Conversation with TALL Texans Pioneers

by Dale Cluff, Bonnie Juergens, Mary Lankford, James Stewart, June Kahler Berry

HOW DID THE CONCEPT FOR THE TALL TEXANS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE ORIGINATE?

James Stewart wrote, "It was a dark and stormy night The concept of an institute for leadership had occurred to several people in TLA. It is my understanding that the Executive Board had casually considered and rejected the idea in the late '80s. The concept of training leaders had been of interest to me for some time. I was, and am, convinced that while some very few leaders are born, most of them are made.

I had also observed that due to the growth of the association, we could no longer rely on the vague network of informal mentors to continue to develop leaders as they had so well for so long. Shortly before I went on the Executive Board as president-elect, I heard the Executive Director of the Michigan Library Association speak on their leadership institute. I knew from the description that what Michigan was doing was not exactly what was needed in Texas, but I also knew TLA needed to begin a leadership program.

At the Executive Board meeting following the 1991 TLA Annual Conference in Fort Worth (it has always seemed to me good things happen in Fort Worth) I moved the start-up for an institute. After a bit of discussion the motion passed and the process was underway. Until that moment the concept had been mine and it was necessarily a vague one. I knew that like our association, an institute must address the needs of all types of libraries. I felt that the leadership skills taught would benefit librarians in their work lives as well as in their association endeavors and conversely that better trained leaders would improve both libraries and library associations. I also had no doubt whatsoever that TLA was up to the task."

Bonnie Juergens wrote, "To my knowledge, James Stewart introduced the idea during his vice-presidency, and followed up by appointing the original committee to explore the feasibility of establishing a program to assist in the leadership development of mid-career librarians in Texas. The reason I think it was during his vice-presidency is because that's the year that appointments are made for the subsequent presidency year, right? At any rate, James called me and told me about the idea, wondering whether I'd be willing to serve on the Committee. I got all excited and supportive and told him I'd love to work on it. At which time, he asked if I'd like to serve as Chair as well. I was really delighted to have the opportunity to work on this project even before I started working with the committee members and discovering that we "clicked" and worked really well together. That was the icing on the cake!

WHO WERE THE PERSONS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT/INCEPTION OF THE TALL TEXANS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE?

Dale Cluff wrote, "Without trying to go back and verify by documentation, this looks about right."

James Stewart wrote, "Obviously all of the people appointed to the original feasibility committee, then all the committees who helped make it happen. I am sorry that I can't do this from memory."

Mary Lankford wrote, "I remember attending one meeting when James Stewart proposed that people who were leaders of long standing in TLA, should be eliminated from participation and as the discussion continued, I stated that the criterion should be that only those applicants who still have a waist will be eligible."

June Berry wrote, "I have the advantage of James and Dale in that I have the paperwork for the Institute including a copy of the original proposal from the ad hoc TLA Leadership Development Program Committee. This is the formal proposal that went to the TLA Executive Board in July 1992. To assist the ad hoc committee, ex-officio members and resource participants were selected. The ad hoc committee was chaired by Bonnie Juergens and the members were Carol Bartz, Jane Gamez, Irene Hoadley, Antonio Martinez, Cyd Sheffy, and Mary Kay Snell. The ex-officio members were June Lester, Brooke Sheldon, Pat Smith, Keith Swigger, Cynthia Gray, and James Stewart. The resource participants were Bill Gooch, Liz Haynes, Jeanette Larson, and me. This original group should receive credit but don't forget the chairs of the Leadership Development Committee such as Irene Hoadley, Eva Poole, Dale Cluff, Dana Rooks, and Bonnie McNeely and the hard working members of that committee over the years."

HAS THE INSTITUTE DEVELOPED AS YOU ANTICIPATED?

It has not developed as I had hoped in terms of funding. Unless much has happed about which I'm not aware (and it well could have) since I'm not directly involved in the program any longer, the overall funding efforts have been hard work, frustrating, and not as successful as we had hoped. I would like to see a time when the funding is such that we have an endowment to ensure the program will continue, rather than limping from year to year. And while I believe it's important to have attendees pay some nominal amount to attend (adds to their commitment!), I do agree with others from the original planning committee who felt that we should keep such a fee truly nominal and support the program from funds other than registration fees. Actually, June, I'd benefit from learning from you what the current financial status is, and how you think we're doing on that score!

I hasten yet again to clarify that Irene Hoadley gave us the name, TALL Texans, for the program. Please be sure Irene receives credit for this contribution."

Mary Lankford wrote, "The institute has developed as I hoped it would. I hope we are tracking (someway) those who have attended TALL Texans to see if they are assuming an active role in TLA. Everyone who has attended continues to identify TALL Texans as an important aspect of their career. For those of us who no longer have a waist and have not attended nor served as a mentor, I am not fully aware of the scope of the training."

James Stewart wrote, "Actually I had a waist when this all began. Furthermore I give partial credit to my attendance at TALL Texans for the demise of my waistline.

In response of the question, yes, it has developed as I anticipated and hoped. In fact, the development as viewed from the perspective of a mentor at the first and sixth institutes, has exceeded my expectations and my very high original hopes.

I am seeing the graduates take leadership positions in the Association and in Libraries. I met a director of a public library who told me she had taken the position based on the confidence and skills she had learned at the Institute. If memory serves, it was Mary Lankford who brought the name TALL Texans to the table. Mary, you should know that graduates may be 5'1, but they walk, talk, and perform real tall."

June Berry wrote, "Bonnie brings up the issue of funding for the Institute. Yes, this is a continuing situation that is addressed every year. The stipend for the participants is $400 but the actual cost per participant is around $1,300. The participants' employing institutions have really begun to recognize the value of the training for their employees and more than half of the participants have their stipend paid by their employers. The TLA units have been generous in support of the Institute and make a tremendous difference in the funding issue. But, after all, this is the place where many of the future TLA unit leaders begin. Growing our own! We have been assisted by corporate sponsors over the years. This year Southwestern Bell Telephone and Hotho and Company were our sponsors. In fact, Hotho and Company has been our most consistent sponsor over the six years of the Institute. Whatever is not funded through TLA unit contributions, assistance from employing institutions, and the corporate sponsors is picked up by TLA. This is a major statement by our association about the importance of leadership.

As for the argument over who named the Institute, I must plead ignorance. Mary? Irene? Can you help us out?

IS THE TALL TEXANS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE MEETING ITS CHARGE?

Mary Lankford wrote, "Honestly, I am not certain of the charge. If enthusiastic response to the training is part of the charge, then yes, it is being met. I hope someone is planning a matrix of TLA responsibilities and participants to see if they are assuming that leadership role."

James Stewart wrote, "I cannot answer from the standpoint of the sort of research that Mary suggests. I can, however, respond based on the informal measures that I like so much. Yes, the TALL Texans Institute is helping to build leaders for the workplace and for the Association.

I am seeing graduates move into leadership positions in their libraries, not just promoted, mind you; but promoted or laterally transferred to positions that require them to lead. As for the Association, I think it is only a matter of time before we have our first TALL Texans president. I know of two graduates that have become public library directors after they graduated. Would all this have happened without the Institute? Maybe.

I do know very well after nearly thirty years in this Association, that criticism flows freely, constructive or not. Thus far I have not been told that the Institute is a bad idea. On the contrary, I have heard from graduates that it helps and, best of all, employers continue to enthusiastically support their staff members who have been selected. Not too bad for an idea scribbled down on a conference program as a possibility for TLA."

Bonnie Juergens wrote, "For fostering leadership capabilities and defining leadership development activities for TLA members ? Three stars!!! I do have the impression that the program has brought heightened visibility and public discussion about leadership within the profession; that it helps define leadership needs and resources, and of course helps to develop leadership skills among participants of the TALL Texans Institute and (this part I hope is happening, but it is not so visible to me) beyond. I do remember that the original committee spent quite a bit of time trying to define ways that the benefits of the Institute would not be limited to the attendees. And I certainly think that TALL Texans Institute "graduates" have been more and more visible in leadership roles in TLA as well as "back at the ranch."

"On fostering cultural diversity in library leadership. In this program, as in our profession, this is HARD ? not because members of diverse cultures within our profession aren't leadership-worthy, but because we have such little diversity in our profession overall. But we do have some very visible examples of success in this area within the program. Of course, in my opinion, the individuals in question would have or already were assuming leadership roles without the program. I do hope they feel that participation in the Institute facilitated, both by speeding up and by deepening, their skill levels and ability to take on even more challenging leadership roles."

June Kahler Berry is the Project Manager for the TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute, 1994 to present. Dale Cluff is the Director of Libraries, Texas Tech University and a mentor in the TALL Texans Institute, 1995. Bonnie Juergens is the Executive Director of Amigos Library Services, Inc. and a mentor in the TALL Texans Institute, 1994. Mary D. Lankford is the Assistant Director for Library Services, Texas Education Agency. James Stewart is the Director of the Victoria Public Library and a mentor in the 1994 and 1999 institutes. Dale, Mary, and James are past presidents of the Texas Library Association.

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