As I come up on the end of my two year presidency of NELLCO, it is a good time to reflect on what NELLCO has accomplished during that time period and I realize that a lot has happened!
 
Major Foundational Work Accomplished
A New Strategic Plan was perhaps the most significant accomplishment of the past two years.  We used the services of Laura Freebairn-Smith, of Organizational Design and Development Associates (ODDA), to facilitate a retreat in the fall of 2008 at which we revised the NELLCO Mission statement and goals.  Karen Quinn then spearheaded the effort to update the plan for the time period 2010 - 2014.  During this process of reflecting on our identity and goals for the future, we spent the greater part of a meeting hearing our role and duties as board members from Atty. Jeffrey Hurwit.  It was important to be reminded of what being a responsible board member entails.
 
Major Housekeeping Work Accomplished
The move of NELLCO offices from downtown Keene, NH to Albany Law School in Albany, NY in Dec. 2009 was perhaps the next significant event.  Unfortunately, we lost Cindy Adams as Administrative Assistant in the process because she could not make the move.  We feel fortunate to have hired Theresa McCue as our new Assistant who started in January 2010.  I hope everyone has a chance to meet her this summer in Denver. Other housekeeping accomplishments include new benefit packages for NELLCO's two fulltime employees and a Succession Plan which would guide the organization through the process of dealing with a temporary or long-term absence of the Executive Director.  
 
Major Communication Enhancements
Debuted in the summer of 2009, SLICE - new online monthly newsletter, keeps members and the world informed of NELLCO activities.  Readership is steadily rising. Regular Executive Director monthly reports to the Executive Committee have been very helpful to itemize all that Tracy accomplishes. Tracy's regular participation on Law Librarian Conversations, now supported by CALI and hosted by Richard Leiter, is just one example of how Tracy actively represents NELLCO out and about and in a variety of formats.
 
New And Ongoing Offerings:
New Discounts have been offered in addition to ongoing database trial offerings.  Many members and affiliates took advantage of purchasing a BookEye (KIC) walk up digital scanner/copier with a favorable discount.  Other new offerings included library supply vendor discounts and Swank films.  Grantmaking workshops have been offered to members on an ongoing basis and this past year a new Advocacy workshop was offered in conjunction with a new partnership established with LLMC and LIPA.  The Interest Groups have continued to meet regularly and enthusiastically.  The Universal Search Solution (USS) project continues to progress and while the federal grant funding has ended, the project received a year's extension to complete more work.
 
Upcoming Major Initiative
The Board and the newly formed Finance Committee are currently searching for a consultant to help set the future financial direction of NELLCO, reviewing various data and comparable non-profit organizations in the process.  I look forward to serving as past-president during this Financial Review initiative and supporting the organization any way I can.    
 
Anne M. Acton, President