Canadian Research Knowledge Network
2009 Annual General Meeting

Invitation to 6th Annual General Meeting

TO: CRKN Library Directors
FROM: Deb deBruijn, Executive Director
RE: Online AGM 2009 - October 5 - 8, 2009
DATE: August 13, 2009

Dear Colleagues:

It is my pleasure to invite you to the 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN). For the first time, the AGM will be held through electronic means, as a responsible way to practice fiscal restraint as well as an exciting opportunity to leverage technology and expand member participation in AGM deliberations. Our "AGM Week" will take place October 5 - 8, 2009, and will offer a series of issue-based and business sessions using Web conferencing technology. The AGM is an important opportunity for the CRKN community to review accomplishments, explore issues and challenges, participate in decision making, and provide direction to your Board of Directors. As such, we welcome participation from library directors (i.e. CRKN voting representatives) and staff from our member universities, as well as regional consortia representatives. I encourage library directors to invite their staff to attend sessions of interest.

Please refer to the Preliminary Meeting Agenda for the schedule of plenary sessions, workshops, and annual business meeting. Then please MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the times that best suit your interests and schedule.

We are working to take advantage of the web-based online meeting format to make it as interactive as we can. The audio portion of the content will be delivered over teleconference, while the presentations and document storage will be delivered using web conferencing software. The business meeting requires voting members to make/second motions and cast votes for resolutions. Voting members will therefore need to attend this session on their own computer. The plenary sessions will include an open forum in which questions can be posed electronically to the presenters and/or verbally to the group. People may wish to gather in groups and appoint a scribe for online participation. The workshops will incorporate a Q&A format which will welcome electronically or verbally posed questions.

Advance online registration will be available on the CRKN website at the end of August. As usual, there are no registration fees for the meeting. If you have any questions or need other information, please contact Dyna Vink or Cindy Smith who will be able to assist you.

I hope these flexible offerings and cyber-gatherings will engage members in dialogue on important issues, enlighten our collaborations, and inspire our future planning.