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Message from the President - March 2023

Jill M. O'Connell, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

“Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine,” Translated: “Under the shelter of each other, people survive.” – Irish Proverb

It being the month of St. Patrick, I thought it fitting to begin this, my last message as President, with an Irish Proverb that so clearly represents my experience as an ALA Gateway Board member.

At the start of this journey, I was riddled with doubt. I was concerned that I would forget to do things I was supposed to do, or do things wrong, or do the wrong things, or get overwhelmed, or…you get the idea. And then, because I was so inadequate, the Chapter would fall apart.

So here’s the thing. I actually DID forget things, and do things wrong, and all that other stuff I was afraid of. But a funny thing happened along the way: I survived. Not only that, our Chapter, once again, thrived! We earned the ALA’s prestigious President’s Award of Excellence, and I was able to enjoy a successful presidency under the shelter of all the amazing volunteers working tirelessly to keep the storm at bay.

Whether it was Julie Logan or Donna Sobkoviak following up with me to be sure I didn’t forget anything that needed to be done; Lori Hanlon asking me what she could handle for me—and handling it flawlessly; Kara Brostron or Terri Cole answering all my budget questions; Emily Spehar listening to me freak out and giving me just the right combination of compassion and encouragement; or Allison Worley repeatedly searching through old Board Meeting Minutes to find some random piece of information for me, I knew the Executive Board was there to keep me dry.

But guess what? That’s not the only shelter I was given. All the other Board members and their incredible team members acted as awnings to keep the proverbial rain from sneaking in around us.

·         Patty Barbachem, Brenda Deertz and the rest of the Business Partner Relations Team made sure our Business Partner relationships were always top of mind in everything we did;

·         Matt Wessel and Kim Webster made sure all our website posting and communication requests were handled almost as soon as we made them;

·         Tammy McSparin kept our social media pages relevant and topical, calling on board members, Business Partners, and regular members alike to submit photos and ideas;

·         Jillian Piechocinski, Kim Kelly and the rest of the Community Connections Team made sure we were committed to various community outreach programs and that our volunteers knew where to be and what to do;

·         Mary Jennings and Kim Webster worked hard on revamping the Comp & Benefits survey with a new accounting firm, then worked hard on identifying areas for improvement and setting it up for even more success on the next one;

·         Christy Pashia and the rest of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Team spent countless hours keeping up with our current DEIA initiatives and laying the groundwork for future projects;

·         Casie Galczynski and Jessie Fenton stayed on top of membership comings and goings, researched a few unique issues, designed strategies for member outreach and further developed the new member orientation program;

·         Nikki Cornwell, Emily Spehar and the rest of the Professional Development Team developed, coordinated and promoted all of our educational meetings and events, and made sure everyone involved was briefed and provided with all the tools they needed to be successful;

·         Kristen Noll jumped right in to make sure all of our social connections events were planned and executed; and

·         Sherry Hurst, Julie Logan and the rest of our Strategic Alliance Team made sure we further cultivated our strong partnership with all of our Strategic Alliance partners by way of meetings, events, communication and camaraderie.

And our members—whether those who’ve been with the Chapter for decades or those who just joined us this year—participated in meetings and events, interacted with the ALA and the Gateway websites and Communities, volunteered for micro-opportunities, and offered up ideas and suggestions that will continue to elevate our already thriving Chapter.

It’s difficult to express how grateful I am to be a part of this organization, and there are absolutely no words to say how impactful my years on the Executive Board have been in terms of my personal and professional development.

I am looking forward to seeing what the Chapter will achieve under Lori Hanlon’s outstanding leadership, and I know that we will all be there to provide her with whatever shelter she may need as well.

If you’ve ever considered volunteering for anything, anywhere, with anyone, the ALA Gateway Chapter is worth a second look. You couldn’t find a better group of people or a more dynamic organization to be a part of, and we would be thrilled to see things from your perspective. Come share your unique talents and abilities with us!

Before I go, I want to remind you that the Chicago CLM Study Group is currently accepting new members interested in preparing for the November 2023 Certified Legal Manager Program exam. If you have any interest in becoming a Certified Legal Manager, or if you just want to fill in some knowledge gaps in a legal management functional area, this program offers the best value you’re going to find. I encourage you to register now! The first session will be on May 3.

Thank you for your support of the ALA Gateway Chapter and thank you for the many gifts that only you can bring to our profession. #alastlrocks #alabuzz

Sincerely,

Jill M. O’Connell, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

ALA Gateway President 2022-2023