SLA FELLOWS THREAD
on
Ideas for First Timers' Reception in 2006
 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 14, 2005 @ 13:38:04
Author lynn berard <lberard atandrew.cmu.edu>
Subject Thank you all!
Body
Dear Fellow Fellows,
   It's fun throwing a party with all of you!  First Timers was a great 
success and it was so because of your generous support and tireless effort 
toward welcoming our new attendees. It is an event that cannot happen 
without team work and I feel privileged to have worked with such a great 
team.  A special thank you to my gracious volunteers, speakers and game guy 
:-}...
    Hope you all had as much fun in Toronto as I did and that you all had 
safe travels home.  Have a super summer.

Thanks again,
Lynn

 G. Lynn Berard
 Head, Science Libraries
 Carnegie Mellon University

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 14, 2005 @ 12:45:07
Author fisher at sjsu.edu
Subject Re: Thank you all!
Body


Just to echo what Lynn said in her message; I had a former student who was a first-timer in Toronto and she sent me a nice message of thanks to pass along to the Fellows for the First-Timers event.  She greatly appreciated the time and effort that went into the event and the opportunity to meet people, especially other first-timers.  It must have worked because the only time I saw her was that Sunday.

Cheers; have a good summer everyone,

Bill

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 00:31:04
Author Rphulser at aol.com
Subject Re: Thank you all!
Body
Lynn and all,

It was a privilege to participate in the events with my fellow Fellows, ably led by Lynn!!   
As always, there were a number of times throughout the conference when our first-timers 
stopped me to say 'hey, you were that guy from the Sunday thing... it was great' and then 
ask a question or direction or whatever. So, it works and works again! 

By the way, an excellent suggestion came up during a dinner with the Factiva folks from 
one of their other customers who was a first timer --- How about having a second event 
early during the conference or have it later? There were a few people in classes that missed it 
(including my staff person and one of my interns too!). Since the conference starts on 
Sunday night next year, what about a smaller additional reception at one of the suites or 
as a co-sponsor with one of the divisions who do a big reception event anyway? it could work?!


Game guy (aka Richard)

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 04:31:02
Author "barb spiegelman" <barb.spiegelman at verizon.net>
Subject RE: Thank you all!
Body

Sounds like a great idea, Richard. It would give us a venue to get some immediate feedback (as opposed to the surveys we send out after Conference) on what worked, what would could be improved, and one last time to pitch Association membership. Perhaps a prize drawing for people who attend both events? A % reduction on one year membership? Just noodling it around.

Barb

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 08:30:08
Author Clgmls at aol.com
Subject Re: Thank you all!
Body
The immediate Past Chair of B&F Division is a Fellow (Sylvia James). Maybe they could have their last night Open House also include all First Timers. It is really unstructured but a fine social event. B&F generally have their Open House in a large room rather than a suite due to the size of the Division.
Regards,
Carol
 
Carol L Ginsburg
 

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 08:44:46
Author Susan DiMattia <sdimattia at optonline.net>
Subject RE: Thank you all!
Body
I haven't talked to Lyle yet about this stream of ideas, but as next year's facilitators, we certainly will take all of this into account. It makes sense, if it can be worked out logistically. However, I'm a bit uncomfortable with the  suggestion that we ask B&F to include conference-wide first timers in their final open house. Those events are costly and to potentially add a couple of hundred extra people could be a problem to them and/or their sponsors. But, again, it's worth considering and exploring. Toby Pearlstein is the new chair of B&F, so she will be easy to work with, if we decide to try that route.
 
I know that, when I chaired B&F, never mind how many years ago, I simply presented the bill for the evening to the sponsor of that evening and they paid it. I suspect that in these more stringent times, the sponsor gives an agreed-upon amount up front, whether that covers the actual costs or not. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
I wonder how many of this year's first timers, for example, are actually SLA members or will convert to membership because of the conference. I'll check with headquarters and see whether they can provide those numbers.
 
Anyway, Lyle and I will be putting our heads together in the next few weeks and we will kick around a few possibilities and get back to you. So keep those ideas coming. OK?
 
Susan

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 08:04:44
Author "Marydee Ojala" <marydee at xmission.com>
Subject Re: Thank you all!
Body
I sympathize with those first timers who are otherwise engaged on Sunday
afternoon. I usually am--this year it was a committee meeting and a business
meeting. But I don't think having a function for first timers towards the
end of the conference is very helpful. It really needs to be at the
beginning so they can use their time during the conference wisely.

With the conference starting Sunday evening, what about a breakfast on
Monday as well as a Sunday afternoon meeting?


Marydee Ojala, Editor
ONLINE: The Leading Magazine for Information Professionals

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 09:13:31
Author jean.scanlan at us.pwc.com
Subject RE: Thank you all!
Body


What if we asked the First Timers to sit with the Fellows in a designated section at the annual business meeting?  It might encourage some to attend the meeting and give us a chance to see how they have fared during the conference.  I agree with Susan that asking one Division to sponsor a potentially large group is not a good idea.  And how I love to remember the days when B&F simply turned over the bill to the vendors.   Jean Scanlan

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 09:30:12
Author Peter_Moon at HSB.com
Subject RE: Thank you all!
Body
To follow up Susan's comments, having
just left the chair position of the Insurance & Employee Benefits Division
with Toronto, it depends on the vendor as to the arrangements for payment
on a specific event.  Yes, some would agree to a set amount paid up
front regardless of the final amount requiring payment; others would work
with the host facility and negotiate directly to manage the amount to be
expensed - a pass-through as far as the division is concerned.


I would be more concerned with what I learned from the new chair of IEBD, each division will be limited ... to lead no more than 10 events ... for Baltimore.  For a small division like IEBD that's not much of an issue - with B&F or LMD that will be a big problem... such that suggestions to B&F for one of their receptions to double for first-timers will be a real headache for the division planners.  --  Peter


Peter S. Moon, Manager                       Virtual Information Center Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co.

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 15:53:12
Author "Sylvia James" <da_james at 11daymer.freeserve.co.uk>
Subject Re: Thank you all!
Body
Unfortunately the days of just passing the bill on to sponsors is long gone. We are now given a set amount by any sponsor and it is vital to keep in budget as the costs can go wildly astray if you don't. The B&F Board has had to work long and hard to keep our social and networking events in budget at Conference for the last few years. It is very painstaking work and I now know more than I really need to about how many hors d'oeuvres any one person eats at varying times of the day at the different types of receptions!!
I think it would be very onerous for one Division to take this on and there has to be a better alternative for a follow up for the first timers later in the Conference.
 
Sylvia (James)

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 12:15:11
Author Elizabeth Bibby <ebibby at hbs.edu>
Subject RE: Invitation to the SLA First timers event (fwd)
Body
Lots of great ideas... I honestly think moving this event from Sunday 
afternoon seems like a "no brainer."  If first timers are already there on 
Sunday, it is likely to be because they're taking a course.  I have been 
surprised at how many people actually showed up most years!  Even if it 
could start immediately after the classes adjourn, it would give people a 
better chance to attend.  I think at one time it was squeezed in right 
before the Awards Gala?

Another option would be to host a Sunday breakfast -  replace a meal for 
those newbies on a budget and also get the tips to them early, without 
competing with other events.

Liz

At 10:45 AM 6/15/2005, lynn berard wrote:
>As we've been tossing ideas around this morning for future First Timer 
>event planning I received this email from an attendee who could not make 
>it the event..... I received many responses of this type from the 600+ 
>emails I sent out with the invitation.....illustrating that we are on the 
>right track in considering a time change for the event.
>Cheers,
>Lynn
>
>------------ Forwarded Message ------------
>Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 4:05 PM -0400
>From: "McCall, Patti" <Patti.McCall at albmolecular.com>
>To: lynn berard <lberard at andrew.cmu.edu>
>Subject: RE: Invitation to the SLA First timers event
>
>I would have loved to have attended this but I was in a CE program from
>1:00 to 5:00.  I hope that in the future SLA can schedule this at a no
>conflict time so that first timers like me won't have to muddle through!
>Thanks :-)

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 15, 2005 @ 10:53:24
Author "Jane I. Dysart" <jane at dysartjones.com>
Subject Timing of SLA First timers event (fwd)
Body
May not be an issue next year as there is a different time setting for Sun.
No afternoon workshops.
Exhibit hall opens at noon with reception at 5pm there.
First keynote is early evening following the reception, then followed by 
awards event.

jane

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 16, 2005 @ 01:38:14
Author Rphulser at aol.com
Subject Re: First Timers event ideas
Body
My suggestion about perhaps joining with a division reception was in no way meant to be 
without finding additional or adequate funding. I look at this and all the other ideas as ways 
to get more first timers to the event rather than get bogged down in the financial and logistical 
details at such an early stage. The points are well taken, to be sure. This was meant more as 
brainstorming than scheduling. It is great that Barbara has jumped forward to archive the ideas 
as the co-conveners of our group can use them as a baseline, and I am sure this incredibly 
connected group can assist them (including me, of course!!) in figuring out a way to make it 
happen, whatever is decided!!   Personally, I would like to see a later evening event as that is more 
a social time and conducive to the networking we want to engender with the first timers, though 
know many people are 'morning' types and the breakfast idea is a good one.

I am so happy this has sparked some discussion and wonderful diverse ideas!! I know our first 
timers next year and all of us will benefit!

Richard

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 19, 2005 @ 16:08:40
Author "wilda newman" <wildanewman at yahoo.com>
Subject RE: First Timers event ideas
Body
The Sci-Tech Division has sponsored a First Timers event every year for the past several years. This year it was a breakfast, no cost. It is open to Sci-Tech members as well. I usually attend these and did so this year. There were several first timers there but others could have attended. They enjoyed the group and especially the prizes that were given away by drawing ticket numbers that were dispensed to everyone as they came in the door. There use to be other divisions that sponsored events. Maybe it could be approached by getting the divisions that already do these events to come together for a larger special event for first timers. Just a thought, although I also know that Sci-Tech is especially interested in recruiting new members for SLA and specifically for the Sci-Tech Division through this event.
Ciao,
Wilda

Wilda B. Newman
Knowledge Resources Associates, LLC
 

 

List sla-fellows
Date Jun 20, 2005 @ 06:49:16
Author Susan DiMattia <sdimattia at optonline.net>
Subject RE: First Timers event ideas
Body
Your message has jogged my memory Wilda. I seem to remember that B&F used to give free tickets to its annual lunch to a specified number of first timers. The project was coordinated by one of the LIS faculty members, I think, from Palmer School (I can picture him but can't remember his name--he is no longer with us, unfortunately). Maybe, if each division were encouraged to include a few first timers in each of their social events, we could have the one huge group at some point early in the conference and then merge smaller groups of first timers into events throughout the conference. That would give them one opportunity to mingle with each other and with Fellows and than another to get to know established members who are not Fellows.
 
So many good ideas--
 
Susan