The group met 2-3 times this reporting period.
After reviewing the current PLA Strategic Plan, please tell us:
Describe the current work of this committee and how it supports our strategic goals. Include work accomplished, decisions made, and any recommended follow-up actions.
The Membership Advisory Group is focusing on the strategic plan goals of professional growth and organizational excellence to guide our activities in the fall of 2024 – 2025.
February – May we are starting a monthly virtual engagement event called "Membership Mondays" to help members be engaged and empowered on their journey in PLA. We will be covering topics such as personal growth, networking, volunteering, presenting at conference and being a voice in PLA's print and online media content.
As part of the brainstorming of the group for keeping engagement high during an off conference year we suggested perhaps having a major author virtual event for members only. Samantha took that idea and ran with it and it is our understanding that this is being investigated by PLA staff for possible roll out in Fall of 2025.
We continue to send out personalized welcome emails to all new members of PLA highlighting the professional development opportunities that are coming up soon and all the great tools PLA has to offer.
Do you see opportunities to better align committee work with those goals?
We believe what the Membership Advisory Group is doing is very much in line with PLA's strategic goals.
What recommendations do you have for in-coming committee members? Are there particular streams of
work in progress to be carried over into the new committee year? (January–June reporting period only)
We have been successful at the past conferences with facilitating a a variety of both informational and recreational member engagements in the Member Lounge so we think that is definitely worth continuing. We hope that the Member Monday virtual engagements will show the value in providing opportunity for PLA groups and committee's to share information / get feedback from the general membership.
What specific activities will this committee undertake over the next six months to support that alignment? (July–December reporting period only)
Are there other PLA or ALA committees whose partnership and collaboration would accelerate meeting PLA strategic goals?
None that come to mind.
Is there anything else about your committee experience you’d like to share?
We continue to be very grateful to have Samantha Lopez as our staff liaison. She is wonderful to work with and is amazing at getting us connected with any resources or staff needed to achieve our goals. We truly appreciate her and all that she does for us.
Submitted by Meredith McCarthy / Jennifer Baxter on 01/09/2025