Member at Large - Aug 2025 - Aug 2026

This is a learning position that attends Google Meets SSD board meetings

Weighs in on what is important to library staff right now and votes when needed

Assists with conference planning/tasks as comfortable and if you have capacity.

Assists in person at the July 2026 SSD Conference if at all possible.

Attends (in person or virtually) the annual SSD Leadership Retreat (aiming for late September 2025 in Manzanita).

It is very low pressure and there are no hard feelings if you decide to leave at the end of your term.

The SSD Conference is now every two years, so this is a good year to try it out.

(We hear that being a Member at Large without a conference is not as fun.)

There are spots for up to four Members at Large, so you can bring your friends!

Digital Communications Specialist - Aug 2025- Aug 2026

This person updates the SSD pages on the OLA website, creates the conference promotional materials and printed program and manages whatever social media they are comfortable with.

Potential to take over the newsletter, hotline articles, and even create a conference website.

Attends Google Meets SSD board meetings.

Assists in person at the July 2026 SSD Conference if at all possible.

Attends (in person or virtually) the annual SSD Leadership Retreat (aiming for September 2025 in Manzanita, was August previously).

Treasurer  - Aug 2025 - Aug 2027

It is 2 year commitment, but you will have a lot of support!

Contribute to the SSD Board meetings, and steps in when the chair cannot.

Can attend the OLA Board meetings and OLA Leadership retreat instead of the Chair.

Core member of the conference committee, which may meet separately from the board.

Signs the venue contract for the SSD Conference, and is encouraged to go with the Conference Committee Chair on site visits to venues to ensure the financials will work out.

Has important registration desk tasks ahead of and in person at the July 2026 SSD conference and attends the annual SSD Leadership Retreat (in person if possible) (aiming for September 2025 in Manzanita, was August previously).

There are no bank accounts! It is much easier to track the ~$24,000 budget than you might have experienced in other non-profits. There is a budget and approved purchases get reimbursed, or paid directly from the OLA Business Manager, Shirley Roberts, you are facilitating budgeted transactions, tracking them and reporting.

If you come in before August, you will overlap with the current treasurer, Jordan Popoff (she is the only candidate for OLA Treasurer and not actually leaving the planet).

You will have long term support from the OLA Business Manager, Shirley Roberts and for first year at least, the previous Treasurer (its me again, Rinny) has committed to staying involved to support SSD, the new board members and ensure the July 2026 Conference goes well.

Conference registration and nametags are the biggest lifts. This position can feel like a lot when it comes to conference registration. It averages 4 hours/month during a conference planning year (September 2025-July 2026) and calms down to 2 hours/month the rest of the term.

Chair - Aug 2025 - Aug 2027

Leading the Division! This position can feel like a lot. It averages ~10 hours/month and is a 2 year commitment. There is a new chair every year, your second year is to support the incoming chair.

What? Wow! Why 10 hours?

• Prepare the agenda and facilitate the monthly SSD Meetings ~2 hours/month

• Writes the SSD newsletters, OLA Hotline articles, fields emails and the year end report ~3 hours/year?

• Prepare the SSD Unit report and attend the OLA Meetings ~2 hours/month

• Plan and facilitate the SSD Leadership retreat ~20 hours/year + travel

• Lead the SSD Conference Committee (unless there is a chair!), support the SSD Conference in person ~2 hours/month + 16 hours on site of conference +time to do any tasks you committed to doing + travel

• Take up the work of unfilled positions, such as the Digital Communications Specialist and Conference Chair

• Attend the OLA Conference to promote SSD and the SSD Conference ~30 hours on site + prep + travel

  • Set up and run an SSD Booth

  • Often presenting, or supporting presenters

  • Usually there is an SSD Social to facilitate

  • OLA Board usually has a business meeting 

BUT you will have the past chair backing you up,  (it’s me, Rinny again) and great support.

It is far easier when you have support from your employer to do some of the work paid, and they are willing to pay for you to attend the OLA and SSD Conferences and Leadership Retreats.

The position is also MUCH easier when there is a separate Conference Committee Chair and Digital Communications Specialist!!! Invite your friends!