we
are planning an activity. One size doesn't fit all. It is best to take a
flexible approach to what the chapters should do. Even having just one
or two get-togethers a year can be a great benefit to members.

Just my two cents.

Penny O'Connor

-----Original Message-----
From: chapters-l-bounces at asis.org [mailto:chapters-l-bounces at asis.org]
On Behalf Of Wallace, Amy
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 7:25 PM
To: chapters-l at asis.org
Subject: [Chapters-l] What does it mean to be an ASIS&T chapterina
electronicage?

From: chapters-l-bounces at asis.org on behalf of Andrew Grove
Sent: Fri 6/2/2006 11:10 AM
To: beata_panagopoulos at harvard.edu; chapters-l at asis.org
Subject: RE: [Chapters-l] What does it mean to be an ASIS&T chapterinan
electronic age?

I think the question might be usefully expanded to, "What does it mean
to be an ASIS&T Chapter in the 21st Century?"

It's not only technology that has changed so drastically in recent
years.
That's only the tip of the iceberg.  A much bigger change has been the
pace of life and "workload" (for lack of a better term).  People are
having to make hard choices and set priorities.  Perhaps it's time to
ask fundamental questions, such as:
1.  What mission(s) do chapters exist to serve? e.g.: networking,
current awareness of developments in Information Science and practice,
meet ASIS&T and industry leaders, professional organization involvement
at local levels.
2.  What goals and objectives can a local chapter realistically set
itself or adopt that promote serving the mission?
3.  Who are the people and organizations within scope of a local
chapter?
4.  What are the real values of having a "real", not "virtual" chapter?
I can think of several and not all of them can be accomplished with the
latest and greatest technology, sometimes the telephone or a walk down
the hallway is most suitable.
5.  What are real barriers to accomplishing the mission?

PNW is very dispersed, not only geographically but also technologically.
I doubt that a significant majority, if that, of members could
participate in a virtual meeting.  Online doesn't suit all people: it's
text-based, not everyone writes or reads quickly or well; writing and
reading take more time than speaking person-to-person (how many of us
type 135 wpm? more like 40); if 70-80% of communication is "non-verbal",
online immediately slashes it by that much.

"What would be missed?" is a good question.  On the flip side, what
valuable things are available in a "real" chapter that cannot be
obtained any other way?

Regards to all,
Andrew Grove

-----Original Message-----
From: chapters-l-bounces at asis.org [mailto:chapters-l-bounces at asis.org]
On Behalf Of beata_panagopoulos at harvard.edu
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 10:26 AM
To: chapters-l at asis.org
Subject: Re: [Chapters-l] What does it mean to be an ASIS&T chapter inan
electronic age?

Posted to list for Kate McCain by bp
*****************************************

This is a particularly timely topic, since Gene Garfield and Dick Hill
have been having discussions about converting the Delaware Valley
Chapter into a virtual chapter represented by subscriptions to a
listserv. It's hard to know what our members would "miss" since the
chapter hasn't been active for more years than I like to think. When the
chapter was active, they worked with the student chapter here at Drexel
(which has its own ups and downs in terms of active interest) -- and one
question I might put is how are the networking opportunities for new
people to get involved in the field maintained in a truly virtual
setting.

I can't participate in the teleconference because I'll be out of town.
BTW
-- I've never been a chapter leader of the DVC but I am the permanent
floating advisor to the student chapter and I sign the "permission
slips"
for them to join ASIST.

Kate McCain

    beata_panagopoulos at harvard

    .edu

    Sent by:
To
    chapters-l-bounces at asis.or                  chapters-l at asis.org

    g
cc

    06/02/2006 12:29 PM
Subject
                                                [Chapters-l] What does
it 
                                                mean to be an ASIS&T

                                                chapter in

                                                an        electronic
age? 

Dear past and present chapter leaders,

In two weeks. the ASIS&T Executive Board will be having a retreat.  One
of the possible topics for consideration is "What does it mean to be a
chapter
in an electronic age?"   Naturally, this will not be a very informed
discussion if we don't first have YOUR ideas and feedback.

Amy Wallace has come up with a few more specific questions to get the
ball rolling.  Please answer to the list, so we can get a discussion
going.  If you have your own questions to add to the mix, that would be
great.

We're going to follow up this discussion with a conference call.  The
conference call will be limited to 6-8 Chapter Leaders and we still have
room for 3 more people.  So, if you're interested in participating in
the conference call Tuesday, June 13, 2:30-3:30 p.m. EST.

Here are some questions to consider-

1. What are some successful strategies, technology etc. that are helping
bring together people from large geographic areas?

2. How has technology helped your chapter does business more effectively
or effieciently?

3. What is the value of the chapter when someone can do online
workshops, programs?

4. What is the added value of a chapter when we have online newsletters
and publications?

5. What if all the chapters were dismantled?  What would your members
miss?

Thanks very much for your valuable participation!

Beata

Beata Panagopoulos
ASIS&T Chapter Assembly Director

Head of Technical Services
Kennedy School of Government Library
Harvard University
79 JFK Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
tel. 617-496-1775
fax 617-495-1972
email: beata_panagopoulos at harvard.edu

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