Many of you many not be aware that the ALA office is a year-round operation, with a small core of full-time staff coordinating the activities a larger, virtual group of contract staff and member volunteers.  This approach to running the ALA organization was the subject of a recent article in Association Now, published by the American Society of Association Executives.  In addition to the LabAutomation conference, there are many on-going activities that the ALA brings to its membership, including:  the ALA website featuring a daily technology news feed and career connections listing; JALA, the peer-reviewed journal of laboratory technology,; LabSnap, a bi-monthly member newsletter;  the Spotlight Series of regional seminars; LabAutopedia, the Knowledge Network wiki for laboratory technology; The Market Place for laboratory automation, ultimate online product directory of new and existing technology products and services for your laboratory; The Tony B. Student Travel Award program; and Automation Station, a collection of technology video spots.   All of these activities are supported from the ALA office in collaboration with the virtual staff and 10 different volunteer committees.  Finally, the ALA is like any other non-profit business.  The office manages billing, payments, contracts, marketing, sales, banking, record-keeping, inquiries, complaints and legal matters.  It all adds up to keeping a number of people busy 12 months/year. 

During a break in the action at the recent LabAutomation conference, The LabMan sat down with Amy McGorry, Senior Manager of Administration and Member Services, to talk about these activities and her role. 

Amy, what does the Senior Manager of Administration and Member Services do? 

I work out of the ALA office in the Chicagoland area.  We support all our volunteer committtees and activities as well as conference management.  We're the non-profit organization behind the LabAutomation conference. 

In getting ready for this conference, what were your specific roles?

Making sure that all our partner organizations and student poster presenters were taken care of.  We have various groups meeting here that require administrative support, such as the ALA Board of Directors, the JALA Editorial Board and various student and member committees.  I also worked with the JALA staff to create and staff the ALA member center on the exhibition floor. 

When you're not getting geared up for a big event like LabAutomation, what kind of activties do you support from the ALA office? 

I support membership activities, ranging all the way from resetting web passwords to creating marketing materials.  I'm responsible for the e-newsletter, LabSnap.  Updating the website and managing our social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter also are part of my regular activities. 

What would you like the ALA membership to know about the ALA office? 

That we're a year-round operation, always working to support the membership and improve the membership experience.  The biggest activites are the LabAutomation conference and JALA, but there are many other year-round activites such as LabAutopedia and the new Market Place for laboratory automation.  Our volunteer leadership also works year-round to make all these activites up-to-date and valuable. 

If someone wants to contact you or the office, what is the process? 

Our contact information can be found at the ALA Website, under the About/Professional Team menu item. 

Thank you Amy!

Until next time,

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto