Info Newsletter Index

SIS INFO
Vol. 17, No. 1
January 2003

SIS is looking for a new Newsletter Editor. This is an important function since the newsletter is such an significant communication tool for the organization. Please consider volunteering for this appointed position.  If you have any questions about the the responsibilities of an editor, or are willing to contribute to SIS in this way, please contact the President, Anita Lindsay (lindsaam@eckerd.edu).

Thanks to Rebecca Forman for her work as Editor for the past year.

Next Meeting, February 20, 2003

Past Meeting, October 8, 2002

The October 8, 2002 meeting of the Suncoast Information Specialists was held at the Seminole Campus of St Petersburg College. Mary Kaye Raddatz, Instructor-in-Charge of the Information Commons, hosted the meeting. She was assisted by Pam Burrows, also of SPC.

The delicious meal was provided compliments of Eckerd College Library and was delivered by Anita Lindsay and Rich Jones of EC.

The meeting began with introductions by the attendees. Announcements included the following:

Harriet Thompkins of Pinellas Talking Book Library displayed her “Suncoast Public Access Award” and told about the winning video production, “Being the CEO of Your Career”. The awards ceremony was held in the “Digitorium” on the Seminole Campus of SPC.

Kathy Kaldenberg sent around a copy of the Fall 2002 issue of “Florida Libraries” which contained an article she submitted titled “Serving a Community of Warriors”. The article explains the mission of the MacDill Air Force Base Library and notes how services were affected by the events of September 11.

Wanda Barrett and Everlove Associates colleagues attended the South Atlantic Regional Conference of Special Libraries Association in September.

Anita Lindsay displayed an attractive flyer for SIS and sent around multiple copies for members to distribute.

Anita also announced that the annual St Petersburg Times Festival of Reading is scheduled for November 3 and will be held at the Eckerd College campus.

Betsy King reminded attendees of the November 8 Special Libraries Association sponsored workshop, “Creativity in the Workplace” The speaker will be Gerard J. Puccio, Ph.D, Director and Professor, Center for Studies in Creativity, Buffalo State, State University of New York. The workshop will be held at the University of South Florida, Tampa Campus Library. Additional information can be found at the SLA Chapter website (http://www.sla.org/chapter/cfc)

After introductions of the nominees, the election of the 2002-2003 slate of officers for SIS was conducted, with the following results:

• President: Anita Lindsay (Eckerd College)
• Vice President / President-elect:  Kathy Kaldenberg (MacDill AFB)
• Secretary: Paul Wetmore (Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library)
• Treasurer: Betsy King (CAE)

Thank you to Allicia Ellison, Chair of the 2002 Nominating Committee and to Helen Beaulieu, who assisted.

The meeting concluded with a fascinating presentation by Nancy Doolittle, Instructional Technologist at the SPC Seminole campus  (http://it.spcollege.edu/). She described the new programs available at SPC in digital media videography and instruction, where the emphasis is on application, not theory. Ms. Doolittle toured the attendees through the building, giving them a behind the scenes look at the high tech systems used by staff and students.

Past Meeting, December 4, 2002

The December meeting was was a dinner meeting at the Picadilly Cafeteria in St. Petersburg on December 4, 2002.

President, Wanda Barrett of Everlove & Associates announced the newly elected SIS officers: President: Anita Lindsay, Eckerd College; Vice-President: Kathy Kaldengerg, McDill Air Force Base; Secretary: Paul Wetmore, Tampa-Hillsboro Public Library; Treasurer: Betsy King, CAE USA.

After a self-introduction by all those in attendance, our guest speaker Lynn Carol Henderson carried the meeting.

Lynn Carol Henderson:

• Teaches Women’s Studies as an adjunct professor at Eckerd College
• Currently seeking  a Ph.D. in Women’s Ritual Art for Empowerment at Union Institute & University of Cincinnati
• Provides storytelling, ritual-arts workshops in the Tampa Bay area including the Dali Museum.

Lynn Carol as storyteller, presented The Twelve Wild Swans,by Starhawk & Hilary Valentine, as a folk tale about one woman’s empowerment. This interactive workshop – the audience on queue rattled shakers and rang bells from various cultures – demonstrates the use of various art forms to stimulate the empowerment of women.

Following the tale, Carol added,  “The burdens of this life are never gone. It is up to us to fix the wrongs of the past.”

Carol then challenged each person in the group to rewrite his or her own story - to confront the wrongs of their past. She said, “There are many different ways to show love. Some love can heal. Some love can hurt.”

She directs the group to, “Speak your truth to your neighbor, then write one phrase to show your truth.” Examples given:

1. “I will love unconditionally without jealousy.“
2. “I will forgive my mother.”
3. “I will forgive myself.”

“These affirmations provide a means to rewrite our own stories,” says Carol.

The next SIS meeting will be in Tampa, details forthcoming.