From the Desk of Susan E. Fox

Technology Woes

While AALL Headquarters managed to skirt the Blackout of 2003 by just a few hundred miles, we encountered a separate set of technology woes this week due to internet access problems. As a result, our web site and email system crashed from about 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 19 and remained off-line through 11:30 a.m. We apologize to all of you who could not access us during that time.

I thank our IT Director, Reggie Swanigan, and Arek Tarasiewicz, our Web Administrator, for their hard work in bringing us back on line, especially Reggie, who had to take time out from his vacation (and new baby daughter, Taylor!) to bring us back on line.

Maya Norris, AALL Director of Publications informed us that she has a wonderful new job opportunity and will work her last day at AALL on Wednesday, September 3. While we're thrilled for Maya, we're sorry to see her leave. The quality of her work is topnotch and her professionalism is much to be admired. This new position is with a trade magazine and one that affords opportunity for advancement and for further honing of her journalistic skills.

Thank you, Maya for all you have done for AALL and our publications. You’ve brought us to a higher level of accomplishment and for that you will be remembered.

AALL Spectrum, the monthly magazine of the American Association of Law Libraries is seeking an editor for one of its regular columns.

The magazine needs to fill an editor position for the “Membership News” column. The editor will report on the latest happenings among its membership. He or she will get the scoop on the newest librarians entering the profession, librarians moving up the leadership ladder and the professional activities members are engaged in.

Beth DiFelice, current “Membership News” editor, will continue to write the column this year until the position is filled. After four years as the “Membership News” editor, DiFelice is looking to pursue other opportunities in AALL. The Law Library Journal and AALL Spectrum Editorial Board and Advisory Committee thanks DiFelice for her four years of service to the magazine and wishes her well in future endeavors.

If you would like to provide your colleagues with news about AALL’s members, please send a writing sample and cover letter explaining why you are interested in becoming AALL Spectrum’s next column editor to Maya Norris, AALL Director of Publications. After September 3, please send to me, Susan Fox. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2003.

A Word from Carol Billings, Chair of the AALL Centennial Celebration Committee

Hi fellow AALL members! Susan Fox's mention of the Centennial Celebration Committee in her column a couple of weeks ago prompted several of you to send me messages saying that you would like to be involved. That's great! Here's what will be happening.

Last year Past-President Carol Nicholson appointed a Centennial Planning Task Force (chaired by Lolly Gasaway) to prepare a general overall plan for the celebration. At the same time Carol appointed the Centennial Celebration Committee to develop and coordinate more specific ways to implement the plan, which the Executive Board approved last fall. The plan comprises many different types of activities to take place over a period of more than two-years. Some projects will get underway in the spring of 2004, and the Annual Meeting next July in Boston will provide a great opportunity to get out the word about how SIS's, chapters, committees, and individuals can get involved.

The big kick-off will take place at the 2005 meeting in San Antonio, and events and projects will go on all year--leading up to the grand Centennial Celebration in St. Louis in July, 2006. Of course the Centennial Celebration Committee will be working closely with current President-Elect Tory Trotta, and their program and local advisory committees.

The Centennial Celebration Committee met recently in Seattle, and we will have a 2 1/2 day meeting in Chicago in early September. We will need the creativity and energy of many members to make the Centennial an occasion worthy of our great association. We'll be calling upon many of you to carry out particular projects and to come up with your own ways to celebrate. Stayed tuned!

Steve Ligda, AALL’s Director of Finance & Administration, works closely with the Treasurer, the Executive Board, and me in providing solid fiscal stewardship for the association. Managing the finances of any large organization is not easy, especially in an economic climate as challenging as the one we face today, but Steve’s analytical mind and lucid communication skills helps all of us conserve resources in the best possible manner. Steve is the man to call with almost any question, but especially those related to finances, scholarships, grants and budgets. One of his particular talents is to help you work your way through the maze of accounting rules and terminology. Please feel free to call on him at any time.

Steve is also a native Hoosier, an avid baseball fan (Go Sox!), and involved in a number of organizations his community.

I will be on vacation the week of August 28, so there will be no From the Desk of at that time.