NAHSL Executive Board Meeting

RML Office, Rose and Gordon Bldg

Shrewsbury, MA

                                                                          August 16, 2002

Present:   William Anger, Kathy Brunjes, Happy Copley, Ed Donnald, Jeannine Gluck, Peter Jones, Jill Livingston, Roger Manahan, Evelyn Morgen, Alice Reed, Mary Ann Slocomb, Joan Yanicke

 

Ed called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

 

Announcements/Chair’s Report

Ed welcomed everyone to the meeting and extended a special welcome to our newest Board member, Roger Manahan (MASHLIN President).

 

            Minutes/Secretary’s Report

Action:            Minutes of the June 14, 2002 Board meeting were accepted with the following changes:  under State Reports, ARISHL, An additional $314,000. was added...”; under HSLIC, “Dan was working in the Lewiston-Auburn College Library, and was very active...”; under MAHSLIN, “The new MASHLIN Chair will be Roger Manahan from Mercy Medical Center.”  Jill Livingston will make corrections, and corrected minutes will be forwarded to Lida Douglas for posting on the NAHSL web page.

                  Action:                Kathy Brunjes thanked Jill Livingston for taking the June minutes in her absence.

 

Treasurer’s Report

                 Discussion:                         Marj Anderson not present, Treasurer’s report distributed by Ed Donnald.  Total balance on hand as of August 16, 2002 is $111,064.25.

                 Action:                                 The Board approved the Treasurer’s report as presented. 

 

          Committee Reports

            Archives

            Discussion:        Carole Foxman not present; the Archives Committee has requested that there not be a photo album at the NAHSL Conference registration table this year  (in previous years, photos from the previous annual Conference were put into a photo album and placed on the registration table for browsing).  Since photos are now displayed on the web, and photos have to be removed from the albums for storage in the Archives, it would make the process easier not to place the photos first in albums. 

            Action:                  The Board recommends to the Archives Committee that there NOT be a photo album at the NAHSL Conference 2002 registration table; Ed Donnald will put together a montage of photocopied photos for a brief reminder of last year’s activities.  Ed’s montage will be available at the Registration table.

 

            Discussion:        The Board discussed privacy issues of posting photos on the website, without prior permission.  Logistics of obtaining permission in advance were discussed, with the final outcome that we will not obtain permission in advance, addressing complaints or problems as they arise.

            Action:              The Board will advise the current Conference organizers that photos should not be labeled/people identified when posting photos on the web (just identify who is in the photo on the backs of the photos, for Archival purposes).  Future Conference planners should also be made aware of privacy issues where photos are concerned.

 

            Discussion:        The Archives Committee does not have photos from the Rhode Island Conference/Meeting.  The Committee is asking that the Board remind NH/VT Conference planners to take/submit photos for the archives.

            Action:              Bill Anger will follow up on where the RI photos might be.  Ed Donnald will remind Karen Odato to assign photography duties to someone at the NH/VT Conference (Alice Reed will also follow up on this for Conference 2002).

 

Bylaws

            Discussion:        Patty Kahn not present, Ed distributed the proposed Bylaws language to the Board for review.  As a reminder, the current Bylaws state who the Board is, but do not define what constitutes a Board quorum.  Discussion ensued:  the draft changes to Article VI. Executive Board, Section 3 (Quorum), “Fifty per cent of voting members constitutes a quorum of the Executive Board” generated additional discussion of why State Reps to NAHSL do not have voting privileges on the Board.  Ed Donnald and Mary Ann Slocomb explained the advisory capacity of the State Reps, versus the decision-making functions of Committees.  The State Reps present then asked the Board why NAHSL does not reimburse travel expenses for State Reps to attend Executive Board meetings. 

            Action:                  The Board voted on the following language for Article VI. Executive Board:  Add Section 3. Quorum, “Voting members of the Executive Board present constitutes a quorum.”  This language will be sent to all NAHSL members for a vote at the Annual Meeting  (September 23, 2002).             

            Action:                  Ed Donnald asked State Reps to go back to their respective states and discuss travel reimbursement issues; if the States will not reimburse travel expenses to attend NAHSL Executive Board meetings, then come back to the Board for further discussion.

 

                Discussion:          Proposed changes of the language in Article IX. Amendments, “...provided that the proposed amendments have been sent in writing to the entire membership at least 21 days prior to the meeting.  ADD: this notification may be done electronically via email” were submitted to the Board by the Bylaws Committee.

            Action:                  The Board approved the proposed language for Article IX. Amendments, as presented by the Bylaws Committee.

 

                Discussion:          Proposed language changes to the NAHSL Policies and Procedures Manual were presented:  2.0 Executive Board, Add “Votes may be taken electronically (via email) between Board meetings provided that a quorum is reached.” The Board feels that this reflects what we are currently doing. 

            Action:                  The Board accepted the proposed wording as presented for 2.0 Executive Board.

 

                Discussion:          Proposed language to the NAHSL P&P Manual:  6.8 Membership Committee, Add, “At the end of December, the NAHSL membership directory for that year will be copied and placed in the e-archives.  In January, all listings in the NAHSL directory will be as non-members, with membership status reapplied when dues are received for the current year.  A listing of paid members should be printed out by April 15 to be used in the determination of eligibility for scholarships and member rates.”

                Action:                  The Board accepted the proposed wording as presented for 6.8 Membership Committee.

 

                Discussion:          Proposed language to the NAHSL P&P Manual: Appendix B. NAHSL Finance Committee, Add: Travel and Lodging Reimbursement Guidelines:  The NAHSL Executive Board recognizes that officer, Board, council, and committee activities are essential to maintaining volunteer involvement in NAHSL.  These activities, which provide real and tangible benefits to the profession, are worthy of financial support.  Many members, through personal or institutional resources, are able to defray their travel expenses, which is greatly appreciated by NAHSL.  However, there are situations where members do not have the necessary resources to defray these costs, and NAHSL is prepared to assist the member with these costs within the limits of this policy.  The member traveling on behalf of NAHSL shall always seek to minimize the cost to NAHSL.

 

                                                Private Vehicle Transportation:  In the case of transportation by private vehicle, NAHSL may reimburse the member, when requested, for the vehicle operating expenses at the current United States of America Internal Revenue Service reimbursement rate.  Tolls and parking incurred in conjunction with the meeting is also allowed.

 

                                                Lodging:  If the travel distance is greater than 200 miles one way, one night lodging in a standard room, limited to the evening of the meeting or the prior night, will be reimbursed.  Where possible, chapter representatives are encouraged to share a room, although this is not a requirement. 

               

                                                For calculation purposes, mileage should be computed from the work location and not the residential home.

 

                                                The requests must be made within 30 days of being incurred.  They are to be submitted on the NAHSL Check Request Form and sent to the Treasurer with Committee Chair’s signature of approval.  Receipts for the incurred expenses must accompany the request.

                Action:                  The Board approved the language for Appendix B. NAHSL Finance Committee as presented.

Chapter Council

            Discussion:          Debbie Sibley not present (Debbie’s in Ireland).

 

Conference ‘02

            Discussion:        Karen Odato not present.  Jeannine Gluck reported that there are approximately 100 registered for the NAHSL 2002 Conference at this time.  Ed reminded the Board that the Executive Board meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Monday, September 23.  Ed will report for each Committee at the Annual Business Meeting, and highlight any last minute news (as gathered at the morning Executive Board meeting).  The full Committee reports will be in the Registration packets, as in previous years.  Ed reminded the Committee chairs to submit their annual reports to Anne Conner.

           

                Discussion:          Peter Jones raised the issue of NAHSL holding two conferences in the same fiscal year (for some institutions); Peter asked the Board if it would be possible to make future Conference months consistent, to avoid fiscal hardships. 

            Action:                  It was the consensus of the Board that the month the annual conference is held cannot be designated in advance, for a variety of reasons (some of which center around hotel/resort peak seasons).  Peter’s concerns are duly noted in these minutes.

 

Conference ‘03

            Discussion:          Len Levin not present, email report read by Ed:  The next Conference Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for September 12 (in Sturbridge).  Committee chairs are developing time lines and a preliminary budget.  There will be a table with information on the 2003 Conference (open during exhibit times) in Attitash (Conference 2002), along with a raffle item.  Len reported that there would be some type of formal invitation to Conference 2003 made during the Annual Business meeting. 

                Action:                  For informational purposes.

 

Conference ‘04

            Discussion:          Yes, that’s right folks!  Kathy Brunjes reported that a preliminary “meeting of the minds” took place on Wednesday, August 14, with site discussion, theme ideas and discussion of Committee chairs.  The meeting was held at Patty Kahn’s new home in Tenant’s Harbor.  Happy Copley and Marj Anderson have been working on possible sites to hold the Conference (tentative selection of Sebasco Harbor Resort in Sebasco Estates, ME, on Casco Bay).  The group was enthusiastic, fresh and ready to roll with their ideas.  Stay tuned!

            Action:                  For informational purposes.

 

Education

                Discussion:          Jeannine Gluck reported on the CE courses for Conference 2002.  The Committee has started to publicize the Conference and CE courses to outside groups.  The Committee has a new member:  Andy Dzaugis (UMASS Memorial).

 

                                                Karen Odato had charged Jeannine to ask the Board about the NAHSL sponsorship of the consumer health class (Finding Consumer Health Resources in Other Languages).  Ed responded that NAHSL should be noted as the sponsor in the Program and on the class poster, and the Finance Committee will note transfer of funds for book keeping purposes, but does not actually “cut a check” to the Conference.

            Action:                  For informational purposes.

 

Electronic Communication

                        Discussion:        Lida Douglas not present.  Ed reported that there have been some challenges using the PayPal system, but Lida has been addressing them. 

            Discussion:                    Ed reported that NAHSL will submit PayPal as a future Majors Award candidate.

            Discussion:                          Ed reported that Mark Goldstein notified him that the UMASS firewall issues affecting the entire listserv have been resolved.

            Action:                  No action taken.

 

Finance

            Discussion:          Marj Anderson not present.  Ed presented the NAHSL Travel Expense Voucher form to the Board.

            Action:                  The Board approved the NAHSL Travel Expense Voucher as presented.

 

Government Relations

            Discussion:          Barb Ingrassia not present.  Full report of the Government Relations Committee will be in the NAHSL 2002 Conference packet.

            Action:                  For informational purposes.

 

Marketing

Discussion:          Jill Livingston reported that the marketing postcard will be presented at the NAHSL 2002 Conference.  The Marketing “newsletter” will be available for distribution on Monday, September 23 (during the Conference), then placed on the web site post-Conference.

Action:                  For informational purposes.

                                               

Membership

            Discussion:          Peter Jones reported that there are 228 paid members, with 444 people in the total directory (and Peter is adding people from State organizations on a regular basis).  There will be two links on the Membership area of the webpage when Peter has completed entering names:  a paid NAHSL membership list and a Regional Directory with membership lists from State directories.

            Action:                  For informational purposes.

 

Nominating Committee & Awards

            Discussion:          Mary Ann Slocomb presented the Slate of officers to be voted on at the NAHSL 2002 Conference: 

                                    NAHSL Conference Chair 2004/Chair-Elect 2003-4:  Kathy Brunjes, CMMC, Maine

                                                Secretary:  Happy Copley, St. Mary’s, Maine

                                                Treasurer:  Fran Becker, Baystate Medical Center, Massachusetts

                                                MLA Nominating Committee candidate:  Marianne Burke, AHIP, University of Vermont

                                                Alternate Chapter Council Representative:  Shirley Gronholm, AHIP, Hartford Hospital.

            Action:                  The Board approved the Slate, as presented.

 

            Discussion:          Mary Ann presented the list of NAHSL Achievement Award candidates.  It was noted that there were Board members present that were also nominated for an Achievement Award.  The Nominating Committee recommended to the Board that one or two candidates be selected to receive the award, from the list of four nominations. 

 

                                                A discussion ensued regarding how to vote for candidates who were also present at the meeting, should Board members be eligible for nomination for the Achievement Award (will the general membership feel the award becomes exclusive if Board members are nominated and voted on by the Board?), if there was a conflict of interest involved, and how do other State organizations handle nominations and voting for special awards.  Happy Copley responded on the HSLIC presentation of the Cairns Award, and Roger Manahan addressed how MAHSLIN presents the Lifetime Achievement/Librarian of the Year Awards.

               

                                                After much discussion, the Board asked that Mary Ann read the letters nominating the candidates, and then Mary Ann distributed ballots to the voting members of the Board, asking that one or two nominees be indicated on the ballot (if more than one nominee, the Board was asked to indicated a first and second choice).

                Action:                  The Board accepted the four nominations for NAHSL Achievement Award:

                                                Evelyn Breck Morgen

                                                Janie Kaplan

                                                Jeannine Gluck/Robin Hassig

                                                Karen Odato

 

                                                Mary Ann will count the ballots and announce the recipient(s) of the Award during the NAHSL Conference 2002 banquet on Monday, September 23.

                                               

                                    The Board thanked Mary Ann for her hard work.

                                   

Program

            Discussion:          Donna O’Malley not present.

           

Scholarship

            Discussion:          Kathy Brunjes asked the Board about a cut off date for awarding scholarships; Kathy will be leaving on August 23, and will not be back until September 30.  Any scholarship applications that come in after August 23 will not be reviewed until after September 30. 

            Action:                  The Board decided that there should not be a cut off date, and asked Kathy to post to the NAHSL full membership listserv the message that any applications not received before August 23 will not be acted upon until after the NAHSL 2002 Conference.  

 

                Discussion:          Kathy reported that she has received ten scholarship applications to date, requests totaling $1,260.  She anticipates many more scholarship applications once she has posted a message to the listserv.  The Scholarship fund has $3,000 in funds to award.

 

                Discussion:          Kathy proposed a change in procedure in awarding scholarships in the future.  This proposed change is to reflect requests that have been received this year for payment of the scholarship in advance of the actual program/CE/registration.  With travel and education budgets being frozen or cut, paying out of pocket for NAHSL sponsored programs may be a hardship for some members; Kathy cited the HSLIC organization as an example of awarding scholarship money in advance, in order for the HSLIC member to pay for the program from HSLIC funds, rather than personal funds.  Kathy alerted the Board that she had consulted Ed earlier in the month about a hardship request, and that Ed and she had made the decision to notify the NAHSL Conference 2002 Registration Chair to go ahead and process the registration for the member, with the knowledge that NAHSL had approved the request for the scholarship to pay the registration fee.

 

                                                Kathy proposes that the Board approve payment of scholarship awards in advance in financial hardship cases; rather than cutting a check from NAHSL to pay NAHSL, the funds would be transferred on paper by the Treasurer in these cases. 

                Action:                  The Board approved Kathy’s proposal:  if an applicant requests payment of a NAHSL sponsored program/CE/registration in advance of the actual attendance, and it is determined that the applicant has no institutional support to attend this program/CE/registration, then the NAHSL Scholarship Chair will notify the NAHSL Treasurer to “pay” the fees in advance by notifying the appropriate registration personnel.  This advanced payment will be made in good faith; if the applicant does not attend the program/CE/registration after “payment” has been made, the transfer of funds from the Treasury will be determined null and void (this will eliminate having to collect funds from the applicant to reimburse the Treasury).

 

MLA Credentialing Report

            Discussion:          Joan Yanicke reported that there will be a full report in the NAHSL 2002 Conference packet (copy of this report was distributed to the Board at this time: the Noodge list is alive and well, there have not been any major changes in credentialing for several years, the Academy website has informational brochures available for those considering becoming AHIP-credentialed).

            Action:                  No action required.

 

MLA Membership Report

            Discussion:          Peter Jones reported that he will not be attending MLA; Peter asked the Board if he should continue as the MLA Membership Representative, due to his inability to attend the meetings.  The Board informed Peter that he may assign a designee to attend in his stead.  The Board affirmed that Peter is the “natural” person to be the MLA Membership Representative, since he is the NAHSL Membership Chair. 

            Action:                  The Board supports Peter’s appointment as MLA Membership Representative; Peter will ask another Board member to attend MLA to represent NAHSL’s interests.

 

RML

Discussion:          Debbie Sibley still in Ireland; no report!

 

State Reports

            ARIHSL         Bill Anger distributed a written report to the Board, announcing the ARIHSL Annual Meeting on June 19, with election of new officers:  Patricia Padula, President; Tovah Reis, Vice President; Pat Gorman, Secretary; Bill Anger, Treasurer.  Debbie Sibley presented a short RLM update at this annual meeting. 

                                    Bill also reported that ARIHSL would be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2003, with a celebration planned for the 2003 Annual Meeting (June 18, 2003). 

 

                                                Mary Ann Slocomb reported on the LORI project (Libraries of Rhode Island); document delivery couriers go once a week around to the libraries participating in the system.  School, public and hospital libraries are participating in LORI.

               

            CAHSL              Evelyn Breck Morgen submitted a written report:  the CAHSL Annual meeting was held on June 20, with election of officers taking place.  Mary Ellen Bowen is now President, Vice President/President Elect is Nancy Goodwin, Katalyn Gyorgyey is Secretary, Nancy Carter-Menendez is Treasurer, Arlene Freed is HSL Conference Chair, and Pauline Kruk is HSL Conference Chair Elect. 

 

                                                Donna Berryman, NN/LM-NER Outreach Coordinator spoke at the CAHSL Annual Meeting about recent RML activities; the CAHSL brochure was approved, and Marilyn Pitman read highlights from her annual report.  CAHSL will meet monthly in 2002-3.

 

            HSL NH/VT   Alice Reed reported that at the HSL NH/VT Spring meeting on April 8, the Executive Board was elected; since that date, there have been many changes, resulting in no current President (the Portsmouth Hospital librarian cannot attend meetings, so resigned her position as HSL NH/VT President), no current Vice President, and no webmaster.  Nancy Bianchi, as Past President, is virtually holding the group together. The last Executive Board meeting was held “online.”    Rather than holding a regular fall meeting with an educational program and guest speakers, the Board is looking into having a reorganizational meeting, with a management facilitator.  Alice encouraged everyone to utilize the HSL NH/VT listserv to communicate during these times.

 

                                                HSL NH/VT has contributed $1,000 toward the Welcome Reception (NAHSL 2002 Conference).

 

                                                Alice reported that the Monadnock Community Hospital, Peterborough NH,  has received a $10,000 NLM grant to expand Internet access.  Judy Spar (Concord Hospital) is handling interlibrary loan and DOCLINE while the regular librarian is out.  Cynthia Davis (Elliot Hospital) has been laid off; library service is being covered by a library assistant (who is also covering CME). 

               

                                                Kathy Brunjes reminded the Board that there used to be a letter available from the NAHSL President, which could be issued to a NAHSL member’s hospital administration, to support and show value of library services and professional librarians.  Ed will look into this.

 

            HSLIC                Happy Copley reported that the HSLIC Fall meeting will be held on October 18, in Bangor.  The Educational program will be on Link-Out.  HSLIC has engaged a grant writer, to assist with the ARIEL project/grant application process. 

 

                                                Happy asked the Board if Donna Wickstrand needs to be contacted to review any hotel contracts, since Maine will be hosting the NAHSL 2004 Conference, and Conference planning has begun.  The Board affirmed that Donna would be a valuable addition to the planning process, recommending language for contracts and negotiating rates, etc.

 

                MAHSLIN       Roger Manahan is the new President.  Roger reported that MAHSLIN virtually has a new Board.  A salary survey is being proposed; the Mass Fax project currently has 15 members (all interlibrary loans are faxed), and seems to be working well.

Old Business

Discussion:        Ed reminded the Board that it has been proposed that he remain as NAHSL Chair for 2003, with Mary Ann Slocomb remaining in her position as NAHSL Past Chair (these would be extensions of their current positions) in light of the fact that Karen Odato has declined the NAHSL Chair position (Karen is currently Conference 2002 Chair).  The Board was reminded that this has happened before, and the Board votes on the extended appointments, versus the full membership. 

Action:                  The Board moved and voted to accept the continued appointment of Ed Donnald as NAHSL Chair and Mary Ann Slocomb as Past Chair.  (Len Levin is slated to become Chair for 2003-2004, as he was already voted in by the full membership.  Pending a vote of the full membership at this fall’s NAHSL Conference,  Kathy Brunjes will become Chair Elect, 2003-2004, to follow Len.)

 

Discussion:          The Board voted on the language for the Travel and Lodging Reimbursement Guidelines (see Bylaws section of these minutes).

 

New Business

Discussion:          Jeannine Gluck asked the Board about sharing our mailing list with the Boston area SLA (Mary Chitty has contacted Jeannine, requesting a reciprocal sharing of mailing lists).  The NAHSL mailing list would be the membership list.  Concern that we would be opening our membership list up to outside groups was addressed by the fact that our membership list is currently freely available on the web page, and anyone could copy it as it is now.

Action:                  The Board is open to the idea of a reciprocal sharing of our mailing list, but we need assurance in writing that anyone with whom we share our mailing list will not sell our list to an outside party.   The Board asked Jeannine to relay this to Mary Chitty/Boston area SLA.

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m., the next meeting to be held during the NAHSL 2002 Conference (Monday, September 23) and the December meeting will be held on December 6, in Shrewsbury, MA.

 

Submitted by:       Kathy Brunjes, Secretary