Dear Members:

This is the last President’s Letter I will be writing before I pass the gavel to Sheri Lewis, incoming CALL President.  Before I go however, I would like to reflect on what a wonderful experience serving as President has been, and I would like to thank all of you for making it so memorable.

I will not say that the past year has not been a lot of work.  It has, but I will say that I would do it all over again!  If you really want to get to know CALL, and feel a part of something special, I highly recommend that you become involved.  The options are many: you can join a committee, write for the Bulletin, volunteer for a community service project, or consider the possibility of running for the Board.

I personally feel that I owe a special thanks to several people in CALL-- all four having served as President in years past.  First, I would like to thank Mary Lu Linnane.  Mary Lu gave tirelessly of herself, not only serving as President the year before me, but guiding me through the process as well.  She answered ALL of my questions (which were many) without any reluctance or hesitation.  She was always available and served as a great mentor who made the experience of serving on the Board rich and rewarding.  Before serving on the CALL Board together, I knew of Mary Lu in name only.  I now consider her to be a friend.

I I would also like to thank Naomi Goodman.  I tapped Naomi many times for guidance, not only with regard to serving on the CALL Board (Naomi has an incredible capacity to remember what seems to be every word and detail of the CALL Bylaws, Handbook and Policy Log), but also in years past in the capacity of Co-Editor of the Bulletin (a position that both Naomi and I held).  I consider myself fortunate to have the pleasure of knowing Naomi.

I would also like to thank Jean Wenger.  Early on, before even getting elected to the CALL Board, Jean (in addition to Mary Lu and Naomi) helped to answer all of my questions about what to expect when serving on the CALL Board, including the expected time commitment.  This information was invaluable when writing the proposal I submitted to my employer.  As many of you already know, Jean has always been willing to help out and answer a question from a fellow librarian.

I would like to thank Christina Wagner, who has acted as a sounding board as well as a friend.  I always felt that Christina believed in my capability to serve on the Board, and showed great support for my determination to give back and serve this wonderful organization.

Lastly, I would like to thank the other current Board members (Sheri Lewis, Julie Pabarja, Debbie Ginsberg, Anne Abramson, and Therese Clarke Arado), the various committee chairs (all those I did not name individually), as well as the CALL organization as a whole for this great and wonderful experience.

This past year saw several special events.  During the September 20, 2007 Business Meeting, CALL celebrated its 60th anniversary.  The guest speaker was Gary T. Johnson, President of the Chicago History Museum, speaking on the topic "What Law and History Librarians Have Taught Me." There was a celebratory anniversary cake compliments of Professionals Library Service, Inc., and mementos supplied by Law Bulletin Publishing Company, as well as CALL.

For the March 27, 2008 Business Meeting, the CALL Board once again extended invitations to GSLIS students to attend as CALL’s guests.  Gretchen Van Dam of Dominican University, as well as Linda Smith of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (LEEP program), were instrumental in spreading the word and getting the invitations to the students.  This is a program the CALL Board plans to continue in the years ahead.

On April 2, 2008, CALL hosted an “Institute Day.”  The Institute Day was a full-day program entitled “Emerging Technologies and Their Applicability to Law Librarianship.”  The program was a huge success, and the Board is hoping to make this a yearly event.   Julie Melvin, Chair of the Institute Day Committee, was invaluable in overseeing the Committee and “pulling it all together.”  A HUGE thanks, as well as a personal note of gratitude, goes out to Julie for seeing an idea that came about at AALL in New Orleans come to fruition in Chicago!

As the 2007-08 CALL year comes to a close, two other Board members in addition to Mary Lu Linanne will be leaving.  Treasurer Anne Abramson did a great job keeping the books balanced, as well as overseeing the payment of our bills, filing of our annual report with the Illinois Secretary of State, payment of our liability insurance, and the filing of our state and federal income taxes.  All of these responsibilities, albeit not very exciting, are critical to the functioning of CALL.  Director Therese Clarke Arado came through and accepted an appointment by the Board to serve as Director when two previous Board members serving in the same capacity had to resign.  Therese is truly dedicated to the profession--traveling each month to Chicago from Northern Illinois University to attend the Board meetings that began at 9:00 a.m.

Before I close, I would like to introduce you to the 2008-09 CALL Board: Sheri Lewis, President; Gretchen Van Dam, Vice President/President-Elect; myself, Debbie Rusin, Past President; Debbie Ginsberg, Secretary; Ruth Bridges, Treasurer; Julie Pabarja, Director; and Chris Morong, Director.

The future of CALL is strong thanks to its many volunteers who give tirelessly of their time and 2008-09 looks to be another exciting year.  I hope you will all be there to celebrate it with me!

Thank you,
Deborah Rusin
President 2007-08

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