by Anne Robert, 3M/NMRT Social Chair
The spirit of New Orleans was in full swing Sunday, June 25, 2006, as the 3M/NMRT Social transformed the Grand Ballroom of the New Orleans Sheraton into a sea of purple, gold, and green. The theme, "Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler @ Your Library," was evident in the atmosphere as the 300 attendees were letting the good times roll!
The 3M/NMRT Social is an award banquet to recognize the recipients of both the 2006 3M/NMRT Professional Grant and the 2005 National Awards for Museum and Library Service. The 3M/NMRT Professional Grant winners are selected by the 3M/NMRT Professional Grant Committee, chaired by Sarah Robbins, and receive round-trip airfare, lodging, and conference registration expenses. This year's winners are Beth Heins of the Sherwood Public Library in Sherwood, Oregon, Jill S. Ratzan of East Brunswick Public Library in East Brunswick, NJ and Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension, and Bryan Loar, a student at Kent State University's Master of Library and Information Science Program. Since its inception in 1975, almost 100 NMRT members have benefited from this grant.
Special recognition was given to Kim Sanders in honor of her new position at ALA as the Program Officer for Education and Scholarships in the HRDR Office. Congratulations Kim and thanks for all your hard work with NMRT!
After the awards presentation, attendees danced to fabulous music provided by DJ Rick Gardache of Decades Music. NMRTers were in full jazzy swing, marching the Second Line and munching on delicious New Orleans-fare delectables. 3M provided exciting boxes of their fabulous products to lucky door prize winners. Generous members also brought books to be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
I want to thank everyone for attending the 3M/NMRT Social. Also, thanks to the 2006 3M/NMRT Social Committee (Shilo, Adam, Emily and Amanda) for all their hard work this year. The 31st Annual Social was extremely successful. Here's to 31 more years of continued assistance and support from 3M. See y'all in D.C.!