Dear fellow ALA member:

Our members bring amazing talent to the leadership ranks of ALA. Through their vision, dedication and guidance the Association enjoys a strong membership base and is in a solid financial position that allows us to provide outstanding programs, products and services. It's an exciting time to be a member, and a leader, in our Association.

Perpetuating the strength of our leadership team is an ongoing challenge – and we need your help in identifying and nominating those colleagues you believe can best lead and guide ALA in the future. There are many qualified members within our ranks who are currently serving or have served in the past as Directors, Regional Officers, committee or task force members, or in chapter leadership positions. Each of these roles provides excellent training for President-Elect, Board or Regional Officer service. Who do you recognize as having the leadership attributes and experience that will lead to the future success of the Association?

You can help us identify the best candidates in two ways: first, by nominating individuals who possess strong leadership attributes and experience, and then encouraging them to consider service in ALA's leadership corps; and second, by seriously considering your own nomination for a leadership position. It is also helpful if you provide a few notes about why you or the individuals you nominated would be good leaders for ALA. These comments can be attached to your nominations form. Once we receive the nominations, we will confirm each individual's interest in serving in the role(s) for which they are nominated, and ensure employer support.

If you want to know more about the value of serving as a Director or as a Regional Officer, you can call me or others who have served in these roles. Meanwhile, here is what a few of them say....

Several years ago I was challenged by one of ALA's Past Presidents to keep reaching for the top. That challenge kept me involved in ALA leadership. What I got in return was the ability to acquire skills that have helped me become the person I am today. Each opportunity to serve the Association was another personal and professional lesson. As an Association leader, we have the unique opportunity to shape the industry in which we work. We also have the opportunity to use the experience to shape ourselves.
(Janine Book, Region 1 Director)

My ALA journey has been a gift. As I opened it and invested in it, I came to see the true value of the education, networking and resources available to me. The experience gave me the tools to be an even better professional. I had to give that gift back to others by becoming an ALA leader. Being a member of the Region 3 ‘family' Team has been personally and professionally rewarding for me and my employer as well. The network of valuable relationships I developed made this a fun, priceless leadership experience and one I would encourage anyone interested in making a difference to consider.
(Mark Bridgeman, CLM, Regional Officer)

My ALA leadership journey started when a colleague first encouraged me to get involved in chapter leadership, then regional and beyond. Until she planted that seed, I had not considered myself in that capacity; after all, I was a functional specialist, not an administrator. I learned that ALA has room for all of us and am so grateful to my colleague because serving in leadership roles has tremendously and positively impacted my personal and professional development. My firm is wonderfully supportive and appreciates the added value I bring back to the office. Volunteering has also given me the opportunity to form life-long friendships with people I wouldn't have otherwise met. I am proud to serve on ALA's Board of Directors, and plan to continue paying it forward by planting the leadership seed with YOU!
(Cheryl Nelson, CLM, PHR, Region 3 Director)

My experience as an ALA officer has given me tremendous insight into the definition of leadership and more specifically servant leadership. I have had the honor to work with my fellow members and the headquarters staff (family), to learn from them, and to see how unique individuals from diverse backgrounds work together to achieve more than you could ever imagine. The best part is that it's rewarding and you make lifelong friendships. For me, accepting the nomination to serve has been one of the best personal and professional decisions I have ever made.
(Scott Dotson, CPA, CLM, Regional Officer)

Please take a few moments right now to identify and recommend potential candidates for President-Elect, Director and/or Regional Officer using the nominations form that follows this letter. Nominations are due by August 1, 2013, so that candidates have sufficient time to discuss this opportunity with their employers and complete the required background information. Further information (including links to the position descriptions and nominations form) can be found in the Additional Links sidebar at the top of this page.

Thank you for your help with this important responsibility.

Sincerely,

Paul A. Farnsworth
2013-14 President

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