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Business & Finance Division Bulletin • number 124
the SLA site and still awaits the implementation
of the necessary changes. In February 2003, it
was noted that the registration form on the site
had developed technical difficulties and the
webmaster was notified of her need to correct the
problem. As of June 7, the committee hasn’t seen
an online solution. The committee knows of
only two successful mentor/mentee matchings
in the past year. At this year’s conference in NYC,
the B&F open house on Monday, June 9, will have
mentoring as its theme. Committee members and
B&F board members will talk up the program to
attendees. SLA–B&F board members were also
urged to sign–up as mentors.
Brent MAI (Nominating Chair)
At the Annual Business Meeting of the SLA–B&F
Division, the Nominating Committee will present
the following as nominees for Division office:
• For Division Chair–Elect (2003–04) and
Division Chair (2004–05)—
Sylvia James
(Principal of
Sylvia James Consultancy/West Sussex,
England)
• For Treasurer (2003–05)—
Terri Brooks
(Director of Library Services at
Investment Company Institute/
Washington, D.C.)
• For Director–At–Large (2003–05)—
Gayle Kiss
(Marketing Manager
at LexisNexis Canada/Toronto, Ontario)
No other nominations were received ahead
of time.
Marty CULLEN (Division Chair)
RE: vendor sponsorship for SLA–B&F
programs at the annual conference
Some sponsors pulled out after making an
initial commitment, but the money was made
up elsewhere after much beating of the bushes.
Sponsors have so far committed to provide
$63,500 in financial support for SLA–B&F
programs, which represents the most ever raised
for division programming. Original budgeted
estimates made in January anticipated a need
for $64,500.
The lack of direct sponsorship support from
Thomson Financial was the biggest
disappointment this year, according to the
Fall 2003 • page 47
Business & Finance Division
Executive Board Meeting
Draft Minutes
Chair, who noted a trend among vendors to use
marketing dollars on company–sponsored
parties rather than on underwriting division–
sponsored programming.
The division would liked to have held more
sessions off–site during the annual convention to
save money, however, SLA bylaws prevented such
a strategy. Only open houses and breakfasts may
be held off–site and several were scheduled in this
manner to reduce conference–related expenses.
Approximately 650 SLA–B&F members had
signed up to attend the annual convention as
of May 1, 2003, which represents a healthy
outlook for anticipated attendance. Ticketed
events sponsored by SLA–B&F also appear to
have large number of pre–registered attendees.
One program had to be cancelled, however,
due to few sign–ups. There is hope that there
will be a fair number of walk–ups on the day
of scheduled programming. As of May 29,
2003, monies collected for pre–registration
of ticketed events totaled almost $29,000.
Of this amount, the division will retain
roughly half (after expenses). Original budget
estimates made in January had anticipated
$49,000 in total revenue from continuing
education and ticketed events.
The chair said his focus this past year has been
to making sure the division had lined up
necessary corporate sponsorship and generated
enough interest in its SLA–B&F programming to
inspire registration for ticketed events.
Cindy LENOX (Division Chair–Elect)
The Chair–Elect said her initial focus in the
past year was to contact current chairs and
committee heads to try and secure their
continued input in SLA–B&F governance.
Continuity is very important, she stressed, even
if veteran SLA–B&F members can only provide
an advisory role to the new leadership team.
This year the division will need an especially
strong Membership Chair because membership
levels are showing continued slippage. During
her upcoming term, Lenox foresees much effort
will be needed to offset “membership stagnation.”
Although the SLA is also generating fewer new
members, perhaps the SLA–B&F could recruit
additional SLA members to join the division by