Submitted by Deborah Lauseng, Acting Recording Secretary
Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The Annual Business Meeting of the Midwest Chapter was held Monday, October 20 at the Detroit Marriott Troy, Michigan.
- The proposed revised chapter bylaws were approved by the chapter membership. The key revisions included: the treasurer submitting a preliminary budget for the following calendar year at the fall Executive Board meeting (a change from submitting the budget for the current calendar year at the spring Executive Board meeting); and replacing the standing Governmental Relations Committee with a single Governmental Relations Liaison. There were also general edits made throughout the document. The approved bylaws are available on the chapter website under the Business tab.
- Membership Secretary Bette Sydelko reported that as of September 30, 2008, there were 399 chapter members. This number includes thirteen student members (membership which is free to current library and information school students). Bette noted that six of the student members were in attendance at this meeting.
- Bette also recognized Beth Carlin for her work on designing the traveling Midwest Chapter banner for use with recruitment into the health sciences librarian profession and for membership in the chapter. The banner is available for use within the states and shipping costs will be covered by the chapter.
- Treasurer Marlene Porter reported that as of October 16, 2008, the beginning balance was $52,594.21, the ending balance was $79,086.55 for a net increase of $26,492.34. This balance also reflects a deposit of $35,000.00 from the Michigan Health Sciences Library Association toward the annual meeting expenses.
- Pam Rees, Representative to the MLA Chapter Council, gave an overview of the work of Chapter Council.
- Donna Barbour-Talley, Annual Meetings Committee Chair, announced the upcoming annual meeting schedule: October 3-6, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio; September 24-28, 2010, in Madison, Wisconsin; 2011 in Indiana; and 2012 in Minnesota.
- Ellen O'Donnell, 2008 Program Chair, thanked everyone for coming to this year's joint Midwest Chapter MLA/Michigan Health Sciences Libraries Association annual conference "Vital Signs." She reported that there were 162 registrants (74 MHSLA members, 90 Midwest members; some people with dual membership). Ellen thanked Sandra Martin, Local Arrangements Chair, and all the committee chairs and members. More than 40 people worked to prepare this year's conference.
- The highlight of the Business Meeting is the annual awards. Sheryl Stevens, Awards and Scholarships Committee Chair, presented the following awards:
- The Annual Meeting Scholarships, awarded to current library school students, were presented to Chrysta Meadowbrooke, University of Michigan, and Zach Young, University of Kentucky. They each received $500 toward attendance at the conference.
- The Professional Development Award went to Christine Allen, Munson Medical Center in Michigan. This $500 award supports first time attendance at Annual Meeting.
- The Jean Williams Sayre Innovation Award was presented to the Gundersen Lutheran Library and Health Information Services Department, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, for their work on the GLine database of hospital researcher's publications. Mary Jo Boland accepted the certificate and $500 award on behalf of the staff.
- The 2008 Distinguished Librarian of the Year award was presented to Logan Ludwig, Associate Dean, Loyola University Health Sciences Library. Carole Gilbert, recent Distinguished Librarian, presented Logan with a commemorative plaque and a check for $500.
- Further information about the Midwest Chapter awards and scholarships can be found on the Chapter website under the Awards tab.
- Mary Markland, President, announced the results of the elections and nominations:
- President Elect: Elaine Skopelja, 2009
- Membership Secretary: Rebecca Caton, 2009-2010
- Representative at Large: Ximena Chrisagis, 2009-2010
- Archivist: Mary Hitchcock, 2009-2010
- Potential Candidate to the MLA Nominating Committee: Charniel McDaniels, 2009
- Clare Leibfarth, ConnectMidwest blog editor, encouraged everyone to become a blogger and contribute to ConnectMidwest. Clare invited people to stop by the booth in the exhibitors' area to learn how easy it is to enter information.
- Bette Sydelko and Marlene Porter, Co-Program Chairs of the 2009 Midwest Chapter Annual Conference, gave a special invitation to the upcoming meeting in Columbus, Ohio, October 3-6 at the Hyatt on Capitol Square. The theme is "Seek, Explore, Discover." Three names were drawn from the conference attendees for certificates to the Ohio 2009 Annual Conference. The winners were: Katherine Chew, University of Minnesota, Bio-Medical Library; Merle Rosenzweig, University of Michigan, Health Sciences Libraries; and Chrysta Meadowbrooke, University of Michigan, School of Information.
