In my bid for SLA president-elect, I think its really important to listen to the members and to understand their concerns, issues and perspectives. I’m from the Oregon Chapter, which is relatively small with just over 100 members, most of whom I know well. So in order to listen, I need to go to where the members are, and that means a Road Trip!
Through the month of July I initiated phone calls to east coast chapters to see if I could arrange to talk about the issues. I coordinated with my worthy opponent and we set in motion a schedule to visit some of the bigger chapters: Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, and New York and Minneapolis on the way home. This was shaping up as an epic journey in the vein of the movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, directed by the late John Hughes.
Monday, Washington, DC
For the first stop, about 35 members from the DC chapter met us at the Elephant and Castle restaurant near the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency. It was a great kick-off to the trip, with movers and shakers who asked great questions about the Alignment, our name change, and international developments.
Best story of the trip: In D.C., I met a person from the State Department that was literally dropped by helicopter into Afghanistan to start libraries for the citizens! I’ve been saying all along that this is a noble profession because of how we connect people and information. Boy, is that a great example!
Philly chapter members and the candidates.
Tuesday, Philadelphia
About a dozen Philadelphia members gathered with us at a local watering hole about three blocks from Constitution Hall. A vendor generously picked up the tab for drinks and hors d’oeuvres. We had a few minutes to introduce ourselves, followed by insightful questions about how SLA can get more from their vendor sponsors and what merger and acquisition opportunities might be in store for SLA. I felt very comfortable with this chapter, because they had a great positive energy that emphasized participation and collaboration.
Boston chapter members
Wednesday, Boston
Next up was Boston, where we met at another Elephant and Castle restaurant. About 15 members, including former SLA president Hope Tillman, enjoyed an intimate dinner. I had a bowl of chow-dah, but that was about all the tourism I got in.
Sad story: One member came to the meeting but stayed at the bar. As it turns out she has just been laid off that very day….and she is getting a divorce….and she’d just been to her friend’s funeral. Oy!
The NYC Board and SLA candidates.
Thursday, New York City
This was my second trip to New York as SLA candidate for president-elect, because New York is important. You guys were tough! New York is ground zero for the economic downturn and several members were pressing hard to get SLA to do more for jobs Jobs JOBS!!! I heard you, and I heard it elsewhere, and I get it – jobs are key.
One the flip side, one member who is a publicist by day and library student by night, called her friend at the Wall Street Journal—repeat Wall Street Journal—to see if there might be a possible story out of what is happening to corporate libraries. We’ll see how it plays out, but it’s a great example of how you can pick up the phone and press the levers of power. Only in New York!
Minnesota chapter's "Salon."
The following Tuesday, Minneapolis
Finally, the trip was winding down and I was headed west. Minneapolis was such a contrast from NYC. Where Manhattan was hot and humid, Minneapolis was clear and mild, which is a nice metaphor for the event, too. About 15 people attended the chapter’s “Salon,” where we discussed the book Tribes by Seth Godin. Chapter members want SLA to go further, faster and are willing to take some risks in order to get us moving. The next day a chapter member drove me to Cargill, Inc. to meet their Knowledge Management group, which was followed by a nice lunch with a few board members.
The Questions:
Throughout the trip, which covered about 7,000 miles and five chapters, and that was all at my own expense, members peppered us with whatever was on their mind. Here’s a sample:
“What does the association need to let go of?” My smarty-pants answer is that “I’m a vegetarian, and really don’t want to have the blood of all those sacred cows on my hands!” But seriously, I agree with the premise of the question, that we need to let go of services and programs in order to move forward. We need to be as strategic about sunsetting programs as we are about adding them. In this economy, we need to invest in our growth and in member benefits, and ask: what is the cost of this program or service and how does it help us achieve our goals?
“What should SLA do in terms of positioning ourselves for the future?” SLA has just completed an Alignment Project in order to ascertain how to better position ourselves within the information industry. Currently, the Association is considering a name change. But the name is the tip of the iceberg in our positioning. We need to build communication that addresses 1) ourselves, 2) our potential members, 3) our vendors and partners, as well as 4) our directors. As I stressed in a previous post, we need to create a shared vision of our future; we need to be FUTURE READY. We also need branding that is visually compelling. And finally we need to continue our focus on innovation.
“What are your thoughts on international growth? Global networking is one of SLA’s key differentiators in the information industry. This year SLA’s Business and Finance Division awarded the Tata Group from India its Center of Excellence award. The Board of Directors and its candidates include members from the UK, Canada, and India. We all benefit from a rich pool of networking opportunities. Continued international growth is highly encouraged.
The immediacy of the economic downturn was evident everywhere. In every city, members were a) creating value for their employer in the jobs they have b) cutting back on their budgets or c) re-inventing themselves with Web 2.0 skills and abilities.
When I touched down in Portland at the end of my trip, I wasn’t as tired as I thought I would be. In fact, I was invigorated by knowing that I had put myself out there, that I had done my homework, and that I had met members that gave me insights that I would never have gained otherwise. And…I kept thinking of that librarian, dangling from a helicopter in Afghanistan. With members willing to put themselves out like that, I’m inspired to do my part to keep the Association moving forward. I hope you are, too.
What questions do you have for some one with ambitions to be president-elect of SLA? I’m all ears!
Wow, Cindy! What an exciting trip. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. I wish you the best of luck as a candidate and know you will make a fantastic SLA president.
It was very exciting to meet so many members and to be exposed to their ideas, insights and priorities. And thanks for your vote of confidence!
What I most appreciate about your post (aside from your thoughtful answers to the big questions) is how you paint the picture of each chapter you visited. It helps us remain mindful of our diversity–both “culturally,” if you will, and with our varied jobs–and at the same time reminds us that we are indeed one community.
The chapters really do have different personalities, which has been very fun to learn about.
Hey Cindy – great recap of what sounded like an exciting trip – thanks for sharing. Wishing you the best of luck on the election – I’m pulling for you.
- Arik
Wow, you are really touching folks virtually and in person. The stories that people share are one of the most powerful facets of your blog. I can’t wait to read about your next road trip… Where are the cornbread recipes?
I have a trip to Vancouver, B.C. planned for August 27th. More pics and stories then. To be followed by a corn bread cook-off on the Foodnetwork.
All the best–Cindy
At last, seomone comes up with the \”right\” answer!
Great reading and food for thought. I agree with your view on international growth. Comfort with different cultures and time zones and the skill the the tools to enable cross geographical teamwork (Skype, web-conferences, etc) are business skills of increasing importance. What better way to build those skills than increasing the geographic scope of our membership and activities?
There are many benefits of international growth. Since SLA is the only association in this area it is a real differentiator.