From the desk of Donna Milner
Ah! Spring! The time for renewal of all good things! Are
you in need of renewal? Where will you go or what will
you do to renew yourself professionally?
Georgia Library Media Association is here to help you
renew and stretch yourself professionally. To get started
you need to send in your membership renewal card or go
to the website (www.glma-inc.org)
and join for this year. The $30 membership is one of the
best investments you will make this year. (For more on
why you should join check out the 10 Reasons to Join GLMA
in this newsletter.)
Now that you are a member, let’s get that renewal
going! Your next step is to contact your district chair
or co-chairs. You’ll find a list of the new district
chairs in this edition of the newsletter. You will notice
that your district may have changed as GLMA voted this
past November to move to districts that more closely aligned
with the RESA districts. When you contact your district
chair ask when your district’s next meeting will
be and volunteer to help with the organization and presentation
of the meeting. Also be sure to volunteer to be the contact
person for your county so the district chairs will have
a network of people to contact when there is information
to share. Oh, no, some of you won’t find a district
chair listed! In that case contact me (donnamilner@yahoo.com)
and volunteer to be the district chair for your district.
Phase three- renewal coming your way! What conferences
and learning opportunities will you be involved in this
year? The Summer Institute is in June. It will offer many
opportunities for learning and networking. COMO is moving
to September. Plan to create a presentation of your favorite
activity or new learning, then go to www.gacomo.org to
fill out your proposal form. Will you attend the GaETC,
the Children’s Literature Conference, the Storytelling
Festival or the many other opportunities that are available
in our state? Check out some of the great online training
opportunities.
Is your energy level pumping? Now create those activities
that will translate your renewal to your students. Join
the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. Plan your National Children’s
Book Week activities. Create a Literature Club. Read the
latest edition of School Library Journal and choose books
for your book talks next year. Contact your local public
library and find out how you can promote their summer reading
program. Join us in mining the GPS for objectives that
we can use to create great collaborative lessons with our
teachers. (Contact me if you want to be involved in this
effort).
Onward and upward - pump up the professionalism in your
Media Program. Check out the ‘You are the Key” handbook
on our GLMA website so you will know what the policies
of our state are concerning media. Use the rubric for the “Exemplary
Library Media Program” published by the DOE to evaluate
your Media Program. Schedule a conference with you principal
and use the “Media Specialist Evaluation Form” on
our website to help your principal evaluate you and your
Media Program. Learn how the legislature funds the media
program and don’t forget to contact your legislators
and thank them for increasing our funds. Use the AASL Advocacy
Kit to find ways to advocate and publicize your Media Program.
With all of this going on for you, your renewal should
be springing to life! The only thing left to do is to stop
thinking about doing it and get started! Happy Spring Renewal!
Greetings from Rosalind Dennis
President-elect
Spring is in the air. As buds become flowers and I witness
other signs of spring, I am giving “thanks” for
the opportunity to serve as President-elect of GLMA. Working
with our exceptional board members and our legislative
lobbyists has given me a fresh perspective, and I see the
strength of our organization. Our leadership team, working
in unison, continues to expand our capacity and capabilities
to better serve our members and others in our profession.
We need others like these professionals to help with the
work of the organization. We need you to
serve as district chairs, committee members, or simply,
to make suggestions to the GLMA Board. After all, GLMA’s
success depends on members who take an active role in the
business of the organization. We know we can count on you
to offer your services and expertise to our professional
organization.
It is with new growth, creativity, and rejuvenation that
GLMA will thrive and remain relevant for all Georgia library
media specialists. You have an opportunity to help with
increasing our membership by encouraging your colleagues
to join GLMA. We are asking each member to contact two
colleagues in our “I’ve Got Two” campaign
to encourage them to join our professional organization.
Since you are a current member, you certainly know the
benefits of membership in GLMA. For your reference, included
in this issue is “10 Reasons to Join GLMA”,
which can be used as talking points in recruiting your
colleagues to join. Membership information can be found
at the following URL: http://www.glma-inc.org/membership.htm/ Just
envision the influence and advocacy GLMA will have in Georgia
when members support the “I’ve Got Two” campaign
and volunteer to participate in leadership roles.