BEA Spotlight: Friday's ABA Meetings & Celebrations

Among the highlights of the American Booksellers Association's programming scheduled for Friday, May 19, at this year's BookExpo America are the Book Sense Author Lunch, the annual Celebration of Bookselling, and ABA's Town Hall and Annual Membership meetings. The day also includes sessions for BookSense.com and Book Sense Gift Card users groups.

Users Group Meetings

BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos will moderate the BookSense.com Users Group meeting, on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. In addition to a question-and-answer period, the meeting will include an update on the product's latest features and planned enhancements. Non-BookSense.com stores are welcome to attend.

At 10:00 a.m., Jill Perlstein, ABA marketing director, will moderate the Book Sense Gift Cards Users Group. Current participants, and those considering joining the Book Sense Gift Card program, are encouraged to attend this session for an in-depth review of the program's successes and a look at expected future growth. Discussion topics will include proper management of gift card inventory and a review of program evaluation tools. Booksellers are encouraged to come prepared with questions, comments, and suggestions.

The Book Sense Author Lunch

On Friday, from noon to 1:30 p.m. will be the Book Sense Author Lunch -- a highlight of BEA for the past five years. The luncheon gives Book Sense booksellers a chance to meet dozens of authors whose books they have helped to make past or present Book Sense Picks. Booksellers interested in attending the lunch, which is only open to Book Sense bookstores, should RSVP to [email protected]. There is a limit of two people per bookstore. Questions about this event should be addressed to Book Sense Marketing Director Mark Nichols at [email protected].

ABA Town Hall & Annual Membership Meetings

The Annual Town Hall Meeting, which will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., offers ABA members an opportunity to voice their opinions and to share their concerns with the association's Board of Directors and staff in a less formal setting than at the Annual Membership meeting, which follows. Booksellers are encouraged to ask questions and make suggestions about any topic of concern, including ABA's Education Program, Book Sense, sales tax issues, Book Sense Gift Cards, the ABACUS Study, and Above The Treeline.

In order to provide the opportunity for as many members as possible to speak during the town meeting, a sign-up sheet will be prominently displayed in the Book Sense Lounge from Thursday onwards. Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis, though the Board will do its best to make sure all members with questions or issues have the opportunity to speak. Booksellers will be called upon in the order in which they sign up.

From 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. will be the ABA Annual Membership Meeting, which includes reports by President Mitchell Kaplan of Florida's Books & Books and by CEO Avin Mark Domnitz. Voting cards will be available outside the meeting room two hours prior to the meeting.

ABA Celebration of Bookselling

ABA invites all trade show attendees to its annual Celebration of Bookselling, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Friday. Among the highlights of this joyful celebration will be the presentation of the 2006 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards to this year's winners. Putumayo World Music will provide live entertainment at the event, which includes snacks and drinks.

For more about BEA and ABA programming, go to www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/.