Randy Young, TLIA President
Contributed by: Randy Young, TLIA President
Over years of TLIA activities, work, and projects, the Association has accumulated pages and pages of records. Where are all these records? How are stored? How do you access them when needed? And how do we use them to benefit TLIA volunteers? Can you access them? Do you know where to look?
My predecessor passed the executive records to me. Other like-minded committee leads have passed their materials to their successors as well, but in many cases, it has not been consistent, nor complete. There is no telling what knowledge has been lost over the years because records are scattered all over the village. They are stored in home offices, basements, attics and closets. Valuable ideas have been lost because of neglect or forgetfulness. These records, if accessible, could help TLIA serve its members better, raise outside funds, develop our environment, and better our community.
For example:
- Environmental data, which we are gathering now, can help to develop and receive grant money and governmental support for the lake. It has already happened!
- Financial records will save us from government scrutiny and tax review/liabilities.
- Committee plans and operations books will allow future generations of volunteers — an actionable head-start when serving our community.
Each year, the Board and its committees generate reams of material, both hard copy and more than ever, electronic. We need a method to preserve the records, retain our history and use the great ideas of our members.
In the near future, I will be proposing to the Board the formation of a committee to find a method, a place, and the resources to maintain these records for the good of TLIA. The proposal will call for a group of community-minded volunteers to strategize how we can retain our valuable records. They will then bring to the Board a proposal of action. There will be no pre-conditions on the ideas this committee can bring forward. They will be empowered to do the research and solve the problem. The charge will be to develop a way and make it work!
This resource library will serve as a living font of knowledge and community know-how for years to come.
Want to help? We need organizers, database managers, librarians, and bright people who care about the future of TLIA. Call me at 847-910-0723 or email [email protected].