ARLIS/NA Ontario

 


Affiliation with ARLIS/NA

Overview

“The affiliation agreement seeks to formalize and codify long-standing ARLIS/NA Bylaws regarding the relationship between ARLIS/NA and its chapters… the Board is most interested in protecting the long-term health and viability of both the chapters and ARLIS/NA. By proposing the affiliation agreement, the Board is acting on its duty to insure this vibrancy and at the same time to inform and work with chapters to insure theirs as well. The clarity offered by the affiliation agreement sets the stage for both ARLIS/NA and chapters to re-examine their practices, liabilities and securities…The agreement is presented as one way to assure continuing fiscal health and appropriate legal standing.”
Carol Ann Fabian, ARLIS/NA Executive Board
Northeast Regional Representative

What does it mean?

♣ Chapters must sign the affiliation agreement to solidify their “separateness and distinctness” from ARLIS/NA
♣ Chapter bylaws must align with those of ARLIS/NA (ours do already)
♣ Individuals need to be a member of ARLIS/NA in order to be a member of a chapter (this is already in the ARLIS/ON bylaws but has not been enforced)
♣ Only ARLIS/NA members can be Chapter officers
♣ Chapters can continue to set their own fee structure for membership and events and collect dues
♣ The Affiliation agreement protects ARLIS/NA and its officers from legal claims
♣ The Affiliation agreement does not protect Chapters and their officers; board members can become personally liable if the Chapter is sued for any reason.
♣ Chapters may wish to explore options to protect themselves from possible liability
♣ The agreement must be signed and returned to ARLIS/ON by 20 December 2006
♣ Not signing means the relationship between ARLIS/NA and ARLIS/ON is severed and the chapter would be dissolved

Questions and Answers

Q. How many members are required to form a Chapter?
A. Ten or more members of the Society who reside or work in a geographic area defined in their petition may apply to the Executive Board for chapter approval.
Q. How many ARLIS/ON members are currently members of ARLIS/NA?
A. 18
Q. Chapter bylaws specify that you must be a member of ARLIS/NA in order to be a member of a chapter. What if I only want to participate at the local level?
A. Special categories, e.g. associates, affiliates, friends etc., can be established for those who want to be involved at the local level but do not want to join ARLIS/NA or ; these individuals cannot be called “members” and would not have the privileges of “official” Chapter members. Another option is to create a fee structure that allows for guest registrations at chapter events.
Q. The number of people eligible to be Chapter officers may be limited given the requirement that Chapter officers must be members of both ARLIS/NA and the Chapter. How can we deal with this?
A. Chapters might pay ARLIS/NA membership dues for those willing to serve on the Chapter’s Executive Board, either on a regular or as needed basis. Current dues are US$85. for individuals; US$45. for students/retirees/unemployed

Q. What is the membership fee structure for other library associations?
A. Canadian Library Association
Personal= $200. (if earning less than $40,000. annually fee is $100.)
Institutional: Basic=$325. Enhanced=$500. Premium: $1,000. with 1 designated voting member for each level
Student/Retired/Unemployed: $50.
Membership includes affiliation to one of CLA’s five type-of-library divisions at no extra charge (includes Toronto Chapter of Special Libraries Association) and the opportunity to join others at a nominal cost (value of $30.00) plus opportunity to join, at a minimal cost, one or more of 23 CLA Interest Groups that allow members having a common interest in some aspect of the library and information community not covered by the Divisions to meet and correspond on subjects such as literacy, distance learning, library technicians, etc. (no division for art/design libraries)
Ontario Library Association
Personal membership dues based on salary. OLA Membership automatically includes membership in the type-of-library Association that is appropriate.
$50,000.+ = $100.
$35-49,000.= $90.
$25,-35,000 = $80.
$15,-25,000 = $60.
under $15,000 = $40.
Student/Retired: $20.
Institutional:
1 person privileges = $140.
2 person privileges = $190.

Special Libraries Association
Personal: All members may affiliate with one Chapter and one Division at no charge. Additional affiliations are CDN$22. each.
US$35,000+ = CDN$195
less than US$35,000 = CDN$121.
Student: CDN $43.
Organizational: CDN$793.

Visual Resources Association
Personal: Ranges from US$35. - $125 based on income
Student/Retired: US$25.
Institutional: US$145. (allows one contact name to receive full membership benefits)
One of the benefits of membership is eligibility to join a US Chapter; most chapters seem to charge US$15.
Q. Why can’t ARLIS/NA’s insurance provide liability coverage for the chapters?
A. ARLIS/NA investigated group insurance but it was too expensive (roughly $US 20,000./year). Also, while insurance would protect chapter funds, chapter officers would not be protected against personal liability.
Q. What can chapters do to protect themselves from claims?
A. Ordered from most complex and expensive to least, chapters may want to:
1. Incorporate
2. Obtain general liability insurance
3. Obtain Directors and Officers Insurance
4. Schedule chapter events at locations offering global liability coverage for hosted events, e.g. universities and public institutions
5. Develop and use liability waiver forms for all attendees at chapter events

Reasons for ARLIS/ON to sign the affiliation agreement:

♣ Our identity as a Chapter of ARLIS/NA, a very large international society, adds strength to our position as a professional organization
♣ By signing, members are demonstrating their support and commitment to the local chapter
♣ ARLIS/NA is a recognizable name that is helpful when asking host institutions for contributions towards meeting expenses
♣ Membership in ARLIS/NA is viewed as a valuable form of professional development
♣ Continuing as part of ARLIS/NA will allow our Chapter to work within the organization to effect change in the perception and role of Chapters
♣ ARLIS/NA funding for special projects and meetings will continue to be available to the Chapter
♣ Affiliation agreement will not harm current Chapter activities or autonomy, e.g. Chapter will continue to set and collect local dues
♣ Creation of “affiliate/associate/guest categories for non-ARLIS/NA members can circumvent the “official” membership requirement
♣ ARLIS/NA members receive value from the organization in the form of professional publications like Art Documentation, Art Doc Reviews, and Occasional Papers, knowledge sharing through committees and sections, networking and conference opportunities
♣ ARLIS/NA is exploring ways it can provide more value to its membership through new communication technologies and infrastructure, publication formats, and educational and professional development opportunities
♣ ARLIS/NA will be diminished and become a less effective organization if chapters abandon it