ALSC Vice President Pat Scales is currently working on committee appointments, a spring task of not some small work. With luck, if you are an ALSC member, you filled in a Committee Volunteer form at conference or online sometime in the past year and expressed interest in serving on some of the amazing committees that move the work of ALSC forward.
These appointments in the spring are to the “guts” and “nuts and bolts” committees (here are more detailed descriptions of all committees) in the Child Advocacy, Projects and Development, Professional Awards and Scholarships, Organizational Support, Professional Development and Partnerships priority groups. Although it is the tendency of many of us to fill in the volunteer form with our hope to serve on a book or media award or evaluation committee (fall appointments), I think it is the spring appointment committees where the best work for kids and our profession occur.
Why? It is within many of these committees where we pioneer “best practices” for the profession; that we advocate most effectively for children and libraries; and that we effect the most change in the profession. Each of us is powerful and can provide leadership through our work on committees – not just at conferences but in work done throughout the year electronically.
Work on these committees is sometimes seen as a step towards appointment or election to an awards or evaluation committee but I think committees in the above priority areas have a much deeper intrinsic value. You learn the ropes of the association, can propose and help nurture fantastic projects to fruition, work on your leadership skills and be involved in rich, vital work that makes a real difference to our association and profession. You don’t need to be a “process junkie” to enjoy the challenge of these committees -just someone willing to pitch in and contribute and lead the association through your passion, ideas and hard work.
So please consider saying yes to a committee appointment or filling in the form for future appointments with an eye towards the “behind-the-scenes” committee work that makes the real differences in our profession. You’ll be glad you did!
Marge Loch-Wouters