MAC Messages Number 99:
May/June 2003

Message from the Chair
By Russet Hambrick, 2002/03 MAC Chair

I am amazed at how quickly time flies between issues of MAC Messages! I just returned from the MLA annual meeting in San Diego. What a wonderful time I had meeting with colleagues and friends from across the country. I continue to be impressed with the number of MAC members who attend the annual MLA meeting. I'm even more impressed by the number of MAC members who not only serve MAC in leadership positions but also serve as leaders in MLA. I want to congratulate everyone who participated in the meeting through contributed papers, poster sessions, the 2004 annual meeting invitation, chapter sharing round tables and the mentoring plenary session.

Speaking of leadership, Janice Kelly has organized the nominating committee for this year. Over the next few months, the committee will be recruiting MAC members to run for chapter officers. This year we will be electing a Chair-Elect, Secretary and Nominee to the MLA Nominating Committee. I encourage you to say yes if asked to run for an office. In addition to chapter officers, two other opportunities have come up for a member to serve as a leader in MAC. Merle Colglazier has indicated that he must step down as our Benchmarking Chapter Educator once we recruit someone to take his place. In addition, Janice Mason has announced that she will resign as editor of MAC Messages at the close of the 2003 annual MAC meeting. The executive board and committee chairs will be working to develop an application procedure for these two positions. Please watch the MAC listserv for additional information on how to apply for one of these positions. Both represent great opportunities to serve the chapter. I wish to thank both Merle and Janice for their service to MAC. Their dedication to making MAC great is appreciated by all of us!

I had the opportunity to attend the MLA Benchmarking Implementation Task Force and Chapter Educators business meeting in San Diego. I developed a new appreciation and a deeper understanding of the work that has gone on behind the scenes to make the collection of benchmarking data happen across the country. A new open entry period will take place later this year for libraries to participate in this project. New types of medical libraries beyond hospital libraries will be included in this next round of data entry. Please watch for announcements regarding the open entry period. There is nothing that speaks louder than data when speaking with administrators and political officials. I encourage everyone to participate when the call comes.

Lastly, I announced in my last message that the 2004 LAC co-chairs had a tentative site for the 2004 annual meeting. I'm pleased to announce that the 2004 meeting will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Sheraton Raleigh Capital Center Hotel, October 13th - 16th, 2004. Mark your calendars now for what I know will be an awesome meeting.

Until next time………………….

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