Dear Members,
This is my final post as ALSC Past-President—I know my term technically ended on June 30th, but I wanted to take a moment to say a few things now that I have cycled off of the Board.
First, I want to acknowledge the challenges that the last few years have brought for both ALSC and YALSA. When I first began my term in 2023, I was not expecting anything out of the ordinary to take place, but as we all know, that was not in the cards. And that brings me to my second point. It takes a village to undertake such a gargantuan task:
- Thank you especially to Claudette McLinn for keeping the ship afloat and guiding the regular work of the division forward, and to Ariana Hussain for remaining steadfast in her support and for confronting the formidable task of appointments in a time of such unpredictability.
- Thank you to the ALSC and YALSA Boards of Directors for their time, energy, guidance, and support over the last year and a half of planning and strategizing.
- Thank you to the members of the Reunification Working Group—Yvette Garcia (YALSA), Caroline Aversano (YALSA), Isaiah West (YALSA), Julie Roach (ALSC), and Robbin Friedman (ALSC)—who were instrumental in guiding staff, reviewing communications and strategic reunification plans, and making recommendations for Task Forces and other initiatives over the coming year.
- Thank you to Alena Rivers, the ALSC/YALSA Executive Director, and all of the ALSC and YALSA staff who have done so much invisible work to make the reunification happen as smoothly as possible while also continuing the day-to-day work of the divisions.
- Thank you to Mary Voors, our fearless ALSC Blog manager who has worked tirelessly to keep people informed, provide blogging opportunities for members, and ensure our committees have a venue to discuss their work and keep us all in the loop.
I also want to thank all of you, our members, and everyone who came out to the various member engagement opportunities at Annual and in the months leading up to it. This includes those who came to
the virtual Town Halls, the “huddle” in the exhibits hall at Annual, as well as ALSC/YALSA 101, the Interest Meetup, and the joint Membership Meeting. We say it a lot, but the division would not be able to function without all of you, and we truly mean it.
As we embark on the next year of the transition to the reunified division, it is more important than ever that we hear from you and understand what it is that you are wanting from the division. We recently approved a new organizational/committee structure for all of the combined standing committees, and over the next year, staff and member leaders will assess how to best ensure that the charges and rosters best address the needs of those who serve children and teens.
In addition, as leadership and staff work with our new consultants on long-term strategic planning, there
will be many more opportunities for member engagement and consultation, leading to a stronger division with a unified mission and vision, and a brand that better reflects the work of everyone in the newly combined division membership.
I am excited to see how things come together over the next year, and I look forward to seeing what can be accomplished by the division with the guidance, passion and determination of you, our dedicated members. Please be sure to fill out your volunteer form or email your fabulous new President if you want
to me a part of an award committee or standing committee in the future.
Filling all of these positions can be a daunting task—I know from experience—and I also know that we are all feeling the pressure these days, but I know that Ariana and the division can rely on you all to help us spread out the work and make sure that the division not only survives, but thrives, amidst the many financial, political, and social obstacles we are facing. So, a great big THANK YOU in advance for your time and commitment to this work.
And with that, I wish to say farewell as your ALSC Immediate Past-President. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the division in this capacity. Thank you all for making it such a wonderful experience. I look forward to seeing the division thrive under the leadership of new President Ariana Hussain, Vice-
President Danielle Jones, and the newly seated Directors, Deadra Brown, Renee Ting, and Heather Beverley.
Onwards!
Rob Bittner