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For the Record | AASL Treasurer’s Report – ALA Midwinter 2017

By Robbie Nickel, AASL Treasurer on 02/15/2017 • ( 0 )

Robbie Nickel | Sage Elementary School (NV) AASL Treasurer, 2014-2017

At the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, the AASL Board of Directors reviewed the FY2016 budget which covers September 1, 2015, through August 31, 2016. Favorably, FY 2016 ended better than budgeted. The AASL Board received an overview of budget concerns, keeping in mind the AASL Strategic Plan and how activities fit into our goals: association relevance, membership development, and association governance and leadership.

Members are the heart of the association, and our membership numbers are slightly down. AASL is addressing this with several programs. Share the Wealth is a membership recruitment program. Members are encouraged to reach out and urge other colleagues to join AASL and participate in the wealth of membership benefits. For each referral, member names are entered into a drawing for a chance to win a complimentary year of AASL membership and the grand prize drawing of an AASL 18th National Conference & Exhibition package including registration, airfare, and hotel accommodations. The Student Bridge Scholarship Program helps those new to the profession by providing support with membership dues “bridging” the increase in dues after graduation and over three years of individual membership. This support allows student members the opportunity to establish themselves both in their career and financially.

Serial publications were successful. Knowledge Quest, KQ Express, and School Library Research provide valuable information, ideas, and research to the school library field. Non-serial publications were close to coming in on budget. The Board heard an update on the progress with the new standards and guidelines, which remain on track.

The AASL 17th National Conference in Columbus was successful overall. An examination of the revenues and expenses for the conference offer valuable information for future planning. The AASL Board of Directors and the AASL staff will look closely at the information the budget can provide as it plans for the next National Conference in Phoenix.

Read other ALA Midwinter 2017 reports from AASL’s For the Record: