SLA San Diego Chapter

Welcome New Members

A warm welcome to our new and returning members!  We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events.

• Janet Lerch 
• Jean Miller 
• Laura Wimberley 
• Peggy Makie 
• Svetlana Kondratenko 
• Michael Perrier 

Posted by Elizabeth Grossman, SLA-SD Membership Chair

Talking with SLA-SD President Elect Bobbi Weaver about the Power of Volunteering

During the 2009 SLA Conference, SLA-SD President Elect Bobbi Weaver received the inaugural Business & Finance Division’s Leadership & Service Award. This new award was created to recognize members who demonstrate exemplary leadership and service to community or nonprofit organizations. In the interview presented here, Bobbi fills us in on her experiences as a volunteer and offers insights into the benefits that volunteering brings.

 

Photo: Bobbi Weaver receives the Business & Finance Division’s 2009 Leadership & Service Award from (on the left) Margaret Nelson with EvaluatePharma USA (the sponsor of the award) and (on the right) Terri Brooks, the Business and Finance Division's chair. 

How did you get started as a volunteer? What was your inspiration?

Since I was a child, I’ve been doing volunteer work. I was a Brownie and Girl Scout, and we often were recruited to do various community activities. When I was in college, I was an officer in the Canterbury Club, an Episcopalian-affiliated student fellowship group, through which I did outreach to an area nursing home. 

More recently, I became involved in volunteering to enhance my foreign language skills. In July 2004, I did a volunteer vacation at the Fundacción de Proteción Animal (FPA) in Loja, Ecuador where I organized the group’s small library and did a guest lecture on animal law for the law students at a local university. 
 
In later years, I began relearning French. To help my French skills, I developed an HTML file for La Société Québécoise pour la Défense des Animaux with links to Quebec municipal laws related to companion animals. I later became involved in literacy issues in Haiti, and periodically sent French books to a private school there.

How did you get involved with Haiti Reads, the group cited in the SLA Business & Finance Division's announcement regarding its awarding you the award?

A few months ago, a shipment of French books to the school in Haiti was returned to me. Rather than attempting to resend the package, I searched the Internet for organizations within the US that assist people in Haiti.
 
During my research, I found Haiti Reads. I contacted the president of the organization, Jeanette Attiso, and asked if she could use the French books. She said yes. As we conversed by email, I told her I was a librarian and she indicated that Haiti Reads was planning a small library to serve a community in Port-au-Prince. She later asked if I would be interested in serving on the board of Haiti Reads, and in advising them on the organization of the new library. I agreed, and have been assisting with issues of fundraising, collection development, preservation, cataloging and classification.
 
What results have you seen from your personal volunteer efforts, as well as efforts of nonprofits for which you've served as a volunteer?

In Ecuador, FPA was able to provide materials to a variety of patrons (e.g., members of the general community, university students, veterinary students, farmers), and thus able to help educate people on the humane treatment of animals. For the group, in addition to print materials, I compiled a list of Spanish-language links for information on animal welfare and environmental protection. Unfortunately, FPA later closed due to financial constraints, but the library’s collection was donated to a local university library. 

For Haiti Reads, I’m glad to have been able to provide the direction to launch the new library project. Though the new library is still in development, the building has been rented and is scheduled for renovations next month. This library will provide books and literacy training to children in one of the poorest areas of Haiti’s capital city. 
 
What does volunteering bring you?

Volunteering makes me thankful for what I do have, rather than envious of what I don’t. I am also personally motivated by my faith. 

Volunteering also enhances professional skills that I may not use in my regular job. For example, my job primarily involves reference, but in my volunteer work I’ve used other librarianship skills. I’ve also been able to keep up-to-date on resources outside the traditional legal resources that I use day-to-day.

What advice do you have for other info pros looking to get going with volunteering?

Many local organizations could benefit by having volunteers with librarianship skills. Additionally, because of our proximity to Mexico, librarians might want to consider opportunities across the border. In addition to educational institutions such as schools, organizations dealing with animal protection, environmental protection and human rights can use information professionals to help with community outreach. 

A great place to find volunteer opportunities is the website Idealist.org.  This site offers a database of volunteer opportunities throughout the world. Also, for job-seekers, Idealist.org includes job listings for nonprofit organizations in the US and worldwide. 

SLA Likely to Change Names This Year

As many of you know, SLA has undertaken a detailed study of how our profession is perceived.  The study, referred to as the Alignment Project, looked at information services, SLA members, and the language used to describe them.  Findings were discussed at the Annual Conference in Washington, DC and in the June 2009 issue of Information Outlook (pg. 33.)

One of the key findings is the lack of understanding surrounding the association name.  Special Libraries Association did not test well with any of the groups surveyed for this project.  In addition, it does not communicate the strategic value of the contribution our members make to their organizations and clients.

The SLA Board has begun working on some potential candiate names, however, they are anxious to hear from the membership on possibilities.  There is a Name Change Wiki on the SLA web site to facilitate this conversation and the suggestion of names.  SLA President Gloria Zamora, who spoke at the San Diego Chapter Business Meeting last November, has indicated that proposed name changes could come out as early as this Fall.

Ths San Diego Chapter looks forward to hearing more at our October 9 Fall Seminar about the Alignment Project and its implications for communicating our value.

Proclamation from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

At the West Coast Chapters Reception at the SLA Annual Conference in Washington DC, Libby Trudell, Public Relations Chair of the San Andreas Chapter surprised attendees with a proclamation from the Governor of California.

 Download Governor's Proclamation which reads as follow:

TO:  Special Libraries Association
It is a pleasure to extend my congratulations as you celebrate your centennial.

Over the past 100 years, you have become the foremost association for information professionals throughout the world.  By providing education, advocacy and networking, you empower your members and the organizations they serve to make informed decisions.  These corporate academic and government groups thrive because of you hard work, and I commend your dedication to excellence.

Thank you for your fantastic contributions to our Golden State.  Your California members proudly serve many of our institutions and businesses, and I applaud them for helping others to achieve their goals and improve the state we call home.

On behalf of all Californians, I send my very best wishes for a memorable observance and every future success.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Libby Trudell displays the Proclamation with San Diego Chapter Past President, Kathy Quinn (left.)

More photos of West Coast Chapters Reception

A few more photos of the SLA West Coast Chapters Reception:

SLA-SD Chapter member Kathy Cook and her husband Steve greeting attendees at the welcome table.

                            The poster thanking our sponsors.

 

The views of the White House and the Washington Monument from the windows of the First Amendment Lounge at the National Press Club.

Photos from SLA Annual Conference 2009

Here are some photos from the SLA Annual Conference held in Washington DC June 13-17. You can click on the photos to see the full size image.

               

SLA CEO Janice Lachance at podium and President Gloria Zamora at left at the opening of the INFO-EXPO exhibit hall.

Full-size cardboard figures of President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Clinton were very popular. President Obama is either very tall or SLA-SD Past President Kathy Quinn is very short . . . hmmm . . .

The Hoover robot was quite a hit, greeting the attendees as we entered the ballroom for the opening session and keynote speech by Gen. Colin Powell. The robot was programmed to "talk" and even interact and respond.  Quite fun!

 SLA-SD Chapter President Cindy Shamel at the AIIP (Association for Independent Information Professionals) booth in the exhibit hall.

SLA-SD Chapter member Kathy Cook, Past President Kathy Quinn, and President Cindy Shamel enjoying the celebration of SLA's Centennial.

West Coast Chapters Members Network at Washington DC Reception

I can honestly say, that a good time was had by all.  The National Press Club First Amendment Lounge hummed with intense networking on Monday evening, June 15.  Over 115 members from the seven West Coast Chapters enjoyed the company of their colleagues along with scrumptious food and refreshing beverages.

Organizer and Past President of the San Diego Chapter, Kathy Quinn welcomed all of the guests and thanked our very generous sponsors.   These included IEEE, Infotrieve, EOS, ReprintsDesk, CyberTools for Libraries, Dialog, and Ovid.

                        

Attendees enjoyed good conversation, good food, and fabulous views.  From the windows we could glimpse the Washington Monument and the roof of the White House.

Thanks go to volunteers Kathy Cook, Cubic Corporation; Cindy Shamel, Shamel Information Services; and Gus Pritchett, Gemological Institute of America for staffing the welcome table.

Special thanks to Kathy Quinn for organizing a most enjoyable and successful 2009 West Coast Chapters Reception.

Current Job Openings

Serials/Acquisitions Specialist in Santa Monica

Knowledge Analyst at Biogen Idec Library and Information Services in San Diego (Download BLISjob posting in pdf format)

Best of luck!

Technology and Career Agility: Using New Tools for Career Development

During this program, we plan to have speakers address issues such as using social networks for career advancement, web sites for job searching and career development, and tips for developing online resumes.

When:  Friday, July 10 from 2:45 to 5:00 pm

Where:  Center for Sustainable Energy, 8690 Balboa Ave, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123 

Program

Host Sarah Volpe will provide an introduction to the Center for Sustainable Energy.

Using Social Networking for Career Agility with Christian Gray from Reprints Desk in Santa Monica

Web Sites for Job Searching with Maruice Wilson, Business and Workforce Development, Urban League of San Diego County

How to Draft an Effective Online Resume with Lisa Thomas, co-founder of Change Your Job, who will discuss GigTide.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills for career development. Register now by e-mailing SLA Hospitality Chair Vani Inampudi at vanii@qualcomm.com.  Provide your name and the name of your organization.  Fees will be collected at the door. 

$10.00  SLA and SANDALL Member
$15.00  Non Members
$5.00   Students and unemployed                   

Be sure to subscribe to this blog's feed to receive the latest information in the most timely way.

Author, Erik Marcus, Speaks to San Diego Audience

By Bobbi Weaver

Author Erik Marcus talks about becoming a vegan, about his new book The Ultimate Vegan Guide, and using social networking for advocacy.

“Meat comes from animals that have been killed,” stated vegan author, Erik Marcus during his June 7 presentation at  Joyce Beers Community Center   ”Milk and eggs come from animals that will be killed.”

Marcus presented arguments for following a plant-based diet during the hour-long presentation sponsored by the Animal Protection and Rescue League (APRL; http://www.aprl.org )

He commented that when he first became a vegetarian, he then learned about veganism.  He questioned why one should abstain from eating eggs and milk as well as meat.  As he investigated the reasoning for veganism, Marcus found that use of these products still contributed to the animal agricultural industry.  Milk and eggs are products of reproductive female animals.  When the animal ceases to able to reproduce, he noted, her existence becomes less profitable.  Consequently, the animal is then slaughtered for meat.

Marcus stated that veganism is more attractive today than it was 20 years ago.  He commented that the quality of vegan cookbooks in the past was poor, but added that now there are at least a couple of hundred vegan cookbooks.  Since the market for cookbooks today is saturated, he contended, there is “no longer room for mediocrity."

Marcus noted that the best argument for following a vegan diet is what he coined the “commodity-cruelty” argument.  He explained that meat, milk and eggs are more or less pure commodities, and that producers compete purely by price.  Accordingly, he added, whoever can produce the most for the lowest amount of money is going to be the most successful.  He noted that the animal agricultural industry does this by jamming as many animals as possible into one facility and using selective breeding methods for producing faster-growing animals.

Animal agriculture will reduce labor costs at any possible turn, Marcus noted.  He cited the example of battery cages to further this point.  He stated that battery cages are used to cut away at essentially all of their labor costs.  Battery cages allow you to bring food by conveyor belts and water by pipes.  Excrement falls through the wire floor of the cage.  The floor is tilted so that eggs roll to another conveyer belt.

“As long as an egg is considered a commodity,” Marcus noted,  “it’s anything goes as far as animal welfare is concerned.”

Marcus’ newest book is The Ultimate Vegan Guide: Compassionate Living Without Sacrifice (2008) [ISBN:  1440464987.  List price:  $14.95.]  In this book, Marcus uses his 20 years of experience as a vegan to make the transition to a vegan diet for others more seamless.  He is also the author of   Meat Market:  Animals, Ethics and Money (2005).  [ISBN:  0975867911.  List Price:  $14.95], and   Vegan:  The New Ethics of Eating, 2^nd ed.  (2000). [ISBN:  0935526870.  List Price:  $16.95].

Marcus urged the audience to contribute to the lessening of the number of animals killed for food by reaching out to others and telling them about the benefits of a plant-based diet.  He discussed the operations of the group Vegan Outreach (http://www.veganoutreach.org/), an organization which distributes literature to individuals for further distribution in areas like college campuses.  He also urged the audience to make use of social networking software for outreach as well.

“Things have recently changed online.  This social networking stuff is really important,” he stated.  “Today, the opportunities you have to get the word out to a significant number of people is tenfold of what it was in 1995.”

He urged audience members to register for Facebook and Twitter.  “Social networking software allows the people in your life to pay closer attention to you and your interests,” he added.  He argued that because there is a connection to you, others on the network will pay attention to what you post.

“Become good at posting selectively-good material, ”  he stated as he cautioned the audience not to post every animal rights thing seen online.  He advised attendees to only post something that is really interesting, and added that “showing restraint is key.”

Marcus is in the process of writing an article on the use of social networking for advocacy.  To be notified about its publication, you can subscribe to an email list or an RSS feed from his web site at http://www.vegan.com.