[Sig-l] SIG Reorganization proposal

[Pascal V. Calarco]

Dear ASIST SIG Officers --


We are ready to report back to you, the ASIST membership, about the work the SIG Cabinet Steering Committee has collectively done this past year in hammering out the issues involved in ASIST SIG reorganization and reinvigoration, and ask for your feedback and suggestions.

At the close of last year's SIG Cabinet, you may recall that we formed a smaller group to examine the past and current issues with SIG reorganization, and we had a lively discussion over e-mail February through May this year.  I would like to thank the Task Force members who very willingly shared their ideas, concerns, and feedback to SIG Cabinet Steering Committee.  In addition to the Steering Committee, those serving on the Task Force were:

Toni Carbo
Sandra Erdelez
Gail Hodge
KT Vaughan
Julian Warner

Thank you again for your thoughtful ideas and valuable feedback in this endeavor!

We then presented this proposal to the Board of Directors at the annual retreat in Alexandria, VA in mid-June.  The Board endorsed this work, with a few suggestions.  Specifically, the Board suggested that for the SIG Annual Reports and SIG of the Year Award , more data could be provided directly from ASIST HQ reports, thereby saving the time of SIG Chairs from asking HQ for this data and then including it in their reports.  We went through another few revisions of both the organizational revisions and Annual Report documents, and have come to this revision, attached, which we are sending to you prior to distributing for general further comment and review to SIG-L.

We would now like to get this document out to SIG Cabinet, begin a dialogue, and also hopefully address the questions, clarifications and any objections that we expect to receive from SIG Cabinet prior to our meeting at ASIST Annual this November in Charlotte, NC.  I expect that we'll put these general principles for SIG reorganization to a vote at Annual, and, if ratified, begin the process of revising SIG Bylaws to reflect these changes, which we'll then need to have SIG Cabinet vote on and ratify or turn down.  We will also likely need to consider the entire funding structure for SIGs, as this came up during the discussion, but which hasn't been reflected in this document.  Please think about the good and bad aspects of the way members pay for SIG memberships as you review this proposal, and think of ideas on how we can best meet the needs of the members who pay for belonging to SIGs.

This process of reorganization is a slow and deliberate one, to be sure, but we need to ensure that we allow as much time as needed for discussion, reflection, and revision, so that we can make sure we address all concerns that SIG Cabinet may have.  Please take some time to look at the current revision, and send out any concerns or further comments prior to Monday, October 24, 2005.  On that date we will close revisions to the document, and discuss this further during SIG Cabinet at ASIST Annual, which is scheduled for Sunday, October 30, 9:00-10:30 am.  We look forward to your comments and thoughtful reflection on how to best reinvigorate ASIST SIGs!


    Best regards,

     - pascal

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Pascal V. Calarco, MLIS, AHIP
Head, Library Systems
University Libraries of Notre Dame/
Michiana Academic Library Consortium
Notre Dame, IN USA 46556-5629
e-mail: pcalarco at nd.edu tel.: 574-631-3409
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ASIST SIG Cabinet Steering Committee Deputy Director, 2003-2005
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