ABA Bylaws Change Passes

The American Booksellers Association has announced that an amendment to the association’s bylaws that will increase the number of Board members from 10 to 11 was approved by the membership in a vote that concluded on Monday, October 26. With more than 10 percent of ABA membership participating in the balloting — which the association’s bylaws require for the voting process to be valid — the amendment passed with 299 in favor and one opposed.

Under the changed bylaws, an additional candidate for the 2016 Board of Directors elections will be considered by the ABA Nominating Committee during its selection process underway now. The elections will be held in spring 2016, with the new Board member beginning his or her term at the Board meeting held in conjunction with the May 2016 ABA Annual Membership Meeting at BookExpo America.

In July, when the ABA Board voted to put the bylaws amendment before the membership for approval, ABA President Betsy Burton noted that the change would both “encourage the opportunity for diversity” on the Board and improve the association’s governance by avoiding tie votes.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher thanked all of the member stores that participated in the vote. “ABA depends on member participation for the association to be responsive, effective, and strong, and we are very grateful to all the stores that voted and were part of ABA’s governance process,” said Teicher.