You'd think the person in charge of coordinating the conference would have a great deal to say about the conference events/contents but I actually spent most of the time taking care of the logistics for the next event during each current event. Let just say I now know a lot more about credit card processing companies, dietary preferences and computer projector technology than I ever thought I'd know. For my President's Message, I bring you highlights from my ACRL-Conference email folder from the past 14 months (names and situations may have been changed slightly in order to protect the innocent):

• 5/22/06 = I reserved Pack Forest for the Fall 2007 Conference. The reply from the Pack Forest manager said, "When do you begin advertising?" It got me to wondering, do they really have groups that advertise their events 1.5 years in advance? The bar has been set high!
• 6/06/06 = I counted a total of 12 keynote speakers considered for the conference. I wrote to the board, "I'd like to get a really big name person in the library world or perhaps a not-quite-so-big-name person outside the library world." We definitely got the former!
• 9/14/06 = Jessica Albano (coordinator for the last Pack Forest Conference) writes, "…I'd like Corey to weigh in. Planning the conference is a lot of work…" Ah, the voice of experience.
• 9/21/06 = I get a note from Anna Creech (ACRL-WA Board member) with a list of the Top 10 Dos and Don'ts of Conference Planning - one and two are Do get it in writing and Do sweat the small stuff. I didn't do one (I'm too trusting), but did do two.
• 11/15/06 = Jessica Albano comes up with The Visible Librarian as the conference theme - yes, we need to make our worth known!
• 2/17/07 = A board member writes, "I think we discovered last year that WSU's teleconferencing and UW's teleconferencing can't talk to each other. Does that ring a bell with either of you?" Do you mean Huskies and Cougars speak different languages?
• April - June 07 = I count 28 messages about lining up credit card processing services - anything to provide some convenience for our conference attendees!
• June 07 = We receive 21 total submissions for participant presentations - a new record I believe!
• 6/19/07 = Julie Todaro writes to me, "Hi, Corey. I'm absolutely coming, not to worry (and I know you aren't worrying unnecessarily) ...I am underwater finishing some ACRL activities…" At this point I vowed to do at least one conference preparation activity underwater.
• 8/1/07 = A person writing to inquire about the conference writes, "Yes, $100 is indeed a bargain." This could be a conference tagline!
• 8/8/07 = I decide to address the snoring issue head on by openly recommending people bring earplugs. Did you bring yours? Did it help?
• 8/17/07 = Our treasurer writes, "… it sounds like it's time to have our books audited by a tax professional." What are we doing with your conference fees?
• 9/11/07 = I received a message with the subject line "Massage service for your conference at Eatonville?" Sorry, yes we discussed it but it was a bit too expensive!
• 9/14/07 = The WA scholarship winners are announced - Stacy L. Prest (Walla Walla Community College) and Adrian Pauw (University of Washington I-School) - see their conference articles in this issue!
• 9/15/07 = I realize we have only two people signed up for the Mini-Poster Contest. Hmmm, two contestants and two prizes.
• 9/21/07 = An WA "east sider" asks the age old question, "Do you think I can make it all the way from Spokane to Eatonville in time for the conference if I leave early that same morning?"
• 9/21/07 = I advertise the conference by writing, "see what this inexpensive, intimate and educational conference has to offer you." I now think if I've ever used those three words to describe anything else in my life?
• 9/22/07 = I learn that computer projection units can cost up to $80/day to rent - ouch!
• 9/26/07 = I get the message saying that I need to get this president's column done by 11/9 - yikes, that's tomorrow!!
• 10/7/07 = I get a cost list from Pack Forest including costs for breakfast on Saturday - hey, wait a minute?
• 10/10/07 = Julie Cook first mentions that Chex Mix will be a component of the party festivities. The whole conference receives a platinum upgrade.
• 10/15-10/17/07 = There are three days of email discussion about whether or not Pack Forest has good cell phone reception.
• 10/17/07-10/18/07 = There is a flurry of emails about whether lodging is based on per person or per lodging unit. I realize I better get this straight or the conference may cost 12.28 times more than I'd previously calculated.
• 10/18/07 = Bonnie Gratch Lindauer, Coordinator of Library Instructional Services, City College of San Francisco writes to say she'd like to donate $250 to the conference scholarship fund. She had spoken in WA early this year and wanted to donate her honorarium. What a wonderful gesture!
• 10/22/07 = There are 8 emails about refunds and when to give or not give them. Do people have lives outside this conference?
• 10/23/07 = We communicate our worries about ice for the drinks only to rediscover upon arriving at Pack Forest that they have 4 empty refrigerators available for use.
• 10/22/07 = Rachel Bridgewater says she cannot bring her camera to Pack Forest because it is broken. I bring my camera only to discover the batteries are dead (no charger either, of course). Anna Salyer brings her camera and takes pictures. This is a key example of board teamwork?!?
• 10/24/07 = The last email I receive before conference is from an attendee who says she will be late because she had to schedule a last minute library instruction session. Yes, conferences are great, but we cannot short change our bread and butter!
• At this point you may look like you're interested in this President's Message but you likely are not!

Thank you to everyone who made this conference possible!