Well, at this point there is NO evidence that AALL has not "turned its back."
AALL does still have the chance to show that it -- at the very least -- acknowledges the importance of the issue, by using it's "hot topic" program slot for a discussion of all the complexities of the same-sex marriage issue.
If you think this topic merits discussion in Boston at the Annual Meeting, you can always e-mail Gail Warren, the AMPC Chair ( gwarren@infionline.net). Gail has indicated to me (and to others) that there have been several proposals already (or, at least, intent-to-propose notes). Although normally AALL doesn't take direct responsibility for generating the program content (preferring to let its members cobble together proposals -- then selecting the "best" of the submissions), letting Gail know you think this program would enrich the annual meeting might encourage AALL to more actively channel some of its resources directly into seeing that such a program does take place.
One of the proposals will be coming from members of the AALL SR-SIS. If you'd like to help ensure that this proposal passes muster, feel free to contact Elvira Embser-Herbert ( <mailto:eembserherbert@wmitchell.edu> eembserherbert@wmitchell.edu) or Ann Hemmens ( hemmens@u.washington.edu). Lining up willing speakers is always difficult, so it'd be particularly helpful if people who are close to any of the principal players in this drama could help Elvira and Ann line up an all-star cast (anybody know Barney Frank?).
Stanley
=============================<
Stanley Conrad, JD/MLS
Reference/Special Collections Librarian
Rittenberg Law Library
St. John's University School of Law
8000 Utopia Parkway
Jamaica, NY 11439
718-990-2012
718-990-6649 (fax)
conrads@stjohns.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu]On Behalf Of Elaine B. Dockens
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 1:03 PM
To: Baker, Brian L.; Law-Lib (E-mail)
Subject: Backs are not turned- reason is prevailing....RE: AALL, Boston, and the Massachusetts State Legislature's action to ban Gay Marriage.
Brian - AALL has not turned its back on the first Civil Rights movement of the 21st Century. Those of us who have responded to this thread have just done what educated, respsonsible individuals normally do - we have examined several aspects of the issue, pro and con, and have come to reasonable, alternatiave suggestions/conclusions - which include not scuttling the AALL Convention this year by boycotting Boston and by suggesting some very reasonable actions - such as patroning gay establishments while in Boston and offering support (financial and demonstrative), etc.
My concern is that if these reasonable alternatives do not satisfy your need for action/support of your cause at this time, perhaps I'm not seeing all the points on your personal agenda.
E. Dockens
-----Original Message-----
From: Baker, Brian L. [mailto:bbaker@udc.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 11:47 AM
To: 'Judith Siess, Information Bridges Intl'; law-lib@ucdavis.edu
Subject: RE: AALL, Boston, and the Massachusetts State Legislature's action to ban Gay Marriage.
How can an organization that represents educated individuals who work with the law turn its back on the first Civil Rights movement of the 21st Century?
Brian L. Baker, JD, MLS
Director of the Law Library
& Assistant Professor of Law
UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Voice: 202-274-7354 Fax: 202-274-7311
bbaker@udc.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-law-lib@ucdavis.edu]On Behalf Of Judith Siess, Information Bridges Intl
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 12:30 PM
To: law-lib@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Re: AALL, Boston, and the Massachusetts State Legislature's action to ban Gay Marriage.
I am a member of SLA. I am NOT a member of ALA. Why? Because ALA takes stands on issues that have nothing to do with librarianship--like not meeting in AZ because they did not celebrate Martin Luther King Day. SLA has steadfastly refused to do similar boycotts. I sincerely hope that AALL will follow the SLA example, and not the ALA model.
I will be in Boston. (Actually, a better reason not to go to Boston, for me, would be that the Democrats are meeting there this summer, but that is another issue--one which is better left for off-list.)
J Siess
At 11:43 AM 3/30/2004, you wrote:
Brian,
You will not find any earthly place where some AALL member would not have
one issue or another. However, should we be in the proximity of an
appropriate asteroid this summer, I hope that the AALL membership would
consider it--and populate it.
Colleagues,
I am very concerned about the important Civil Rights issue of Gay Marriage.
I am also concerned about whether holding the AALL Annual Meeting in Boston
this Summer would be providing some support to the anti Gay Marriage
position.
I know an unbelievable amount of hard work has gone into this Annual
Meeting. I understand that the timing of the Massachusetts Legislature's
actions are unfortunate.
I also know that I, for one, am hesitant about providing tax dollars to
support such a narrow minded legislature.
I am surprised that there has not been a call to boycott Boston over this
issue.
Am I out of step?
Shouldn't this be a topic for reasoned discussion?
Sincerely,
Brian
Brian L. Baker, JD, MLS
Director of the Law Library
& Assistant Professor of Law
UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Voice: 202-274-7354 Fax: 202-274-7311
bbaker@udc.edu
Judith A. Siess, B.A., M.A., M.S.L.I.S.
INFORMATION BRIDGES INTERNATIONAL, INC. /I\B/I\
477 Harris Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44143 USA
voice: +1-216-486-7443, fax: +1-216-486-8810, email: jsiess@ibi-opl.com,
on the web at http://www.ibi-opl.com <http://www.ibi-opl.com/>
Publisher and Editor of The One-Person Library: A Newsletter for Librarians and Management
Author of The OPL Sourcebook: A Guide for Solo and Small Libraries, Information Today, Inc., 2001, ISBN 1-57387-111-7
Time Management, Planning and Prioritization for Librarians, Scarecrow Press, 2002, ISBN 0-8108-4438-9
The Visible Librarian: Asserting Your Value With Marketing and Advocacy, ALA Editions, 2003, ISBN 0-8389-0848-9
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