The Membership Committee is responsible for connecting libraries and library staff members with the statewide professional organization. To accomplish this, the Membership Committee utilizes e-mail, Web and other technologies to identify potential members and invite them to join the organization. In addition the Membership Committee maintains membership lists, and communicates with the ILA Executive Assistant, the ILA/ACRL Executive Board, ILA, and ALA. Following is a list of activities which may be undertaken to conduct the business of the Membership Committee.

Schedule of Activities

November 
After appointment as Chair of the committee, determine whether ILA/ACRL or the Chair's library will support copying and distribution costs. In general most communication with members is done by email.

December 
Attend the transitional ILA/ACRL Executive Board planning meeting. Plan the year's activities with the Executive Board and the Communication Chair. Obtain current membership lists for ILA's academic librarians and ILA/ACRL members from the ILA Executive Assistant.

Correspond with members of the Committee acknowledging their appointments and outlining the work that will be done and their expected contributions. Send a copy to the President so that communication channels are open. Draft letters for mass emails in January and in March and the special letter to be sent to those who join. 
Executive Board meetings may be called during the year. Plan to attend and assume responsibility as appropriate.

January

Send a recruiting email to everyone on the December membership list.  Send a letter to the library schools for distribution.

 
February 
Begin sorting those who have joined from those who have not joined in order to develop a second mailing list. Divide the new members among the Committee members, have them send a welcome letter to the new members. Identify those who have not renewed and those who have not responded due to staff changes. Develop a three-way conversation between the ILA office, the Chair, and the Committee members in order to stay current with the progress of the Committee's work.

March 
Send the second invitation to join. Expand this mailing to support groups or others as advisable. Encourage Committee members to follow up and to promote the Spring Conference. 
Prepare for additional membership through the Spring Conference registration. Request ALA/ACRL brochures from the ALA office for the registration table, and have a sign made.

April 
Provide a membership table at the Spring Conference. Include ILA/ACRL brochures and membership forms. Find committee members to volunteer to help. At the Business Meeting give a brief report of membership numbers.

June 
Send Newsletter Chair information for the summer Newsletter.

July/August

Fill out application for a booth on the exhibition floor at the fall ILA Conference.  This is turned in to ILA by the ILA liaison.

October 
Set up the membership booth at ILA, include brochures, ACRL goodies (contact the chapter representative), copies of the newsletter.  Develop a schedule for booth minders, ask for volunteers from the executive board and the membership committee. Write the annual report and give it at the annual meeting.  Send information to the Newsletter Chair for inclusion in the November newsletter.

November 
Write letters of appreciation to committee members and update these Organization Manual pages.

December

Attend the transitional ILA/ACRL Executive Board planning meeting, passing copies of information and other files to the incoming Chair; archival records for the year to the outgoing Secretary/Treasurer; and Organization Manual revisions to the incoming Vice-President/President-Elect.

Special Information

1. The Executive Assistant will provide a complete ILA/ACRL membership list as well as customized lists of certain sub-groups upon request. It will provide essential information, and revised editions will be helpful as the membership changes throughout the year.

2. Level of past membership at year-end:

1983 128 
1984 172  
1985 124  
1986 144  
1987 151  
1988 206  
1989 258  
1990 266  
1991 257  
1992 226  
1993 226  
1994 214  
1995 247  
1996 227 (October) 
1997 230 (October) 
1998 238  
1999 217  
2000 219  
2001 192  
2002 191 (November) 
2003 189 (November)
2004 205
2005 206
2006 217
2007 186

The Membership Committee Chair

1984 Rod Henshaw, Iowa State University 
1985 Duncan Brockway, University of Dubuque 
1986 Tom Kessler, University of Northern Iowa 
1987 Jane Kemp, Luther College 
1988 Lorna Peterson, Iowa State University 
1989 Mary McInroy, University of Iowa 
1990 Susan Brinkmeyer, Mount Mercy College 
1991 Tracy Russell, Iowa State University 
1992 Susan Marks, University of Iowa 
1993 Katherine Martin, University of Northern Iowa 
1994 Selina Lin, University of Iowa 
1995 Herbert Safford, University of Northern Iowa 
1996 William Sayre, University of Iowa 
1997 Daria Bossman, Morningside College 
1998 Margaret Emons, Iowa Central Community College 
1999 Leo Clougherty, University of Iowa 
2000 Daria Bossman, Morningside College 
2001 Ellen Neuhaus, University of Northern Iowa 
2002 Ellen Neuhaus, University of Northern Iowa 
2003 Kathy Parsons, Iowa State University 
2004 Stephen Dew, University of Iowa 
2005 Susan Knippel, Iowa State University  
2006 Mary Heinzman, Saint Ambrose University  
2007 Elizabeth Gardner, Southeastern Community College
2008 Elizabeth Gardner, Southeastern Community College