ABA Revamps Annual Membership Meeting Format

On Wednesday, May 26, at BookExpo America, ABA's Town Hall and Annual Membership meeting will be held from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., respectively, in Room 1E10 of the Javits Convention Center.

Once again, the Town Hall will offer ABA members the opportunity to express opinions and share ideas with the Board and senior staff, and the Annual Meeting will include reports by ABA's president and CEO on the association's activities during the past year.

However, this year's Annual Meeting will be structured in a new way. ABA President Michael Tucker, of California's Books Inc., noted to BTWthat "in keeping with an important theme of change and innovation that has characterized ABA this past year -- we've revamped the format of the Annual Meeting. In addition to the reports of the president and the CEO, members will hear key reports directly from the indie booksellers who represent them on the Board -- which we hope will provide a more informative and direct report of ABA's activities and initiatives." As part of the new format, the room will feature round-table seating, and there will be light refreshments.

To provide an opportunity for as many members as possible to speak during Wednesday's ABA Town Hall Meeting, a sign-up sheet will be prominently displayed in the ABA Booksellers Lounge beginning Tuesday morning. Booksellers will be called upon in the order in which they sign up.

"The Annual Meeting is a very important event on the ABA Calendar," said Tucker, "and the board looks forward to seeing as many members as possible there." --Dan Cullen