What's New:

We're Changing Our Name!
Read about it in the FLASH!

Marketplace Now Open!
AMLA's new online Marketplace is now your one-stop shop for media literacy books, DVDs, multimedia kits and curriculum. It's stocked and open for business!

Join/Renew online
At last, our e-commerce system for memberships and contributions is installed. Join, renew or rejoin today! Be sure to create a new user account; old ones are no longer valid.

Board Candidates Online
View the slate of candidates for the Board of Directors 2008 election, and post statements of support.

Committees

Secret to Success

As a volunteer organization, AMLA exists for its members and by their efforts - and committees are the mechanism by which activities are successfully conceived, planned and carried out. Board members currently chair all committees but participation is open to all AMLA members.

There are many benefits to volunteering for an AMLA committee. Through committee work, you will

get to know others in the field;

develop lasting professional relationships;

build your capacity for continuing leadership in the field.

There are even tax benefits! But most of all you will have the satisfaction of knowing your ideas and creative energies are helping to advance the field of media literacy education as others before you have done till now.

Standing Committees: Opportunity to serve, to learn, to lead
Service on a committee is especially recommended for those members interested in leadership in the field and/or nomination to the Board of Directors. The following are AMLA's current standing committees along with a brief description, the current chair and a link to his or her e-mail address. For more information about the work of each committee and how you might be able to help, contact the chair.

Communications Committee: Spreading the Word
Responsible for: all promotion and publicity on behalf of the AMLA, its goals, and its programs and events, including the NMEC; publishing the AMLA UPDATE and maintaining the AMLA's web site.
Chair, Jane Ballinger

Membership Committee: Building and Growing the Future
Responsible for: developing an annual plan for recruiting new members and retaining current ones; maintaining accurate membership lists and administering member benefits. Chair, Gretchen Schwarz. Organizational Membership Coordinator, Elizabeth Thoman

Development and Fundraising Committee: Building Relationships
Responsible for: Develop a strategic plan for supplementing AMLA's earned income by fundraising with individuals, corporations and foundations; develop and conduct ongoing communication with funders; oversee implementation of all funder benefits.
Chair, Sheri Hope Culver

Governance Committee: Nurturing leadership
Responsible for: assuring that the AMLA operates according to its bylaws and parliamentary procedure, evaluating and improving Board procedures, conducting elections and encouraging the development of prospective leaders within AMLA's membership.
Chair, Joe Behson

Program and Publications Committee: Advancing the field
Responsible for: organizing and coordinating all AMLA projects and activities not associated with the NMEC -- that will advance the cause of media literacy education in the USA; Current priorities: promoting the Core Principles of Media Literacy Education and developing a new Journal of Media Literacy Education
Chair: Amy Peterson Jensen

NMEC Conference Committee: Gathering and sharing
Responsible for overall planning, organizing and coordinating the biannual National Media Education Conference in suitable locations throughout the US. Includes selection of venue; hiring and collaborating with professional conference service vendor, working closely with NMEC Program Committee to create a flow and a schedule, coordinating with other AMLA committees for communications, marketing, development and fundraising.
Chair: First V-P Sharon Sellers-Clark

NMEC Program Committee:
Responsible for: planning the theme and content of the NMEC, including solicitation and selection of workshops and breakout sessions, selecting keynote speakers and special program elements; working closely with conference service vendor on programmatic details
Co-Chairs:

Committees in development (pending by-laws approval)

Marketing Committee - to be responsible for outreach to targeted audiences, including government officials, media professionals and leaders in like-minded organizations.
Finance and Budget Committee - to be responsible for management of AMLA's financial resources and preparing financial reports monthly to the Board; developing an annual budget for the organization and for each special project with appropriate follow-up reports to the Board.