Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to another exciting year with the Special Libraries Association Toronto Chapter.
I’ve always been a strong believer in professional associations. These social networks, particularly the SLA, are a catalyst for the successful information professional. They allow their members to connect, share ideas, and hone their skills. They compliment our professional positions, and ensure a broad and rich perspective of our vocation as a whole. Most importantly, they are an excellent resource to help us express our passion for our work and cultivate this passion among others.
It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you your 2012 executive board.
Kimberly Silk – President Elect
Jennifer Burns – Past President
Heather Brunstad – Treasurer
Erin McDonald – Secretary
Greg Barber – Technology Director
Christine de Luca – Membership Chair
Katya Pereyaslavska – Programming Director
Melanie Brown – Partner Relations Director
Stacey Piesner – First Five Years Director
I would also like to take this opportunity to share some some of the underlying themes behind our goals:
Enhance the Chapter’s Online Visibility and Enhance Communications
Whether our members work in the downtown Toronto, or hours away from the city, they look to the Chapter’s online resources to stay connected. Technology Director Greg Barber, and his team, will strategize ways to expand the abilities of our amazing new website. (A special thank you to the extraordinary efforts Daniel Lee and his team for launching this last year.) We will also increase outreach through a strong social media presence. Our executive, and hopefully all of our membership, will make a point of using our Twitter feed to communicate items of interest to the chapter. We will also grow our LinkedIn and Facebook communities, allowing members to connect with the diversity within our association. Be sure to follow and mention the SLA Toronto Chapter on Twitter @slaToronto.
Another objective in 2012 is to add a little pizzazz to our Chapter’s newsletter, The Courier. As you can see, the new editors are already well on their way achieving that goal.
Building Relationships with Members, Partners, and Other Associations
Relationships are the heartbeat of the chapter. That is why it is important to maintain and grow our membership core, our partnerships, and our connections with other associations.
We will secure and develop partnerships, while maintaining those valuable relationships we already have. These relationships help keep partners connected to hundreds of their core clients. Their presence also helps SLA Toronto continue to deliver quality programming to our constituents.
Since we are so lucky to be geographically situated with in a diverse and thriving city, we’ve been able to partner with other associations. In 2011, SLA Toronto partnered with the Toronto Health Libraries Association, the Toronto Special Libraries and Information Services (T-SLIS) Network, and the Faculty of Information’s Alumni Association. This year we have already branched out and co-marketed an event with Toronto’s Strategic Competitive Intelligence Professionals and with T-SLIS.
Finally, we will grow our membership. So many professionals will be able to connect, learn, and grow with the Special Libraries Association.
Programming
Programming has always been a pillar within the SLA Toronto Chapter. We’ve also discovered, through membership survey analysis, that a variety of events are wanted by members. Skills development is an important element of programming. Off to a strong start in January, we were invited to a session hosted by SCIP, Dr. Craig Fleisher’s Using KITs +1 in Boosing Your Organization’s Analytical Fitness. In February, the Chapter partnered with Springer and brought an exciting halfway workshop on eContent success to Toronto, which featured Mary Ellen Bates as the keynote speaker. We also have Ulla De Stricker on board for a Career development series targeted at New Information Professionals, and run by our New Information Professionals coordinator Bernadette Rocca.
Also important to our membership is ideas sharing. Our programming will include tours of libraries and other events that will foster discussion. A month and a half ago members of SLA Toronto and T-SLIS warmed the front room of the Dora Keogh Irish Pub for a salon like discussion on ebooks and libraries. In addition to the development, it is also important to connect with colleagues. The networking and socializing touchstones of our Chapter will also be strong this year.
The executive board, the advisory board, and by extension all members of SLA Toronto, are engaged, dynamic, and passionate advocates for our profession. In 2012 the SLA Toronto Chapter will continue this role, as a dynamic network and resource, making us stronger, together.
— Laura Warner
SLA Toronto’s President