Tag Archives: TLAM Student Group

The TLAM Student Group Meets Sherman Alexie on Book Tour

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Donna Seaman, of Booklist, wrote, “…mischievously and mordantly funny, scathingly forthright, deeply and universally compassionate, and wholly magnetizing. This is a must-have collection.” regarding Sherman Alexie’s new book Blasphemy. I find the comment noteworthy as I would say the first sentence not only describes Alexie’s writings but also his personality.

TLAM members wait for Alexie to speak in Milwaukee

TLAM members wait for Alexie to speak. (From left to right: Casey, Katelyn, Mary, Dorothy, Phillip, Amanda, Chad, Jake)

Tuesday, November 13th, SLIS students and members of the TLAM student group traveled to Milwaukee to see Sherman Alexie speak at the Milwaukee Public Library. The event was free, open to the public, and well worth the visit. A Milwaukee librarian and local bookseller introduced Alexie to a full auditorium. Then he began speaking, first about his recent visit to Minneapolis, then about missing his flight to Milwaukee, and finally about getting a flight only to realize his baggage was routed elsewhere. Needless to say the story was filled with humor and the realities of everyday life, all the while using an array of colorful language.

After telling the audience about his last few days he read from one of the short stories in his new book, Blasphemy. Finally the audience was able to ask questions before his time came to a close. Several questions were responded to and Alexie even laughed at one of his own jokes, it was truly that funny. He ended things off with a poem. Then it was a waiting game as we stayed to get our books signed.

Robin meets Sherman Alexie

Robin is speechless as she meets her favorite author.

This was my first time seeing Sherman Alexie and I’d definitely see him again. I don’t believe I’ve ever laughed as much at an author event. His writings (those I’ve read) and his personality truly match and combine into a wonderful presentation of humor and truth. I was unaware he wrote as much poetry as he does however with his comment of poetry being his favorite thing to write I’ll be looking for more within the genre. When it comes to novels, he replied they are his marathons, something take him the longest to execute. I will definitely be increasing my poetry and fiction reading lists with a lot more from Alexie. After all, when he signed my book he wrote “Librarians are awesome”.

He is one of the great voices of our time and is worth your time and consideration. If you haven’t read anything by Sherman Alexie or are unfamiliar with him, check him out at http://www.fallsapart.com/index/. I personally would highly recommend The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.

Katelyn Martens

TLAM Student Group with Sherman Alexie

Here's a picture of some of the TLAM Student Group with Sherman Alexie!

TLAM Student Group – Meeting Minutes (3/14)

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Where: American Indian Studies Program conference room (3rd floor of Ingraham Hall)

When: 12-1:00pm, March 14, 2012

Members attending: Kelly Kraemer, Troy Espe, Dawn Wing, Robin Amado, Jacob Ineichen and Jessica Miesner

Topics:

  1. Revision of the Constitution
  2. Red Cliff Update
  3. Project management: Designation of group liaison
  4. Get ready for TLAM Student Group elections!
  5. Events!

1)  First order of business: Revision of the constitution.

  • TLAM Student Group officially ratified the revisions to the constitution.
  • Next year’s TLAM Group will make the decisions to add or change anything else.
  • The revised constitution may be viewed here.

2)  Red Cliff Update:
Red Cliff group members present are Robin Amado, Dawn Wing, Troy Espe and Jacob Ineichen

  • Robin Amado will send out an email to Red Cliff group members, both inside the TLAM Spring 2012 class and in the TLAM student group.
  • Red Cliff believes, as does all of the TLAM student group members, that distance contributions can and should be made to the Red Cliff project. In other words, you don’t have to visit Red Cliff to contribute to the project in some way.

3)  Project Management

We’ve been facing challenges with communicating among the different TLAM projects, and the members involved in each group. Since the TLAM Student Group was founded in part for the purpose of enabling the different projects to share their work with others outside of the classroom, year-round, we want to make communication among our members easier. In discussing this, Kelly proposed that every TLAM project assign one member with the responsibility of communicating their project’s activities and tasks between class members and non-class members, and the TLAM Student Group (the latter of which can help relay messages). The proposal is as follows:

  • Each group should have a designated project liaison.
  • The liaison would serve as the contact person for others who are interested in contributing to the projects.
  • The liaison would also be in charge of providing or assigning work that needs to be done for non-class volunteers. This would be work that could be done at a distance and in the volunteers’ own time. The liaison, in consultation with their project group, would make sure that all project members have adequate work to contribute to.
  • This person would be in charge of making sure that project news and updates are communicated to the TLAM Student Group and TLAM class in a timely manner. This should be done in collaboration with other project members, but the liaison would be responsible for making sure that things are moving forward.
  • In the Spring, Summer and Fall, this new liaison position may be passed along to any group members willing to serve in this capacity, or may continue with current contact person.

All three projects had at least one member present at this meeting, and they will talk with their group about this proposal and make a decision. (Jessica for the Kingsbury project, Kelly for the Ho-Chunk project, others for Red Cliff). Each project group will report back on who their liaison will be at the next TLAM meeting, and then we’ll go forward from there.

4)  TLAM student Group Elections!

We need to start thinking seriously about TLAM organization member elections for our 4 leadership positions. Your current leadership includes:
⁃    President: Kelly Kraemer
⁃    Vice President: Jessica Miesner
⁃    Treasurer: Troy Espe
⁃    Secretary: Dawn Wing
All four will be up for election. Our current leaders entered their positions voluntarily when the group was formed last fall, so this will be our first official election and we want to be as transparent and egalitarian as possible about this. Plans right now:

  • Kelly will look at our WIN student organization site for ideas. We can possibly vote using WIN. Possible Survey Monkey sent out to group members is another option.
  • Kelly will also talk to Omar Poler, the TLAM Student Group adviser, about how the project liaison and student organization nominations and elections should be documented.
  • Aim for holding elections in late April.

5)  Keep your eyes open for some events coming soon!

  • Friday, March 16 at 5:00pm – TLAM and SLIS Diversity are co-hosting a viewing and discussion of an excellent documentary on Native American boarding schools, “Our Spirits Don’t Speak English,” in the SLIS Commons.
  • Wednesday, March 21 at 12:00 noon – TLAM and Reforma are co-sponsoring a grant writing workshop in the SLIS Commons.
  • Possible group outing to James Watrous Gallery at the Overture Center for a tour and discussion with Ho-Chunk photographer Tom Jones. More info coming soon!

Questions, suggestions, or comments are welcome!

TLAM Student Group – Meeting Minutes (2/8)

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Where: American Indian Studies Program conference room (3rd floor of Ingraham Hall)

When: 12:00-1:00pm, Feb. 8, 2012

Members attending: Kelly, Troy, Jessica, Travis, Peter, Prairie, Dorothy, Dana, Robin, Jake

Thank you to all who attended and thanks again to Robin and Dorothy for helping to arrange our latest meeting at the American Indian Studies Program – it was fun to see the AIS Library! We had a productive meeting. Here are some of the major things we discussed:

Review of the TLAM Student Group’s constitution and bylaws. (Background: When the group was registered last semester Fall 2011, we created a bare-bones constitution for the purpose of getting the group registered and on the books quickly, with the idea that members would review and build it up the next semester. This is intended to be an annual practice.) We decided to expand Section VI “Yearly Goals” to codify some of our expectations of what the group will try to accomplish each semester and year. Things to include:

  • Make meaningful contribution to the progress of service-learning projects each semester
  • Build and sustain active relationships with TLAM partners
  • Regularly update and maintain TLAM website on our activities, sustain overall web presence
  • Network and/or contribute to professional organizations relevant to our work (e.g. AILA, ATALM, ALA Office of Diversity, JCLC, etc.)
  • Outreach to and engagement with SLIS students on TLAM activities

The TLAM Student Group will agree on a revised constitution at the next meeting. Kelly will be sending an updated draft for review next week. The current draft may be found at TLAM’s UW student org page.

Goals for the Spring 2012. We have a lot of ideas, but here are some things that we think can be reasonably accomplished this term:

  • Group members will begin looking into funding sources for TLAM activities, and compile a list for future reference. Update at next meeting.
  • A TLAM poster proposal for the OLOS Diversity Fair at the 2012 ALA Conference on June 26. Kelly is looking for some TLAMers to join her in this effort and will send out an announcement soon.
  • Sponsor documentary on Native American boarding schools as part of the SLIS Diversity movie series (Dawn).
  • Jessica is considering an info-session on the A.J. Kingsbury photo project later in the semester – many details still TBD.
  • Open dialogue with SLIS curriculum committee on the possibility of adding TLAM as a recommended.
  • Continue developing TLAM web presence – groups contribute information on projects to new TLAM website; more blog posts on TLAM activities will be coming soon; and TLAM will soon be on Twitter!

Right now the next meeting date and time is TBD, but we’re open to suggestions.

TLAM Student Group minutes (1/26)

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It looks like 2012 will be a good year for the TLAM Student Group! This is only our second semester but we already have lots of activity and a couple of cool events in the works. We held our first meeting last Thursday in the SLIS Commons a little bit before the TLAM Class met for their first day. (Generally speaking, Thursday afternoons will probably be a good meeting time for the group because of the overlap with the class, but we do intend to do some other gatherings for those who can’t make it at that time.)

Here are some notes from our meeting:

- We are still working out some good meeting times, though Thursdays seem to work well with the TLAM class. Robin and Dorothy had the great suggestion of holding some of our meetings at the American Indian Studies Program, which we’ll plan to do for our next gathering (12 noon on Feb. 8).

- TLAM will be attending the Evening of Storytelling on Feb. 3, 7-9pm in the Tripp Commons.

- Group members gave updates on the different projects:

  • Red Cliff Library: Students have been meeting with consultant Boris Frank for capital campaign training and grant research (scheduled meeting at Memoral Library Tues., Jan 31).
  • AJ Kingsbury Digitization project: Contact Jessica Miesner for more info
  • Baraboo Wellness Center: Dawn/Kelly will present information with Janice about cataloging library books and future programming with students and teachers at this Thursday’s TLAM class. Planned to meet with Baraboo staff on Jan 30th, so they will have updates soon.

Other events to plan for:

  • SLIS Diversity film series – TLAM to sponsor one of the films, date and time TBD but probably late February or March.
  • 4th Convening Culture Keepers conference, May 3-4 at Forest County Potawatomi.
  • ATALM Conference in Tulsa, June 4-7 – TLAM panel proposal
  • ALA Conference in Anaheim, late June – we are looking for TLAM students present a poster at the OLOS Diversity fair.
  • Updating the TLAM website – We’re looking for students to contribute content and help with graphics to the site. Contact Kelly Kraemer for more info.

A note on participation in TLAM projects:

Students not in the TLAM class can contribute to the projects independently on their own. The important role for members of the TLAM Student Group is to sustain the projects long-term. The cap number for projects is about 4-5 students, so we are open to new project proposals (contact Omar Poler). Suggestions:

  • Archiving videos and other documents on spearfishing 1970s-90s (Omar)
  • Networking with Minnesota tribes (Meg)

Non-class TLAMers can stay updated on things through the TLAM Facebook page, the Wisc Student Organization page, and the TLAM WordPress website.