Greetings Colleagues, I trust you're well. Today I'm celebrating the Preserving the Story of the HBCU Library Alliance Project! As you are aware, this is the Alliance's first direct grant award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. A major outcome of this project is acquiring experience that will increase the Alliance's ability to secure grants and new funding sources, thus increasing opportunities for organizational sustainability. As a result of the focus of the Preserving the Story of the HBCU Library Alliance project, Ron Blakely, Associate Director, White House Initiative on HBCUs, agreed to meet with representatives from the Alliance Board to begin relationship-building. Mr. Blakely served as keynote speaker for the 5th Membership Meeting in New Orleans, LA and supported the Alliance through the Decade of Investment Financial Challenge. RON BLAKELY, HBCU LIBRARY ALLIANCE ADVANCEMENT ADVISOR I'm so pleased to announce that Mr. Blakely has accepted the Board's appointment as Advancement Advisor. In this advisory role, he will assist with the identification of opportunities and provide related assistance. He has also agreed to participate in Board meetings/conference calls as his schedule permits. The Executive Committee will update Mr. Blakely through regularly scheduled conference calls. As we enter the second decade of service to HBCU libraries, I know you celebrate this relationship and the opportunities ahead for the HBCU Library Alliance. Respectfully, Sandra SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree 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.