Manager’s Report: New Leadership Transitions

By Dawnell Claessen

I am honored and pleased to assume the role of SIG Manager for the P&P SIG. Raymond Urgo has left the SIG in an excellent position and the SIG has flourished under his leadership and guidance. I would like to thank him for his countless contributions to this community in the past and his willingness to advise and consult with us as we move forward.

As I transition into this leadership position, I do not do so alone. For the first time in the SIG’s history, the P&P SIG Manager has a Co-Manager. Lois Marsh has volunteered to serve as Co-Manager and she and I will share responsibilities. Lois and I have collaborated well in the past and I know we will make a great management team!

Look for Lois’s first SIG Manager’s Report in Direction next quarter. In the meantime, I would love to hear from my fellow SIG members. Please feel free to email me with your comments, concerns or questions!

My Goals for the SIG through June 2007:

• Effect a smooth transition of SIG Management.
• Plan for P&P SIG volunteer conference call / Mid-January.
• Develop and Release a new SIG brochure.
• P&P SIG Business Meeting and Reception at Conference in Minneapolis May 2007.
• Have GREAT P&P SIG sponsored sessions at Conference in Minneapolis May 2007.

Beyond June 2007:

• Investigate topics and speakers for at least one P&P topic webinar.
• Poll SIG members to see if they would prefer to elect their SIG manager.
• Working with volunteers, prepare and submit at least two quality proposals for conference May 2008.

Volunteers

The SIG depends upon good volunteers, and I think this community has some of the best volunteers around. But we can always use more volunteers! We need folks to take on a single task such as writing a newsletter article or moderating a topic on the listserv.

We also need one or two persons take on volunteer positions and my old position of Conference Proposal Coordinator just happens to be vacant! Over the course of a fiscal year, that position requires about 25 hours. Most of that time is spent in the late summer time. So if you are considering volunteering for any task or position, please plan on joining us on our volunteer conference call in mid-January. We have excellent job descriptions and guidance in place and try to offer our volunteers as much support as we can!