Dear APALA members,
It has been a great honor to serve as your president for 2017-2018. As we march toward ALA’s 2018 Annual Conference, my presidency will come to a close, time really flies. There are so many things going on in the month of June and at the annual meeting. We recently ran two webinars organized by the Programming committee, one on mentoring with Regina Gong, and another on networking with Dale McNeil. The webinars had been part of the initiative that I started last year to provide members with more professional development. I am glad to see it to fruition.
Highlights of my year include many memorable activities:
- There were several areas of the APALA Strategic Plan that were not fulfilled last year. This year I continued to work on many of those APALA Strategic plan areas.
- APALA Youth Awards will be included in ALA Youth Media Awards in 2019 (APALA Strategic Plan Goal #4c)
- Asian American Librarians and Library Services: Activism, Collaborations, and Strategies book launch (APALA Strategic Plan Goal #1b)
- Presented in a IRRT webinar (APALA Strategic Plan Goal #1g)
- Jade Alburo and Paolo Gujilde with continue to work on an eBook project of What’s Your Normal (APALA Strategic Plan Goal #2b)
- APALA President’s Program featuring Author/Illustrator, LeUyen Pham is co-sponsored by ALSC
- Attended “The Generations: Issei, Nisei and Sansei…The Americans of Japanese Ancestry Experience” Exhibit and Luncheon at Azusa Pacific University (and got my picture taken with ABC News Channel Anchor David Ono)
- Attended the 2018 Fresno Poet Laureate and REFORMA Del Valle Central’s Awakening Stories (Sponsored by REFORMA, APALA, CALA, Fresno State Henry Madden Library, Fresno State Asian Faculty and Staff Association, Rowman & Littlefield, Bitwise Industries, and Central California Asian Pacific Women) — I was able to meet many colleagues and represent APALA at this event.
Recently, I watched a webinar called “From Management to Leadership”. During the webinar, the instructor asked the students, what is the difference between a manager and a leader? A manager only focus on directing people, implementing projects, executing orders, solving problems, and supervising staff. However, being a leader focus on inspiring others, creates opportunities, eliminating obstacles, anticipating difficulties, proactively problem solving, and motivating others. I want to encourage future leaders of APALA as well as myself to to work on these characteristics. Let’s make APALA the best association. Together as a team, we can do it!
Lastly, I would like to thank my great team of Board members: Paolo Gujilde, Lessa Pelayo-Lozada, Peter Spyers-Duran, Annie Pho, Lana Adlawan, Jaena Rae Cabrera, Helen Look, Ray Pun, Brian Leaf, Susan Hoang and our wonderful Executive Director, Ven Basco for all of the support and encouragement. In addition, I would like to thank all the committee chairs and members for their hard work that support our members. Most importantly, I would like to thank and encourage our members to continue to support and participate in APALA’s events and activities.
Thank you to our members and colleague for giving me all of your love and support that really made my job as your President this year a rewarding and meaningful year.
Respectfully submitted,
Dora Ho
APALA President 2017-2018