I wonder what Eula Mae would think now?

I love tradition. I’m steeped in it. I have roots, big thick roots, in where I grew up. So deep that I built my house next door to my parents’ house. Every Christmas at my house; every Thanksgiving at my cousin’s. As Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof shouts, “Tradition!” – I’m right there with him. I get it.

Tradition is comfortable. We know exactly what is expected to happen. We know our roles and we understand our duties and responsibilities. No questions asked.

Tradition plays and important part in NALS too. Let’s face it though, not every member, and particularly our newer members, are interested following tradition. They often buck it at every turn -- as we did at one time.

Tradition, while worthwhile, can also be crippling. The NALS of Eula Mae’s time most certainly is not the NALS of today. Do we expect the NALS of the future to look the same as it does now? Eula Mae never in her wildest imagination thought we’d be corresponding by e-mail and filing documents over the Internet! It is a new age and change is constant.

I am the first one to admit that I readily fall into the “always done it that way” syndrome. I have promised myself to stop doing that. To allow each new (and what may seem in my estimation, wacky) idea to have its day. To permit new members to experience the excitement and the thrill of bringing their ideas to life. To grow in their NALS career through their triumphs and their failures. To have the change to experience NALS as I have experienced NALS. I believe that we owe our new members that and I’m sure that you believe it do too.

I think Eula Mae would be proud and happy at where NALS is today and excited to see how NALS of the future turns out.

Come to think of it, I’m pretty excited myself! How about YOU???

Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS

2009-10 NALS President-Elect

BRRRRRR, it's C O L D outside!

A co-worker mentioned earlier today that out of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, 47 states are either receiving snow, ice, sleet, or other frozen precipitation today (February 10, 2010). Yikes! While it's a balmy 42 in Austin today, it is raining with occasional sleet pellets coming down. But - I definitely don't envy any of the members who live in the Northeast. I'm sure you are all very tired of that pretty white stuff.



One good thing these bad weather days does for us NALS aholics, is that it gives us 8 hours of uninterrupted time to catch up with our NALS responsibilities. Especially this time of year when many of us are gearing up for the sessions we're presenting to NALS members at the Professional Development & Education Conference to be held in Tulsa next month.



Yikes - where has my year gone as NALS president. Can I turn the clock back and have a "do over?" Seriously - this has been the best year of my adult life, and I wouldn't trade a day of it for anything. I'm sure my employer will be very happy to have me "back" - focused on my real job, but I sure will miss my NALS travels and daily emails to/from many members.



It's been a blast - but beware - you haven't heard the last from me!



Julie Abernathy

NALS President 2009-10