CALL Members:

It's difficult to believe that summer is almost over -- and that we are at the beginning of what promises to be another successful year for CALL. My deepest appreciation to all of you who have volunteered to serve on CALL Committees for 2009-2010. Our association's work is driven by its members, and we couldn't accomplish what we do without the generous efforts of so many of you. If you haven't yet volunteered for a committee and would still like to do so, the "Committee Volunteer Sign-Up" form is located on the main page of CALL's website.

CALL and its members were major presences at this year's annual AALL meeting in Washington, D.C. During the course of the meeting, CALL members served as moderators and presenters at educational sessions, served on AALL Committees, participated in SIS programs and events, and attended leadership training events for chapters. Of particular note was the brown bag program sponsored by CALL, and organized and facilitated by CALL Treasurer Ruth Bridges, "Rebalancing Your Collection: Print or Electronic or Both?" Over 50 attendees discussed balancing print and electronic titles in law library collections and shared best practices. It was a great success!

On September 10th, CALL Committee Chairs and Board Members will meet at MLS to discuss the work of our association in 2009-2010. This half-day meeting enables our chapter leaders to work through committee duties and responsibilities, committee initiatives for the upcoming year, and ways to collaborate with one another. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss the continuation of CALL's process of strategic planning. I have reappointed the members of the Special Committee for Strategic Planning to continue the work that began in 2008-2009 with the adoption of a mission statement for CALL. You can find our new mission statement on the main page of the CALL website: "The Chicago Association of Law Libraries (CALL) connects a vibrant and diverse network of members by supporting the development of professional expertise; encouraging leadership, collaboration, and advocacy in the legal information community; and promoting and enhancing the field of law librarianship." It is time for our association to strategically plan for the future using our new mission statement as the foundation. More on this in the months ahead.

The last year has been a difficult one for many of our colleagues as our organizations struggle to bear the burden of these tough economic times. One of my favorite federal judges has a story he likes to tell when he fondly recollects his first days as a district court judge and his first law clerk. Their first group of cases was up on appeal, and they were eagerly awaiting the court of appeals' decisions. The judge tells of how the law clerk came running into chambers with the first bit of news, "Judge, the Court of Appeals decision in Walker v. Smith has just been released -- we were affirmed!" After a great deal of back-patting, all returned to work. The afternoon brought this news, "Judge, the Court of Appeals decision in Jones v. Campbell has just been released -- you were reversed." As the judge then noted, good times or bad, we are all in this together. I would say it's the same for law librarians; academic, firm, court, county, or corporate, we are all in this together, and our association serves as a great place for us to learn from one another and support one another as we forge into the future. Let's have a productive, educational, and fun association year!

Gretchen Van Dam
President 2009-10

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