Organizational Effectiveness (SCOE) Project: Discussion Forum

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This space is for all those interested in updates and discussion regarding Transforming ALA Governance. This space was originally created to share the work of the Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness (SCOE) who was charged in June 2018 to carry out a comprehensive review and study of ALA’s governance, member participation and legal structures and systems, with the goal of proposing changes that will vitalize its success, strength and agility as a 21st century association. The results of this committee are the Forward Together recommendations.

Forward Together Post-Midwinter Update

  • 1.  Forward Together Post-Midwinter Update

    Posted Feb 20, 2020 04:17 PM

    Dear Members,

    As always, thank you so much to those folks who participated in our two online webinars taking a deeper dive into Forward Together and those who participated in our sessions in Philadelphia focusing on greater change within ALA. We spoke to hundreds of members in Philadelphia, and another hundred have attended our webinars. Members in both venues echoed similar themes:

    • Many members are looking for the year round engagement and not just twice a year at conferences
    • The financial information about ALA as a whole shared in Philadelphia had a major impact at this Midwinter. Members in our sessions recognized an urgency for change as well as increased transparency in all aspects of our association, including the financial implications of the Forward Together recommendations
    • Members are excited about the opportunities around Leadership Assemblies and in testing how the flow of communication and implementation of work will occur in the Forward Together model
    • Members expressed concern over the Forward Together recommendation that membership in Round Tables be at least 1 percent of total ALA membership . Members are interested in potential areas of growth for Round Tables 
    • members discussed what representation without Council looks like in practice and where accountability should/would reside based on the current Forward Together recommendations
    • Members are interested in seeing visuals to help explain the details and nuances of Forward Together 
    • Members are excited to be a part of phase two of Forward Together.

    The information we're gathering now will inform the group charged to work on phase two of  Forward Together. To test one of the recommendations put forth in Forward Together, ALA, through SCOE, will put out an open call for volunteers to inform ALA President Wanda K. Brown's appointment process. The call for volunteers will be open April 13-26 and appointments will be made in May. For phase two of Forward Together, we will be looking for specific skills, perspectives, and diversity for the team, all to be outlined and identified in the call for volunteers.

    We're also working on the best mechanism to share our notes and feedback from members  so that members can identify how input helped inform the Forward Together recommendations. As always, there is more to come. We look forward to your continued feedback, and we're excited to see what happens next in the association. Stay up to date with the latest on Forward Together on our website, forwardtogether.ala.org or in our Connect Group, "Organizational Effectiveness (SCOE) Project: Discussion Forum"

    Sincerely,
    The Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness



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    Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada
    ALA Executive Board Member
    Chair, ALA Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness
    Adult Services Assistant Manager, Palos Verdes Library District
    she/her/hers
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