Midcontinental Chapter of the
Medical Library Association

* Colorado * Kansas * Missouri * Nebraska * South Dakota * Utah * Wyoming *

1999-2000 Accomplishments

Professional Development

Goal: Facilitate educational opportunities for members

Objective: Develop annual meeting program and CE offerings that address educational needs of the membership
Action Plan: Plan, develop and offer a timely and pertinent annual meeting program and CE offerings in Denver, Fall 2000
Responsibility: 2000 Annual Meeting Planners, Education Committee
Goal accomplished.

Goal: Develop leadership skills among the leadership

Objective: For 2000-2001, complete MCMLA's Chair/Committee Member Roster
Action Plan: Distribute Willingness to Serve application form, select and appoint chapter members to committees
Responsibility: Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect
Goal accomplished.

Advocacy

Goal: MCMLA advocates for health sciences library and information professionals

Objective: Further develop and strengthen the chapter's current governmental relations program
Action Plan: Monitor, evaluate and disseminate information on relevant health information policy issues to the membership
Action Plan: Utilize the chapter's listserv to inform members of critical health policy or professional issues
Responsibility: Governmental Relations Committee
Goal accomplished.

Goal: Encourage intraprofessional development within MCMLA

Objective: Evaluate current needs for mentoring relationships among chapter members
Action Plan: Utilize the listserv, a mailing, focus groups or any appropriate means to evaluate the need for and interest in mentoring within MCMLA
Action Plan: Monitor MLA efforts to develop a mentoring program, working with MLA if possible to develop professionals within the chapter
Responsibility: Education Committee, with assistance from the Membership Committee
Goal accomplished.

Goal: Preserve and promote the MCMLA's heritage

Objective: Provide membership with better access to MCMLA's archives and history
Action Plan: Add MCMLA's history to the website
Action Plan: Formalize MCMLA archival guidelines, promoting the guidelines to the membership
Action Plan: Provide MCMLA historical news to members via the newsletter, website or other appropriate mechanisms
Responsibility: Archivist, Website Editor and Publications Committee
Goal accomplished. Further use of the action plans is possible.

Goal: Recognize professional excellence among MCMLA's membership

Objective: Identify exemplary professionals for receipt of MCMLA's Awards
Action Plan: Solicit nominations for chapter awards via the MCMLA website and/or listserv
Action Plan: Provide periodic updates on former award recipients via the website, listserv or newsletter
Action Plan: Distribute nomination materials to members by mail
Action Plan: Evaluate nominations and determine recipients of MCMLA's awards
Action Plan: Recognize all members accepting leadership roles within MCMLA
Responsibility: Honors and Awards Committee, with the help of the Publications Committee
Goal accomplished. Further use of the action plans is possible.

Organization

Goal: Maintain and improve MCMLA's organization structure

Objective: Fortify the chapter through organizational and fiscal development
Action Plan: Evaluate the chapter's 1997 Strategic Plan and consider future needs of the chapter
Action Plan: Operate MCMLA in a fiscally sound manner
Action Plan: Evaluate opportunities to enhance programs and services responsive to members' needs
Action Plan: Foster effective communication within the association and with external constituencies
Responsibility: Chapter Chair, Executive Secretary and Executive Committee
Goal accomplished. Recommend retirement of the 1997 Strategic Plan.

Goal: Maintain accurate organizational guidelines

Objective: Complete a thorough revision of the MCMLA Bylaws
Action Plan: Review and revise bylaws; coordinate chapter bylaws revision with the MLA Bylaws Committee; and distribute revised bylaws to chapter members for review and approval at the annual meeting in 2000
Responsibility: Bylaws Committee
Goal accomplished.

Research

Goal: To participate in benchmarking efforts as a chapter

Objective: Encourage the training of qualified professionals within the Midcontinental Chapter
Action Plan: Survey MCMLA members regarding what courses they would like to see among graduate library curriculum
Action Plan: Summarize and report findings to MCMLA members
Responsibility: Research Committee
Goal partially accomplished

Goal: To broaden MCMLA's research base

Objective: To facilitate and publicize research activities within MCMLA
Action Plan: Query past and present MCMLA research committee members regarding research activities
Action Plan: Continue membership focus groups (virtual, face-to-face, etc.) regarding research issues
Action Plan: Post results of chapter research efforts on the MCMLA website
Responsibility: Research Committee
Goal partially accomplished.

Communication

Goal: Facilitate communication among the MCMLA membership

Objective: Expand and enhance the MCMLA website and its usage
Action Plan: Provide members' professional contact information via the website, including an online email address directory of MCMLA members
Action Plan: Encourage subscription to and use of the MCMLA listserv by all chapter members
Action Plan: Provide routine chapter updates via the MCMLA listserv
Responsibility: Website Editor, Chapter Chair and Executive Committee
Goal accomplished.

Membership Development

Goal: Increase recruitment and retention of MCMLA members

Objective: Develop mechanism for informing chapter leaders and Membership Committee of potential new members
Action Plan: Evaluate current recruitment plan, refine and publicize recruitment options via the listserv
Action Plan: Work with Executive Secretary to encourage renewed memberships among recent chapter "dropouts"
Responsibility: Membership Committee, Executive Secretary
Goal accomplished. Annual attention to this

Executive Committee Action Items 1999-2000: Anna Beth Crabtree

1. Approval to proceed with the exploration of MCMLA's participation in the Tri-Chapter Meeting in 2001. (10/20/99)
2. Approved the new designation of Web Site Editor as annually appointed position within MCMLA. Appointed Lynne Fox to be the Web Site Editor for 1999-2000. (10/20/99)
3. Increased the amount of "seed money" from $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 given to local organizing groups to facilitate planning of MCMLA's annual meeting. (10/20/99)
4. To correct an earlier error, the Executive Committee agreed to suspend the bylaws during 1999-2000 with regards to their decision not to elect a Recording Secretary during this one-year period. The next Recording Secretary will be elected during the Spring 2001 election. (10/20/99)
5. Selected a new MCMLA logo from those proposed by the Publications Committee (11/08/99)
6. Approved the following items recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee on the MCMLA Directory: (12/07/99)
1. The MCMLA website directory will be in .pdf format. MCMLA will mail a copy of the directory to members who are unable to access a .pdf document.
2. The Executive Secretary will use the annual membership renewal form to gather information related to inclusion/exclusion of members from the directory.
3. The MCMLA-L listserv will be used to notify members of the directory's availability on the website. In general, the directory will only be updated annually.
7. Proposed a ten-year annual meeting rotation, gathered membership feedback and approved the following meeting rotation. (12/14/99)
1. 2000 - Denver, CO
2. 2001 - New Orleans, LA: Joint Mtg. with Southern & South Central chapters
3. 2002 - Kansas
4. 2003 - South Dakota
5. 2004 - Kansas City
6. 2005 - Utah
7. 2006 - St. Louis
8. 2007 - Omaha
9. 2008 - Wyoming
10. 2009 – Colorado
8. MCMLA's Executive Committee accepted the South Central Chapter's invitation to participate in a Tri-Chapter Meeting. (2/22/00) The official three-way agreement was signed in Vancouver, BC, at the Annual Meeting of the Medical Library Association by Chapter Chair, Anna Beth Crabtree, on May 9, 2000.
9. Approved the funding of the chapter's new membership brochures, as presented by the Membership Committee (project coordinated by Jeanne LeBer). (03/00/00)
10. MCMLA Archival Policy was approved for inclusion in the chapter's procedure manual. (04/04/00)
11. Approved the funding of two MCMLA representatives (the Annual Meeting Planner/Rebecca Graves and the 2000-2001 Chair/Lisa Traditi) to attend the South Central chapter's annual meeting in El Paso, Texas in October 2000. These two plus four others (Jeanne LeBer, Teri Hartman, Jim Bothmer and Susan Craft) are MCMLA's six planners/liaisons to the Tri-Chapter Planning Committees organizing the 2001 annual meeting in New Orleans. (06/06/00)

Chair's Updates 1999-2000: Anna Beth Crabtree

The listserv was used for distribution of eleven Chair's Updates, sent approximately once per month. The updates were used to:

1. Provide updates on Executive Committee actions
2. Promote MCMLA committee activities and members
3. Reminders of MLA national events
4. Promote the listserv, chapter meetings, Credentialing program, etc.

Feedback intended appreciation of the content and effort to keep the membership better informed of professional issues.

1999-2000 Priorities

Professional Development

Goal: Facilitate educational opportunities for members
Objective: Develop annual meeting program and CE offerings that address educational needs of the membership
- Action Plan: Plan, develop and offer a timely and pertinent annual meeting program and CE offerings in Denver, Fall 2000
Responsibility: 2000 Annual Meeting Planners, Education Committee

Goal: Develop leadership skills among the leadership
Objective: For 2000-2001, complete MCMLA's Chair/Committee Member Roster
- Action Plan: Distribute Willingness to Serve application form, select and appoint chapter members to committees
Responsibility: Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect

Advocacy

Goal: MCMLA advocates for health sciences library and information professionals
Objective: Further develop and strengthen the chapter's current governmental relations program
- Action Plan: Monitor, evaluate and disseminate information on relevant - health information policy issues to the membership
- Action Plan: Utilize the chapter's listserv to inform members of critical health policy or professional issues
Responsibility: Governmental Relations Committee

Goal: Encourage intraprofessional development within MCMLA
Objective: Evaluate current needs for mentoring relationships among chapter members
- Action Plan: Utilize the listserv, a mailing, focus groups or any appropriate means to evaluate the need for and interest in mentoring within MCMLA
- Action Plan: Monitor MLA efforts to develop a mentoring program, working with MLA if possible to develop professionals within the chapter
Responsibility: Education Committee, with assistance from the Membership Committee

Goal: Preserve and promote the MCMLA's heritage
Objective: Provide membership with better access to MCMLA's archives and history
- Action Plan: Add MCMLA's history to the website
- Action Plan: Formalize MCMLA archival guidelines, promoting the guidelines to the membership
- Action Plan: Provide MCMLA historical news to members via the newsletter, website or other appropriate mechanisms
Responsibility: Archivist, Website Editor and Publications Committee

Goal: Recognize professional excellence among MCMLA's membership
Objective: Identify exemplary professionals for receipt of MCMLA's Awards
- Action Plan: Solicit nominations for chapter awards via the MCMLA website and/or listserv
- Action Plan: Provide periodic updates on former award recipients via the website, listserv or newsletter
- Action Plan: Distribute nomination materials to members by mail
- Action Plan: Evaluate nominations and determine recipients of MCMLA's awards
- Action Plan: Recognize all members accepting leadership roles within MCMLA
Responsibility: Honors and Awards Committee, with the help of the Publications Committee

Organization

Goal: Maintain and improve MCMLA's organization structure
Objective: Fortify the chapter through organizational and fiscal development
- Action Plan: Evaluate the chapter's 1997 Strategic Plan and consider future needs of the chapter
- Action Plan: Operate MCMLA in a fiscally sound manner
- Action Plan: Evaluate opportunities to enhance programs and services responsive to members' needs
- Action Plan: Foster effective communication within the association and with external constituencies
Responsibility: Chapter Chair, Executive Secretary and Executive Committee

Goal: Maintain accurate organizational guidelines
Objective: Complete a thorough revision of the MCMLA Bylaws
- Action Plan: Review and revise bylaws; coordinate chapter bylaws revision with the MLA Bylaws Committee; and distribute revised bylaws to chapter members for review and approval at the annual meeting in 2000
Responsibility: Bylaws Committee

Research

Goal: To participate in benchmarking efforts as a chapter
Objective: Encourage the training of qualified professionals within the Midcontinental Chapter
- Action Plan: Survey MCMLA members regarding what courses they would like to see among graduate library curriculum
- Action Plan: Summarize and report findings to MCMLA members
Responsibility: Research Committee

Goal: To broaden MCMLA's research base
Objective: To facilitate and publicize research activities within MCMLA
- Action Plan: Query past and present MCMLA research committee members regarding research activities
- Action Plan: Continue membership focus groups (virtual, face-to-face, etc.) regarding research issues
- Action Plan: Post results of chapter research efforts on the MCMLA website
Responsibility: Research Committee

Communication

Goal: Facilitate communication among the MCMLA membership
Objective: Expand and enhance the MCMLA website and its usage
- Action Plan: Provide members' professional contact information via the website, including an online email address directory of MCMLA members
- Action Plan: Encourage subscription to and use of the MCMLA listserv by all chapter members
- Action Plan: Provide routine chapter updates via the MCMLA listserv
Responsibility: Website Editor, Chapter Chair and Executive Committee

Membership Development

Goal: Increase recruitment and retention of MCMLA members
Objective: Develop mechanism for informing chapter leaders and Membership Committee of potential new members
- Action Plan: Evaluate current recruitment plan, refine and publicize recruitment options via the listserv
- Action Plan: Work with Executive Secretary to encourage renewed memberships among recent chapter "dropouts"
Responsibility: Membership Committee, Executive Secretary