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ALA’s virtual members and their real obstacles

When it comes to modernizing ALA, I’m like Charlie Brown with the football. I cannot help myself, even though I’m now on my fourth committee/task force/whatevah dedicated to “electronic participation.”

So I’m working on a very, very early draft of a survey for ALA members and I pull up Ye Olde ALA Policy Manual for a definition of “virtual member” (which is not to be confused with an imaginary you-know-what).

The first thing I notice is that a “virtual member” is defined by what this person can’t do: help establish a quorum, or vote, or be more than 1/3 of the membership of any committee. Then I see the negative, scolding language: failure, acceptable explanation, grounds for removal... language more suitable for reform school than for defining activities in a professional association. It seems that the point of these rules is to ensure people get to the conferences and that committees aren’t overrun by people who might get things done virtually.

Imagine if the metric for committees was based around work products! That, of course, will never happen — but at least we can work toward a model of engagement that isn’t so heavily skewed toward the meatware experience.

Anyone for a rewrite? (Emphasis mine.)

4.5 Requirements for Committee Service

With the exception of virtual members, members of all ALA and unit committees are expected to attend all meetings. Failure to attend two consecutive meetings or groups of meetings (defined as all meetings of a committee that take place at one Midwinter Meeting or Annual Conference) without an explanation acceptable to the committee chair constitutes grounds for removal upon request by the chair to and approval of the appropriate appointing official or governing board.

6.16 Virtual Members

  1. Definition of Virtual Members:
    Virtual members of committees or task forces have the right to attend meetings, participate in debate, and make motions. Virtual members are not counted in determining the quorum nor do they have the right to vote.
  2. Appointment of Virtual Members to Standing Committees of the Association:
    Virtual members of standing committees of the Association are appointed in accord with the provisions of the ALA Bylaws, Article VIII, sec. 2(a)(i). Inclusion of virtual members on a standing Committee of the Association requires the recommendation of the Committee on Organization and the approval of Council. No more than one third of the membership on a standing committee may be virtual members.
  3. Appointment of Virtual Members to Standing Committees of Council:
    Virtual members of Committees of the Council are appointed in accord with the provisions of the ALA Bylaws, Article VIII, sec. 2(b). Inclusion of virtual members on a Committee of the Council requires the recommendation of the Committee on Organization and the approval of the Council. No more than one third of the membership of a Council committee may be virtual members.
  4. Appointment of Virtual Members to Committees of Round Tables and Divisions:
    Virtual members of division or round table committees are appointed in accord with each respective division’s or round table’s appointment procedures for committee members. No more than one third of the membership of a round table or division committee may be virtual members.

Posted on this day, other years:
http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/19/alas-virtual-members-and-their-real-obstacles/
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