Present: Linda Fredericks, King County Library; Lori Ricigliano, U. of Puget Sound Library; Joy Suh, WSU Library; Lily Wai, U of Idaho Library; Ann Bregent, Washington State Library; Patrick Grace, Seattle Public Library; Cass Hartnett, UW Library.

Linda: gave background for the need for a new organization, talked about the failings of the Docser group of the Washington Library Association.

Cass: the organization should be an independent agency. It should have minimal annual dues, minimal by-laws. It should have two meetings per year, which could be in conjunction with other meetings. There should be special presentations and training at the meetings.

General Discussion:

• There can be joint training with the regional library.
• Start building membership in WA state, then branch out in other NW states, e.g., Idaho.
• The organization could possibly get into lobbying state legislatures.
• Meet in Eastern WA once a year.
• Core group should commit to attending the distant meetings.
• Name should be regional, not just WA.
• Membership to include non-librarians, vendors, paraprofessionals, interested citizens.
• The organizing group should present a formal plan at the next statewide depository meeting.
• We can get GPO staff to come out to do training for GPO Access, perhaps in Spring 1998.
• Use Ohio by-laws as a guide, they're simple.
• planning can set dues, get approval at the first membership meeting.
• Don't have a newsletter, rather have a homepage/listserv and a webmaster.
• We could present a program at the Spring WLA conference or have own meeting and program.
• The organizing committee will appoint officers, and have general elections next Spring.
• We could have ALA affiliation but don't want to pay ALA dues.
• We will be interested in expanding membership to Alaska and Hawaii as well as WA and ID.

Decisions, by consensus:

• Name - Western Government Information Network (WGIN)
• Officers, terms and appointments:
  • One year terms:
    • President: Cass Hartnett
    • President- Elect: Lori Ricigliano
    • Past-President: Lily Wai
  • Two year terms:
    • Secretary: Patrick Grace
    • Webmaster: Joy Suh
  • Three year term:
    • Treasurer: Linda Fredericks
• Membership shall be for the calendar year
• Annual dues - $10
• Officers and temporary by-laws (below) can stay on until formal elections at Spring meeting.

Western Government Information Network (WGIN) By-laws

Purpose:

Western Government Information Network will promote effective use of publications issued by all levels of government by:

1. providing an organization for individuals and organizations having an interest in government information;
2. providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, concerns and problems affecting access to government information;
3. providing a force for initiating and supporting programs to increase availability, use and access to government information;
4. contributing to the education and training in the use of government information;
5. advocating and promoting availability and broad use of government information.

Dues:

$ 10.00 per year

Membership:

Individuals and organizations interested in government information are welcome to join.

Meetings:

There will be at least two meetings per year, one East of the Cascades, and one West of the Cascades.

Web Page:

The organization will have a world wide web site, maintained by the webmaster. The web page will contain meeting minutes, bylaws, meeting notices, election information, and other information as assigned by the steering committee.

Officers:

The officers shall be the Steering Committee of the Organization. The Steering Committee shall supervise the affairs of the organization between business meetings, establish the date and place of meetings, speak for the organization on relevant policy issues, and perform other duties as specified elsewhere in the bylaws. The Committee shall hold at least two meetings annually, and shall hold additional meetings upon the call of the President.

The officers, and their terms, and duties, shall be:

• President, one year, shall be the chief administrative officer, and preside over meetings of the executive board and membership.
• President-Elect, one year, shall serve as program coordinator, and perform duties as the President assigns;
• Past President, one year, shall act as advisor to the Steering Committee, and perform duties as assigned by the President;
• Secretary, two years, shall be the recording and corresponding officer and record keeper of the organization;
• Treasurer three years, shall be responsible for the funds of the organization, and for keeping financial records and for keeping the membership list;
• Webmaster, two years, shall maintain the organization's world wide web site and listserv.

Elections of officers will occur in the Spring, and will be carried out electronically.

Amendment of Bylaws:

These bylaws can be amended at any business meeting of the organization by a two-thirds vote of those members present, provided that the amendment has been submitted to the membership at least four weeks prior to the meeting.