SLA Task Force on Membership

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Conference Call Meeting
January 11, 2001; 9:00 a.m. PST - Part I

Participants:

Chair: Tom Rink Terri Brooks; Theresa Connaughton; Bill Fisher; Carol Williams Doug Newcomb; Lynn Berard; Stephen Abram

· Stephen: The Board is not looking for a single solution, but rather reasonable options or scenarios that they can consider. (See "Common Tripping Points of Task Forces" below.)

· There may be wording required to satisfy the By-laws (e.g. for incorporating as a non-profit organization in NY): to be reviewed by attorney.

· Current Task Force Action

· There are three options for membership definition; draft definition, Terri's, Teresa's.

· The draft definition needs to be amended to remove the word "adult".

· We will submit the three options for consideration.

· Action: Tom will draft and send the email to the Board

· Conclusion: For practical purposes, this first charge is completed.

These charges tend to overlap, so the meeting will consider them together.

· Stephen: The Task Force should be creative and not become hung up on bylaws and financial implications. Leave this to the Board. (See "Common Tripping Points of Task Forces" below.)

· Task Force Member Benefits Table:

· Table uses existing benefits. We should be thinking beyond this to what other kind of benefits we could offer.

· More detail than the Board really needs; too complicated; should not concern ourselves with the detailed costs.

· General comments

· Developing countries need a reduced rate

· Virtual category was originally thought of as not a cost saving: but as bringing global members on board. Librarians in developing countries may have less money, but probably have access to technology which the general population does not. (This idea supported by African example.)

· Board may worry that too many members may choose virtual (when we really intend it for the global members); Full virtual membership only outside North America

· Stephen suggests a 4 box matrix for categories: 2 types of member (full or associate) and 2 types of delivery (virtual or full) [Recording secretary's note: The following notes get rather confusing. Please feel free to suggest corrections or additions!]

· North American advantage is having access to Chapter activities (geographic focus to the membership); in lesser developed countries, a chapter covers huge geographical areas and the local activities are less likely as a benefit. (However, only $9.00 of membership fee is directed to Chapter affiliation.)

· Cost is still a factor for North American members (current and potential). A sliding fee scale based upon salary is too difficult to administer. Perhaps SLA should be giving consideration to encouraging more member benefits (e.g. differential rates at programs) or imposing more restrictions (e.g. at website) to non-members.

· Student Category: (all agree, there should be some charge, even for virtual)

· Huge market; approx. 12,000 students, yet only about 2,000 are SLA members.

· Student membership currently only for 2 years (whereas many students are part-time and take longer than 2 years to complete their program).

· Change this category to new members (reduced rate 2 or 4 years) - recommend as a trial period -- choose virtual or full; can be global -- commit to four years in advance (on credit card) -- have to actively stop (this addresses the problem of sustaining members)

· Perhaps, first year free for virtual, but commit to 3 more years after that (total 4)

· Or; have New librarians category (could cover students and first two years in the profession.

· Student Chapters are not part of the mandate for this Task Forces

· Students would be full members

· Student virtual member - 1 year, free -- but have to sign up; if they have been in that category, can join new members for 3 years at the reduced rate. (1 year free and 3 years for $40.00); build the student category to be more inclusive (partner with other organizations -- see membership definition and branding); (Deans of the library programs will know which programs relate and in many cases, there are already several streams to the library science programs, and renaming of the degrees.)

PART 2

· Delivery:

· Choose virtual or full

· If there is concern that many would choose less expensive virtual option and still receive all other benefits, for a trial 2 years, offer full virtual membership only available to non North-American (global)

· Remember the Goals of the Task Force: Retention of current members and recruitment of new.

· Membership -- who do we want; what do they want; how do we provide it

· What groups have we not considered:

· Vendors? (Most are full members but are not required to be a librarian -- support the goals of the association) - to be in the exhibit hall, must be a full member; sustaining membership (for organizations; name an individual; membership stays with the org. when the individual leaves); are most of the big vendors sustaining members (not sure); not sure that it is a requirement to have a member be an exhibitor.

 

Savannah: Tom, Terri, Bill, Stephen, Lynne, Doug, (Saturday afternoon, all Task Forces): Membership Task Force: 3:45 Friday -- Doug will find a room.

Question for the town meeting: 1:30 - 3:00 Thurday; "Students - What is there role; do they have a role; should they a role in SLA." Doug will forward the question to Linda Broussard.

Stephen: Common tripping points for Task Forces

1. Not enough data collection before offering solutions (but does not apply to Membership TF);

2. Analysis/paralysis over finance and bylaws (leave this to the Board);

3. Unclear on mandate and keep going back to Board for direction (Some Task Forces are redefining and rephrasing, which is O.K. This was done to some extent in current Membership TF conference call.);

4. The Board (at Brighton) clarified that they are not necessarily looking for the right answer, but rather scenarios

5. Trouble defining the target audience they are serving (focusing too much on what we are than on what we want to be; need to have more vision and get to the future -- new markets and new members).

Call ended: 10:10 a.m.

Minutes Prepared by Carol Williams