Technology Review Advisory Group Recommendations

My speech to the joint cabinets (Chapter Cabinet and Division Cabinet) went very well.  The recommendations of the Technology Review Advisory Group were well received.  The full report is available to SLA members only, so I am publishing only the recommendations here.  If you would like to access the full report or the executive summary, please contact me (danielplee at sympatico dot ca) and I will direct you to their location.

Short Term Recommendations

  1. Establish a permanent Technology Advisory committee, reporting to the Board of Directors.
  2. Review the communications procedures and broaden channels used by SLA staff to promote technologies available to units.
  3. As the decision for a new Association Membership System (AMS) is made, consult with the SLA Technology Review Advisory Group.
  4. SLA’s Association Membership System (AMS) should, at a minimum include a number of features not currently included in the system.
  5. Task a staff member at SLA Headquarters (with the assistance of the proposed ongoing Committee in recommendation 1) to develop an IT Strategic Plan for SLA.  This plan would serve as a valuable planning tool for decision-making as well as facilitating dialogue between the leadership, members at-large, and Headquarters.
  6. Allow for more than one person to access the web server via FTP.  The current model of distributing one username and password to the unit webmaster creates a narrowly controlled, “gatekeeper” environment which is inefficient and not easily managed.
  7. Solicit and/or compile recommendations from other Task Forces that directly relate to technology.
  8. Permanently expand the Leadership Discussion List to include all elected members of each unit.
  9. Provide a list of available tools and expected deadlines to any Association-level task force.

Long-term Recommendations

  1. Create a task force to investigate SLA’s current model for publishing web content by the units.
  2. Investigate expanded reporting options for conference planners and unit leadership.
  3. Many volunteers feel it is a burden to rely on home or work computers to conduct SLA business, including software installation and software upgrades.  This is especially important for volunteers who work in “restricted” environments.  SLA should investigate possible solutions to this issue, such as web-based or thin-client software.
  4. Negotiate licenses (to which seats could be added through SLA at unit expense if desired) for popular desktop software tools in addition to Quicken (e.g. Dreamweaver and Adobe Acrobat.)
  5. Strive to provide a seemingly seamless technology experience for members.
  6. Use Click University as a platform for volunteer education to improve technology skills and awareness.
  7. Provide volunteers with web-based collaborative workspaces.
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