RAILS Board of Directors Portal
RAILS Board Members
| Click Photo for More Info | Name | Library | Term | Seat | Expertise | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Susan Busenbark | Kewanee Public Library District |
July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 |
Public Trustee | susan.busenbark@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Halle Cox Ethics Officer |
Kane County Law Library & Self Help Legal Center |
July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 |
Special | halle.cox@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Alice Creason | Richton Park Public Library District |
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 |
Public Trustee | alice.creason@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Robin Helenthal | Peoria Public Library |
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 |
At Large | robin.helenthal@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Dianne Hollister | Bloomington Public Library |
July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 |
Public Trustee | dianne.hollister@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Kristine Kenney | Poplar Creek Public Library District |
July 14, 2020 to June 30, 2022 |
At Large | kristine.kenney@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Jennifer McIntosh Secretary |
College of DuPage |
October 23, 2020 to June 30, 2023 |
Academic | jennifer.mcintosh@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Scott Pointon Treasurer, OMA Designee |
White Oak Library District |
July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 |
At Large | scott.pointon@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Patricia Smith | Robert W. Rowe Public Library District |
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 |
At Large | patricia.smith@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Becky Spratford | LaGrange Public Library |
July 14, 2020 to June 30, 2023 |
Public Trustee | becky.spratford@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Thomas Stagg President |
Alpha Park Public Library District |
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 |
Public Trustee | Logistics, Inventory Management | thomas.stagg@board.railslibraries.info |
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Beth Tepen | Silvis Public Library |
July 14, 2020 to June 30, 2023 |
Public Trustee | elizabeth.tepen@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Alex Vancina Vice President, FOIA Officer |
New Lenox Public Library District |
July 14, 2020 to June 30, 2023 |
Public Trustee | alex.vancina@board.railslibraries.info | |
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Karen Voitik | Shorewood-Troy Public Library District |
July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 |
Public Trustee | karen.voitik@board.railslibraries.info |
Term Expirations
June 30, 2022
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Susan Busenbark
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Halle Cox
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Dianne Hollister
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Kristine Kenney
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Scott Pointon
June 30, 2023
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Jennifer McIntosh
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Becky Spratford
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Beth Tepen
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Alex Vancina
June 30, 2024
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Alice Creason
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Robin Helenthal
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Patricia Smith
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Thomas Stagg
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Karen Voitik
Committees, Subcommittees, and Working Groups
Requirements, Laws, Procedures
RAILS Board Member Requirements
- Board Member Job Description
- RAILS Bylaws (see Article 5: Governance)
- Illinois State Library rules under the Illinois Library System Act,
23 Ill. Admin. Code Section 3030.250, "Board of Directors Requirements"
Travel Reimbursement
Laws and Policies
- Open Meetings Act (OMA)
- Meeting Policies: Public Comment, Meeting Via Electronic Means
- Conflict of Interest Form
Executive Director (Reports to the Board)
- Executive Director Job Description
- Executive Director's Fiscal Year Goals (coming soon)
Board Email Accounts
RAILS Email Address/Communication with RAILS
All email exchanges related to your board service are subject to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) disclosure. For this reason, you will have a RAILS email address to use for all RAILS Board business.
Your email address is firstname.lastname@board.railslibraries.info. Your login is firstname.lastname. Please contact the RAILS IT department at 630.734.5290 to secure your password.
It is important to check this email account frequently and to respond to all messages as soon as possible. You may choose to have your RAILS email come to your smartphone along with your other email accounts. RAILS IT staff can help you set this up at your Burr Ridge orientation session if you wish.
For assistance with your RAILS email account, contact RAILS IT at:630.734.5290
New Board Member Orientation/FAQ
Presentation Slides
From presentations made at the July 2019 RAILS Board meeting.
- RAILS Board Orientation (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the RAILS Board! We are so happy to have you as a board member and thank you for your service. The following are some common questions we receive from new board members.
What are my responsibilities as a RAILS Board member?All duties, responsibilities, and requirements are spelled out in the RAILS Board Member Job Description, available in the board section of the RAILS website. All new board members are required to read the job description and to indicate that they will be able to meet all of the responsibilities/requirements before they begin their service on the board.
How often does the RAILS Board meet?The RAILS Board meets every month except December. Meetings are generally held on the fourth Friday of every month, at 1 p.m. Meetings are sometimes scheduled at a different time to accommodate holidays and attendance at library conferences. A list of board meetings for each fiscal year can be found on the RAILS website.
What is the RAILS' fiscal year?The RAILS fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.
Where can board members attend monthly meetings?Board members are encouraged to attend board meetings in person at the scheduled location or at an available RAILS videoconference location. The scheduled meeting location will be listed on the RAILS website.
The RAILS Executive Assistant will contact board members each month to ask where they wish to attend the upcoming meeting. Board members are reimbursed for all travel expenses and will be supplied with a travel expense form at each meeting (as necessary).
Where can I get more information about my service on the RAILS Board?All new board members will be asked to attend a half-day orientation session at the RAILS Burr Ridge service center. The session will provide an overview of RAILS and what it means to be a board member. RAILS will pay all travel expenses (mileage, hotel room if necessary, etc.) connected with this orientation session. The RAILS Executive Assistant will contact new board members to schedule.
New board members can also contact the following with questions about their board service:
Deidre Brennan, Executive Director
deirdre.brennan@railslibraries.info
630.734.5146
Emily Fister, Executive Assistant
emily.fister@railslibraries.info
630.734.5145