The MAME 35 Conference Wiki is already getting populated with information. Kathleen McBroom, MAME VP and MAME 35 Conference Chair, and her excellent committee are working hard to present this outstanding PD event. Of course, the updating of the conference wiki is ongoing as events are arranged and new information comes to light. Check the site often and don't hesitate to subscribe via RSS so that you will be notified as soon as new information is available on the wiki.
 
The MAME Executive Committee and Board members continue to work on MAME's strategic plan. We have accomplished some of our goals and continue to work on others. Thanks to Cyndi Phillip and Dee Gwaltney for facilitating our planning meetings.
In March Marsha Lambert organized an excellent Spring Leadership Conference in Ypsilanti. Blanche Woolls, Marcia Mardis and Kristin Fontichiaro facilitated the discussions and you can see the fruits of our labor on the MAME Leadership Wiki. You will find some very helpful documents.
A survey on Michigan school library media centers and personnel has been taken on by MAME members Lisa Brakel, Jo Kirkbride and Roger Ashley. Hopefully we will have results to share later in the year.
The media center marketing video is nearly finished! This video, the brainchild of Nancy Robertson our State Librarian, is a collaborative project involving the LOM, MAME and other media specialists and ISD staff members. I can tell you this - the video looks great so far and will get the school library media message across in a short amount of time. As soon as the video is finished and launched the members of the project want administrators, teachers, parents and legislators to see it. We will need your help in disseminating the video but more about that later in the year.
On July 15th the MAME Summer Institute takes place at the Ingham ISD in Mason. Evelyn Freeman has organized a wonderful slate of presenters. Topics include AASL standards for the 21st century learner, Michigan state standards, integrating technology to meet standards, gaming and the curriculum, open source software and Web 2.0 tools for standards implementation. Watch for the bright yellow flyer in the mail.
Chris Cooper, MAME Parliamentarian, has been working with Roger and me on our policies and Constitution. We will be voting on changes at the General Membership meeting that takes place at the annual conference.
One last thing. Committee and Board members continue to offer ways to help Michigan media specialists and other educators attend our professional development. Last year we offered discounted earlybird registration and vendor scholarships for the annual conference. This year we will again offer the earlybird registration along with even more vendor scholarships than last year. In addition, watch for team discounts.
The MAME members who volunteer to be on the committees and the Board work hard and meet four or five times a year (on Saturdays!) to provide PD, resources and support to MAME members. These meetings, with a small percentage of MAME members, collaborate and brainstorm to make MAME great.
I hope to see you in July. Have a great summer. I hope you get to read mountains of books, sleep till the crack of noon, watch silly movies and maybe travel to exotic locales or as far as $4.00 a gallon will get you. Thank you for being part of MAME!

MAME Interactive Link:

MAME conference link:
http://mame.pbwiki.com

MAME Leadership wiki:
http://mameleadership2008.pbwiki.com/