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Governance

Who is the SAMMIE Governing Board?

SAMMIE is directed by a Governing Board of nine (9) members. There are five (5) citizen members representing the public. Three come from the Pioneerland Library System region and the remaining two come from the Plum Creek Library System region. There are four (4) working library staff, one representative for each type of member library served by SAMMIE: academic, public, school and special library. This Board adopts and evaluates the Strategic Plan, budget, programs, services and policies.

Citizens are appointed by the boards of their respective library systems. They may be members of a regional public library system board or from the public at large, but may not be employed in a library.

The school library representative is elected by a written ballot of school library members. When a vacancy in this position occurs, the SAMMIE office will issue an invitation for nominations and then mail a written ballot, including all names nominated and willing to serve.

The public library representative will alternate between the Plum Creek and Pioneerland Library Systems. The person will be selected by their Advisory Council or Staff Advisory group respectively. The SAMMIE office will notify the appropriate library system when a vacancy occurs.

The special library representative is selected through written nominations and ballot.

The academic library representative is selected by the outgoing academic representative who contacts the other academic institutions and all agree on the next person to serve.

The terms of office are for two (2) years. No board member is allowed to serve more than three (3) consecutive terms (a total of 6 years). A former board member can be reappointed after a lapse of two (2) years.

SAMMIE Governing Board FY2011 Members

Herb Rotunda
Citizen Representative Pioneerland Library System
Appleton, MN

Pam Dille
Citizen Representative and Vice President Pioneerland Library System
Litchfield, MN

Paul Setzepfandt
Citizen Representative Pioneerland Library System
Bird Island, MN

Nicole Elzenga
Citizen Representative Plum Creek Library System
Westbrook, MN

Mark Goodenow
Citizen Representative and Executive Committee At Large Plum Creek Library System
Marshall, MN

Joanne Robasse
Academic Library Representative Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN

Chris Beyerl
Public Library Representative Willmar Public Library
Willmar, MN

Jean Haberman
School Library Representative and President Mt. Lake Public School
Mountain Lake, MN

What is the SAMMIE Member Council?

The SAMMIE Member Council’s (SMC) first meeting was February 1, 2002. SMC is an unstructured group. The group does not have a formal charge, except to look to the future of SAMMIE. It explores how SAMMIE should and can serve its member libraries. The group picks its own direction for discussion and activity as well as responding to requests from the Governing Board, staff and member libraries. This unstructured approach seems to work well.

SMC has 12 members: the Directors of SAMMIE, Pioneerland, Plum Creek [or their designee] and representatives from member libraries to include one special, one academic, two Pioneerland, two Plum Creek, three schools. Terms are for two calender years with no limit to the number of terms. Meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend.

SMC meetings are scheduled at each prior meeting.

Since it’s beginning, the SMC has:

  • served as the steering group for developing a new strategic plan
  • provided guidance for the relocation of the SAMMIE office
  • developed advocacy ideas for libraries in southwest Minnesota
  • looked at continuing education needs of member libraries, including
    • events offered and supported
    • scholarships for member library staff
    • staff development grants.
  • looked at alternative funding for libraries through
    • grant application assistance.
    • school automation assistance.
  • considered requests brought to the group from individual member libraries or groups of libraries
    • cataloging at Canby Public Library
    • Tales with Tales by Plum Creek.
  • recommended funding of expenses for area library staff who work with statewide groups or on statewide projects

The outcomes of the SMC’s work are reported to the SAMMIE Governing Board. The Governing Board votes on recommendations made by the SAMMIE Member Council.

20010-11 Member Council meeting schedule

2010/2011 Member Council next meeting date is selected at end of each meeting. Refer to home page for next scheduled meeting date.

SAMMIE Member Council FY2011 Members

  • Robin Chaney, SAMMIE
  • Stephanie Hall, Meinders Community Library  
  • Cindy Hendrickx, Appleton Public Library
  • Kathie Behrens, Benson Public Library
  • John Houlahan, Pioneerland Library System
  • Sharyl Larson, Slayton Public Library
  • Ruth Bot, Minneota Public School
  • Sharon Lucas, Prairie Woods Elementary School
  • Mark Ranum, Plum Creek Library System
  • Pam Sukalski, MN West Community & Technical College
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Click here to inquire (via email) about becoming a SAMMIE member if you're not one already.

Additional information about SAMMIE

SAMMIE Policies and Procedures (all in .pdf)

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