Newsletter Editors
Sheila Snow-Croft
National Network of Libraries of Medicine
Southeastern/Atlantic Region
J. David Midyette Watson Pharmaceuticals, Corona, CA
OMG, has it really been a year? Wait, yes it has, and the increasing grey hairs are putting an increasing strain on my limited mental functions. Well, that and the end of an OPAC implementation . . . so where does that leave us? We’re headed to the Windy City the last I heard, all, that is, except me! I’m hoping that everyone will have a blast – literally – in such a wonderful place. Great food, great sites, great bars, and probably even some lovely drag queens! I don’t know though, Indianapolis does have some lovelies, but I’m hoping MLA doesn’t send us there. Now, Honolulu, @#%$ Yeah! I can’t wait for ’09, not because I don’t like Chicago (I do!), but because I’ve never been to HI and I’ll have money in the budget for a national conference next year.
Well, it looks like our program planners have things well under control, our esteemed cruise guide has lined up outstanding accommodations, and our fearless leaders are ready to, well, lead! I can’t speak for Sheila back in MD, but the housing market in CA sucks, gas is WAY too expensive, not to mention electricity – Edison is of the devil, and the smog has its seasons as well. But there is a continued national need for pain meds, urinary and prostate meds, and birth control, so I’m still plugging away at the pharmaceutical company. I know Sheila is immersed in RML/NNLM/NLM stuff in Baltimore and environs, so we have been busy folks of late.
We have, however, taken time out of our busy schedules to get out the latest and greatest to you fine folks. Yes, we’re planning a post-mortem newsletter in the Fall to evaluate the results from Chicago and look forward to the next year in Honolulu. As for me, I’ll be hanging out with the five dogs by the pool in the burning hot SoCal summer, eating some fine NC style barbeque (yes, there’s a great place here in SoCal that serves it up like back home), and continuing my commitment to physical fitness at the gym (it’s funny how hitting the mid 40s with diabetes can change your perspective on life). All raight, naw ya’ll all have sum fun up thar in the big city and A’ll see ya in Hawaryee next yeer!
--David
I’m glad MLA is almost here: it means my slower schedule of summer is just around the bend. Oh, and I’ll get to see and party with many of you, which is always a highlight of the year. I will be arriving in Chicago Saturday afternoon (anyone up for dinner around 7?), coming straight from a public health conference in Tennesssee where I will have been exhibiting at the Opryland Gaylord hotel (!). I’m also co-teaching a class on Wednesday afternoon - anyone taking Patient Safety?
The lovely and talented Anne Seymour has volunteered to lead our SIG programming for MLA ’09, and I have agreed to assist, and we’d both love help from the rest of you if at all possible. We’ve Michael Scott’s rather large and stylish shoes to fill, so your support is appreciated.
Nothing much is going on in my life outside of work, but, as always, I’m happy to elaborate over cocktails. Looking forward to seeing many of you in Chicago, and we’ll certainly miss and toast those who can’t attend. All of you: start working on papers and presentations and important stuff that will get you to Hawaii in 2010, please!
--Sheila
Oh, my! We can’t believe how quickly this year has flown by. And now the meeting in Chicago is fast approaching, and we’re scrambling to pull together the final pieces for the upcoming meeting. But don’t worry; we’ll manage! Somehow!
Now, before we launch into the usual the news and other stuff, your affable, easy-going co-conveners — “Yin” and “Yang” — have two small regrets to offer:
So with those (un)pleasantries taken care of, we can now present to you the “deep dish pie” we have prepared — i.e., our message.
Our diligent and dutiful newsletter co-editors, David Midyette and Sheila Snow-Croft, deserve a round of applause for pulling this masterpiece together. “Yang” knows first-hand what a big job this is since he previously served two consecutive terms as newsletter co-editor (with David, in fact!).
As usual, who knows where we would be if we didn’t have Chris Shaffer on hand to maintain our Web site? Nowhere, that’s for sure! Thanks for keeping our communication highway a construction-free zone.
Jacqueline Leskovec did the initial bit of investigating for our social event, but Bill Fleming and Bill Karnosack have now stepped up to “seal the deal”. We’re sure that whatever is planned will be fantastic (as usual), and we look forward to hearing more about it in the coming weeks/days.
A huge “shout-out” needs to go to Richard Klein for continuing to assist the SIG in tracking down fine accommodations for us. With luck he’ll be in attendance at the business meeting so that may truly be the greatest regret “yang” feels. Bummer!
The SIG business meeting will be held Tuesday, May 20, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the Atlanta Room. This meeting does not conflict with any poster sessions, and it isn’t being held at the crack of dawn. In fact, the only major conflict appears to be the “MLA Business Meeting – Legislative Update.” How did we do?
If you have issues you wish to discuss at the business meeting, please contact Jon or Jacqueline prior to May 14th so that we can include them on the agenda. And in light of one (and possibly both) co-conveners being unavailable to lead the business meeting, we’ve already taken steps to identify a proxy — who has also, in fact, agreed to be co-convener for 2008-2010. Be sure to come to the meeting so you can see who it is! (Well, we have to plan some kind of surprise, you know. How else can we make sure you’ll be there?)
While we have provided the location information that is currently on hand for the programs and business meeting, please be sure to check the official MLA Program for definitive, up-to-date information. It’s always possible that there will be last-minute changes.
Well, I guess that’s it. If we’ve forgotten to mention anyone specifically, I hope you won’t be too upset. (Oh, who are we kidding? We know who we’re dealing with.) Anyway, any omission is just an early sign of senility so please forgive us. To make up for it, we offer a general thanks to everyone for making the MLA LGBT SIG a successful and welcoming organization.
Have a great time in Chicago, y’all!
Jacqueline Leskovec, Co-Convener (2006-2008)
Jon Crossno, Co-Convener (2007-2009)
Ok, so here's the latest and greatest on who will be there, where they will be, and what they will be doing!
| Who? | In? | Out? | Where? |
| Rick Barry | Sat | Fri | Red Roof Inn |
| Donna Berryman | Sat | Wed | Hyatt |
| Steve Douglas | Sat | Wed | Hyatt |
| Tom Flemming | Fri | Wed | Red Roof Inn |
| Kelly Gonzalez | Fri | Wed | Hyatt |
| Ryan Harris | Sat | Wed | Red Roof Inn |
| Mary Helms | Fri | Tue | Red Roof Inn |
| Jeff Huber | Sat | Wed | Red Roof Inn |
| Robb Mackes | Fri | Wed | Red Roof Inn |
| Jerry Perry | Fri | Thu | Red Roof Inn |
| Dale Prince | Thu | Thu | Hyatt |
| Anne Seymour | Wed | Wed | Red Roof Inn |
| Chris Shaffer | Fri | Wed | Red Roof Inn |
| John Siegel | Sat | Wed | Hyatt |
| Sheila Snow-Croft | Sat | Thu | Hyatt |
| Meredith Solomon | Fri | Wed | Hyatt |
More information about the hotel and how to register may be found on the SIG Web site at http://lgbt.mlanet.org/2008housing.html
Update on SIG Programs
With the excellent assistance of Bill Fleming and Michael Scott, the SIG has continued our tradition of actively participating in annual meeting programs. Through their networking skills — Huzzahs all around! Laurel wreaths are on their way! —the SIG is co-sponsoring a total of five programs:
No new gossip to report, but we do wonder if Bill F will find any good drag in [insert current MLA meeting city]. . . . . .
Ok, well I'll waive my own freak flag for a minute. I finally got my act together and submitted all of my papersork to get my Senior Level AHIP!!! WooHoo!! - David Midyette
This page was last updated on April 25, 2008. Credits