APRA-Canada President’s Report for The Scoop
As I write this report for The Scoop I realize that it will be my last one as sitting APRA-Canada President. It’s hard to believe that four years have flown by. Thank you for the four years of APRA-Canada Boards and their continued commitment to APRA-Canada. If it seems that we have been busy in those four years, you would be correct!
Since assuming the role in November 2012, we have:
- restructured the finance and accounts of APRA-Canada and introduced GIC savings initiatives in the non-conference years;
- bought, for the first time in APRA-Canada history, insurance for the association and its activities (including the conferences) as well as the board;
- transferred to an new law firm which caps charges for not-for-profits (yes, those exist!), saving us a great deal in annual fees;
- held two successful conferences thanks to awesome conference committees, sponsors, and presenters;
- successfully introduced (after four years of negotiations) an MLIS course in Prospect Research at the iSchool at the University of Toronto, as well as continuing the very popular course at Western University (now in its eighth year);
- participated in APRA-International’s new Education Weeks taking place in the first two weeks of each February – with APRA-Canada hosting groundbreaking Twitter Talks;
- created APRA-Canada’s first ever Strategic Plan, also thanks to committee members who stepped up when the call went out;
- and, last but definitely not least, planned and published APRA-Canada’s, and Canada’s, first ever book, “Prospect Research in Canada: An Essential Guide for Researchers and Fundraisers,” launched at the APRA-Canada Conference this October! What a feat of almost two years of planning to get 30 professional researchers as contributors as well as an Editorial Committee and sponsors for the book. As of the date of this report, we have already sold ~250 copies in addition to the 100 complimentary copies we gave as thank you gifts to contributors, editors and sponsors.
There could be more things, but these are what first spring to mind! So, time for someone who has great passion to take over as President and continue doing new initiatives for this wonderful group of researchers across the country. I look forward to continuing to work with APRA-Canada and helping along the new President whenever he/she needs me. Thank you to everyone who has been a great support to me in this very rewarding role, and to this association which continues to advocate on behalf of our profession across Canada and on an international stage. Love you guys!
Yours in research,
Tracey Church, MLIS