The ALIA National Advisory Congress 2005

At the 2004 ALIA National Policy Congress a recommendation was made to the ALIA Board of Directors that the name of the congress be changed to the National Advisory Congress (NAC). This recommendation was made to more accurately reflect the current nature of the congress, which is to provide a forum through which the board can discuss with members topical issues, policy and planning. This name change had to be put as a special motion to a general meeting as the congress is embedded in ALIA's constitution. The motion was carried at the ALIA AGM in May.

The board has adopted a new format for the NAC. Informal regional meetings will be held across Australia in as many regions as practicable. All financial personal and institutional members will be invited to attend these meetings and will all be NAC delegates. With this decision the board has moved from previous models, as there are no longer group delegates to the NAC.

The aim of regional meetings is that they be informal and provide ample opportunity for members to participate in discussion on policy, planning and any topical issues relevant to the association. Where possible a director will facilitate each of the regional meetings supported by a member of ALIA National Office staff.

The regional meetings will run for one and one half to two hours. Included in the meetings will be a brief information session about a specific ALIA service e.g. the ALIA professional development scheme and services, or highlights of members-only information on the ALIA website. This will be followed by a longer session covering the issues on the NAC program for regional meetings. Any background context for different parts of the program will be given at the meeting - there will no longer be any background papers to be read before meetings. The final component of the meeting will be social with refreshments provided along with opportunity for members to network.

Regional meetings will be held from early August through to mid October. Please check the events pages for your state/territory to find out where you nearest meeting will be.

As has been the case for the past two years the 2005 NAC will focus on celebrating the successes of the association, its groups and members. The topics for this year's program for the regional meetings include the:

• ALIA Stars program.
  
  
• Proposed model for ALIA elections: discussion of the proposed changes to the constitution to simplify the system for the election of directors (see inCite, June 2005 p. 13 for further information).
  
  
• Workforce planning and education: an opportunity for the members to raise local issues relating to education employment and workplace needs and to contribute to developing ALIA's advocacy agenda in workforce planning.

All regional meetings are invited to select someone from the meeting to attend the ALIA NAC to be held at ALIA National Office in November each year.

The NAC will bring together representatives from the regional meetings, invited self-nominating groups, and policy and advisory groups to further discuss issues from the regional meetings and any new issues that have arisen since regional meetings were held. The 2005 NAC will be held in Canberra at ALIA House on 25 - 26 November.

If you have any questions or would like further information about the NAC please go to the website or contact membership at ALIA National Office on e-mail (please remove '.nospam' from address) or ph 02 6215 8229.