ALIA 2009 elections - electronic voting now available

This morning I received an email with instructions on how to vote electronically in the ALIA Board of Directors election. I haven't cast my vote as yet but this is a great step forward for those of us with easy access to the Internet...no more paper forms, no more envelopes in envelopes!

I confess I had not taken any notice of the candidates until I had a quick look this morning. Five individuals are running for the 2 available directors' positions: Stuart Ferguson, Gillian Hallam, Richard Siegersma, Kate Sinclair and Lothar von Retzlaff. You can read more about them on the ALIA 2009 election website.

What is most surprising is that there was only one nomination for Vice-President, Graham Black, Director, Division of Library Services, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton. As such, and in accordance with ALIA by-laws, Graham is automatically elected to the position. As incoming Vice-President (2009-2010), Graham is also President-elect (2010-2011). Congratulations to Graham.

I have one gripe, though - and it may be nothing more than an administrative oversight or maybe I'm just not looking in the right spot on the ALIA website - but where the candidates for the Board positions have provided additional information that further describes their skills and experience and the issues they consider need addressing by the Association, I don't see any of this information available, beyond a short Statement of Professional Concerns, for the incoming Vice-President. The membership needs to know a little more about what to expect from the future President of ALIA. So if I have missed something, can someone let me know?!

Regardless, please take the time to vote and if you are a member and haven't received voting instructions, contact ALIA National Office on the member's line 1800 020 071 or enquiry@alia.org.au.nospam (remove the '.nospam' from address).

Don't forget to vote - ALIA BOD

It's election time for ALIA. Members are asked to vote to elect board members and a vice president. You can read about the candidates here.

Philip Keane, Helen Partridge and Michelle Brennand are all seeking re-election. New candidates are Brenda McConchie, Gail Schmidt and Kate Sinclair. Kevin Dudeney and Jan Richards are vying for the position of Vice President.

Ballot papers will be included in the March issue of inCite. Voting closes 9 April 2008.

Have your say. Make your vote count.

ALIA Board meeting report - May 07

Click here to view notes from the May '07 ALIA Board meeting. Points of interest include:

• no new e-lists to be created until a new policy on list use/responsibilities is finalised
• Lesley Piko, an external expert, will be asked to continue on the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Standing Committee with an honorarium
• the Governance Standing Committee has commenced a review of Committees and external representation; its next job will be a Board Readiness project
• a national event celebrating ALIA's 70th annivesary is being planned for the last quarter in 2007
• an Education Summit will be held in early 2008
• ALIA Conference guidelines are currently being revised and updated
• a review of the PD scheme will occur in the second half of 2007; PD participation currently sits at around 9% of total ALIA members
• a qualitative assessment of members needs for training will commence once the results of the surveys on training needs by Dr Gill Hallam (neXus stage 2), CAVAL and AGLIN have been received
• the ALIA Core values statement are to be approved without changes; statements on free access to information and professional conduct will be further amended
• Board agreed to further fund and seek further sponsorship for Alan Butters work on the development of an international ISO Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) standard [http://www.sybis.com.au/Pages/rfid%20new.html]
• The Board identified the following activities as priority for the 2007/08 period:
  * Advocacy (noting that it is a federal election year and ALIA's 70th Anniversary could provide an opportunity for engaging with Ministers and Shadow Ministers);
  *Education - particularly the development of discussion paper and the Education Summit;
  * Supporting ALIA Groups;
  * Engaging with members (including through National Advisory Congress meetings);
  * Management of the Association's finances;
  * Conferences - finalisation of the revised guidelines and working with Committees organising conferences;
  * Reviewing the use of Web 2.0 in ALIA services, including setting up a wikis and blogs.
• NAC meetings will be held around Australia and a "virtual" NAC meeting, using Web 2.0 technology, will be held in late 2007
• survey of members will be held later this yearALIA has been advised that Brisbane along with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have been short listed as a suitable location for the 2010 IFLA World Congress