Question #4. How has your work with SLA over the years helped you grow in the profession?
Deb Hunt - Candidate, President-Elect
There are so many ways that SLA has helped me to grow, but I will concentrate on just a few of them.
Leadership skills: as a new member of SLA, I worked on the Bylaws Committee for the Engineering Division and then on many committees in the San Francisco Bay Region Chapter. That led to chairing chapter committees and finally to being chapter president. I have served in division positions and on the Board of SLA as a Director. The skills in leading others, delegation, organizational sustainability, working as part of a team and learning to network better really have helped me professionally and personally to grow into the person I am today.
Professional development: through ClickU, the annual and Leadership conferences, chapter and division educational opportunities, and learning from what my colleagues are doing have improved my skills immeasurably. I am a lifelong learner, always striving to improve my skillset, teach others, and continuing to grow professionally. SLA has facilitated this.
Collegiality: many of my SLA colleagues have become good friends and I know I can count on them to be there for me to provide resources I need to do my work, to vent to when needed, and I can be a listening ear in return. They inspire me.
I have volunteered not thinking of what was in it for me, but rather for the greater good of our profession, and yet I’ve gotten back so much more in return. I know that my membership dollars are well spent and provide value. I cannot imagine where I’d be in my career now if it weren’t for SLA and all the opportunities and connections it has provided over the years.
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