A New Spin @ our 98th Annual Conference

Mark your calendars for “A New Spin” to a resort destination for the 2005 OLA Conference March 30th – April 1st! There will be many opportunities to make new connections at the fabulous, state-of-the-art National Center for Employee Development (NCED) in Norman. Program Chair, Susan Dulaney Wright and your OLA Program Committee have been working hard to put together a dynamic agenda of programs and social events that will be informative, entertaining and energizing.

The atmosphere at the NCED Conference Center is both invigorating and relaxing. It is like being on a cruise ship! As the largest hotel complex in Oklahoma, it offers every amenity…an extensive health club facility, saunas, whirlpools, large heated swimming pool, tennis courts, jogging/walking trail, indoor track, racquetball courts, volleyball and horseshoe pits, billiards, ping pong and much more.

All food services are catered by Marriott and offer a wide variety of menu selections and “all you can eat” for three meals. Scrumptious snacks are provided for both morning and afternoon breaks. No one will go hungry! Did I mention there is a cocktail lounge? The conference package is all-inclusive and covers registration, room (tax included), meals, snacks, parking and use of all conference recreational facilities. (Okay…all-inclusive except for cocktails!)

After conference you may want to continue your stay in Norman to attend the popular Medieval Festival on April 2nd, or visit the world famous Sam Noble Museum of Natural History or the expanded and renovated Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art with the fabulous Weitzenhoffer Collection. Special NCED hotel rates will be available for Friday evening for conference attendees.

Susan and the Program Committee along with local arrangements, co-chaired by Basha Hartley and Sally Bratton Rice, have done an outstanding job of planning a conference that “Spins”--balancing informative programs, fantastic speakers, timely exhibits and loads of fellowship and fun!

Highlighted speakers include the world famous Seattle librarian, Nancy Pearl; national award-winning author of breath-taking historical novels, Rilla Askew; Canadian Library Association President-Elect/Ottawa PL CEO, Barbara Clubb; President of the Mountain Plains Library Association/Colorado academician, Beth Avery; noted environmental biologist/adventure novelist, Richard Trout; Manager of Atomic Pop, Rob Vollmar; dynamic Oklahoma leader, Linda Edmondson; ALA’s Washington Office legislative expert, Patrice McDermott; noted fundraiser, Gemmy Brown; and the beloved former Associate Dean of Oklahoma State University Library, Ken Bierman. These are only a few. There are many more fascinating speakers and experts on the conference program from in and out of state.

The OLA “Spin” begins Wednesday, March 30th with the Sequoyah book awards and four outstanding pre-conference workshops. Those who prefer a more physically active day can join the golf tournament at Cobblestone Creek Golf Course for the Ruth Brown Memorial Award fundraiser. Wednesday evening join others for a poetry reading and wine tasting at the Cobblestone Creek Club House or a tribute to Donna Norvell and a movie, The Music Man, at the Sooner Theatre in Norman.

As we “spin” into Opening General Session, Keynote Speaker Rilla Askew will bring a special and timely message to all of us who face the daily rewards and challenges of providing free and open access to all of our citizens. We will be honored to have Barbara Clubb bring greetings from the Canadian Library Association and some highlights of activities in Canada. There will be many surprises unveiled, as well as door prizes at the Opening General Session. You won’t want to miss it!

Be sure to visit the exhibits Thursday and Friday to see what is new and let the exhibitors know more about your library and your special needs. Please thank them for their support and their generosity in helping make our OLA Conference a success. Our conferences would be a mere shadow of what they are without vendor participation and financial support.

Thursday and Friday are chock full of programs with outstanding speakers, authors and experts. Topics range from learning styles to “RFID”; from fundraising to planned giving; and from mediation to managing your work load to reduce stress. The OLA “spin” includes something for everyone!

Something that will be of interest to all libraries will be the unveiling of the OLA Marketing Tool Kit Friday afternoon by the creative, hardworking Marketing and Publicity Committee. It has been designed with school, public, academic and special libraries in mind.

Stay tuned for more news about Thursday night’s all conference event, medieval style! There will be fun, entertainment and food for all. The OASLMS auction will feature delightful baskets, both large and small. Don’t miss the bidding!

Everyone will want to stay for Friday evening’s banquet to hear world-famous librarian, author and speaker Nancy Pearl. She will be available to autograph her books and the “Library Action Figure” after the program.

As we ponder the future of OLA, we recognize the importance of the Centennial Endowment Campaign to the stability and longevity of our association. The Endowment Committee, so aptly co-chaired by Pat Weaver-Meyers and Patrick Brennen, reminds us that there will be many opportunities to donate to the Endowment at conference. One of the most timely and apropos will be a memorial fund for Donna Norvell (ODL) set up through gifts to the Endowment in memory of Donna, recognizing the significance of her work and the essence of her influence on the many lives she touched in Oklahoma.

It is going to be an outstanding conference! So, pack your bags and come aboard the OLA/NCED cruise ship as we “Spin New Destinations…Forge New Connections…Bridge Generations…and Discover Serendipity” while learning, sharing and playing!

Thank you for making this a dynamic year!

Lynn McIntosh
OLA President 2004/2005