Summer/Fall 2006 Candidate's Statments

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Rebecca Blakiston
President:

Good day, fellow SIRLS students!  I would like to take a quick minute to let you know my goals and philosophies as your potential LSO President.  As you may know, I have been working my Spring 2006 positions as Faculty/Student Liaison and Jobs Coordinator.  I have also worked as a Library Specialist - recently regraded to Library Information Associate - at our own UA Library for nearly a year (being a student employee for three years prior), gaining skills and networks that will be valuable in fulfilling this role.  I look forward to soon working with LSO to encourage much stronger collaboration between other groups and organizations.  I think that working with the Special Libraries Association as well as the University of Arizona Libraries and Tucson-Pima Public Libraries will be incredibly valuable in improving our connections.  The positive experiences we have while we are library and information students are incredibly important for our future professions, and I believe that improved communication throughout our organization is essential.  I encourage all students to feel welcome and hope that you will feel comfortable contacting me if you ever have any questions, concerns, or suggestions for LSO.  I plan to increase the number of activities we organize, both social and professional, increase our methods of gathering and responding to feedback from the rest of SIRLS, and increase student involvement.  I realize it is difficult when we are often busy with work and family, live far away, mostly take courses virtually, and often feel isolated from the rest of the student body.  With the help and support of all you students out there, I hope to bring us together as a community so that together we can grow and succeed in the information profession.  I hope that you will trust me in this role, and encourage you to participate in this progressive and exciting organization.

 

Michelle Johnson
Vice President/Treasurer:

I am running for Vice President/Treasurer of LSO because I have enjoyed working with a student group whose aim is to provide the people in their program with interesting professional development and social activities. It has been a great learning experience to work with others in this type of a setting and it is gained me great leadership experience with hands on work as well as seeing how student groups get things accomplished.  I have enjoyed becoming friends with the other officers this past semester and I look forward to meeting new people over the summer and fall to continue the success LSO had in Spring 2006.

Ruth Morgan
Faculty/Student Liaison:

In my previous experience with LSO as Alumni Liaison, I have developed an appreciation of what the organization can do for both students and alumni.  The Symposium this November is an exciting event which will need to have student's voices highlighted.  I feel that I can clearly articulate the
students needs to LSO and the faculty as well as find events and programs geared towards students' needs.

 

Bjorn Tipling
Secretary:

Statement pending

 

Ruth Morgan
Program Coordinator:

In my previous experience with LSO as Alumni Liaison, I have developed an appreciation of what the organization can do for both students and alumni.  The Symposium this November is an exciting event which will need to have student's voices highlighted.  I feel that I can clearly articulate the
students needs to LSO and the faculty as well as find events and programs geared towards students' needs.

 

Shana Harrington
Social Coordinator:

Hello fellow SIRLS students! I'd like to let you know why I'd be great as your Social Coordinator of LSO this year.  I have been in the SIRLS program since January, and have found that meeting other SIRLS students has been a fun and invaluable experience.  I'd really like to help people connect with each other this year by meeting up in a relaxed environment on a regular basis. Connecting with other people in grad school can be difficult, as so many of us come from such diverse places, but as Social Coordinator I will endeavor to bring people together to benefit from sharing their experiences and making connections that will last a lifetime.

Robert Meredith
Jobs Coordinator:

Robert Merideth has more than 25 years' experience as an environmental researcher, writer, and editor. He has broad academic training in environmental sciences and GIS/remote sensing with a B.A. in geography ( University of Oklahoma) and an M.S. in water resources management ( University of Wisconsin-Madison) as well as extensive practical experience in journalism and library science.

As editor in chief of Udall Center Publications, his aim is to interpret and communicate to a broad public and professional audience, through a variety of printed and electronic media, the results of the Center's research and outreach programs in environmental policy and conflict resolution, indigenous nations policy, and immigration policy.

Merideth is author of The Environmentalist's Bookshelf: A Guide to the Best Books , and author/co-author of several handbooks and journal articles.

He is a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in El Salvador in 1978-79. He is a member of the board of directors and past president of Tucson Audubon Society.

 

Marie Martin
Webmaster/Listserv Manager:

I am running for the position of Webmaster/Listserv Coordinator because I enjoy working with the LSO students and officers in a technical position. This is an excellent way to expand upon and improve my web creation and maintenance skills. It is also very rewarding to be able to provide online information about events and activities in a timely way, and facilitate communication between students and the officers via the web. I would love to have more student feedback about the website and the listservs, so we can look for ways to better serve the needs of SIRLS students as your Student Organization. I am also excited about providing support and assisting in planning for another phenomenal Graduate Student Symposium in the Fall.

 

Dana von Berg
Fundraising Coordinator:

I would like to run for the position of Fundraising Coordinator. Finding ways to increase funds for an organization is an interesting challenge.  If I could help out in this area it would be very rewarding.
The opportunity to sell staple items, often needed by fellow students and/or coworkers, is another reward.  Thank you.

 

Olivia Sparks
Distance Student Liaison:

Hello fellow SIRLS students, I'm Olivia Sparks and I would like to continue in the LSO Distance Student Liaison position for the Summer/Fall 2006 term.  I am a distance student (based in Chandler, AZ) who has taken a couple of classes on campus and a several courses online.  I plan on graduating this Dec. 2006.  I continue to see this position as part Phoenix based social coordinator and
(most importantly) the voice of the distance student.  This past semester we surveyed the Phoenix community and from what you've told me, you want to see more programs and activities this summer and fall.

On my to do list:  -Plan a couple of social and professional development events in the Phoenix area.  -Work on a WIKI for Phoenix SIRLS community.  (If you have topics you would like to cover and include in the wiki, please send an email to osparks@email.arizona.edu with "LSO Wiki" in the subject line).

Thanks for allowing me to serve during this Spring Semester, I hope to continue to serve you this Summer and Fall.

 

Monica Bafetti
BiblioTech Editor:

Hi, I'm Monica.  I've been involved in SIRLS and LSO in various positions in my two years here. I will be done in May 2007.  This semester BiblioTech didn't quite have the momentum it did last semester.  However, I have some great plans to rejuvenate it, including a "job search tips" issue in the Fall.  I would love the chance to work on this webzine again, so vote for me! Thanks, Monica Bafetti

 

Freddy Martinez-Garcia, Jr
BiblioTech Editor:

Hola a Todos!  I would like to state to you why electing me as a BiblioTech Editor will be a great decision that you will not regret.  Being a Library Information Associate at the University of Arizona Libraries, I have acquired great experience in marketing different official and unofficial events at the
UA libraries by promoting them with great results. I have coordinated programs like MAT (Material Access Team) Open House; Stress Relieving Drumming Sessions; Dia de los Muertos Altar Installation and Exhibit; and an SGA (Staff Governance Association) Open Meeting. In order to have a great success in all of these events, I utilized the essential marketing principals of creating great motivational emails, excellent informative and colorful pamphlets, and personal paper invitations.

Unfortunately, it is noticeable that no-time has been devoted to actualize BiblioTech to be presented as a great publication that it should be.  Being in a field that is in constant evolution, I am really disappointed how BiblioTech has not being updated to present all this changes and introduce students to what is happening out there on the field.  By having an extend experience on
the field, I have great ideas on what should be included to instruct future librarians on what is needed to be known in the library and information world. I also have excellent marketing ideas to motivate people to write interesting and informative articles.  In all, I would like to maintain SIRLS students
informed, entertained and with the desire for us to publish more BiblioTech editions.  Vote for me and you will experience what a great publication BiblioTech will be!

Dana von Berg
Alumni Liaison:

My name is Dana von Berg and I would like to run for the position of Alumni Liaison.  I have experienced working as a liaison at the UA Library where I served as the classified staff representative to the Library Cabinet.  I was responsible for communicating issues relevant to
library staff to the Staff Governance Association Board (of which I was a part) as well as to the rest of the library's classified staff.  I would like to have the opportunity to communicate with alumni regarding our activities so they still feel like they are part of SIRLS.  Also, they can provide us with information which can be of great value to us when we graduate.  Thank you.

Lynne Collins
Alumni Liaison:

Hi all. I very much enjoyed my experience as an LSO officer this semester. And I'd like to continue my participation, but for the Fall semester I'd like to be considered for the Alumni Liaison position. I want to survey the alumni next Fall, to get a better idea of their interest in continuing to be involved with SIRLS and SIRLS students, particularly in regards to mentoring.
Thanks, Lynne