PowerPoint presentation of the 2012 service awards presented during the Awards Luncheon at the 2012 Visual Resources Conference in Albuquerque, NM. Kathe Albrecht received the Distinguished Service Award; Sheila Hannah and Patti McRae Baley were presented with Nancy DeLaurier Awards.
4. SHEILA M. HANNAH
B.A. & M.A. Art History, M.L.S.
University of New Mexico, 1977–2005 as Library
Technical Assistant, Library Information
Specialist, Director of the Visual Resources
Library, and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the
Department of Art & Art History
5. SERVICE & AWARD
VRA Data Standards Committee, 1994–2002
UNM Committees: Technology Advancement,
Interdisciplinary Media, Strategic Planning, Policy,
Slide Library
Kress Foundation Fellowship recipient
$48,000 grant from Educational Foundation of
America
6. DISTINCTION
Visual resources internship program
Visual resources automation
VISION Project
VISIC (Visual Information Checklist)
VIRCONA (Visual Resources Catalog of Native
American Artists)
7. THE BUZZ…
―extremely high degree of professionalism‖
―a true pioneer‖
―straightforward, methodical, and knowledgeable‖
―wonderfully generous with her knowledge‖
―demonstrated exemplary service‖
―inspiring yet practical‖
10. THE BUZZ…..
Each year Patti would excitedly email me after the conference to tell
me the grand total from ticket sales, and we would both be thrilled
about the number of travel awards that would be available for the
following year’s conference. Each year at the conference Business
Meeting the string of award recipients seemed to stretch farther
across the room, and this was in large part due to Patti’s energy and
efforts with VRAffle fundraising. Jackie Spafford
Her creation, the VRAffle, was the perfect “cocktail.” It was so much
fun that we hardly realized we were giving money. Eliza Lanzi
I first met Patti when I attended my first Visual Resources Association
conference in Kansas City. My co-worker was scheduled to help set up
the VRAffle and she invited me to come with her and “meet someone
fun!” Well, I did – and within moments of meeting Patti I was laughing
and engaged and felt WELCOMED. Greta Bahneman
11. The high point for me was the 25th anniversary event in Kansas City.
Opening with a choral number updating the old song, “Everything’s Up
to Date in Kansas City” from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical
“Oklahoma,” Patti’s Raffle Rousers, some attired as computers,
described the marvels of the digital revolution. Renate Wiedenhoeft,
chief executive of Saskia Images, even stormed onstage from the
audience at one point in the guise of an intellectual property lawyer to
present a cease and desist order for copyright violation. Karen Kessel
Patti brought her love, passion and full blown enthusiasm for a good
time and it overflowed and became catching for us all. The result: more
interest in the VRaffle and hence more $ for the Nancy DeLaurier award
to help others in the profession. Scott Gilchrist
I know we will stand and cheer, with a unanimous “Figure 8, Touch
Pearls!” Jenni Rodda
12. We have all benefited from the fun and camaraderie of the VRA Raffle
17. KATHE HICKS ALBRECHT
―Kathe Albrecht has served as President-
Elect, President, and Past-President; co-chair of the 2002-
2003 Strategic Plan; twice Chair of the VRA Mid-Atlantic
Chapter; Membership Committee Chair; Intellectual
Property Rights Committee Chair; Representative to the
Digital Future Coalition; and as VRA Bulletin Column
Editor.
For the VRA Foundation she has served as a Director since
its inception in 2008 - as Secretary and as Co-Chair of its'
Summer Educational Institute.‖
- Jeanne Keefe & Ann Thomas
18. ― When I first sat down to write this letter, I
had to ask myself ―What hasn‘t Kathe done
for the Visual Resources Association?‖ With
contributions of such breadth and depth, it
is extremely difficult to adequately
encapsulate and express what Kathe‘s fine
work means to both the past and future of
the VRA.‖ - Betha Whitlow
―Supporting the nomination of Kathe Hicks Albrecht is a no-
brainer. I like many other long time VRA members can attest
to the length, breath and variety of her contributions to our
organization‖. - Chris Hilker
19. ―If ever a candidate's qualifications for the DSA were all inclusive, it
would be those of Kathe Hicks Albrecht. Her service runs the gamut
from leadership on both the VRA Executive Board and the VRA
Foundation Board to education, research and mentoring that have
greatly benefited our organization‖. -Margo Ballantyne
―She is a leader in our profession-- someone who has spent her
career providing service to the members and prospective members
of our profession. She is a person that I know will always accomplish
what she has said she will do. In addition, her generosity is an
example for all of us.‖ -Trudy Jacoby
20. ―Since she entered the profession
20 years ago, she has chaired
committees, written articles and served as
VRA President, possibly the ultimate
sacrifice...
Her interests ranged from the basic nuts
& bolts practices to intellectual property
rights. VRA has thrived as a result of her
organizational and leadership skills at the
local, regional and international levels‖.
- Chris Hilker
21. ―Kathe also had a visionary impact on the VRA in her role as
co-chair with Margaret Webster of the first VRA Strategic
Plan Task Force, on which I served as a member during my
first collaboration with Kathe. The recommendations in this
Strategic Plan laid the groundwork for the VRA to truly
professionalize and thrive‖. -Betha Whitlow
22. ―Many of the advancements that
now define VRA grew out of her
tenure on the two Executive … and
the 1998 Strategic Plan Task Force…
These include: online registration for
conferences, Memberclicks, SEI, and the
VRA Foundation. Kathe's attributes
combined with her intense work ethic have
distinguished VRA and have helped grow
the organization strongly through the first
decade of the twenty-first century‖.
- Margo Ballantyne
23. ―One of the most active members of the
Task Force and VRAF‘s Board of Directors,
Kathe regularly volunteered her time and
energy, and her wise counsel greatly
benefitted both entities‖.
―Her comments and contributions on the
issues we faced, the documents and written
materials produced, on communications
with VRA and its members, and the
organizational agreements with VRA and
ARLIS were always thoughtful, incisive, and
valuable‖. - Loy Zimmerman
24. ‗Following her time on the VRA Board, Kathe
turned her efforts toward establishing the VRA
Foundation. Despite the fact that the VRAF was
established during the worst economic downturn
since the Depression, it has developed against all
odds as a vital advocacy and fundraising force for
the value of images in a teaching and learning
environment‘. -Betha Whitlow
Kathe‘s visionary work on the VRAF Board will have a
lasting impact on the visual resources profession.
-Tina Updike
25. ―Kathe devoted endless amounts of
time and energy to the planning and
implementation of SEI. Kathe helped
re-shape SEI. 2010 was the first year we
held SEI in Albuquerque, NM and it
was a newly formed program – the first
instance of SEI Pro…
Kathe‘s positive approach and fresh
ideas were crucial to developing the
program‖.
-Alix Reiskind
26. ―Kathe helped inspire a new way
of thinking about the curriculum
and how the courses could be
organized. This work was carried
through to her work the following
year for SEI, tailoring the courses
and program to fit students‘ needs
and knowledge levels‖.
-Alix Reiskind
―Kathe‘s contributions were crucial to a re-organization of
SEI‘s structure and operations that greatly improved its
administration and management‖.
-Loy Zimmerman
27. ―Kathe is a leader in our profession –
someone who has spent her career
providing service to the members and
prospective members of our profession.
She is a person that I know will always
accomplish what she has said she will
do. In addition, her generosity is an
example for all of us‖.
―Her establishment of the Kathe Hicks
Albrecht Travel Award, her continuing
contribution as a VRA Foundation Gold
Circle Donor, and her generous
donations of both money and time set
the highest example of true support for
the VRA, her colleagues and newcomers
to the field‖.
-Trudy Jacoby
28. ―In 2007 she created the Birds-of a-
Feather affinity networking lunches for
the VRA conferences. Fourteen people
gathered together in Toronto, 2009, for the
Retirement 101 luncheon. Hosted by
Chris Sundt, these members, myself
included, pondered ways in which we
could still connect to VRA when our
affiliation with our respective institutions
would end‖.
―This successful venue for membership
networking and support has now
expanded to the SEI schedule‖.
-Margo Ballantyne
29. ―Following a week of challenging,
satisfying work running a successful SEI
2011 in Albuquerque, Kathe and I found
ourselves with two hours before our
flights. Settling down at an airport
restaurant, we talked of work, our
families, and our dreams outside of our
professional lives. It was one of the best
times I‘ve ever enjoyed with a colleague,
and as I reflect on it now, I‘m reminded
that Kathe isn‘t just a great leader—she‘s
also a wonderful friend to many.‖
And if that‘s not the sum of an individual
deserving of the Distinguished Service
Award, I‘m not sure what is.
-Betha Whitlow
30. ―She is at the forefront as a
model leader and mentor for
the next generation of VRA‖.
-Elisa Lanzi
―Truly a woman for all seasons…‖
-Margo Ballantyne
Introduction of Awards Ceremony MNWFirst slide Welcome to the 2012 presentation of the Visual Resources Association’s Nancy DeLaurier & Distinguished Service Awards. I’m Margaret Webster, the incoming chair of the Awards Committee, and am standing in for our chair, Brenda MacEachern, who for health reasons is unable to be here today. We have lots to accomplish this afternoon; I will, therefore, begin. Please continue to enjoy your meal while celebrating with our stellar group of awardees.The awards committee worked hard this year and is pleased to present two Nancy DeLaurier Awards and one Distinguished Service Award to three exceptional representatives of our profession. We are very proud of the professional diversity exhibited by this group of deserving honorees. I extend a big thank you to all of the members of the awards committee (Linda Callahan, LiseHawkos, Madelyn Millen, and Martine Sherrill) for their thoughtful, collegial work during the year and in particular to our chair, Brenda MacEachern, who was instrumental in guiding us through the process. Thank you, Brenda.Finally, I want to give you all a head’s up. I will post a call for nominations for both the Nancy DeLaurier and the Distinguished Service Awards immediately after this conference. Please, while you are enjoying your meal and this awards celebration, think about those have influenced your professional development, those who in your opinion have contributed so much to visual resources. Please consider submitting a nomination. The guidelines are posted on the VRA web site. Furthermore, each member of the Awards Committee is prepared to help you with this process. Remember—no nominations equals no awards luncheon. We have too many worthy potential honorees to let this happen.
Portrait of NDLNancy DeLaurier Award MNWThe Nancy DeLaurier Award, named for one of the pioneers of the visual resources profession, annually honors a visual resources professional for distinguished achievement in the field. "Achievement" is measured by immediate impact, and may take the form of published work, oral presentation, project management, software development, technology application, website creation, or other outstanding effort. This year I am pleased to announce that the Awards Committee has chosen to award two Nancy DeLaurier awards. Each of the awardees richly deserves this honor but in a very different ways.
Portrait of Sheila Our first Nancy DeLaurier Award goes to Sheila M. Hannah. Sheila is the retired director of the Bainbridge Bunting Visual Resources Library at the University of New Mexico here in Albuquerque. I call upon Mark Pompelia and Cindy Abel Morris to make the presentation. Would Sheila, Mark and Cindy please join me at the podium?
Next four slides = presentation by Mark Pompelia and Cindy Abel Morris.
[Move to next slide] and Burns presentation.]
Award presentation by Maureen Burns. Sheila Hannah’s remarks:Award Remarks Mark, thank you very much for your kind words. I'm both humbled and thrilled to receive a 2012 Visual Resources Association Nancy DeLaurier Award. It is a great honor to be ranked with the outstanding people who have received this award before me. The fact that I was nominated for this recognition by Mark Pompelia and by Cindy Able Morris - two people who themselves do so much for the visual resources profession - is an added honor. Cindy and Mark, I thank you both. I also thank all those who submitted letters endorsing the nomination and I thank the committee for selecting me as a recipient. As many of you know, I 'm now retired from the field of visual resources, so this bolt from the blue in the form of Margaret Webster saying I would receive a VRA award really jolted me into thinking about the past. I honestly couldn't recall any single achievement worthy of the distinction. I was told my recognition was a bit different. It was for my general work in visual resources to support Native American topics - not for one project with immediate impact like those recognized in previous years, but rather for a collection of efforts linked by a single theme that together produced a slower cumulative effect. For me the slow accumulation began in 1980 when I co-edited with Zelda Richardson a now largely forgotten College Art Association Visual Resources Guide titled Introduction to Visual Resource Library Automation in which I naively suggested that not only main frame computers (which were the sole topic of the guide - does anyone even remember main frames), but also those new "Personal Computers" might have a role in our futures. There followed an article here, a book review there; a smattering of papers and panel discussions; the posting of a Native American classification system on-line, the commission of a slide label producing program that stored data in files that would later be ported to a custom relational database, submissions to the Getty Vocabularies, five years on the Data Standards Committee, participation in the VISION project, successful (and unsuccessful) grant applications, an on-line database, a permanently funded graduate internship program -- all always dedicated to insuring that any and all electronic visual resources activities could easily and accurately accommodate images of Native American art objects. I am deeply grateful I took this multi-faceted approach, because at every stage it rewarded me with the opportunity to work with many smart and inspiring colleagues in the visual resources profession. I thank every one of them for productive collaborations and lively exchanges of ideas. While I can't name them all here, I feel I must mention two - Jeanette Mills and Karen Kessel - who have always been there when images of Native American art were on topic. At my own institution I collaborated with dedicated staff members, many fine graduate students, IT heroes, database developers, generous deans and even legal counsels. I thank them all for giving me their support, hard work and valuable expertise. And on the home front, I thank my husband, Michael Hannah, who has always, always been there for me with his moral support, practical advice and true wisdom. While reflecting on my own history, I couldn't help but examine the accomplishments of our visual resources profession as a whole and I was struck by how much our discipline has to be proud of. Over the past thirty-five years, visual resources curators have evolved from cohort-starved image-wranglers isolated in their slide rooms to members of a vibrant and vital interactive community. As a community, our profession has moved from analog to digital, from slide cabinets to servers, from slide labels with limited information in teeny-tiny type to metadata rich electronic records. We've moved from light tables to terminals, from classification systems to search engines, from individual production to shared records, and from "I do it this way" to accepted standards in data, cataloging and vocabulary. We've gone from handing out carousel trays to managing Web services systems. And through our guides, bulletin, journal, listserv, workshops, summer institute, committees, website, conferences, amazing spirit of sharing and experimentation and yes -- even awards, we did it together - one measured individual effort linked to all the others over time. In conclusion, I came to realize that this Nancy DeLaurier Award is actually an acknowledgement of the accumulation of contributions each of you has made in the past and will make in the future to the collective success of the visual resources profession. This Nancy DeLaurier award is a reflection of what each of you do every day - share an idea, mentor a student, write an article, participate in a committee, apply for a grant, catalog an image, share a lunch. So it is on behalf of all of you, that I accept this award. It's been fun working with visual resources, rewarding to belong to the VRA, and exciting to meet so many professional people. Thank you.
Portrait of Patti The second Nancy DeLaurier Award is given to someone who truly needs no introduction -- Patti McRae Baley of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and of VRAffle renown.Unfortunately, MerriannBidgood who submitted this nomination is unable to be here to present the award; I will, therefore, read her remarks.Would Patti please join me at the podium?
MerriannBidgood’s remarks: The Nancy DeLaurier award is for those individuals who have made a distinguished achievement in the field of Visual Resources. Patti McRae Baley has shown such a tireless and dedicated effort in promoting the VRA Raffle, which supports the Tansey Travel Awards. I am honored to present Patti McRaeBaley with the Nancy DeLaurier award. The VRA Raffle has been one of the most anticipated events in the conference schedule. Every one looks forward to seeing what the grand prize will be, or what new piece of Chris Sundt jewelry will adorn the lucky winner. The main focus of the Raffle is to promote the Tansey Travel Awards. Without the funding that is raised for the Tansey many of our colleagues and friends would be unable to attend the annual conference. Every person who knows Patti comments on her skill at coordinating and managing the donations, the volunteers, and the main event of the VRA Raffle. The hard work is often rewarded with cheers from the crowd for another fine performance and a bigger pot of fund for more travel award for the following year. One of the best things about Patti and the VRA Raffle was her ability to make even the shyest new member for VRA to become a Raffle Rouser. It is this welcoming spirit that many look forward too. [Move to next slide].
Thank you Empress Patti for all of your hard work and dedication. Figure 8, Touch Pearls. [Move to next slide] and Burns presentation.
Award presentation by Maureen Burns.Patti McRae Baley remarks.
Insert remarks by Ann Thomas and Jeanne Keefe here.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD PRESENTATIONKathe AlbrechtSLIDE 4Good Afternoon, Members of the Visual Resources Association, guests, and friends.INTRODUCTIONSLIDE 5We have both had the honor to have worked closely with Kathe on the VRA Executive Board, the VRA Foundation Board, and the Summer Educational Institute and can attest to her energy, enthusiasm, competence, organizational skills, leadership qualities, and (above all) to her support of and generosity to those engaged with her in forwarding the mission of the VRA. (Ann Thomas and Jeanne Keefe) SLIDE 6While working with Kathe on the VRA Executive Board, VRA Foundation Task Force and the VRA Foundation Board, it became increasingly apparent that as a leader she possesses the rare combination of an entrepreneurial mind with the organizational skills, people skills and determination to carry creative ideas through to their implementation (Margo Ballantyne) SLIDE 7Kathe is the consummate professional in her many areas of service for VRA and the VRAF. Her decision-making is constantly based on what is best for the organization. Kathe’s devotion and passionate commitment to the visual resources field is what informs her leadership. For the past several years I have had the honor of working closely with Kathe as a partner in all things VRAF. Her incredible energy is invaluable in this realm. In addition, I have always admired Kathe’s ability to handle any situation that comes her way with grace and aplomb. She deserves mucho kudos for bringing the SEI to maturity, making it the premier program that it is today. Kathe … truly deserves our recognition as the 2012 VRA DSA Award winner. (Elisa Lanzi) EARLY CAREERSLIDE 8At American University she was an early adopter of digital imaging and an advocate for the university’s involvement in the Museum Educational Site Licensing Project (1994-1997). Kathe served as one of three campus coordinators for this digital imaging project funded by the Getty Foundation. She has twice been the recipient of the American University Staff Achievement Award…and in 2002 was given the American University Dedicated Service Award. With colleagues at AU Kathe has received a number of grants for digital imaging projects. (Macie Hall)SLIDE 9From the outset of my participation in the VRA, Kathe stood out as a visible and accomplished leader, representing the interests of the VRA at the CONFU hearings and providing critical advocacy at the national level for the fair use of images. I believe her efforts as a CONFU representative and as Intellectual Property Rights Committee Chair played a critical role in helping all of us understand and navigate a world where the use of images was rapidly altered by digital technology.(Betha Whitlow)TASK FORCES & COMMITTEES I was Chair of the Nominating Committee during a challenging period. Kathe was an immense help in recruiting candidates for office during her tenure as a Committee member. I found her knowledge of the membership to be vast, and her insights on the qualities an effective Board member should display to be invaluable. Her thoughtful comments and candidate suggestions demonstrated her focus on the best interests of the Association. (Ann Burns)PRESIDENT OF VRA SLIDE 10 She also uniquely managed to make the challenges of Board work fun as well as satisfying by encouraging an environment of conversation, collegiality, and civility—qualities that I have tried to emulate in my own leadership roles. (Betha Whitlow)VRA FOUNDATION DIRECTORSLIDE 11As both a Founding Director and Director of the VRAF, Kathe has tirelessly sought to support important projects such as CCO (Cataloguing Cultural Objects) and SEI (the ARLIS/NA-VRA Summer Educational Institute), while implementing funding initiatives such as a professional development grant program. (Betha Whitlow)SLIDE 12In the preparation, for instance, of the application for IRS recognition of the Foundation as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, one of the most important required documents was a narrative description of VRAF’s activities. “Describe completely and in detail past, present, and planned activities,” was how the IRS put it. Consequently, we had to describe not just the plans for VRAF’s future activity, but also give an accounting of VRA, its history and purpose, and the relationship of the two organizations. Kathe, with Elisa Lanzi, volunteered for the task, and the lengthy document they produced was so beautifully written that it not only served as the source for much of VRAF’s web site materials, but its VRA elements were also used as the basis of a white paper on the VRA developed for the 2006 redesign of vraweb.org. (Loy Zimmerman) SUMMER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE CO-CHAIR SLIDE 13SLIDE 14 On the go from early morning to late evening, Kathe never tired. She was always available to students and instructors to answer questions, solve problems and give advice. Kathe is always willing to put in extra time and energy. Kathe approaches challenges in a thoughtful and creative manner, taking the time to weigh alternatives and consider other opinions. (AlixReiskind) MENTOR PROGRAMSLIDE 15SLIDE 16 In addition to the years of dedicated service to on- going development and administration of VRA, Kathe still found time to create opportunities for mentorship and member support. Kathe’s personal mentorship of VRA members is a commonly known fact and includes the statistic that she has volunteered eight out of the thirteen years that the Annual Conference Mentor Program has been in existence. I will never forget the joy and amazement expressed on the face of a young curator attending her first conference when she realized that Kathe, then President of the VRA, would be in her own words, “my very own mentor.” (Margo Ballantyne) CONCLUSIONS SLIDE 17Ann and I have had the honor to have worked closely with Kathe on the VRA Executive Board, the VRA Foundation Board, and the Summer Educational Institute and can attest to her energy, enthusiasm, competence, organizational skills, leadership qualities, and (above all) to her support of and generosity to those engaged with her in forwarding the mission of the VRA. (Jeanne Keefe & Ann Thomas) SLIDE 18TOGETHER: “Truly a woman for all seasons…”
Conclusionof Awards Ceremony MNWThis concludes the 2012 Nancy DeLaurier and Distinguished Service Award program. Thank you of helping me to honor the achievements of these fine visual resources professionals. Please join me in congratulating them once again.
