[Libs-Or] News: First meeting of OCLC Americas Regional Council

[John Helmer]

Colleagues,

OCLC is in the early stages of a brand new way of communicating with and
being governed by its member libraries.  It is a truly new global model
and we are all now part of the Americas Region represented by delegates
from across North and South America.  We are fortunate to have three in
Oregon and Washington: Susan Barnes Whyte at Linfield College, Pat
French at Multnomah County Library, and me.

Mark your Calendar:
The Americas Regional Council is having its first meeting at ALA
Midwinter, January 15, 2010, 8:30 -- 11:30 am.  More on that below or at
http://whatcounts.com/dm?id=39F87F090F00B0CB2AB10A6448547399D7E1CC818E7927B7

This is all very new and much about how the Americas Regional Council
will operate remains to be determined. If you are at ALA and can attend,
please come to learn more and provide feedback about all aspects of 
OCLC.  If you can't make it, I know the ARC is working on other ways to 
seek membership involvement.  Also know that Susan, Pat, and I are 
always interested in hearing from you.  It is our job as delegates to 
carry your input forward.

Even though it is big, OCLC is a membership organization so please stay
involved and keep the cooperative in touch with its membership.

Hope to see you at ALA.

Best wishes.
-- 
________________________________________
John F. Helmer
Executive Director
Orbis Cascade Alliance

jhelmer at uoregon.edu
v: 541.346.1835 | f: 541.346.1968
1299 Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, Or. 97403-1299
www.orbiscascade.org | summit.orbiscascade.org


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	OCLC Americas Regional Council to hold its first meeting
Date: 	06 Nov 2009 09:24:06 -0800
From: 	OCLC Member Update <emailpublishing at oclc.org>
To: 	jhelmer at uoregon.edu


* Save the date!*

     *OCLC Americas Regional Council to hold its first meeting at ALA
     Midwinter, January 15, 2010, 8:30 -- 11:30 am*, ET

Plan now to join us for the first meeting of the OCLC Americas Regional
Council, which will be held on *Friday, January 15, 2010, 8:30 -- 11:30
am (ET), in conjunction with the American Library Association (ALA)
Midwinter Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts*.

The meeting location, agenda and online registration details will be
announced in the next few weeks. (If you will be unable to attend
in-person, please watch for details on how you can view portions of the
meeting that will be broadcast live on the Web.)

The Americas Regional Council meeting will provide an open forum to
discuss issues of importance to its members and to advise OCLC about its
products, services, policies and operating direction. The Americas
Regional Council Executive Committee, members of OCLC Board of Trustees,
Global Council and OCLC Management will be present for interactive
discussions. Bring your ideas and be ready to participate.

Comprised of members from libraries and other cultural heritage
organizations from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and the
United States, The Americas Regional Council is part of the OCLC
cooperative's new governance structure that consists of three Regional
Councils and a Global Council to facilitate member-to-member discussions
across the cooperative.

/*Remember, every member has a voice!*/ The Americas Regional Council is
interested in what you have to say. Plan now to make this meeting a part
of your ALA Midwinter experience.

If you have questions about the meeting of the Americas Regional
Council, please contact Patrick Wilkinson, the Chair of the Americas
Regional Council at wilkinso at UWOSH.EDU <mailto:wilkinso at UWOSH.EDU>.