[LM_NET] GEN: Next ALA election totally online

[Sara Kelly Johns <sarakellyjohns@YAHOO.COM>]

An annoucement from ALA President Jim Rettig:

From: "Rettig, Jim" <jrettig@richmond.edu>Date: September 29, 2008 5:34:22 PM 
EDTTo: <alacoun@ala.org>Subject: [alacoun-ro] [alacoun] ALA election information
 Dear Colleagues:  I am pleased to announce that the Spring 2009 ALA election will 
be the Association’s first all online election.  Over
the last five years, since we first introduced online voting, the
number of online voters has steadily grown, with the vast majority of
members now voting online. Even more importantly, the introduction of
online balloting has significantly increased member participation in
the election process.  It’s
no secret that the coming year promises to be a difficult year
financially for all of us. It is also a year in which every
organization is looking at ways in which it can reduce energy
consumption and adopt “greener” approaches. For these reasons, the
decision to save nearly a half million pieces of paper and $90,000 in
postage and printing is good for the association - and environment.
Funds that would have been used for paper ballots can now be used to
support critical member services and advocacy activities on behalf of
libraries.  Under
the new procedure, members who have not provided ALA with email
addresses by March 1, 2009 will receive a paper mailing with
information on the election web site and an individual election
password. Those without internet access at home or work can easily
access the site through a visit to their local public (or in many
instances academic or school) library.  A
printed version of a paper ballot will continue to be readily available
upon request to members with disabilities and no internet access.  At
this point, you can help us all prepare for our first online election
by logging on to the ALA web site (that’s in the upper right hand
corner of the home page)  and adding your email address to your member record 
(instructions on how to do this are provided on the site).  Further information on 
the upcoming election and new procedures will be forthcoming in American Libraries, 
AL Direct, and member mailings. In the meantime, ALA Librarian Karen Muller 
(kmuller@ala.org) or Member Services Director Juanita Rodriguez 
(jrodriguez@ala.org ) can answer any questions you may have.  Looking forward to 
the Association’s first all online election,  Jim RettigALA President

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sara Kelly Johns

Immediate Past President, AASL

Associate Editor for AASL Community, Knowledge Quest

Lake Placid Middle/High School LMC

34 School Street

Lake Placid, NY 12946

518-523-2474, ext. 4132

FAX: 518-523-4861

johns@northnet.org

SaraKJohns@aol.com

 



"Information is the currency of democracy." -- Thomas Jefferson

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