From The South Regional Representative ARLIS/NA

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you in the Texas Chapter, as your new South Regional Representative. I feel at something of a disadvantage following in the footsteps of Lee Sorensen, who has represented you so well over the last two years. Lee has filled me in a little on your Chapter and has told me all that you have accomplished in the past. Your proposed name change and By-Laws revisions seem very exciting and innovative. I will be presenting these new By-Laws to the Executive Board in the near future, and I will keep you up-to-date on the progress of the ratification process.

At the Vancouver Conference, I was able to meet and talk with some of your members, but I am anxious to meet all of you over the next two years. Your October annual meeting sounds like it will be full of informative and fun events. I will make every effort to attend. If my schedule does not permit me to attend this year, be assured that I will be there next year.

I would like to tell you a little bit about myself, by way of introduction, then I hope that you will feel free to contact me and let me know about your concerns, your ideas, your hopes for the future of the Society and your Chapter, or just to say "hi". I have been the Assistant Librarian/Reference Librarian at the National Museum of American Art/National Portrait Gallery Library since 1985. We are one of 17 libraries at the Smithsonian Institution. I have been a member of ARLIS since 1979, have been a member of both the Ohio Valley Chapter and the DC/MD/VA Chapter, serving as President of DC/MD/VA, have served on the Conference Committee for the Washington, DC Annual ARLIS Conference in 1987, and now look forward to my first ARLIS Executive Board position. The workings of the Executive Board have always been somewhat of a mystery to me, so I hope that I can uncover what goes on there and convey this information back to you.

Right now, the Executive Board is very busy selecting a management representative. A final selection should be made soon, and you will be informed when that happens. As you can imagine, this has been a difficult and time-consuming task, as the future of the Society depends greatly on the Board's making the right choice.

Other matters under review by the Executive Board include the Strategic Plan. I am sure that you heard a lot about this at the Vancouver Conference, in Art Documentation, in Update, etc. All of the Divisions, Sections, Round Tables, Committees and Chapters have a part to play in developing the Strategic Plan, which is a dynamic document designed to guide the Society into the New Millennium.

So, let's keep in touch. I am looking forward to working with you in the next two years, and am anxious to hear from you.