Greetings Colleagues, Today I'm celebrating the National Negro Business League. Organized by Booker T. Washington in 1900 and housed at Tuskegee University for many years, the league was designed to promote the financial development of African Americans. The League also promoted the economic advancement of African Americans, via a network of state and local Negro business leagues, and affiliated professional and trade organizations. Membership in the League was open to any member of the race in good standing in his or her community, whether the person was in business, professional or private life. Meetings provided a forum in which African-American small businessmen shared stories of their struggles and successes. HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting - October 21-23, 2012 - New Orleans Marriott, Canal Street, (LA) The HBCU Library Alliance 5th Biennial Membership Meeting will convene in historic New Orleans, LA on Sunday through Tuesday, October 21-23. This year's theme, "Protecting our Legacy, Preserving our Story: A Decade of Investment in HBCU Libraries" speaks to our progressive work in support of HBCU libraries. In addition to celebrating our tenth year of service to HBCU libraries, please come prepared for a discussion on sustainability and the future direction of our great organization. Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference - October 21st All are invited to attend the Sunday, October 21st Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference. The Pre-Conference will provide additional education on photograph preservation, pairing HBCU demonstration project participants with project consultants to address topics in best practices, preservation planning, risk assessment, and advocacy and fundraising. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is graciously funding this project which involves the preservation of significant photographic collections within HBCU's. Our attendance at the pre-conference is a show of support to the HBCU project colleagues and a show of appreciation to the Foundation. As an incentive, the first fifty members who register for the pre-conference and Membership meeting will receive a $600.00 travel stipend. The stipend cannot be used for registration at the Membership meeting and will be mailed to the member's institution after the Membership meeting. Only one stipend is allowed per member library. Registration Register as soon as possible at http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html so that we can keep you informed of meeting details. The Membership Meeting registration fee of $250.00 is due by Friday, October 12th. This meeting is open to directors, as well as other library staff. I look forward to an exciting Membership Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Respectfully, SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.