President’s Message: Summer 2025
July/August
By Cheyenne Stradinger
Greetings WAML members from the Land of Enchantment,
As I transition from the WAML Vice President to President elect, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of you at WAML. I began my WAML journey at the WAML 2020 virtual conference and was very impressed by the quality of the sessions and how genuinely welcoming people were during the Open Chats and the Virtual Happy Hour. My first in person conference was Vancouver 2023 and I had an amazing time. I felt so welcomed and truly felt that I had made friends and not just work colleagues.
After spending last year as local organizer planning the WAML 2024 Albuquerque Conference with Meg Miller, I am now planning my second WAML conference for Moscow, ID with Bruce Godfrey and my feelings haven’t changed. I still feel a huge amount of support and now that I am a “veteran,” it has been wonderful seeing the newer WAML-ites come aboard and express the same sense of belonging and enthusiasm I felt at my first events.
I’m excited to continue working with the Executive Board, including Meg Miller (GIS & Research Visualization Librarian, University of Manitoba Libraries) as Past President. Please also join me in welcoming our new Board members:
- Sierra Laddusaw, VP/President-Elect (Curator of Maps & Graphics, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)
- Jack Tieszen, Secretary (Geospatial Resources Librarian, George Mason University)
- sam hidde-tripp, Treasurer (Map Librarian and Social Science Liaison, Fresno State Library)
A special thank-you to Emilie Ducourneau, Bruce Godfrey, and Jessica Benner, who are rotating off the Board. I’m incredibly grateful for your guidance and support—it’s been a blast working with you.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Executive Board. We’d love to hear your ideas or suggestions for making WAML even better. This year, we’re working on several initiatives, including a revised Code of Conduct, new developments on the Stolen Maps Project (Brubaker), and regular updates throughout the year and at the conference.
All members are welcome to attend our monthly Board meetings. Dates and details will be announced soon via the WAML listserv—please keep an eye out for those.
Looking forward to seeing you all in Idaho!
Warmly,
Cheyenne Stradinger
Library Services Coordinator / Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) Librarian
University of New Mexico
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