Message from the President
Macie Hall, Allen Kohl, Elisa Lanzi, Christina Updike
Dear VRA Colleagues,
Back in Baltimore after our Silver Jubilee, I am still feeling the glow of
the past week. Those of you who attended can attest that our Kansas City conference
was exciting and eventful from start to finish.
We had outstanding programming: sessions, seminars, workshops and ask the
experts consultations on a wide range of topics of interest. Our new Birds-of-a
Feather lunches, organized by Kathe Albrecht (thank you, Kathe!) were a huge
success. We had fabulous special events, including an inspiring keynote address
by Eleanor Fink as part of a beautiful and memorable Members' Dinner, replete
with champagne toasts and a special presentation of an Honorary Life Membership
to Christine Sundt. Then there was the VRAffle, where Empress Patti McRae
and her silver spangled ladies and gentleman raffled off a record number of
donations. The VRAvue, written and directed by President-Elect Allan Kohl
(in impressive cowboy attire), had us all in stitches. And of course the Tansey
Dinner, held at Jack Stacks Barbecue where many of us interpreted the fashion
scene of 1982, was a blast from the past for all.
Christine Sundt, Honorary Lifetime Member, and Eleanor Fink, Keynote Speaker
I would like to acknowledge and thank all of those who made the conference
a success.
Rebecca Moss (Vice President for Conference Arrangements) and Betha Whitlow
(Vice President for Conference Program) worked hard to insure an enjoyable
and educational conference experience for all our attendees. Treasurer Ann
Woodward and Secretary Linda Reynolds kept the registration desk and finances
under smooth operation. The printed program was put together by Lise Hawkos,
Public Relations and Communications Officer, with the assistance of Rebecca
Moss, Betha Whitlow, Angela Wells, and Brad Smith. Thanks to the Kansas City
Chamber of Commerce and Christine Hilker for providing photographs for the
program. Thanks also to Kansas City local VRA member Noriko Ebersole from
the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Noriko was indispensable, helping with the tours,
getting the brochures together and keeping us informed on all the events in
Kansas City. We are very grateful to Leigh Gates of the Art Institute of Chicago
for scheduling the registration desk volunteers and to members of the Midwest
Chapter for their help with preparing registration materials and volunteering
to help staff the registration desk. Jane Darcovich and Heidi Raatz, co-chairs
of the Development committee worked to ensure the participation of our sponsors,
donors and advertisers. Jackie Spafford did an incredible job with the Tansey
Dinner fund raiser for our Travel Awards program. Patti McRae and her VRAffle
rousers deserve a round of applause for another successful VRAffle, and we
thank all those who supported the event with donations and bids. Thanks also
to Allan Kohl and the VRAvue team for giving us that wonderful production.
I want to give sincere and grateful thanks to our Silver Jubilee Committee:
co-chairs: Megan Battey and Marica Focht, committee members: Elizabeth Gushee,
Brian Shelburne, Martine Sherrill, Christine L. Sundt, and Christina B. Updike.
They planned the special events celebrating our 25th anniversary during this
conference, including the Members' Reception and Dinner. Their work was invaluable
to the Board and we feel that their efforts produced some wonderful and memorable
results.
Many thanks to our conference sponsors, advertisers and contributors: ARTstor
Archivision, Canyonlights Photography, Davis Publications, Digital Niche,
Gallery Systems, Image Innovations, Light Impressions / New Century Direct,
Pearson/ Prentice-Hall, Two Cat Digital, Scholars Resource, and Saskia, Ltd.
Cultural Documentation. The conference received monetary contributions from
the following VRA chapters: Great Lakes, Greater New York, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest,
New England, Pacific Rim, Southern California, and Upstate New York. We greatly
appreciate the Tansey Fund Corporate Travel Awards given by Archivision, Inc.,
Davis Publications, Inc., Gallery Systems, and Saskia, Ltd. Cultural Documentation.
Thanks also to Kathe Hicks Albrecht for establishing her Travel Award Fund.
Travel Award Recipients
I'd also like to thank the session organizers and moderators, workshop instructors,
seminar leaders, panelists and our keynote speaker, Eleanor Fink. I heard
many positive comments from attendees about the excellence of our programming
this year.
Committees, task forces, special interest groups and regional chapters met
at the conference to work on various aspects of Association business. Executive
Board members attended committee and chapter meetings and were impressed by
their hard work. Committees were responsible for conference events as well.
The New Members and First Time Attendees Breakfast, Mentorship Program and
Ask the Experts sessions are run by the Membership Committee (Marcia Focht,
Trudy Levy and other Membership Committee members), the Tansey Dinner is organized
by the Travel Awards Committee, and the Distinguished Service Award and Nancy
De Laurier Awards presentations are arranged by the Awards Committee. A number
of sessions and workshops were sponsored by committees as well (Education
Committee, Cataloguing Cultural Objects Committee, Digital Initiatives Advisory
Group, and Intellectual Property Rights Committee).
Maryly Snow, Distinquished Service Award
I'd like to recognize Distinguished Service Award winner Maryly Snow, and Nancy De Laurier Award winners Norine Duncan and Susan Jane Williams. Thank you all for your invaluable contributions to the VRA.
Linda Reynolds and Nancy DeLaurier Award winners Norine Duncan, Susan Jane Williams
And a heartfelt thanks to all conference attendees! Please remember to fill
out a post-conference evaluation form so that we can continue to provide excellence
in conference programming and events.
Finally, I'd like to give a resounding round of applause to
our out-going Board members, Secretary Linda Reynolds and VP for Conference
Program Betha Whitlow for all their efforts and hard work on behalf of the
VRA. Please join me in welcoming our new Board members: President-Elect Allan
Kohl, VP for Conference Program Vickie O'Riordan and Secretary Jolene de Verges.
Macie Hall
