ANDRE ON HIS CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, HOW HIS FIRST AALL ANNUAL MEETING INSPIRED HIM TO ENTER AALL’S INNOVATION TOURNAMENT, AND THE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS HE HAS MADE THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION
Andre Davison is the Research Technology Manager at Blank Rome LLP in Houston, Texas.
Why did you join AALL?
As a student in library school at the University of North Texas, I joined the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) for three specific reasons: (1) to expand my network outside of my local law librarian community; (2) to leverage the wealth of resources available on AALLNET to find job opportunities in the legal profession; and (3) to gain insight of trends and best practices in the legal information industry.
Why do you stay a member?
Benjamin Franklin stated, “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” I stay a member of AALL because of the organization’s contribution to my continual growth and progress through its core values of: lifelong learning and intellectual growth; commitment to diversity and inclusion; equitable and permanent public access to trustworthy legal information; continuous improvement in access to justice; community and collaboration; and the essential role of law librarians and legal information professionals within their organizations and within their community.
What one membership benefit is most valuable to you?
Access to the AALL Community. I think the tagline for the AALL conference describes the importance of AALL’s community best: “We are stronger, smarter, and more successful together.” I have connected with many excellent professionals who have inspired, informed, and influenced my growth in the legal information profession. The AALL community has provided me with a sublime network of talented individuals across the country.
What is your favorite memory associated with AALL?
My first AALL Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, is my favorite memory thus far associated with AALL. I met a group of awesome law librarians at that conference who have become great colleagues and friends. The first Innovation Tournament took place at the conference as well. The many innovative ideas from an outstanding group of finalists inspired me to enter the Innovation Tournament at this year’s Washington, DC meeting. Most memorable was the conference keynote speaker Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. In a speech entitled “American Injustice: Mercy, Humanity, and Making a Difference,” Stevenson gave the charge to attendees to “get proximate, stay hopeful, change the narrative, and be willing to do uncomfortable things. These words continue to inspire me both personally and professionally.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family. Experiences like Daddy Daughter Dance with my daughter Fallon at the end-of-year recital, traveling through the Panama Canal with my wife Felicia, or rooting on my son Nijal and the Evangel Crusaders football team bring me great joy. My newest hobby is home automation, automating the ability to control items around the house with a simple push of a button (or a voice command).
What book(s) are you currently reading?
The Houston Area Law Librarians (HALL) and the Dallas Area Law Librarians have started a joint Diversity & Inclusion book club, “Club HN,” (HN = Library of Congress Classification System for Social History and Conditions, Problems, and Reform). Ironically, our inaugural book we choose to read this month is Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.
What’s your favorite travel destination?
My favorite travel destination is Negril, Jamaica. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the coastline is beautiful.
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