ABA Honors Former CEO Avin Mark Domnitz
Printer-friendly versionDuring Thursday’s Celebration of Bookselling Lunch at BookExpo America, the American Booksellers Association honored former ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz.
Joining ABA CEO Oren Teicher on stage were former ABA Presidents Joyce Meskis of Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, Colorado; Chuck Robinson of Village Books, Bellingham, Washington; Richard Howorth of Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi; Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books, Miami, Florida; and Becky Anderson of Anderson’s Bookshops, Naperville, Illinois, as well as outgoing ABA President Steve Bercu of BookPeople, Austin, Texas, and incoming President Betsy Burton of The King’s English, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Independent bookselling is currently experiencing a resurgence, Teicher told those in attendance, but the state of the industry some 20 years ago was very different. “Then, the pundits, the prognosticators, and, yes, even some of our publishing friends had written us off. Along with buggy whip vendors and the candlestick makers, they contended that indie bookstores were hangers-on from a different era and a different place and would soon be extinct,” he said. “But there was a very special bookseller, an extraordinarily talented and committed man, who would have and hear nothing of those predictions.
“Avin Mark Domnitz’ life in bookselling was characterized by his belief in the transformative power of books and of bookselling and by his passionate belief that the best educational tools possible would help ensure that indie bookstores would be empowered to continue to reinvent and reinvigorate their businesses.”
Teicher noted that Domnitz’ many years of service to indie booksellers began as a volunteer while he was owner of Dickens Books and then co-owner of Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops in Milwaukee. Domnitz was elected by ABA membership to serve on the ABA Board, then as ABA vice president, and then president. As president and then later CEO, Domnitz brought booksellers the memorable “2% Solution” seminars, led the organization during tumultuous litigations, and vastly grew ABA’s educational and professional development initiatives.
Two decades later, Teicher added, “amidst this wonderful renaissance of indie bookselling that Avin did so much to bring about, the scope and measure of his achievements are even more clear.”
Because of health issues, Domnitz was unable to attend the lunch, but Teicher presented Domnitz’ wife, Rita, with a plaque featuring the Eat Sleep Read slogan, in recognition of his many years of service to indie bookselling.
Rita Domnitz recounted Avin’s instructions to her just that morning, to “‘Get over there and bring our beautiful children and send so much love to everyone,’” she said. “And that’s what I’m doing. Thank you very much.”
Kaplan, who had the opportunity to visit with Domnitz prior to BookExpo America, shared with booksellers what Domnitz wanted to say had he been able to attend. “You won the war. The reason you won the war is because you were right. You were gracious, you were tough, and you were adamant. You were right, and they were wrong,” Kaplan said, speaking for Domnitz.
“What’s right wins out sometimes, and this time, it certainly did. Through lawsuits, through market disruption, through the cry of the experts saying the book was ending sometime soon, right prevailed. And bookselling is the stronger for it… And I and everything I tried to do was motivated by the belief that you and the book would prevail.”