It’s not too late—volunteer by December 1 for an AALL Committee
When teaching law students about legislative history and the legislative process, I always point out the importance of U.S. Congressional committees as the place where the "heavy lifting" of Congress is actually done. To some extent, that could be said about AALL committees as well.
Throughout each year, nearly 300 member volunteers work behind the scenes on AALL committees to address matters of importance to our profession (such as fostering diversity, monitoring government developments, and encouraging research) and to carry out activities of the Association (such as selecting recipients of grants, awards, and scholarships; serving as advisors for our publications; and staffing the placement office at the Annual Meeting). Committee work is also an important training ground for future AALL leaders. Descriptions of the current committees and their work can be found in the AALL Committees section of AALLNET.
As we prepare to celebrate AALL’s centennial, I invite you to follow the example of almost 100 years of AALL members by volunteering to serve on an AALL committee. You can do this easily using the online Committee Volunteer Form. There is still time, but the December 1 deadline for submitting the form is only three weeks away. The online form has been revised somewhat from previous years, in order to simplify the process and also to encourage members from all constituencies of AALL to apply. The goal is to fill our committee rosters with people of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints so that many voices will be heard on significant issues.
As you may be aware, in some recent years, it hasn’t always been possible to find a committee slot for every individual who volunteers. But we still hope to attract a strong pool of applicants with the time, support, and interest to be active committee members. Please don’t forget that committee membership, while very important, is only one of the available ways for you to get involved. Wherever your talents and interests lie, and whether you can give a lot of time or just a small amount, there are opportunities that are just right for you in AALL committees, SISs, and chapters.
So please take this annual opportunity to think about how you can best serve AALL and the law library profession. In order for us to move forward in our three Strategic Directions of Advocacy, Education, and Leadership, we need skilled and dedicated volunteers throughout the Association. If you decide that an AALL committee is the place where you’d like to share your knowledge and talents, we’re eager to hear from you now. Please fill out the online Committee Volunteer Form and help us get AALL’s second century off to a great start!
Sincerely,
Sarah (Sally) Holterhoff
AALL Vice-President/President-Elect
Government Information/Reference Librarian
Valparaiso University School of Law Library
Wesemann Hall
656 S. Greenwich St.
Valparaiso, IN 46383-6493
Tel: (219) 465-7866
Fax: (219) 465-7917
Email: sally.holterhoff@valpo.edu
AALL: Maximizing the Power of the Law Library Community Since 1906.
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