Each spring, the YALSA President-elect appoints members to serve on process committees and juries. These groups are the backbone of the organization, making sure that core initiatives like Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week happen in a suitably dynamic YALSA fashion and select recipients of awards and grants. They also find ways to engage new members, support our amazing blogs, plan conference programs, maintain our wikis, and implement genius plans to support the organization, its members, and initiatives financially. ‘ And… much much much more.

In my own experience, these groups provide a perfect opportunity to get your feet wet, learn something new about the division, develop your professional chops, and of course, work with genuinely awesome people. Plus, they’re entirely virtual, so conference travel (though welcomed) is not mandatory. ‘ Volunteer forms will be collected through the beginning of February and appointments will be made in March. A list of committees and juries as well as the volunteer form, can be found here: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/workingwithyalsa/yalsacommittee.

Please feel free to get in touch with current Chairs with questions http://www.ala.org/yalsa/workingwithyalsa/committees/committeechair or contact me at shannon.peterson@gmail.com.

Thanks, and I look forward to serving with you!

YALSA needs you! And yes, there is STILL time to get involved in YALSA’s Process Committees.

Between now and March 1, 2012 YALSA is accepting volunteer forms for process committees, advisory boards and juries that begin work July 1, 2012! These virtual committees are great opportunities for members who can’t make it to conference to contribute to the work of YALSA. You can find out more about specific committees, juries and boards at the Working with YALSA member groups webpage.

Which committees can you serve on? Find out here:

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/workingwithyalsa/yalsacommittee

Interested in serving? Fill out the process committee volunteer form here:

http://yalsa.ala.org/forms/process_com.php

Please don’t hesitate to contact Jack Martin (jackmartin@nypl.org) about specific opportunities or Letitia Smith, lsmith@ala.org, to inquire about your eligibility.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to submit a Process Committee volunteer application to serve on a YALSA Process Committee, Taskforce or Jury. I am happy to announce that all Process Committee appointments have been finalized and the Process Committee appointment process is finished for this year. I would like to thank all of the wonderful and talented YALSA members who took the time to fill out volunteer forms and their willingness to give their time to these committees.

If you would still like get more involved, please don’t forget that YALSA hosts numerous Discussion and Interest Groups that any member may join. Discussion and Interest Groups are a great way to get involved in the organization and gain group work experience. You can find a list of YALSA interest groups here.

Kinberly A. Patton

Don’t forget that deadline to submit your volunteer form if you want be considered for an appointment on a YALSA Process Committee is quickly approaching. Volunteer forms are due Friday, March 12, 2010.

If you are new to YALSA, a Process Committee, Jury, or Advisory Board can be an excellent way to get to get your feet wet and begin to learn how member groups work. There are nearly 30 different Process Committees, Juries & Advisory Boards ranging from Legislation to Teen Read Week so it is easy to find a group that fits your interests. A complete list of YALSA Process Committees, Juries, & Advisory Boards is available on the YALSA website. In order to serve on one of these groups, you need to be appointed by me, the President-Elect. Read More →