The following message from President Marjorie Mitchell was sent to the members of BC's library community yesterday, June 21, 2010.
As a critical step toward ensuring BCLA's ongoing relevance and viability, today I am announcing the formation of the President's Task Force on Strategic Sustainability. As has been made clear to members over the past several months, BCLA cannot continue with "business as usual" and remain a financially healthy organization.
Although the issue of governance is complex, the Task Force's charge from me is straightforward: to review and recommend revisions to the overall organizational model of the Association, in consultation with BCLA members and non-members. The Task Force will deliver its recommendations to me in January, and I will present these to the Board at the January 31, 2011 Board meeting. The Board will determine what motions or resolutions will be presented to the membership for ratification at the April 9, 2011, Annual General Meeting.
The Task Force cannot do this in isolation. We have to engage the BCLA membership, and those who are not BCLA members, in these discussions and decisions. I hope our members can see this as their opportunity to have very meaningful roles to play in the Association. While all this is being done at a time of financial pressure to the Association, it is not a negative thing for the Association. Self-examination can uncover over-looked strengths and set the stage for us to take advantage of new opportunities.
As you will see from the Task Force Terms of Reference (below and attached as a pdf), from now until the end of August, the Task Force members will be gathering information, developing the work plan, and forming sub-committees.
The sub-committees will provide an opportunity for other interested individuals and stakeholders to participate in the work of the Task Force. A component of the work plan will be the identification of the various ways that communication will flow both to and from the Task Force, its sub-committees and the BC library community. It is very important that this process be open and transparent.
In 2011, BCLA will celebrate its 100th year of life as a part of the library communities in the Pacific Northwest. We must be sure that BCLA meets the needs of members and potential members in 2011 and beyond, and that it is constituted in a way which will ensure financial viability and effectiveness as an association representing library staff in BC. For that reason, I'm pleased and grateful to announce the appointments of the following individuals to the President's Task Force on Strategic Sustainability:
- Johanne Blenkin, Courthouse Libraries of BC
- Daniel Brendle-Moczuk, McPherson Library, University of Victoria
- Rob O'Brennan, Fraser Valley Regional Library
- Roen Janyk, recent UBC SLAIS graduate
- Christopher Kevlahan, Vancouver Public Library, & BCLA VP/President Elect
In addition, the following will serve as ex officio members of the Taskforce:
- Ken Cooley, McPherson Library, University of Victoria & BCLA Past President and Chair, Governance Committee
- Christina de Castell, Vancouver Public Library, BCLA Past Treasurer and Chair, Fund Development Committee
- Alane Wilson, BCLA Executive Director
If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I will bring them to the Task Force for their consideration.
There will be further calls for your formal participation as the work of the Task Force moves forward and I encourage you to be a part of this positive process of renewal.
President’s Task Force on Strategic Sustainibility - Terms of Reference
Task Force Charge: to review and recommend revisions to the structure, mission, governance, management and overall organization model of the Association, in consultation with BCLA members and non-members.
Task Force Outcomes: To present a report to the BCLA Board in January 2011, which will include recommendations for change and improvement to BCLA’s governance and organizational structure.
Task Force goals:
1. Set short-term goals and objectives related to the Task Force charge,
2. Review best practices for non-profit Boards and recommend a governance model for BCLA,
3. Review and rewrite, if necessary, the BCLA Purpose,
4. Recommend changes to organizational policies, including the Bylaws and the Operations Handbook,
5. Recommend a staffing model for BCLA.
Task Force timeline:
1. Homework Stage – June 21 – July 31, 2010: background reading, information gathering. Who’s involved – Task Force.
2. Definition Stage – August 2010: task identification, sub-committee activation, development and publication of the work plan to be presented to the BCLA Board on September 13, 2010. Who’s involved – Task Force and sub-committees, Governance Committee, Fund Development Committee, 2nd Vice-President.
3. Consultation Phase – September – October 2011: soliciting comment and input from BCLA Board, Sections, Committees and Interest Groups, members-at-large and non-members through surveys, focus groups, meetings and presenting results to BCLA Board on November 22. Who’s involved: Task Force and sub-committees, BCLA Board.
4. Recommendations Stage – November 23, 2010 – January 28, 2010: writing the report to recommend revisions to the structure, mission, governance, management and overall organization model of the Association, and presenting this to the BCLA Board on January 31, 2010, for ratification. Who’s involved: Task Force.
5. Public Comment Stage – February 7 – 14, 2011: Task Force Report will be made public.
6. Governance Stage – February 1 – March 21, 2010: Task Force acts as a resource to the Governance Committee of the BCLA Board which will prepare a Special Resolution to amend the BCLA Constitution and By-laws, issued no later than March 26, 2011, to be voted on at the AGM, April 9, 2011. Who’s nvolved: Governance Committee, Task Force.
7. Implementation Stage – 2011.
There will be further calls for your participation as the work of the Task Force moves forward and I encourage you to be a part of this positive process of renewal.
Kind regards,
Marjorie Mitchell
President, BCLA
marjorie.mitchell@ubc.ca
Marjorie Mitchell
Learning Services Librarian (Collections)
Equity Representative for UBC Okanagan Library
UBC Okanagan Library
3333 University Way
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
Canada
Phone: (250)807-9147
Email: marjorie.mitchell@ubc.ca
