What a whirlwind year!  It’s hard to believe spring is already here (particularly since it snowed six inches here in Tulsa just this last weekend).  It is also hard to believe that we’re gearing up for the AALL conference this summer and getting ready for a changing of the guard in the SR-SIS.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chair so far, but I’ll be happy to pass the torch on to Larry Reeves this summer at the meeting.

Speaking of changing of the guard, we have an election to attend to!  During the next few weeks, each of you will be receiving a notice to vote in the SR-SIS election for the Vice Chair/Chair Elect position.  We currently have one nominee, Jorge Juarez.  Additional nominees can be added per the instructions in the SR-SIS bylaws if there is interest (http://aallnet.org/sis/srsis/bylaws/2008.pdf).   Again, keep your eyes peeled for the election announcement in the near future.

In reviewing the last year, I’m pleased to report that we’ve done quite a bit of positive work thus far.  Stephanie Davidson, our Secretary/Treasurer and webmaster, has devoted her time and energy to beginning the project of updating the SR-SIS website.  I sense that this project will continue throughout the next year, and I’d like to thank Stephanie for all the hard work she has done organizing this effort and getting the ball rolling.  We’re also in the process of working with headquarters to create a double-sided information sheet for the SR-SIS describing our mission and activities.  AALL used to provide tri-fold brochures to each SIS, but is shifting to the provision of double-sided information sheets for ease of use in electronic format.  These sheets will be available for distribution by the time this summer’s meeting rolls around.  Thanks so much to David Holt, Stephanie Davidson, Larry Reeves and Ron Wheeler for working hard to make this happen.

Several other great works are in progress as we speak.  The annual book drive, organized this year by Leslie Campbell and Stacy Etheredge, is in excellent shape.  You can read an update about the book drive from Stacy in this newsletter.  You should also note that the SR-SIS is sponsoring two of the programs that were accepted for the meeting this year.  Details are included below.  Additionally, be sure to keep an eye out for additional information on this summer’s service project. I am so proud that we are the SIS that started the tradition of annual meeting service projects, and I’m sure many of you will be interested in participating again this year.

One project I’m still very interested in doing is compiling a digital photo archive of the SR-SIS.  Consider this my formal request (I’ll be send a less formal e-mail soon) for your SR-SIS photos.  My ultimate goal is to create a photo archive that will both preserve our history as an SIS as well as remind us of the fun we have together.  Just e-mail your photos to courtneyselby@gmail.com and I’ll begin the process!

Thanks again for giving me an opportunity to serve.  I’m looking forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Courtney Selby

SR-SIS Business meeting - Monday, July 27, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Standing Committee on Lesbian & Gay Issues Business Meeting – Sunday, July 26, 4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

Standing Committee on Lesbian & Gay Issues Reception at the Hotel Helix, Sunday, July 26, 8 – 11 p.m.

Standing Committee on Law Library Service to Institution Residents Business Meeting - Tuesday July 28, 7:45 am - 8:45 a.m.

LISP/RIPS/SR-SIS Joint Roundtable on Library Services to Pro Se Patrons and Prisoners - Monday, July 27, noon - 1:15 pm

Taxation Without Representation: An Overview of the D.C. Legislative Process and Research—program B3, Sunday, July 26, 3:00-4:00 

The District of Columbia, as a capital city established under the United States Constitution, is not a state, and the local government structure was formed by an act of Congress. Consequently, the District of Columbia receives special treatment under the law, limiting the representation of its citizens in the federal government and subjecting the legislation passed by the Council of the District of Columbia to congressional review. Presenters will focus on this special treatment. One speaker will provide an overview of the legislative history of efforts seeking the vote for D.C. citizens, and another will describe the consequences of this special treatment.  The final speaker will identify issues unique to researching the laws of the District of Columbia, such as how the federal home rule statute affects the effective date of the legislation of the Council of the District of Columbia. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the complex and unique issues that may arise when researching local D.C. law.

Meg Butler, Coordinator and Moderator, New York Law School Library

Lorelei S. Masters, Jenner & Block LLP

Barbara Ridley Monroe, Georgetown University Law Center

The 80/2050 Challenge: What You Can Do to Reduce Your Organization's Impact on Climate Change—program I4, Tuesday, July 28, 10:45-11:45

Scientists warn us that accelerated human-caused climate change is having devastating effects on our planet and advocate that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions world-wide by at least 80 percent by the year 2050. This program will present practical tips on how to work toward this goal by providing proven advice on starting a green office group, determining your library’s and/or parent organization’s climate impact, and prioritizing your climate initiatives. Specific topics will include: tools to measure your organization’s current greenhouse gas emissions; how transportation, waste management and lighting can be modified for a positive impact; how to initiate a zero waste program; and how carbon offsets and renewable energy credits can be part of your organization’s green plan.

David Selden, Coordinator and Speaker, National Indian Law Library/Native American Rights Fund

Steve Kelton, Holland & Knight LLP

The 2009 annual reception will be held at the Hotel Helix, 1430 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 20005, tel. 202-462-9001, http://www.hotelhelix.com/.  We will have the Helix Lounge and the abutting patio. You may take a virtual tour at http://www.hotelhelix.com/html/meeting-facilities-dc.asp#.  There will be a cash bar for those interested, and the standing committee will provided bottled water. The reception will be on Sunday night, July 26th, from 8-11 pm, and there is a suggested donation of $15 at the door. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Alan Holoch Memorial Grant fund, which provides travel and registration grants for SR-SIS members active in the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues.  If you'd like to support the scholarship fund, but you are unable to attend the Standing Committee Reception, please send your tax deductible donations, payable to AALL, with Holoch Grant in the subject line, to AALL, 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Ste 940, Chicago, IL  60604.  We would like to thank our sponsors - LexisNexis and Wolters Kluwer - for making this event possible.  Also, the Hotel Helix has generously donated a door prize of a free night's stay.

RSVPs are requested but not required, as they would assist us in planning for the reception. It would be helpful if you could notify us of your intention to attend by contacting Meg Butler, 2009 Chair of the Standing Committee, via email at mbutler@nyls.edu.

The Hotel Helix is a 10-15 minute walk from the convention center: Take Massachusetts Avenue NW westbound to Thomas Circle NW, proceed north (to the right) on 14th Street NW, turn left onto Rhode Island Avenue NW. You can also reach it by the DC Circulator bus (http://www.dccirculator.com/): From the front of the convention center take the Georgetown line to 14th street NW, transfer to the Woodley Park line and exit at the first stop at P Street NW, walk south one block and turn right at the Caribou Coffee onto Rhode Island Avenue NW, cost for the ride is $2.00, or $1.00 with a SmarTrip™ card.

The Alan Holoch Memorial Grant Committee is now taking applications for the 2009 AALL annual meeting.
 
The Alan Holoch Memorial Grant is available to help SR-SIS members defray the cost of travel or registration for the AALL Annual Meeting in Washington DC. Individuals chosen to receive the grant have the potential to make significant contributions to law librarianship through their involvement with AALL and the Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section's Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues:  Embracing the Diversity of Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities. See the application on the SR-SIS website for more information.

Please share some light refreshments and interesting conversation with librarians interested in improving services to pro se patrons in our libraries and to improving access to legal information for prisoners. Our sixth annual roundtable will be held during the lunch hour on Monday July 27, 2009 (12pm-1:15pm). Two SISs -- the State, Court and Counties Law Libraries SIS and the Legal Information Services to the Public SIS  -- are co-sponsoring this joint roundtable with the SR-SIS. We usually have about 40 people in attendance. This event is open to anyone – SIS membership doesn’t matter and there is no pre-registration. Please put it on your Annual Meeting calendar!

It’s time to start gearing up for our Children’s Book Drive!  This book drive is held every year in conjunction with the AALL annual meeting, and in honor of our host city this year’s theme is “Uncle Sam Wants Your Books!”  But truth be told, the people who really want your books are the students, parents, librarians, and teachers at Heather Hill Elementary School, this year’s recipient for the SR book drive.

Heather Hill Elementary is in the Prince George’s County School District, a Maryland county that borders D.C.  It is the 17^th largest school district in the country, with a high population of under-served minorities and immigrants.  It is also one of the most disadvantaged and economically distressed districts in Maryland, struggling with recent budget cuts and a community that has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

Heather Hill Elementary serves a special population as it is a TAG magnet school which, although it provides many opportunities for the students, also creates an extra burden for the constant renewal of library resources.  But since it is a TAG school, the school also gets a good deal of community and parental support - they are really trying to meet the challenges of their community and to move ahead.

How can you help the Heather Hill community meet their challenges?

• Order a book online from the “AALL Book Drive 2009 Wish List” on Amazon.com, by searching the Wish Lists for the keyword “aall”, or by going straight to http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/20S6D48IVIM66    Books ordered this way will be delivered directly to Heather Hill Elementary School. 

• Send check [made out to AALL] or online bookstore gift card to our Book Drive team:

Ms. Stacy Etheredge
University of Richmond School of Law
Muse Law Library
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA  23173

• Drop off books or online gift cards or checks in D.C. during the AALL Meeting at the Social Responsibilities SIS (SR-SIS) table in the Exhibit Hall.

If you have questions about the book drive, please contact one of the members of the SR-SIS Book Drive Team (Leslie Campbell, leslie.campbell@ao.uscourts.gov, and Stacy Etheredge, sethered@richmond.edu). 

The Social Responsibilities SIS and AALL continue the tradition of giving something back to the community that hosts our Annual Meeting through this, our eleventh annual Children’s Book Drive.  For a list of the prior book drives see, http://aallnet.org/sis/srsis/projects.html.