The Best of the Best stipend, an initiative of TLA President Julie Todaro(2000-2001), began in the fall of 2000 and has been continued each year since. The purpose of the stipend is to provide each of the ten districts with funds for programming during fall district meetings. Currently, each district is allocated $1,000 for the program. President Todaro’s goal for this initiative is to enhance district meetings by providing seed money to bring the Best of the Best programs from conference and other organized environments. The content and the marketing for the program should be directed at providing higher quality educational programs during the fall meetings to address member needs.

In an effort to target funds toward meeting the goal of this initiative, funds may be used for the following expenditures:

• Speaker honorariums

• Speaker travel

• Facility costs

Alternative proposals can be made which would be allowable under this program.  For example, in 2001, District 6 used its Best of the Best grant to award conference stipends to two library staff members attending the TLA conference for the fist time.

 Funds may not be used for these types of expenditures:

• Catering

• Refreshments or other food related items                      

• Speaker gifts                                                               

• Decorations

• Supplies

• Printing

How to Request Funding

The District Chair must complete the Request for Funding form and submit* to the TLA office addressed to the attention of Catherine Lee, Director of Administration. Upon approval of the request, the Chair will be notified. Funds must be expended by June 30 of the fiscal year in which they are awarded.  Consequently, funds cannot be carried over to a subsequent fiscal year.

Consistent with TLA guidelines, all requests for reimbursement or payment must be submitted by June 30 of the current fiscal year.

Request For Payment Procedures

The District Chair submits a speaker contract for each speaker as documentation for honorariums and/or travel. For space rental costs, the Chair submits a rental contract from the facility. Following the district meeting, funds up to $1,000 will be transferred to the district’s budget to cover approved expenditures under this program.

 Questions?   Catherine Lee:  512/328-1518 or 800/580-2TLA

* MAIL: TLA, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin TX 78746-6763
    FAX: 512/328-8852