Comments on: Where to Be a Virtual Committee Member http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/11/30/where-to-be-a-virtual-committee-member/ Your insider travel guide to ALA Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:02:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: jessamyn http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/11/30/where-to-be-a-virtual-committee-member/#comment-1377 jessamyn Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:54:52 +0000 http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/11/30/where-to-be-a-virtual-committee-member/#comment-1377 I feel that ALA's "virtual member" option, while trying to be inclusive and broadening, is actually restrictive. It basically says "we'd love to have your opinions on the things we do, but unless you can show up at annual AND midwinter, you can't have a voting position on a committee" I find that this is one of the biggest hurdles to ALA really being able to engage peopel online. Allowing people to participate virtually and fully [instead of as some non-voting pseudomember] is really one of the first steps to realistically engaging people online. I'm aware of al the reasons ALA doesn't do this, but I really felt that my time as a virtual member of a committee -- when I could actually show up at the conferences but the only slot available was "virtual" -- was basically taking my good ideas and not allowing me to actually have an equal voice as the non-virtual members. I feel that ALA’s “virtual member” option, while trying to be inclusive and broadening, is actually restrictive. It basically says “we’d love to have your opinions on the things we do, but unless you can show up at annual AND midwinter, you can’t have a voting position on a committee” I find that this is one of the biggest hurdles to ALA really being able to engage peopel online. Allowing people to participate virtually and fully [instead of as some non-voting pseudomember] is really one of the first steps to realistically engaging people online.

I’m aware of al the reasons ALA doesn’t do this, but I really felt that my time as a virtual member of a committee — when I could actually show up at the conferences but the only slot available was “virtual” — was basically taking my good ideas and not allowing me to actually have an equal voice as the non-virtual members.

]]> By: Jenny Levine http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/11/30/where-to-be-a-virtual-committee-member/#comment-944 Jenny Levine Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:35:13 +0000 http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/11/30/where-to-be-a-virtual-committee-member/#comment-944 Hi, Jeff -- that's part of the intent for the wiki, but we need some time to build it, as well as help from the divisions, units, and members themselves. There is a growing discussion about how to participate virtually within ALA, and this is at least a place to try to address what methods are available now. The <a href="http://improveala.pbwiki.com/" rel="nofollow">Improve ALA wiki</a> is probably a better place (for the moment) to discuss what *could* be available. I'm sorry I can't be more definitive than that right now, but finding all of the various opportunities is a large task that goes beyond just one person. This will have to be a group effort, and it will take a little time. Hi, Jeff — that’s part of the intent for the wiki, but we need some time to build it, as well as help from the divisions, units, and members themselves.

There is a growing discussion about how to participate virtually within ALA, and this is at least a place to try to address what methods are available now. The Improve ALA wiki is probably a better place (for the moment) to discuss what *could* be available.

I’m sorry I can’t be more definitive than that right now, but finding all of the various opportunities is a large task that goes beyond just one person. This will have to be a group effort, and it will take a little time.

]]> By: Jeff http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/11/30/where-to-be-a-virtual-committee-member/#comment-940 Jeff Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:47:45 +0000 http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/11/30/where-to-be-a-virtual-committee-member/#comment-940 The wiki is a little sparse on how to participate virtually. The committees and groups are there, but that's it. How else would I find out about how to participate virtually? The wiki is a little sparse on how to participate virtually. The committees and groups are there, but that’s it. How else would I find out about how to participate virtually?

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