Suffolk County Library Association

Minutes of the Executive Board Meeting

September 13, 2002

Location:  SCLS Blue Room

Present::  E. Hayes, S. Holden, F. Byrne, S. Ingram, L. Tesoriero, S. Ketcham, M. Fusco, R. McEneaney, A. Richards, V. Antonucci, B. Hoffman, S. Johnson, D. Bucher, A. Lehner, Elvis, J. Corso, S. Atlas, P. Bornstein, K. Minschke, G. Pepa, C. Farrugia, F. Altemose, J. Carhart, J. Clemens J. Loughren, J. Olney, R. Dressler.

J. Clemens called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m.  After a review of the August 23^rd  minutes, L. Tesoriero moved to accept them and F. Altemose seconded the motion.  None were opposed.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  J. Loughren reported that income for August was $1,479.90, and expenses were $1,134.69.  There was a current fund balance of $15,707.03, plus $3,239.50 in the Scholarship Fund and $342.50 in the Intellectual Freedom fund, for a total balance for all funds of $19,289.03.  J. Carhart moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  D. Bucher seconded.  None were opposed.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:  R. Dressler asked about T-shirt sales.  F. Altemose said that over 20 had been sold so far.  D. Bucher reported on the White Elephant Sale.  She thanked James Olney and Rona Dressler for their help mailing out the flyers.  Della passed around a sign-up sheet for volunteers to work during the sale on October 26^th (rain date Oct. 27^th).  R. Dressler read a note from the president of NYLA , thanking SCLA for its contribution to the capital campaign to build headquarters.  Rona asked division heads to send calendar information to Danielle Zubiller, so she can put it on the SCLA web page. 

DIVISION REPORTS: 

DASL:  S. Ketcham said there would be a DASL meeting on Sept. 20^th.

RASD:  J. Carhart reported that their executive board had met on Sept. 10^th.  Ballots had gone out for elections with the following candidates on them:  Vice President/President Elect-Sue Gottesman, Secretary-Ryan Athanas, Peggy McCarthy, Treasurer-Kitty Grinnell, Bruce Silverstein.  The CARE committee has meetings planned for September 19^th and November 21^st (also for January 23^rd, 2003, March 20^th, and April 30^th).  Electronic Resources meetings included one on Community Information held Sept. 4^th at Huntington, and one to be held November 6^th at Smithtown, on locally created databases.  Health Concerns would hold its annual meeting, on the subject of Autism, on Oct. 30^th at SCLS.  Long Island History had planned a meeting on Sept. 18^th featuring author Natalie Naylor.  The Media Committee was meeting Sept. 13^th.  Reader’s Advisory would meet September 26^th to discuss Coming of Age novels.  The division plans to put their newsletter, “Ramblings,” on the web page.  They hoped to announce the book for the 2003 Long Island Reads campaign by the end of September.  Suffolk is represented by Grace O’Connor, Diane Eidelman, and Jo-Ann Carhart.

CATS:  No report.

SSSD:  F. Byrne reported that the division would hold their Annual General meeting on Sept. 18^th.  They hoped to address two constitutional issues (terms of office and the Division’s name).  Fran handed out a flyer for  a program on Oct. 1^st, “Searching the Internet More Effectively.”  Edana Cichanowicz would be the presenter.  20 people had registered so far. 

YASD:  No report.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ARCHIVES:  No report.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS:  M. Firestone e-mailed a report saying the proposed changes to the Bylaws and membership dues structure would go out with ballots for SCLA officers.  Ballots are due back by Nov. 1^st.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:  No report.

ELSA:  G. Pepa reported that the committee had had a very good meeting, and chosen this year’s ELSA winner.  The winner will be announced after they have been notified.  There were 10 nominees in all.  Seven patrons contributed to the nominations.

FALL DINNER:  No report.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM:  No report.

LDA AWARD:  No report.

LEGISLATIVE:  L. Tesoriero reported that the Legislative Breakfast would be fairly low-key.  The committee has prepared informative handouts.

LISTSERV:  R. Dressler said she was pleased with the amount of activity on the listserv.

L.I. LIBRARY CONFERENCE:  R. Dressler read a letter from Regina Mascia, Chair of the 2003 Conference. The letter accompanied a check to SCLA for $3,500  -- proceeds from the 2002 conference.  The amount was higher than the committee had predicted.  Rona said the conference committee would meet on Sept. 18^th, and that the 2003 conference would be held on May 7^th.

LONG-RANGE PLANNING:  S. Holden reported that the committee’s visits to  Library School orientations had been very successful.  Sue, James Olney and Stephen Ingram spoke at Queens College on August 29^th in front of 80-100 M.L.S. students.  The committee gave a set of handouts to all the attendees.  On September 6^th at the Palmer School, other committee members also came to help.  Sue complimented Christine Farrugia in particular for her enthusiastic talk. The committee planned to meet in October.  They hope to develop a complete folder to hand to each M.L.S. student at future orientation visits.  The committee’s next project will be a brochure aimed at undergraduates.

MEMBERSHIP:  R. McEneaney reported that we had 602 members.  She said not as many members had to be dropped this year for non-renewal.  Once a new flyer with the revised due structure is printed, Regina plans to do a mailing.

NEWSLETTER: (see below, later in meeting)

NOMINATING:  J. Clemens reported that the ballots for SCLA officers would be going out Monday, Sept. 16^th.  She pointed out that the same mailing would include a ballot for changes to SCLA bylaws and dues structure.

PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS:  No report. 

PUBLIC AWARENESS/PUBLICITY:  S. Ingram reported that he had been asked by Pratt Institute  to send an SCLA representative to talk to M.L.S. students in a particular class.  Stephen pointed out that NCLA had brought a complete list of all NCLA programs to the Library school orientations.  He hoped SCLA could produce a similar list.  L. Tesoriero suggested listing committee meetings as well as large workshops.  D. Bucher commented, saying she thought that the SCLA visits to library schools will have far-reaching  results.

SCHOLARSHIP:  C. Farrugia reported that the committee had met and selected the winners of the two SCLA scholarships.  There had been four applications for the regular scholarship and five for the continuing education award.  Christine said one of the people applying for the continuing education award was an M.L.S. student.  She suggested we make it clearer in the future that this award was not aimed at M.L.S. students.  Christine asked how much award money would be granted to the two winners.  R. Dressler said the Executive Board would get back to her.  A short discussion followed on promoting certain SCLA fundraisers as specifically helping to fund scholarships. 

STATISTICAL SURVEY:  S. Atlas reported that Angie Lehner had done all the data entry, and that we were still waiting for N.Y. State information.  Sandra questioned how the survey project would be managed next year, after Executive Secretary Angie Lehner retires.  Discussion followed on: SCLA and SCLS involvement in the statistical survey, ownership of the database of data collected, how the survey is distributed, how to publicize the existence of the survey, and how to make it more widely available to all SCLA members as a benefit of membership.  It was suggested that, instead of sending two free copies per SCLS library to the attention of the director, that one copy be sent to the director, and one to the head of reference.

At this point in the meeting, “Elvis Presley” (a professional impersonator) was ushered into the room by Barbara Hoffman, who announced that this was the Board’s special present to Angela Lehner.  (Angie, who is retiring after many years of service as SCLA’s Executive Secretary, had once said she’d like to have an Elvis impersonator visit her.)   Elvis serenaded Angie with several songs, as SCLS staffers crowded into the room.  Elvis sang and gyrated, getting up on the table at one point.  When he sang “let me be Your Teddy Bear,” he presented Angie with a plush bear.  After Elvis left, the Board presented Angie with some other gifts.  Angie blushed and thanked everyone very sincerely. Cake was served.

NEWSLETTER:  B. Hoffman reported that extra copies of the “Angie issue” were run off and given to Angela Lehner.  Barbara thanked everyone who contributed to the newsletter.  The next deadline will be November 1^st.  She mentioned that, because Angie was retiring, someone was needed to send out the newsletter 

SUFFOLK COUNTY JAILS LIBRARY SERVICE:  M. Fusco reminded people that the jails still welcome donations of non-violent paperbacks in good condition.

WEB PAGE:  R. Dressler asked people to send dates of workshops and meetings to D. Zubiller.

LIAISON REPORTS:

CLASC:  No report.

BOCES:  No report.

LILRC:  V. Antonucci reported on LILRC’s Annual Conference, their Annual meeting, and on Archives Week.

LVA SUFFOLK:  No report.

NCLA:  L. Tesoriero reported that NCLA’s Annual Dinner will be on December 3^rd at Verdi’s in Westbury.

PLDA:  Suzanne Johnson reported that PLDA liaison Debra Engelhardt had given birth to a baby boy the day before:  Scott Logan, 7 lbs., 6 oz.

SCLS:  No report.

SLA:  J. Olney reported that they were still working on a Trivia Night.

OLD BUSINESS:  None.

NEW BUSINESS:  R. Dressler said that SCLA had been invited to send one of their members to sit on a panel that would pick Suffolk County’s Poet Laureate.  Barbara Hoffman volunteered.  Angie Lehner asked what to do about the SCLA telephone in her home.  It was decided to leave it as it was for one month after she retires, then to disconnect it. President Rona Dressler said we would all miss Angie a great deal when she retires.  Rona said Angie had been an important part of SCLA, and that her absence would be felt.  Angie thanked everyone again for the gifts.

J. Clemens asked for a motion to adjourn.  K. Minschke made the motion.  F. Altemose seconded it.  The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.