I first got that warm conference feeling while waiting to board my train, where I saw ABA's Director of Education, Kim Hooyboer, in conversation with a Seattle author who was headed to Oregon for a family visit. Kim and this author knew each other from Kim’s days at Third Place Books Seward Park. Years, career moves, and a pandemic later, they’re still on hug-in-the-train-station terms. We had a chance to catch up on the train ride, listening to each other and encouraging each other, acknowledging difficult things we’re facing and sharing bolstering friendship. 

That set the tone beautifully for my trade show experiences. I felt similar connection, warmth, and commitment at the PNBA Board meeting that I attended on behalf of ABA with fellow ABA Officer and former fellow PNBA Board Member Jenny Cohen, as well as PK Sindwani, ABA’s CFO, and Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, ABA’s COO. (Allison Hill, ABA CEO, was in D.C. meeting with the FTC!) Then small pre-parties for early arrivals hosted by The Collective Book Studio and Gibbs Smith, Tin House, and others helped first-time attendees, longtime veterans, authors, and reps get to know each other better. 

After that, rep picks, show exhibits (including an ABA booth where people got to meet new ABA staff Mariana Calderón, ABA DEIA and PNBA/CALIBA Member Relations Manager; and Philomena Polefrone, ABA Advocacy Associate Manager), breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and education sessions swept us all up in excitement. We finished the show with Kim’s information-packed session, This Is a Fire Drill, to help us all prepare for whatever life might throw at our stores. (Be sure to check out the presentation and resources on BookWeb.org.)

At the PNBA annual meeting, I was excited to witness the membership vote to approve updates to the organization’s bylaws. Not only is it inspiring to see a roomful of engaged members vote in person, it is particularly inspiring because the ABA Board has been working with our new general counsel on their suggested revisions for the ABA’s Bylaws. Our work aims to provide ABA with Bylaws that are transparent, compliant, clear, and aligned with the function of our Board and organization. Being a part of the PNBA vote affirmed my commitment to be able to present ABA’s membership with an opportunity to update our Bylaws in 2024. We will keep you informed about our progress on that front.

Participation is such an important part of community building. We see it in our stores, we see it in our neighborhoods, we see it in our regions, and we see it at the national level. Your work is important, and your voice is important. We are grateful for your work and attention. Thank you for all you do. 

And good luck on this final stretch of 2023! On behalf of the entire ABA Board, we wish you a healthy, happy, successful holiday season.

Best wishes,
Tegan Tigani, ABA Board President and Children’s Book Buyer/Bookseller at Queen Anne Book Company in Seattle, WA