Membership Advisory Group
Charge
To advise PLA on creating successful membership recruitment and retention practices. This advisory group operates to: Provide member perspective to PLA; Offer input to help PLA connect with and impact membership; Help prioritize member messaging; Review member communications for relevance and persuasiveness; Identify opportunities for enhancement of member benefits.
Deliverables and outcomes:
- Review PLA membership statistics and trends
- Provide feedback and advice on PLA member engagement activities and communications
- Engage new members by welcoming them to PLA via email and attending PLA-sponsored conference events (PLA Happy Hour at ALA Midwinter Meeting, PLA Member Breakfast at ALA Annual Conference, PLA Conference, etc.)
- Increase the number of renewed members by making members feel welcome and offering advice on how PLA can better serve its membership
- Increase the number of opportunities for members to engage and get involved with PLA
Expected time commitment:
- Attend ALA Midwinter Meeting and ALA Annual Conference (4 hours/year plus travel time)
- Attend virtual meetings (2–4 hours/year)
- Review and respond to emails and ALA Connect messages (2–3 hours/year)
- Send PLA member welcome emails (3–5 hours/year)
Desired skills, knowledge, or experience:
- Experience in community engagement
- Familiarity with PLA and ALA membership structure
- Familiarity with PLA’s branding, messaging and strategic plan
- Ability to be “welcome wagon” for PLA members
- Ability to answer member-related questions
Categories:
Roster
Ms. Deborah Dolores Allman
(Co-Chair, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027)
Ms. Jen Baxter
(Co-Chair, July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026)
Jessica Beal
(Member, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027)
Amy J. Dissmeyer
(Member, July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026)
Jennifer L. Drinka
(Member, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027)
Erika L. Jenns
(Member, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027)
Kayla Ponturo
(Member, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027)
Lynda Salem Poling
(Member, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027)
Sarah Campbell Tansley
(Member, July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026)
Meghan Thompson
(Member, July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027)
Samantha Lopez
(Staff Liaison, February 16, 2017, to June 30, 2031)
Displaying active committee roster as of 07/01/2025. Last retrieved on 06/15/2025. Refresh now.
Appointed by the President, 1 chair and up to 10 members (minimum 1 chair and 4 members). Electronic members are welcome.
Established at the request of the PLA Board.
To be a thriving, vibrant organization, PLA must have committed and active committee members. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please read and fill out the online volunteer form.
- Volunteers are accepted on an ongoing basis.
- Appointments are made by the PLA President and President-Elect, primarily in the spring.
- Volunteers must be members of ALA and PLA.
Stay connected with fellow PLA members in the PLA Member Community on ALA Connect. PLA personal membership is required to participate.
