eShelf℠ Service demo highlights March Amigos Board meeting

A demonstration of the Amigos eShelf℠ Service kicked off the March 2 meeting of the Amigos Board of Directors. The Board meeting, including the demonstration, was conducted online. eShelf℠ Service Manager Christine Peterson walked Directors through various processes, including e-book searching, ordering, and downloading.

As part of his Chair’s Report, Steve Potter, Mid-Continent Public Library, asked Directors for volunteers to serve on the Amigos Officer Nominating Task Force that will develop a list of Board Members willing to serve as Amigos Board officers for FY2017.

Amigos Treasurer Robin Fradenburgh, University of Texas at Austin, along with Amigos Chief Financial Officer Charles Cason, reported on the January 2016 performances of Amigos operations and the organization’s investment portfolio.

The Board also reviewed the proposed Amigos Business Plan for FY2017. The Plan is based on membership fees approved by Amigos members in May 2009. The Board will take final action on the Business Plan at its May 2016 meeting.

Nominating Committee Chair Liz MacDonald, Lindenwood University, reported that a slate of candidates for election to the Amigos Board has been developed. The Board accepted the slate as presented. Elections will take place through a combination of directed proxy voting and online voting during the May 11 Member Business Meeting. Candidates are listed in the article "Candidates for 2016 Amigos Board of Directors election announced" in this issue.

In her report to Directors, Amigos President and Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Juergens provided the Board with various updates on the operations of the organization. As part of that report, Amigos Chief Communications, Education and Membership Officer Tracy Byerly reported on activities planned for the annual Amigos Member Conference in May and on impressive attendance numbers from each of Amigos’ live online conferences held this year. Cason reported on Trans-Amigos Express activities, including the upcoming launch of a new label-making program. Chief Internal Audit and IT Officer Keith Gaertner reported on Amigos Management Services clients and the upcoming conferences Amigos will be managing.

The next Board of Directors meeting will be held in Dallas May 10, in conjunction with the May 11-12 Amigos Member Conference and Member Business Meeting.