Annual Report

Annual Report
ARLIS/NA, Texas-Mexico Chapter
March 5, 2008

Submitted by Gloria Selene Hinojosa, Chapter President

gh14@txstate.edu
Tel. (512) 245-1843
Fax (512) 245-3002

ARLIS/NA, Texas-Mexico Chapter met for our annual conference in Dallas, Texas, October 25th (Thursday) through October 28th (Sunday), 2007. We had a full itinerary that included visiting several fine art museums, the state fair grounds, SMU and the studio of Pam Nelson, working artist and member of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. On Sunday October 28th we had our chapter business meeting.

Carla Ellard, Curator and Librarian for The Wittliff Collection for Southwest and Mexican Photography Gallery at Texas State University- San Marcos was elected Vice-President, President-Elect, of ARLIS/NA, Texas-Mexico chapter. Next year’s chapter meeting venue was discussed, and it was voted unanimously to let President Hinojosa explore the possibility of holding the 2008 chapter meeting in conjunction with the Feria Internacional de Libros in Guadalajara, Mexico.

We discussed the strategic plan for the local chapter, to be in line with that of ARLIS/NA. It has been written by the chapter President, who sent it out to the executive. President Hinojosa had confirmed that the first part of the strategic plan she had written was very much in coordination and agreement of the chapter’s previous mission statement and goals. The second part was specifically to work towards building relationships with art libraries in Mexico. It was decided that the plan, as written for the chapter would be sent out to all the ARLIS/NA, Texas-Mexico chapter constituents via our online newsletter for them to review and vote on.

President Hinojosa discussed the concept of executive insurance, since ARLIS/NA decided not to provide it. President Hinojosa suggested that others on the ARLIS/NA, Texas-Mexico executive might want to consider what she had done, which was to join the Texas Faculty Association (TFA). TFA is the higher education branch of the TSTA (Texas State Teachers Association), which is the regional chapter of the NEA (National Education Association). Membership in that organization offered, free of charge, initiation, protection, mediation or advice regarding legal matters that might be brought against a member, in performance of their duties and responsibilities, to any member engaged in higher education. President Hinojosa, a member of that regional groups executive board, had verified and confirmed that responsibilities related to professional development and service duties, as allowed or required by ones employing organization (this includes for most of us, membership in organizations like ARLIS/NA, Texas-Mexico), are covered by TFA protection. There is, of course, an annual membership fee, but as President Hinojosa explained, it can be paid on a monthly basis and is tiered according to salary and membership category. President Hinojosa has been a member of TFA for over 15 years. This was not an endorsement of TFA, but a suggestion on how to deal with this issue of insurance, until and unless the chapter could afford it on their own or the international group could offer it to its chapters.
Treasurer Bunch reported that the Chapter possesses sufficient funds to donate $300 to the 2008 Welcome Party. Jon Evans explained the importance of providing this funding. Laura Schwartz moved that the Chapter donate $300. Gwen Dixie seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned and the chapter went outside to have the traditional chapter group photo.