Welcome Everyone, we will begin today at 4pm EST. Thank you.

Full FTRWG resolutions overview document is here for councilors to comment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ssV7gWwLjRsKAIy2J4xMNsKfAguRRdar/view?usp=sharing

good afternoon from Las Vegas!

Hello everyone!

Hot and dry there, Maggie? Chicago's having some rain today.

Hello all from Natomas in Northern CA

Greetings from Nashville, TN and the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) division councilor.

Florida weather—hot and humid—in the Adirondacks in Northern NYS. Councilor-at-Large

Today only 97, 13% humidity so very dry and fine in the shade in LV. :D

Hello from Plymouth, Michigan.

Sara Dallas - Councilor at Large Albany NY

Lorelei Sterling, Alaska Chapter Councilor

Greetings from Philadelphia. I am ACRL Division Councilor.

Amber Williams, Councilor at Large

thank you Working Group - this is a lot of work and appreciate your time on this!

Meg Delaney, Ohio Chapter Councilor

Good afternoon! Karen Downing, Councilor-at-large from Ann Arbor, MI

Greetings from South Bend, IN 75 degrees since it rained briefly! Leslie L. Morgan, Councilor at Large

Erica Freudenberger -- Councilor-at-Large, NY

Gina Kromhout, gamert councilor is here!

Joan Weeks, Councilor-al-large in hot, humid DC with lots of Cicadas.

Meredith Wickham, Mississippi Chapter Councilor. Hi, everyone!

Emily Drew, GNCRT Councilor

Sandy Hirsh, IRRT Councillor

Kim DeNero-Ackroyd, Councilor-at-Large, Cleveland Heights, OH

Heather VanDyne, Kansas Chapter Councilor

Joy Panigabutra-Roberts, Councilor-at-Large. Knoxville, TN

Jim Neal CaL from NYC

Deb Sica, Rainbow RT Councilor. Happy Pride Month!!

Hello from the Detroit Metro - Jennifer Dean, Michigan Chapter Councilor

Liana Juliano, Councilor at Large, Los Angeles CA

Greetings. Daniella Smith, Councilor At-Large, Texas

To provide comments on council specific resolutions see Council Resolutions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mPzZH_WblwdzY8e4SKTKr8xbE3LnVUIu/view?usp=sharing

+1 Deb Sica

Jennifer boettcher Councilor at Large maryland

Thanks so much Jack & Christina for putting this together!

Ed Garcia, Executive Board, Cranston RI

Hello! Alex Rivera, Executive Board - Ann Arbor, MI

Hi Everyone, Ana Elisa de Campos Salles, Councilor-at-large, belatedly introducing herself from sunny San Francisco!

Apologies to Christina and Jack as the Resolutions Committee is still discussing, but one potential point of confusion we wanted to clarify:

Policy domain conflict?Do Resolved clauses #2 and #6 (focus on ALA policy) directly conflict with Association Policy (BOD) Standing Committees Resolved clauses #1 and #3 ? Who is the policy making body now, Council or the Association Policy Standing Committee and therefore really the Board of Directors?

Sorry! please clarify: Policy domain conflict?Do Resolved clauses #2 and #6 (focus on ALA policy)a directly conflict with Association Policy (BOD) Standing Committees Resolved clauses #1 and #3 ? Who is the policy making body now, Council or the Association Policy Standing Committee and therefore really the Board of Directors?

You should read it.

Here is my spreadsheet showing ALA Council Members terms on ALA Council. There has always been significant turnover. Because of this I've never seen a need for term limits. It's a good number of new people. Currently, few serve ,more than 3 to 6 years. https://bit.ly/34VJJ75

Thanks so much for compiling all that data on turnover, Diedre!

Mike, yes I see some conflicts. It's why I think we need to determine the purpose and make up of Council first

Question for the sub group suggestion- why 14 RT councilors and only 8 division councilors?

Wow, Diedre - Thanks for sharing that! That changes my thinking on term limits.

Just as an fyi, there are 57 chapters (http://www.ala.org/aboutala/affiliates/chapters/state/stateregional)

Amber that is based on the current # of Divisions and Roundtable elected Councilors

Please show the resolution that Mike is referring to.

Amber, they're currently allocated one each (with the same formula that we currently have for RTs having a rep on council.) We'd also discussed giving divisions multiple councilors, though.

There are 8 divisions, not sure how many roundtables

Jack/Christina Question: is there a link to the current drafts of these?

I’ll add that divisions do have more authority and responsibility than RTs in the ALA structure, and that should be reflected

Aaron Christina posted it earlier in the chat.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mPzZH_WblwdzY8e4SKTKr8xbE3LnVUIu/view The drafts again

thx!

Thanks, Tara as we try to make a smaller council wouldn’t the better solution be to have less RT councilors?

I just think it needs to be crystal clear who is the policy making body of ALA.

+1 Amber

In our last presentation, we heard multiple concerns about Assemblies being “siloed.” We were thinking that Council could be the mechanism to bring the Assemblies and the various other parts of the organization to discuss Policy..

+Jack

I would like to speak

How would chapter councilors be divided?

@Heather we havne’t gotten to that level of detail yet…And that may be left to the Implementation team

+1 Amber

amber - we could, just that each rt does very different things and so might need separate councilors, but we can look at these things

I am seeing very little representation of school librarians since MANY chapters do not represent the school librarians in their states. One AASL division in the second option, none guaranteed in the first? Or am I missing something?

I've been off and on building a comparative look at the "current" ALA governance table of organization as compared to the SCOE/FT/FTRWG proposals -- here's where I've gotten so far (I haven't gotten to the Assemblies)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_oamcjkszlo5NOTblBOtOgbyJq6KlLNph67k3nnT6iw/edit?usp=sharing

+ Sara Kelly JOhns

good point sara. could we set aside seats for k-5, 6-8, 9-12?

@Sara I think Tara had mentioned this earlier, but one of the options for the makeup of councilors could include more representation from Divisions. I remember seeing one iteration where each Division had 5 reps...

o provide comments on council specific resolutions see Council Resolutions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mPzZH_WblwdzY8e4SKTKr8xbE3LnVUIu/view?usp=sharing

Thanks Aaron!

@Jack is that Council make-up for divisions what is in the second version?

I would like to speak.

+5000 Tara

@Sara No actually. It’s what Tara is describing—only one per division

I agree @Diane

I think the purpose is clear from my perspective - Council would remain the policy governance body. We need a place where all view points on policy can be debated and determined. A larger more representative body assures, in my mind, that we maintain democratic nature of ALA and would provide a balance to the increased role of an enlarged EB.

Thank you, Diane! This is a time of great crisis and need for equity.

yep Eileen,

http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual

At any time, please send us additional comments or suggestions via Email: forwardtogether@ala.org

+1 Sara and Diane. Thank you.

ugh fat fingers. yep Eileen!

I note in the resolution of establishing a Board of Directors, it states in no. 2, “create a new ALA Board of Directors with the SAME duties and responsibilities as the previous Executive Board.” Therefore it seems that at the Council would have the same duties as it does now.

I drew a chart to include all these groups in the new org chart and thinking that the assemblies already have divisions, RTs, chapters and affiliates. Why not adding the BODs in the assemblies and then see how to work the Council in.

The Forward Together plan recommended a 25% reduction which would be about 135 seats.

I appreciate Diane's comments. I would love to see a broader discussion of council and how to make it representative.

+Diane Thank you. School librarians have had a hard time getting to conferences. Eliminating the need to be at in-person conferences would help but then there have to be seats.

Would Board be do duties mentioned in Manual A and Council controls Manual B, both manuals do "Policies"?

http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual

+1 Stephanie

Council (per Constitutino VI.1 "The Council of the American Library Association shall be the governing body of the Association"

We will need to revisit the roles of the BOD if we reconstitute some form of Council. And we need to see what the cost of a large BOD will be. Also, are we making our governance more transparent for members, or are we just shifting around responsibilities?

That;s what Coiuncil does :)

Thank you Stephanie! I keep asking myself if I want to see a potential vote to eliminate Council altogether. I think it would be a healthy discussion for us to have whether or not a person is for or against

+1 Karen

Off the cuff elevator pitch: Council brings together different types, settings and specialties of library work to discuss organizational policy, to help ensure that ALA remains relevant to as many type of library work as possible.

Agreed, Jack!!!

“Create a new ALA Board of Directors with the same duties and responsibilities as the previous Executive Board”

Tara, then I would ask ourselves if what is proposed does that. Policy and relevance, to me, are two very different and important needs

“The Executive Board shall act for the Council in the administration of established policies and programs.” Const VII.3

“The Executive Board shall make recommendations to Council with respect to matters of policy.”

4 officers (P, VP, PP, T)8 members “elected by ALA membership”6 members from the Assemblies (1 RT, 1 Affiliate, 2 Chapter, 2 Division)3 appointed (by the Board of Directors)1 non-voting staff member

I like this resolution a lot. A reduced footprint will save $ and is more sustainable. I remember Eli Mina saying that Councilors should think about ALA in the aggregate as opposed to just the unit they represent. On Council I represent 57,000 members in all types of libraries and professions. It’s an ecosystem.

If council remains is there a need for an enlarged Board?

Agree Ann!

compared to current table of organization:4 officers (P,VP,PP,T)8 members elected from Council1 non-voting staff member

my off the cuff thing about councils purpose: Resolved, that the responsibilities of Council are: To set Policy and procedural guidelines within the American Library Association To set standards for proper library administration To guide libraries on wider social issues affecting the library profession

@Ed Council as it exists in this slide deck is a subset of Assemblies, Committee Members, Board and At large members. It’s the flip side of what it currently is (where everything emerges from)

taking off my RC chair hat...what about adding: 5. that the BOD meet at least 4 times a year and that all BOD meetings contain provisions made for in person meetings to have a virtual component.6. that the requirement to attend in-person meetings of the BOD be eliminated.

I would like to speak please

@Mike we had that in but it was recommended from leadership that we leave details like that to the next implementation group. It’s definitely an important point

remember that the current Executive Board is a technically Committee of Council (for all that it is not listed there)

would the new Board of Directors also be a Committee of Council? or a Committee of the Association? Or something else/

@Aaron no…Council in these slides is a subsidiary of the board, assemblies, committee members and at large that discusses policies that then moves up to board action. Also assemblies and the committees can discuss policy separately from COuncil

Aeeon that is up to current Council members

I have a comment :)

fiduciary responsibility currently sits with the Executive Board and we should have a legal opinion before that changes

If we add Council back into the governance structure, then it seems like we have added more bureaucracy rather than less as now we would have an expanded Board of Directors, Council, and all of the Assemblies, etc.

I love the children's literature reference, Aaron.

don’t let the pigeon drive the bus! lol

I forgot a comment :/

may I?

I think the appointed Board members was the most contentious issue and that is now removed.

Lee LaFleur, Councilor at large-I am comfortable voting for a proposal with ‘less’ details, as long as there as we have information about who will provide the details post-vote

Aaron I think that is most likely incorrect and that we should take a mother look at it

Thank you Leroy

If Board of Directors will serve on Council, how does that work if the proposal is to eliminate Council?

The assemblies as they stand won’t have the direct access to the ALA leadership that we have now via the Council. I wonder if we can bring in the BODs into the Assemblies so the groups in the Assemblies can have better access to the BODs. Just my 2 cents.

it was our general consensus in the council subcommittee that council should be in the driver seat

To quote JAnet Swan Hill - we pass what is written, not what is meant :)

@John it’s a new council

I think this is a good resource for learning more about association governance https://www.asaecenter.org/resources/topics/governance .

I think a revised version of Council needs to be the policy making body as a more representative body then an expanded BOD

we are not, repeat, NOT going to introduce a resolution to eliminate council entirely at this time

I think that is a mistake. I agree with a comment Jack made earlier that to have a meaningful conversation about it is important

it is, just clarifying that there won’t be a resolution on the floor explicitly stating that

Don’t forget to read the Whereas clauses in the full document to get more context

If Council is not going to be eliminated, I think that the resolution working groups need to re-group to explain how all of the different governance groups work together, what their roles, and how people get selected for each.

How does the EDI Assembly that was created and other groups within ALA called Assemblies fit into this structure?

but yeah, let’s travel that conversation

++Sandra

I think COO and CBL can work on the details and bring back to Council implementation strategy with appropriate recommendations

+Jim

+++Sandy Hirsh

++++Sandy

I have question.

++ Sandy

@Jim Neal- C & B stands at the ready!

@Sandra I am not sure that is possible before Annual -- although I agree with you it would be ideal

I would like to see a vote on wether or not Council exists go to members, if membership sees value in having Council then they will vote to keep it. It would be nice to have something so definitive to work from.

@Amber that’s a really good idea actually

+1 Amber!!

after anyone else goes, I have one

+1 Amber

+1 Amber

+Amber

+1 Amber

+1 Amber

Isn't that what's going to happen, though? We put together a plan and send it to the members for approval?

@Eileen - I guess I feel we have spent so long discussing the elimination of Council and building a structure that would function without it, that it feels very rushed to add Council back in at this point without understanding how the governance units will all work together.

Would the Assembly and the leadership team have staggered three-year terms to ensure continuation of institutional knowledge?

@Amber, this is what will happen. We are changing the bylaws. Council needs to pass and then the bylaws changes will be approved/rejected by the entire membership.

A subset of the division councilors are meeting Friday (not every councilor was available) to talk about this resolution. We'll send additional feedback after we meet.

Only if the changes pass Council will it go to membership, is what I understand

Or alternatively Council could choose not to pass

That's what I thought we are doing, yes, @Tara.

That isn’t what happens. They vote on what we give them to vote on and it seems Council is unwilling to put the elimination fo Council on a ballot.

I would like to speak

To comment on assemblies resolutions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JkrJILuvHxy2jAff2Dm-aq3Kldcaww3c/view?usp=sharing

Thanks, Jack

I would like to speak

The Nominating Committee charge is an interesting in, I commend it to you for close review :)

*one

@ Amber, sorry, I misunderstood. I see what you are saying. I wonder if the bylaws allow such a vote. Will put that on my to-do list. (I’m C & B chair)

+1 Meg

good idea meg

We really need the input from the resolution committee on how to go about proposing it I think.

I like that idea.

I would like to speak

A full flowchart of options and decision points in the path to moving forward is really important.

The whereas clauses were helpful to read through

Agreed @Aaron there’s just not a lot of time

:)

But we’ll pull together what we can!

I would like to speak

We can't make a decision based on sunk cost bias

https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/sunk-cost-fallacy/

Great example, thanks Victor!

Aaron, our group put together a table - sorry, not a flowchart. We'll find a way to share it.

Table layout is great! looking forward to it

Yesssss, Meg! I need to see where the functions of our current council are going so we can be very clear to members (and ourselves) how their/our association is going to be governed.

What about Ed's question about other assemblies? Are they being disbanded or remain separate from this proposed structure?

@Mike Ed correct me if I’m wrong, but, is the DEI Assembly a separate entity from what we’re describing here with the same name?

EDI assembly which is managed by ODLOS but is an official body.

@Mike Since it was in FTWG Report it didn’t make the cut. But if it’s a real entity mean to map to what we’ve outlined here then we need to make a consideration to include it.

I’m looking forward to voting and being able to move ahead.

I really appreciate you work on the revised resolutions.

@Miike, sorry since it was NOT in the FTWG report….

Yes! SO APPRECIATIVE!

yes thank you all for the hard work on a difficult topic

Thank you to all who have done so much work!

What is the deadline for comment?

But discussion can continue in the forum before council meets.

Thanks for all of the work you’ve put in!

Thanks all!

Thank you All.

you may also send your comments to forwardtogether@ala.org

Thanks all.

Thank you for the work that led to this.

Thank you!

Thank you all so much!

thank you so much!

Thank you everyone!

I was looking for the 1990s reorganization effort (that was voted down in the late 1990s) -- does this ring a bell for anyne?It does come to mind that ALA had some extensive conversations back in the 1990s about making significant alterations to the structure of ALA. This is commonly kno