[Chapters-l] [EXT] Successful ASIS&T Regional Conference in Central Ohio

[Alemneh, Daniel]

Thank you Timothy for summarizing and sharing the story of another successful  ASIS&ST Regional Meeting in Colombus, Ohio<https://www.asist.org/events/asist-regional-meeting/asist-midwest-regional-conference/>. I think such a regional meeting is not only a great way to recruit new members, but also a wonderful opportunity for ASIS&T current members to get together without traveling far and to encourage everyone to expand local professional networks. We started our first such Regional Chapters meeting last year at Rutgers University<https://www.asist.org/events/asist-regional-meeting-2016-rutgers-university/>, and since then, we had many successful regional meetings in various parts of the world: Europe (Berlin<https://www.asist.org/events/asist-regional-meeting/berlin-regional-meeting/>), Asia (Taiwan<https://www.asist.org/publications/bulletin/februarymarch-2017/asist-taipei-chapter-reception/>), and in the US (including another one in Dublin Ohio<https://www.asist.org/events/asist-regional-meeting-oclc/>). See some of the past Regional meetings here: https://www.asist.org/?s=Regional+Meeting .

These meetings feature excellent technical programs on a variety of topics and are interesting, informative, convenient, and fun. Besides, considering the global rotations of the future ASIS&T conferences, such Regional Meetings allow for a greater opportunity for interactions between attendees, whether they can attend the Annual Meeting in that particular year or not.   Please note that all ASIS&T members are encouraged to participate in their local Chapters. All ASIS&T members whose mailing addresses are within a Chapter’s geographic boundaries are automatically members of that Chapter. Although not all ASIS&T Chapters are active, there are 21 regional chapters (including the new Brazil Regional Chapter, our first from Latin America).

ASIS&T is committed to providing assistance to help local Chapters to organize activities or special projects that revitalize and engage local members. Among other available resources and services, Chapters can apply for one of the Chapter Development Funds: https://www.asist.org/files/chapters/regional/ChapterDevelopmentFundsAppl.pdf.

Hope to see most of you at the Annual Meeting next month.

Daniel

From: Chapters-l [mailto:chapters-l-bounces at asist.org] On Behalf Of TIMOTHY DICKEY
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 6:01 AM
To: chapters-l at asis.org; students-l at asis.org
Subject: [EXT] [Chapters-l] Successful ASIS&T Regional Conference in Central Ohio

Good morning, chapter leaders!

Daniel suggested I write and pass along the most recent event for success in chapter-based regional conferences!

On Friday, Sept.8, three ASIS&T chapters (Central Ohio, Northern Ohio, and Indiana) hosted the 2017 Midwest Regional Conference in Columbus, OH.

More than 60 people from 4 states joined us at the newly-renovated Main Branch of Columbus Metropolitan Library for the event, themed "Innovations in 21st-Century Information Services." The two featured speakers were Patrick Losinski (CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Libraries) and Lynn Silipigni Connaway (ASIS&T President and Senior Research Scientist, OCLC). In addition, each of the three sponsoring chapters offered a strong panel of speakers: "The right to be forgotten and digital collections," "Evolving landscapes in public and academic libraries," and "Big data management." (The full program is here<https://www.asist.org/events/asist-regional-meeting/asist-midwest-regional-conference/>.)

As is typical for events in the Central Ohio chapter, we attracted attendees from the ASIS&T membership and non-members in roughly equal numbers, as well as serving a large number of practitioners. Generous sponsorships from IUPUI and Kent State University, and venue and parking support from CML helped keep the registration fees low.

We are in the process of collecting more formal feedback from participants, but heard comments (one even from the podium) praising the quality of the program and the experience, and several participants asked if the Midwest ASIST chapters could make this kind of event a more regular occurrence.
Anyone interested in hearing more about our experience, or thinking about planning a regional meeting with their chapter and others, feel free to write to me, or catch me at annual next month!
All best,
timothy



Timothy J. Dickey, Ph.D., MLIS.

tdickey1 at kent.edu<mailto:tdickey1 at kent.edu>
(614) 785-1632
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