Elimination of International Surface Mail rate

On May 14, 2007, the U.S. Postal Service eliminated international surface mail. The effect of this decision could be serious for libraries overseas that receive American publications, as well as American libraries that have exchange programs with libraries in other countries; and of course, American publishers of books and periodicals which send their publications to libraries in other countries.

To verify this, see the USPS web page listing international mail service options, at http://www.usps.com/international/sendpackages.htm.

A petition to the U.S. Congress protesting this decision can be found at: http://www.petitiononline.com/zikomo/petition.html

This petition can easily be made into a letter to our federal Representatives and Senators.

Submitted on behalf of MLA member Steve Marquardt

New initiative with Minnesota Twins & Lerner Publishing

Are you a Twins fan? Do you like libraries? If you answered yes to either of these questions we would like you to join a workgroup on exploring new promotional ideas between the Twins, MLA and Lerner Publishing. This would be an excellent opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience and see the results of your hard efforts turn into a valuable marketing tool.

Reply to Ben Trapskin, btrapskin@hclib.org if you are interested. We are looking for MLA members from across the state to help. Most of this work will be done informally through email so a travel commitment will not be required.

MLA on Wikipedia

MLA now has an entry on Wikipedia! Help make it great by adding pertinent information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Library_Association

MLA Board Minutes now updated

Follow this link to access updated board minutes: http://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/Board/Board%20Agendas.htm

Library Accessibility and Improvement Grants

Great news!! The Department of Finance has just posted a list of capital requests submitted by state agencies and political subdivisions (local governments). The Minnesota Department of Education has requested $10 million for Library Accessibility and Improvement Grants. This is by far the largest request that MDE has ever made for this grant program. Check it out here.

The House and Senate Capital Investment Committees will use the list of requests to plan their tours of potential capital projects this fall. This is the first step toward receiving bonding money in the 2008 legislative session. If you have a library project that would be a good candidate for a tour by legislators, please contact Elaine Keefe. The ideal project would be one where the need for a new or remodeled library would be obvious to a non-librarian, and where local planning, both for the design of the building and for securing the local portion of the funding, are fairly well developed.

Library Services for Illegal Residents -- What do You think?

American Libraries Direct reported today that two counties in Virginia are considering limiting illegal immigrants' access to library services.

After reading the article, do you think this could be an issue for Minnesota Libraries? How might you handle this situation if your county asked you to evaluate the services you provide for illegals?

MLA Board Approves Resolution Concerning National Security Letters

This resolution, originally adopted by the American Library Association, was edited to reflect a Minnesota-perspective and adopted by the Board of Directors at its July meeting.

MLA members are encouraged to send their own correspondence to members of Congress concerning this issue.

The resolution reads...

Resolution on the Use and Abuse of National Security Letters

On the Need for Legislative Reforms to Assure the
Right to Read Free of Government Surveillance:

WHEREAS, the Minnesota Library Association, in conjunction with the American Library Association (ALA), are committed to preserving the privacy rights of all persons in the United States, especially library users and library employees; and

WHEREAS, the freedom of thought is the most basic of all freedoms and is inextricably linked to freedom of inquiry; and freedom of inquiry can be preserved only in a society in which privacy rights are rigorously protected; and

WHEREAS, ALA reiterates its opposition to any proposal or actions by government that suppresses the free and open exchange of knowledge and information or that intimidates individuals exercising free inquiry; and

WHEREAS, certain statutes authorized by Congress provide the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) authority to use National Security Letters (NSLs), a form of administrative subpoena issued without judicial oversight or adequate judicial

WHEREAS, NSLs can be used by the FBI to obtain an individual's most personal information, including financial records, credit records, telecommunication records, and Internet use records, including library Internet use records, without ever notifying the individual; and

WHEREAS, the laws authorizing the use of NSLs automatically impose a permanent nondisclosure or "gag" order on any recipient of an NSL, making it illegal for individuals or organizations to ever reveal that they have been asked to provide records or information to the FBI and requiring NSL recipients to risk fines and imprisonment in order to report any abuse of government authority, abrogating the recipients' First Amendment rights; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reported it found that the FBI had engaged in widespread and serious abuses of its authority to use NSLs. These abuses include significantly understating the number of NSLs used by the FBI in the classified reports given to Congress; using NSLs to collect consumer information, a practice that is prohibited by statute; and using exigent letters (requests to provide information prior to the issuance of an actual NSL or subpoena) to circumvent the requirements of the NSL statute and to obtain information in the absence of any duly authorized investigation; and

WHEREAS, the FBI collects and shares vast amounts of information derived from NSLs with local, state, and federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, foreign governments, and, pursuant to executive order, "appropriate private sector entities"; and

WHEREAS, the FBI attempted to use an NSL to obtain library users' records from the Library Connection in Windsor, Connecticut; and

WHEREAS, FBI Director Robert Mueller caused classified written testimony to be provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 30, 2007, concerning other instances when FBI agents may have used NSLs to obtain information from libraries about library users; and

WHEREAS, the FBI's documented abuse of its NSL authorities indicates that information about library users may be misused and disclosed in a manner contrary to law and professional ethics; and

WHEREAS, the use of NSLs strips members of the public, including librarians, of their fundamental First Amendment rights; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Minnesota Library Association condemns the use of National Security Letters to obtain library records; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Minnesota Library Association urges the Minnesota Congressional Delegation to pursue legislative reforms in order to provide adequate protection for each library user's Constitutional right to be free from unwarranted and unjustified government surveillance, including:

Judicial oversight of National Security Letters (NSLs) requiring a showing of individualized suspicion and demonstrating a factual connection between the individual whose records are sought by the FBI and an actual investigation;

• Elimination of the automatic and permanent imposition of a nondisclosure or "gag" order whenever an NSL is served on an individual or institution


• Allowing recipients of NSLs to receive meaningful judicial review of a challenge to their NSL without deferring to the government's claims;


• Increased oversight by Congress and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice over NSLs and FBI activities that implicate the First Amendment; and


• Providing for the management, handling, dissemination and destruction of personally identifiable information obtained through NSLs; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the MLA communicates this resolution to the Offices of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation to restore civil liberties and correct the abuse and misuse of National Security Letters

Adoption by the Board of Directors, Minnesota Library Association Friday, July 20, 2007.

Minnesota Library 2.0 Summit

Have you heard about this "library 2.0" thing? Want to learn more about
it and how it can help you and your library? You are in luck!

On September 14, 2007, HSLM will sponsor internationally known library
technology speaker and author Michael Stephens for a day-long Library
2.0 event at the Radisson Hotel in Roseville, MN.

Michael will kick off the morning with an introduction to Library 2.0.
His afternoon session will be based on Michael's book, Web 2.0 &
Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software.

Registration forms and more information are available on the Minnesota
Library 2.0 Summit blog: http://mnlibrary2.blogspot.com/

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Introduction to Library 2.0, Michael Stephens,
Speaker
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Best Practices in Social Software for Libraries,
Michael Stephens, Speaker

Minnesota Library Friends at Mankato!

For Friends, All the World’s a Stage

2007 Minnesota Library Association Conference
Midwest Wireless Civic Center
Thursday, October 25
Cost: $50

This year, MALF is a sponsor or co-sponsor of several sessions of importance to Friends throughout Minnesota!

Thursday Agenda:

8:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Library Friends Idea Exchange

9 a.m.--Silent Auction Bidding Begins!

10 a.m.-11:15 a.m.--Best Project by Friends Award;
Lobbying for Your Library

11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.--Friends Lunch

1 p.m.--Keynoter Author Sandra Benitez, ‘The Saving Grace of Stories’

2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.—Minnesota’s Fabulous Book World: Your Library and the Minnesota Book Awards

Building a Community While Building Capital

Being a Servant Leader in the Library Setting

Now I am a Trustee: What Do I Do?

6:30 p.m. MLA Awards Banquet and Dessert Reception ($25)

For more detailed information on the 2007 MLA conference and registration, see conference program on the MLA Web site.

Thank you, Cindy Ahrens, Barbi Byers, Marge McPeak and Janet Urbanowicz for conference programming and oversight, on behalf of Friends!

MCTC Offers Associates in Library Information Technology

Minneapolis Community & Technical College is announcing an exciting new opportunity for those interested in library education! MCTC is offering its Associate of Science degree in Library Information Technology and its certificate programs in Public and Technical Information Services online.

Beginning fall semester (starts August 27, 2007), the public and technical information services certificates will be offered entirely online, allowing people from anywhere in the nation to take courses without coming to campus.

The A.S. degree is 63 credits in length. Each of the certificates is 14 credits, but students can earn both by taking a total of 20 credits.

Detailed information about the program and on how to apply is available
online. Click Detailed Information above.

Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF)

To reinforce and publicize the importance of Friends of the Library projects, the MALF Board will offer an award for achievement in Friends support for libraries. Award criteria and guidelines are available at www.malf.info. The award includes $250 to the winning organization plus a recognition plaque.

Selected by a judging committee, the finalists will be asked to give a presentation at the 2007 Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference in Mankato, MN. These presentations will describe the design, development and impact of their Friends effort. MALF hopes that all Friends organizations will participate in this effort to recognize, share, learn from, and reward effective Friends activities.

2007 Best Project by Library Friends Award Criteria and Application Guidelines

Who May Apply:
Friends of the Library organizations that are current members of the Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) may apply. Application and payment for new or renewed membership in MALF will be accepted with an award entry form. The award will be made to a Friends organization rather than to an individual.

What May be Submitted:

1. Any Friends-supported project will be considered. Examples include a brochure or publication, a service, event, fundraiser, newsletter, Web-page, or campaign.
2. Efforts which were jointly sponsored or developed by the library or with other groups, such as local businesses and agencies, are eligible, as are projects which received assistance from other agencies. As long as the library or Friends of the Library was the primary benefactor, the submission is eligible.
3. The project must have been implemented after January 1, 2006.

How to Apply:

Friends of the Library may submit more than one entry. For each entry, fill out the entry form or a facsimile. Enclose a sample(s) with your entry. Photographs may document an item or event. Entries must be received by Friday, August 24, 2007.

Entries Should Be Mailed To:
Minnesota Association of Library Friends
Best Project by Friends Award Committee
1619 Dayton Avenue Suite 314
Saint Paul, MN 55104

How Entries Will Be Judged:
At the MLA Annual Conference on Thursday, October 25 in Mankato, MN, the finalists will be expected to make a presentation about their project, addressing the following criteria: Impact, outcome or results, Objectives, Planning Process, Participants, Cost Effectiveness, Publicity, Evaluation Method, Target Audience, and Funding Source.

For information, contact:

Barb Byers, Minnesota Association of Library Friends, 651-227-0845, 883 Fairmount Av., St. Paul, MN 55105, barbarabyers@comcast.net .

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #4

The final installment of Chris Olson's Councilor report from ALA.


ALA-APA MEETING:
(American Library Association – Allied Professional Association)
The ALA Council also serves as the governing board for the ALA-APA. ALA-APA Treasurer gave the financial report and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the four-year old organization. The organization needs to be marketed more extensively in order to get more voluntary contributions. Council passed the budgetary ceiling for the APA organization ($323,914). The Committee on Organization made a report to ALA-APA Council and two votes were taken on some changes in wording and reporting. The Certified Public Library Administrator Certification Review Committee gave their report. There are currently 33 courses offered by 8 providers. There are 76 candidates actively enrolled in the program. Total course enrollment is 161 students. The ALA-APA Standing Committee on the Salaries and Status of Library Workers also reported on the salary surveys that the organization has produced.

COUNCL III: The Committee on Organization made its report to Council and had two action items:
(1) To revise the composition of the Chapter Relations Committee by requiring someone to be an ALA member who is also a member of an ALA Chapter or Division affiliate. (As a side note: I have been appointed to serve on the Chapter Relations Committee for the next two years.)
(2) To recommend that Council adopt a report on e-participation, which asks for a formal task force charged with examining existing documents and developing recommendations to adapt association policy so as to help ALA move forward with effective e-participation practices.

The Committee on Constitution & Bylaws made its report to Council with four action items.
(1) The Catholic Library Associate applied for ALA affiliate status, and this was granted.
(2) A request that names on ballots be prepared under the direction of the nominating committee instead of randomly. Passed.
(3) A change in wording to clarify the committee listings in the bylaws. Passed.
(4) A request for councilors to comment on potential bylaws changes. Councilors have the responsibility to ask their constituents about the changes as well. There was some discussion about a whether or not a "Constitutional Convention" is necessary.

International Relations committee reported that 450 people from 87 countries were at ALA this year. The committee supports ALA having a full time person supporting international relations.

A resolution on the use and abuse of National Security Letters on the need for legislative reforms to assure the right to read free of government surveillance was passed unanimously.

Policy Monitoring Committee (chaired and reported to Council by Minnesotan Rory Litwin) had two action items:
(1) An addition to the policy manual recommending a statement that supports Immigrant rights. (2) This item addressed the committee's recommendation that a policy on the role of libraries in providing e-government and emergency services be added to the policy manual. Both items were adopted.

A resolution came forward from the ALA Division, ASCLA, on accessible digitization projects. This recommended that ALA encourage libraries engaged in digitization projects adopt Section 508 regulations to ensure that they are creating versions of materials that are accessible to persons using screen-reader or other assistive technologies. The resolution was adopted.

A resolution on Representation came forward from AASL Division Councilor, Sylvia Norton. It asks the Committee on Committees to clarify the processes of selecting committee members. This resolution was adopted.

Emily Sheketoff from the Washington Office spoke on Legislative Day on the Hill. There were almost 2000 library supporters. There was tremendous attendance by Congressional staff and members of Congress. One of the most important messages was the introduction of school library legislation by a bipartisan House and Senate group that introduced the SKILLS Act, which will amend NCLB, and calls for a school library in every school headed by a state-certified media specialist.
Minnesota had a small organized group to make congressional visits. Throughout Tuesday afternoon, visits were made to both Senator Klobuchar and Coleman’s offices… and individual visits to see Representatives Peterson, McCollum, and Walz.
Future Mid-Winter Meetings (January) will be held in Philadelphia (2008), Denver (2009), Boston (2010), San Diego (2011), Dallas (2012) and Seattle (2013). Future Annual Conferences (June) will be held in Anaheim (2008), Chicago (2009), Washington DC (2010), New Orleans (2011), Anaheim (2012) and New York City (2013).

Once again, it was my pleasure to serve as your Chapter Councilor during the past three years. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about ALA.

Chris Olson.

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #3

The third installment of Chris Olson's Coucil Report from the ALA National Conference.

COUNCIL II: The Committee on Legislation presented the following resolutions, which were passed with some discussion. These included:
(1) Resolution on Funding for the National Library Service (the resolution calls upon Congress to fund the $19.1M needed for the first year of the NSL’s multi-year digitization project to convert up-to-date technology for the Talking Book services to people with visual or physical disability.)

(2) Resolution on Principals for Digital Content (the resolution adopts a declaration, Principles for Digital Content, which deals with values, intellectual property rights, sustainable collections, collaboration, advocacy, international scope, continuous learning, preservation and importance of standards.)

(3) Resolution on Government Printing Office FY 2008 Appropriations (this resolution reaffirms its commitment to Government Printing Office and Federal Depository Library Program services and collections and urges full funding at $182M)

(4) Resolution on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (this resolution urges the passage of the SKILLS Act, which would include school library media specialists who meet the criteria established by the state educational agency as highly qualified in NCLB, require school districts to employ at least one highly qualified school library media specialist, allow state and local Title II funds to be used to assist in recruiting and training highly qualified school library media specialists)

(5) Resolution on the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program FY 2008 Funding (this resolution urges Congress to restore full funding of $47M to enable the program to complete its activities)

I have copies of all the resolutions if anyone is interested in seeing them in more detail.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is ALA's First Amendment legal defense arm. John Berry informed Council on the current activities including Youth and the First Amendment, Freedom to Read Freely, Protecting Privacy and Anonymity, Religion and the Public Library, and State Legislation.

Teri Switzer presented the treasurer’s report. ALA programmatic priorities include diversity, literacy, intellectual freedom, equity of access to information and library services, education and life-long learning, and organizational excellence. The budget proposal addresses first the 2010 strategic plan. Goals in the plan include:

(1) Advocacy/Value of the Profession
(2) Education
(3) Public Policy and Standards
(4) Building the Profession
(5) Membership
(6) Organization Excellence

The key internal developments for this year include the completion of Joblist Online; completion of online database project - Choice and Booklist; Year 3 of publishing department "Content Centric" business plan; complete the business plan of a magazine promoting library usage to the public; better utilization of the Association Management System as a tool to exploit cross marketing opportunities. There has been little change in ALA's total revenues. Last year they made $47M from dues, publishing and meeting and conferences. Teri recommended that additional scholarships be offered from the Spectrum fund, which would help in increasing the diversity in our profession.

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #2

A second installment of Chris Olson's Council report from the ALA National Conference

ALA MEMBERSHIP MEETING I:

ALA Councilor Steven Matthews and ALA Past President Michael Gorman spoke with great skill in defense of their respective positions in a discussion of “Should ALA take stands on ‘non-library’ issues.” Both the featured speakers and those who addressed the issue from the floor were cogent and insightful. The issue wasn’t resolved, but was given a very respectable presentation by all parties concerned. -- Surprisingly, no resolutions were presented from the floor despite the fact that a full quorum was present. The Resolutions Committee was available and ready to act, but the meeting remained quiet and uneventful. The attendance was 235 and by any measures a very successful venture. Councilor Larry Romans and his Membership Meeting Committee did an excellent job of planning for this Conference."

COUNCIL I:

This is the first of three official meetings of ALA Council. The ALA Executive Director, Keith Michael Fiels, made his report to Council. Included in his report are the following:

(1) The launching of LoveLibraries.org where people can learn more about the excitement and vitality of today's libraries. The website includes feature stories on the great things happening in today's libraries, book reviews, links for viewers to share their story about their library, and much more!

(2) The usability and redesign of the ALA website. This process began in August 2006. The consultants designing the site, UserWorks, will be conducting 18 meetings with 2007 Annual Conference attendees to walk through the "wire frames" and observe their reactions. No date has been announced as to its launch.

(3) Membership. Membership has remained relatively stable - down 1.35% from April 2006. We currently have 66,569 members.

(4) ALA Tech Sources along with ACRL (Assoc. of College and Research Libraries) will hold its first annual Gaming, Learning and Libraries Symposium in Chicago at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare hotel on July 22 - 23.

(5) Office of Government Relations (OGR). IMLS was funded at $253.5M, which was an increase over last year. ($167.5M for State Programs, $3.6M for Native American and Hawaiians, $12.3M for national leadership grants, $23.7M for Laura Bush recruitment and education programs and $2 for research and analysis.) Improving Literacy Through School Libraries is level funded at $19.1M. With No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization underway, the Washington Office (WO) is working to include school libraries in these ways: (a) an amendment calling for a school library in every school library in every school headed by a state-certified school library media specialist, (b) as part of a "highly qualified" section of NCLB.

(6) Office of Intellectual Freedom. Banned Book Week will be 9/29 - 10/6/07. You can go to ALA Graphics for resources.

(7) The Emerging Leaders Program. This program takes promising young leaders and works with them to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Applications for the second round of emerging leaders will be available July 1, 2007. Deadline is August 15, 2007.

(8) Public Information Office. The 2000 libraries selected for the "Pursuit of Happiness Bookshelf" were announced. 23 libraries were selected to receive the "Lewis and Clark" traveling exhibit. More Information

(9) American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Early registration deadline for the AASL National Conference is July 6, 2007. This conference will be held in Reno, Nevada, October 25 - 28.

(10) Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). ACRL has published User Surveys in College Libraries. Ordering information: www.ala.org/acrl (Click on Publications/books & Monographs / CLIP Notes. ACRL and ARL (Association of Research Libraries) are sponsoring the third Institute on Scholarly Communication in Washington, DC, July 18-20. An ACRL Task Force has begun review of information literacy standards. If there are any questions about the task force or thoughts to share electronically, please send them to Lori Goetsch, Task Force Chair at lgoetsch@ksu.edu.

(11) Association for Library Service to Children. (ALSC). A one-time grant has been announced for library doing exceptional outreach to underserved populations. The "Light the Way" grant will be funded by Candlewick Press. The application for this will be available during ALA Midwinter Meeting 2008 in Philadelphia.

(12) Library and Information Technology Association. LITA's tenth National Forum is scheduled for October 4 - 7, 2007 at the Marriott City Center Hotel in Denver. Registration has opened. It includes two pre-conferences, 30 concurrent sessions, three general sessions +! More Information.

(13) Public Library Association (PLA). PLA is now accepting applications for its Results Boot Camp 3, a weeklong interactive workshop designed to teach participants practical library management skills. Results Boot Camp 3 is scheduled for October 29 - November 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Early registration ends July 1.

Registration is now open for the PLA-sponsored Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) courses. These courses support both the learning outcomes defined in CPLA standards and the principles and practices of the "Results" series. To satisfy CPLA requirements, candidates must complete seven of the nine courses offered including four core courses (Budget and Finance, Management of Technology, Strategic HR, and Planning and Management of Buildings.)

You can view the current course schedule and register online at PLA.org. Use the same URL to get up-to-date information about the 2008 annual conference (March 25 – 29, 2008) to be held in Minneapolis.

(14) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). YALSA has published Get Connected: Tech Programs for Teens. This is available for purchase on Neal-Schuman's website.

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #1 -- Councilor Report from the ALA National Conference

Report by Chris Olson, Minnesota Chapter Councilor

The nation’s capitol is always an exciting place to visit and as the host city for this year’s American Library Association’s annual conference, it proved to provide a number of opportunities for learning and advocacy. Registration figures included: 21,466 registrants and 7,169 vendors for a grand total of 28,635 attendees, which is the largest conference ever in ALA history. This conference completes my three-year term serving as the Minnesota Chapter Councilor. As I have done in the past, I would like to share some of the highlights of the conference and give a report of Council activities to the members of the Minnesota Library Association. (I will also admit that Councilors share their reports with each other and give permission to use each others summaries. My thanks to Shelly Walchak (Colorado Chapter Councilor), James Casey (Councilor At Large) and Jonathon Betz-Zall (Washington Chapter Councilor) for providing excellent text for portions of this report.)

If you would like to learn more about the ALA Council or its activities during this past conference, please feel free to contact me at chris@melsa.org or view information on the ALA Council Page. In addition to my representation on Council, there are also currently three other Minnesotans who have been elected as Councilors at Large: Monika Antonelli (Minnesota State University Mankato); Rory Litwin (University of Minnesota, Duluth); and Ria Newhouse (Metro State University). I am sure that each of them will agree to answer questions.

One of my first activities in DC (and one of the most interesting) was to visit the National Museum of the American Indian to attend an honor dance in celebration of Loriene Roy, who became the president of the American Library Association at the conclusion of this conference. As many of you know, Dr. Roy grew up in northern Minnesota and is currently a professor at the University of Texas in Austin. There are a number of photos from the honor dance posted in a flickr account. (These are even better than the ones I took!) This honor dance was one of the first of its kind to take place in the recently-opened museum. It is exciting to have a colleague with Minnesota-connections serving in the top leadership position for the Association.

There were several thought-provoking speakers at conference including former Senator Bill Bradley and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The closing session featured Garrison Keillor, who reflected upon his early years and how he had come to view the library as a refuge. His admiration for the work of libraries and librarians came out amid the often hilarious remarks and depictions. A portion of the presentation is available on salon.com.

Please note: This entry from Chris will be posted in installments over the next several days. Please check back to read the latest!