MLA '96 Social Activities

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered
Health Science Librarians

Special Interest Group (SIG) of the
Medical Library Association

Do a Little Dance, Make a Little Love, Get Down Tonight

by Bill Fleming

Why is it that whenever I think of KC....I think of the Sunshine Band? Probably because of a traumatic experience from my childhood. As I was getting ready for a Little League Baseball game (that phrase alone does two things: it gives away my age -- approximately -- and it gives you a clue to the kind of torture my father put me through ... I was an artistic child forced to participate in VIOLENT sporting activities!) I lost my balance and fell, hitting my head on the footboard of my bed (Note to the wise: don't try to put on socks standing up). The song playing on the radio at that time? GET DOWN TONIGHT. To this day, whenever I hear KC and the Sunshine Band I get a headache.

But I digress......

Plans for social activities are beginning to firm up for this year's annual meeting in Kansas City. The Social Committee discussed many options, and decided

1. The Committee will solicit volunteers to sponsor a series of outings -- dinner, dancing, karaoke, coffee, miniature golf, the possibilities are endless -- during the week which will have broad appeal, we hope. Once we have compiled a list, we will create a very loose "schedule" of events that we will make available via MLALGB, the SIG's web page, and in print (to be made available before and during the meeting).

2. The Committee, along with a few volunteers, will create a very simple "guide" to the city, with a list of restaurants, clubs, stores, etc., which might be of particular interest to SIG members. This guide will also be made available via MLALGB-L, the SIG's web page, and in print.

The schedule of activities will allow us to know where SIG members are gathering so that you can join us when you wish, and the "guide" is for those who feel the urge to stray from the group and explore the wondrous sights of Kansas City (the flowery prose can be attributed to the fact that Cher is currently playing on my CD player ... I'm in a GOOD mood)!

But the Committee can't do it all! We need your help!

Please consider "sponsoring" a dinner or outing during the week. There really isn't a lot of work involved. Just pick a place, let us know, and we'll put it on the schedule. And we refuse to schedule more than one thing at the same time. As I learned from Little League Baseball, competition isn't necessarily a good thing.

Here's the procedure:

1. Think about the type of outing you'd like to sponsor (or better yet, talk to someone and co-sponsor something!).
2. Check your MLA meeting schedule(s) to figure out what day and time is best for you.
3. E-mail me (bfleming@lib.rpslmc.edu) and give me your suggestion.
4. I will get back to you to work on details (for example, you want to sponsor a dinner but you don't know which restaurants are good - we'll work that out).

If there are any problems, concerns, questions, complaints, etc., please feel free to contact me. All the work in the world won't make this a success without your participation. We want to make Kansas City a fun experience. Referring to the title of this article, we can get you to do a little dance ..., but the rest is up to you. We're not going there.

You can contact the author of the article above at:

Bill Fleming
Library of Rush University
600 S. Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60612-3832
Tel: 312/942-2568
E-mail: bfleming@lib.rpslmc.edu

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