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[alacoun] IMPORTANT COUNCIL MESSAGE FOR SHARING MEETING INFORMATION

  • 1.  [alacoun] IMPORTANT COUNCIL MESSAGE FOR SHARING MEETING INFORMATION

    Posted Jan 25, 2021 07:47 AM

    I second Eileen to thank Susan Jennings and Aaron Dobbs for their swift actions to take care of the zoom's interruption during Council Forum II yesterday.

    Much appreciated,

    Joy~

     

    Anchalee (Joy) Panigabutra-Roberts

    Councilor At-Large

     



  • 2.  RE: [alacoun] IMPORTANT COUNCIL MESSAGE FOR SHARING MEETING INFORMATION

    Posted Jan 25, 2021 12:46 PM

    Thank you, Marsha!

     

    I was heartbroken that our Council Forum was invaded by a hateful, vile miscreant last night.   We are taking steps to assure that we will not be subject to this again.  I apologize to all that were exposed to this vile person.  Thank you so much for Aaron Dobb’s help in maintaining order of the rest of our meeting.  Thank you also for the professionalism and dedication of our councilors to carry on.

     

    For tonight’s Council Forum 3, we will be instituting a waiting room.  Our “bouncers” (Aaron Dobbs and Emily Clasper) will only allow folks in that provide their full name and affiliation to ALA.  i.e. Susan Jennings, TNLA Councilor.  Please do not share our link on social media as this makes us a target.

     

    We will be meeting again tonight from 6 pm – 7:30 EST https://ala-events.zoom.us/j/91937060219?pwd=cXhleGFRbEdmRDdHUElnaTEyM2JiUT09

     

    As always, if you have any agenda items, please add directly here  Council Forum III Draft Agenda.docx

     

    Please feel to reach out to me or Dora if you have any questions or concerns.

     

    Susan Jennings, Dean of Library Services (Pronouns: She, Her, Hers)
    Kolwyck Library & Information Commons
    Chattanooga State Community College
    4501 Amnicola Hwy
    Chattanooga, TN   37406

    P: 423-744-4129

    Webex Room: https://chattstate.webex.com/meet/susan.jennings

     




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: [alacoun] IMPORTANT COUNCIL MESSAGE FOR SHARING MEETING INFORMATION

    Posted Jan 25, 2021 01:26 PM

    M N <minazarova@gmail.com>

    2:21 PM (1 minute ago)
    Greetings, Fellow Councilors,

    Since Forums are  more or less close discussion among us, the Councilors to work and talk  through the issues that would be brought on the Council floor, I think it would be more or less appropriate to keep the Forums private and limited to Council members. Even though the feedback from non-Councilors might be in some instances helpful, they still can attend the Council meetings and express their opinions in a more appropriate and civil way. This is just a suggestion ... I personally feel myself much more comfortable at Forum meetings, it feels like a very cozy and homie environment, and helps to connect with my fellow councilors.  I did not like to see outsiders at some of our forums in the past .... My apologies I missed the first two forums at this conference but I will attend tonight.

    Sincerely,

    Muzhgan Nazarova
    Councilor-at-Large



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: [alacoun] IMPORTANT COUNCIL MESSAGE FOR SHARING MEETING INFORMATION

    Posted Jan 25, 2021 01:42 PM
    Edited by Megan Hodge Jan 25, 2021 01:42 PM
    Hi, Muzghan,

    The ALA Policy Manual (http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section1/7conferences#A.7.4.4) states that all meetings of the association must be open to members unless "the privacy of individuals or institutions" will be discussed. Even without this policy, I'd argue that the more transparent we can make the governance process to our members, the better. ALA--and, by extension, Council as ALA's governing body--are already suffering from a lack of trust among our members (not to mention library workers who decline to join/renew ALA membership), and we are directly elected by our members, whether at the chapter, division, round table, or at-large level, to faithfully represent and advance their interests.

    Having Council and Forum meetings be open to members is the minimum step we can take to be transparent and encourage engagement in ALA governance, I think.  I urge us to also consider making clear at the beginning of Forum that non-Councilors are welcome and making explicit what their participation during Forum might look like. This would also be helpful to new councilors (of which we get a not-insignificant number each year)-even 5 years in, I still remember how intimidating my first Forum was!

    Megan Hodge, Co