Dena Epstein Award Committee Annual Report 2019

submitted by Charley Roush

Current Roster

• Rahni Kennedy, Outgoing Chair (2019)
• Charley Roush, Incoming Chair (2020)
• Laurie Sampsel (2021)
• Bret McCandless (2022)

List of Previous Goals and Progress Made

1. Update best-practices document to reflect procedures developed from granting the award in FY 2018-2019: Accomplished.
2. Clarify procedures about updating the best-practices document: Accomplished.
   • Each, year, this will fall to the outgoing chair before they rotate off prior to MLA’s
     annual meeting.

List of Future Goals

1. With no award being given for FY 2019-2020, the committee will brainstorm on how to
   better promote the award going forward:
   • How to increase CFP reach?
   • How to feature recent award winners?
   • How to feature past award-sponsored research?
   • How to feature expertise to the MLA community on effective archival research and submitting
     successful award applications?
2. The committee will begin working towards at least one of these new aims this FY.
3. The best-practices document will be updated to reflect new ideas, strategies, and
   projects.

These efforts align with MLA’s Strategic Plan, Goal Area: Organizational Excellence (Objectives 1 and 2):

• Objective 1: Develop and sustain the necessary resources to ensure the vitality of the Association,
  its programs and services.
• Objective 2: Improve access to information by and about the Association to meet the needs of members and other interested parties.