Michigan Alliance of Information & Referral Systems
Statewide Conference & Annual Business Meeting Held in Jackson October 19
Outgoing MI-AIRS Board Interim President Bob McKown presented his final (maybe!) annual report at the 2011 MI-AIRS Statewide Conference and Annual Board Meeting at Central Michigan 2-1-1/Lifeways in Jackson on Wednesday, October 19. His report highlighted the organization's activities during the past year (our fiscal year runs from October through September), and Bob thanked all the individuals who made it a successful year and who helped stage the 2011 AIRS Conference in the 'D (Dearborn).
Bob is moving on to an exciting new assignment at Heart of West Michigan United Way, and his MI-AIRS Board colleagues thanked him for his many years of service to the organization. (Stepping in as Interim President on multiple occasions constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.) The Board also thanked Central Michigan 2-1-1's Brenna Wheeler for her many contributions to MI-AIRS before she left her job and the Board earlier in 2011.
Three other members have also left the Board recently:
Sherry Miller (who recently retired from the Michigan Association of United Ways)
Michael Wells (who retired from the Detroit Public Library's TIP Service earlier in 2011)
Judy Whitehurst from Gryphon Place
Board newcomers David Eich (Michigan Association of United Ways), Jenny Jarvis (Area Agency on Aging 1-B), and Sherry Vainavicz (Heart of West Michigan United Way) were elected to two-year terms to fill Board vacancies. Four other existing Board members were re-elected.
During the morning portion of the event, two Webinars were presented:
AIRS Consultant Mark Neuffer presented on the I&R Outcomes Atlas that was released at the 2011 AIRS Conference. The full document is available to AIRS members at the AIRS Web site.
AIRS jack of all trades Clive Jones gave an informative presentation on the New AIRS Networker, the multifunctional tool that will replace and enhance the tired but still invaluable listserv that has been maintained on Yahoo Groups for many, many years.
Following the membership events, the new Board met briefly to elect Board officers (who are elected in odd years and serve 2-year terms) and to discuss ideas for the coming year. New Board officers are:
Edward D'Angelo, President
Susan Howell-Stuk, Vice President
Mary Leininger, Secretary
Sue Zanley, Treasurer
Need to Explain to an Outsider What I&R Is? Check This Out
As part of MI-AIRS duties as local host for the 2011 AIRS Conference in the 'D, the Board agreed to underwrite the production of a professional video on what I&R is and why it's valuable to community residents and leaders alike. Board member Ed D'Angelo proposed the project, and his enthusiasm overcame the reservations some Board members felt. In his role running The Information Center, Ed had previously worked with videographer Brad Richter and was sure that Brad would do a splendid job of capturing the essence of I&R.
Ed was right. See for yourself! (If that link doesn't work for you, browse to vimeo.com/24591318.)
Join the MI-AIRS Yahoo! Groups Listserv This group is for information and referral practitioners and supporters. The group is sponsored by MI-AIRS & is open to the public. Click here to learn more and join this group.
