From the South Regional Representative ARLIS/NA

The ARLIS Executive Board has been busy with much "behind the scenes" activity. As all of us know, this often is the most vital work we do, but can often appear to the public like not much is happening. Indeed, we'd like our efforts to appear as "seamless" as possible, but I'd also like the chapters in my region to remain informed on what the Board is working on.

New Executive Director - All of you read in the most recent Update about the change in executive directors from Penny De Pas to Ashley Prather. ARLIS does not employ an executive director, rather, it hires a management firm (in the past five years, Olson Management Group) who appoints a director with Board approval. Penny and the management firm decided on the change to Ashley. The Board was pleased with the change in that Ms Prather is very experienced and--unlike Penny--will have no other associations other than ARLIS to manage. The change came rather suddenly and caught a few of us by surprise. We look forward to working with the new ED, but understand that the learning curve to managing such an operation is quite steep. I know I speak for the Board when I ask members to continue filling in your regional rep on how our management firm meets individual board needs.

RFP Launched - also announced was the Executive Board's decision to ask for outside bids from other management firms for managing the Society. The Request for Proposal is common for periodic review of management companies. As part of our responsibility to our members, we needed to make sure that our Society was getting the most for its money. To that end, we sent out RFI's (requests for information) last spring. The response indicated that a full RFI would be fruitful to our evaluations of ARLIS' management. We encourage members who know of management companies who might be interested in ARLIS--or even individuals--to submit a proposal.

Short year - As if the above weren't enough, the Board also decided to "bite the bullet" and resolve some nagging accounting problems inherent in our calendar cycle. ARLIS uses three different year cycles for various events. A calendar year is used for things such as membership renewal. A fiscal year (July to June) is used for accounting. A conference year (March to February) is necessary because so much happens during this period. Although each of these came about logically, it was becoming increasingly difficult to, for example, pay due bills in the same cycle as the events for which they were collected. The obvious solution was to bring these various calendars into line. But as any of you know, beginning a new fiscal year is anything but easy. Kitty Chibnik, our current Treasurer, deserves much praise for her willingness to create a "short year," a year of only several months, and then begin our fiscal year the same as the calendar. I mention this to chapters only because, like the two issues above, there could be some mild surprises.

Bylaws Coordinated - I'm pleased to report that essentially all chapters in the South Region have brought their bylaws into line with the Society level. The next issue, posting them on a webpage, will ensure that they remain that way. This should be considered a high priority for all chapters.

Web Advisory Board Nominees - President Mary Graham has asked me to submit names for nomination to an ARLIS/NA Web Advisory Board. I recommended at the midyear meeting in Tucson that ARLIS establish an advisory board, appointed by and reporting to the President, to advise them and the web administrator on how to develop our Society's page to its potential. My personal view is that the ARLIS website will (and should) become the principal organ of the Society. Developing the site to its full potential is really the job of a team.

My tenure concludes with the Vancouver Conference. This fall, the ARLIS membership will be choosing between Robert Beebe (San Antonio Public Library) and Pat Lynagh (National Museum of American Art). Every time I see such an excellent slate of candidates I feel good and bad. Good because it means the best of the Society is willing to donate their time and energy (and let's face it, money, too) to the good of the association. But I feel bad because, as in any democratic contest, one will not win. Either way, the Society will come out ahead. I wish the best to both.

My very best for the fall,