Midwest Chapter Annual Report 2023

submitted by Kate Lambaria

Current Roster

  • Kate Lambaria, Chair (2023, Past-Chair terms expires 2024)
  • Paul Cary, Chair-Elect (2023, Chair term expires 2025, Past-Chair term expires 2026)
  • Anne Shelley, Secretary-Treasurer (2023)
  • Kristi Bergland, Newsletter Editor (2023)
  • Thom Jencks, Webmaster (2023)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

  • 1. Hold 2022 annual chapter meeting with streaming component and hold election for Chair-Elect
    • Goal Area 2: Develop and Retain Membership; Objective 2.2: Offer mentorship and networking opportunities for members at all stages of career similar to the programs for new members or early career professionals
    • A successful in-person meeting was held October 27-29 in Bloomington, IN with 57 in person attendees and 10 virtual. This meeting saw a high number of student attendees (14) although we did not receive any applications for student travel scholarships since many were from the meeting area and received institutional support to attend, or attended virtually. 
    • Paul Cary and Carla Williams were nominated to run for Chair-Elect; Paul Cary was elected and began his term at the Fall 2022 Chapter Meeting
  • 2. Review committee recruitment practices and explore new approaches. Encourage committees to engage outside of the Annual Chapter Meeting.
    • Goal Area 3: Cultivate Inclusivity; Objective 3.3: Review appointment processes for all MLA positions and committees. Identify ways to make processes and committee membership more reflective of MLA’s DEIA commitment; Objective 3.5: Prioritize accessibility at all MLA events, in-person and virtual, and in all MLA virtual spaces.
    • Work in this area is ongoing, although efforts to incorporate student and early career voices specifically have already begun by adding them to our Program Committee, ensuring they have a voice in what they will learn during the meeting, and by encouraging student proposals in all formats at the annual Chapter meeting. 
    • We successfully replaced committee chairs and interest group coordinators that were overdue to rotate off their respective groups. We also sought self-nominations for Secretary-Treasurer, mirroring what happens at the national level, and clarified which membership categories are eligible for the slate. 
    • A session highlighting the many ways members can get involved with the Chapter and benefit from Chapter engagement is on the program for the 2023 fall meeting.

List of Future Goals

  • 1. Hold 2023 annual chapter meeting with streaming component and hold election for Secretary-Treasurer.
    • MLA Value 4. Growth: MLA enables members to connect and turn their individual knowledge into shared knowledge. The Association fosters growth and leadership for all members, regardless of their experience, role, location, or area of expertise.
  • 2. Continue efforts to review committee recruitment practices and explore new approaches. Encourage committees to engage outside of the Annual Chapter Meeting.
    • MLA Goal Area 3: Cultivate Inclusivity: Build, maintain, and engage a diverse and inclusive membership
  • 3. Review communications to new members. Standardize when to use specific communication methods, such as listserv and direct emails, so all members are aware of Chapter developments.
    • MLA Goal Area 4: Strengthen Communication: Refine and improve intraorganizational and external communications
  • 4. Seek feedback from Chapter membership to review annual meeting practices so that meetings are accessible and affordable to all and best serve membership needs.
    • MLA Goal Area 3: Cultivate Inclusivity: Build, maintain, and engage a diverse and inclusive membership