Rise to the Challenge: Plan a Program for the 2007 New Orleans Annual Meeting

Donna Bausch, Chair, AMPC 2007

You've just rolled into town, dropped off your luggage at your hotel (in a room of your own if you're lucky), and you're perusing the contents of your registration materials for the first time. How can you possibly focus on 2007 program planning when you haven't even seen the Gateway Arch or had any fried ravioli yet?

This is the ideal time for you to do just that. Attend the conference with an eye to what works, what doesn't and why. As you attend program sessions, in addition to taking notes and faithfully completing evaluation forms to assist program planners, take a broader view. Which programs inspired you to learn more about a topic? Which speakers made you burn with a new commitment to your profession? Make note of the “aha” moments that make you think about a session long after it ends and cause conference attendees to get angry, excited or inspired. Use those cues to take your thoughts a step further and conjure up program ideas for next year.

The Annual Meeting is as worthwhile as we make it. AALL programming is a member- and grassroots-driven enterprise. Without each member making a decision to “rise to the challenge”, very little gets done in any membership organization. We have met AALL, and it is “us”. Although many successful programs are submitted by chapters, caucuses and SISs, just as many wonderful and creative programs are submitted by individual AALL members. All paths to proposal development will lead to the best possible program for the Crescent City in 2007.

If you are pondering programming for New Orleans, opportunities abound to learn more while in St. Louis. Visit the Exhibit Hall during any of the “no conflict” times and stop by the AMPC table in the Activities Area. (Check out the flyer in your registration materials for details). AMPC members will be happy to discuss ideas with you and answer questions. Mark your calendar to attend the AMPC Open Forum on Tuesday at Noon to learn more about the process and meet AMPC liaisons.

The good news is that program proposals are due August 15th, giving you 38 days from today to do your best to make the job of AMPC 2007 difficult by giving us an abundance of alternatives from which to select a program that will best meet your needs and interests. We look forward to working with you.

2007 AMPC Liaison Assignments

Academic Law Libraries SIS

Allen R. Moye, amoye@depaul.edu

Computing Services SIS

Leanne B. Battle, leanne.battle@lexisnexis.com

Foreign, Comparative and Int'l. Law SIS

Amy B. Osborne, amyo@uky.edu

Government Documents SIS

Leonette Williams, lwilliam@law.usc.edu

Legal History and Rare Books SIS

Allen R. Moye, amoye@depaul.edu

LegalInformation Services to the Public SIS

Marcus L. Hochstetler, marcus.hochstetler@metrokc.gov

Micrographics and Audiovisual SIS

Elizabeth LeDoux, eledoux@cov.com

Online Bibliographic Services SIS

Amy B. Osborne, amyo@uky.edu

Private Law Libraries SIS

Elizabeth LeDoux, eledoux@cov.com

ResearchInstructionand Patron Services SIS

Marcus L. Hochstetler, marcus.hochstetler@metrokc.gov

Social Responsibilities SIS

Leanne B. Battle, leanne.battle@lexisnexis.com

State, Court and County Law Libraries SIS

Marcus L. Hochstetler, marcus.hochstetler@metrokc.gov

Technical Services SIS

Leonette Williams, lwilliam@law.usc.edu

Committees, chapters, caucuses, individuals

Donna K.Bausch, dbausch@norfolklawlibrary.org