ABA Board of Directors Meets in Denver

The American Booksellers Association's Board of Directors and senior staff met from Sunday, September 19, through Tuesday, September 21, in Denver.

During the meeting the ABA Board:

• Unanimously approved the 2004 - 2005 operating budget as well as a slightly amended strategic plan. The revisions to the plan reflect input and suggestions from the Strategic Planning Committee, the Booksellers Advisory Council, and the ABA Board that recommended a renewed emphasis on meeting the educational needs of member booksellers, reenergizing membership recruitment, and a refocusing of the Book Sense marketing program on its core elements: the Book Sense Picks lists; the Bestseller lists, Book Sense gift cards, and BookSense.com.
  

• Heard reports from ABA President Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books in Coral Gables and Miami, Florida, and ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz.
  

• Met with William King of Merrill Lynch to review ABA's current investment portfolio.
  

• Received an update on plans to present Campaign for Reader Privacy petitions calling for an amendment of Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act to members of Congress on Wednesday, September 29, in Washington, D.C. as part of Banned Books Week celebrations.
  

• Was given written program reports on the Book Sense Picks and Bestseller lists; gift cards, BookSense.com, and overall marketing strategies.
  

• Discussed ABA's new education initiatives and the questionnaire that is currently being used to gather booksellers' input to shape future educational programs.
  

• Received an update on ABA programming at each of the fall regional trade shows.
  

A number of Board members were also able to visit the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association's fall trade show, which was held at the Marriott Denver Tech Center from September 16 - 19.