vol. 15, no. 2
February 2001

An exciting FCIL SIS strategic planning session occurred on Friday, October 27, 2000 at Fordham Law School. The participants were: Karen Corbett (Facilitative Consultant, Vadimus); Jean Davis (Chair); Victor Essien (African Law Interest Group Chair); Patricia Kasting; Marta Kiszely (CIS and Eastern European Law Interest Group Chair); Jack McNeill; Silke Sahl; Victoria Szymczak; Tracy Thompson (Secretary/Treasurer); Dan Wade; and Stefanie Weigmann (Strategic Planning Committee Chair). As members of the committee that drafted our Section’s original Strategic Planning document¹, Mr. McNeill, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Wade and Ms. Weigmann worked to ensure continuity in the planning process. Meeting participants also discussed comments and draft goals provided by those who could not attend the planning session, such as two FCIL SIS Executive Committee members, Anne Burnett (Publications Committee Chair), Joan Liu (Asian Law Interest Group Chair) and Marilyn Raisch (Electronic Issues Interest Group Chair). The FCIL SIS Executive Committee thanks all members who have contributed to our ongoing strategic planning process.

The purposes of the October 27, 2000 meeting were:

• To develop six-eight goals based on the draft FCIL SIS Strategic Planning for Continuing Education and Professional Development (July 2, 1999) and based on additional ideas and goals subsequently identified by FCIL SIS officers, Committees, Interest Groups and Section members; and
• To begin discussing implementation schedules for these goals.

Actions to prepare for this meeting included: solicitation of draft goals from FCIL SIS officers, Committee Chairs and Interest Group Chairs; conferences between Ms. Davis and Ms. Corbett; review of the draft Strategic Planning document by the FCIL SIS Executive Committee and Ms. Corbett; and completion of a survey in which the Executive Committee outlined prior strategic planning activities and stated anticipated outcomes of the October meeting.

At the beginning of the October 27, 2000 meeting, participants reviewed the Section’s mission statement:

The purpose of the FCIL SIS shall be to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on foreign, comparative and international law and to provide continuing educational opportunities at various levels.

Ms. Thompson then gave a brief Treasurer’s report, noting that the balance in the FCIL SIS treasury as of September 30, 2000 was $5,576.07.

In an hour-long brainstorming session, participants identified 33 potential goals that could advance FCIL SIS objectives. Ms. Corbett encouraged participants to express ideas and suggestions in the format: “I wish to/for...” or “How to...”  For example, Ms. Thompson stated: “I wish to increase active participation in the life and work of the FCIL SIS” and Ms. Szymczak stated: “I wish for a moderated procedure for librarians to meet in cyberspace to discuss particular jurisdictions and subjects.” The 33 goals included all goals supplied by those who could not attend the October 27, 2000 meeting.  Some goals overlapped. Ms. Corbett posted the 33 goals on a large board. Participants then had an opportunity to vote on the 33 ideas. Each participant selected the top eight goals that he or she would like the FCIL SIS to implement.

Participants ranked a goal based on the following criteria:

• Appeal of the goal;
• Feasibility of the goal; and
• Degree that the goal would help to further FCIL SIS objectives.

As a group, participants selected the following eight GOALS:

• Explore and promote ways to disseminate and to effectively use electronic information in the areas of foreign, comparative and international law.

• Develop foreign law research guides and teaching tools.

• Improve the FCIL SIS program and workshop development process.

• Increase active participation in the events and work of the FCIL SIS.

• Encourage FCIL SIS Committees and Interest Groups to sponsor speakers and to host other creative activities during the Section’s meeting hours at the AALL Annual Meeting.

• Strengthen relationships with other organizations and groups, such as British and Irish Association of Law Librarians, Canadian Association of Law Libraries, Australian Library and Information Association, International Association of Law Libraries, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and the Joint Study Institute planners.
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• Establish a procedure for librarians to discuss hot topics.

• Create mentoring programs for new foreign, comparative and international law librarians.
Ms. Corbett emphasized that the manner in which a group evaluates and develops ideas impacts on whether the group will translate ideas into action and whether the group will successfully resolve problems.

Ms. Corbett encouraged participants to examine each of the eight goals in terms of:

• Do we know how to accomplish this goal?
• What do we like about this goal?
• What are our concerns about this goal?
• How can we overcome these concerns?

After evaluating the eight goals for two hours, participants planned future actions:

• Obtain feedback on goals and their implementation from Strategic Planning Committee  (Current stage)
• Integrate feedback and present revised goals and methods of implementation to FCIL SIS membership for comment and ranking (anticipated time frame for distributing a survey form to Section members: April 2001). Ranking goals will help to determine projects of greatest interest to Section members. The ranking process also will assist Section officers, Committees and Interest Groups in setting agendas for 2001-2002. The ranking process does not mean that the Section only plans to implement a couple of goals.
• Hold a prize drawing, using the names of all Section members who respond to the survey!
• Post on FCIL SIS web site Section members’ comments and results of ranking goals (anticipated time frame: May 2001).
• Conduct next Strategic Planning Committee meeting (July 2001).

Ms. Corbett noted that many organizations strive to obtain survey responses from at least 25% of their members. She also stated that an organization can increase participation in initiatives by changing the way in which the organization shares information. Participants then discussed ways to encourage Section members to provide comments and to rank goals. Suggestions included 1) asking the Strategic Planning Committee to follow up the membership survey with telephone calls and 2) offering incentives to members who respond.  Ms. Kasting suggested that the Section could conduct a prize drawing based on the names of members who respond to the survey.

Ms. Corbett concluded the meeting by recommending a method for effective problem solving.  She suggested that each Strategic Planning Committee Meeting begin with a clear objective.  She encouraged the Strategic Planning Committee to follow the process:

Thus, when confronting an opportunity or a problem, the Strategic Planning Committee could brainstorm to develop a number of possible ideas, could select the most effective ideas and could develop the ideas that receive the greatest support. Strategic Planning Committee Meetings could end with “next step planning,” by creating a timeline and assigning responsibility for tasks.
After the session, many participants stated that Ms. Corbett’s facilitation techniques greatly enhanced the October 27, 2000 strategic planning meeting. The FCIL SIS Executive Committee thanks Ms. Corbett for scheduling to accommodate our group and for providing exceptional service that resulted in a highly useful meeting.

In addition, the FCIL SIS Executive Committee thanks the library staff of Fordham Law School for offering a meeting site and greatly appreciates the efforts of host librarians Kate McLeod and Victor Essien.
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1 This Strategic Planning Committee also included Charlotte Bynum, Marci Hoffman, Lyonette Louis-Jacques, Gail Partin, Amber Smith and Margareta Horiba (original Chair).