During my year as ALA president we are experimenting with ways to increase opportunities for ALA members to contribute to, participate in, and benefit from their association. Unless you are a member of an ALA committee or board, it is difficult to produce a program at the Annual Conference. Furthermore, depending upon the sponsoring unit, the lead time for approval of a program can be a year or more.

I invite “grassroots” proposals for programs to be produced at the 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago. This program is designed to give members who don’t normally have the opportunity an opportunity produce a program and to reduce the lead time to assure programs that address timely topics.

For guidelines, deadlines, and a link to the submission form, are available on my Web site.  Ot also provides information on other initiatives promoting member participation.

Students in the MLS programs at the University of Wisconsin—Madison and UCLA will play a significant role in selecting programs.

If you have an idea, please submit a proposal!