ABA Named to Advance America Honor Roll

The American Booksellers Association has been named to the 2009 Associations Advance America Honor Roll, a national awards competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership in Washington, D.C. ABA was honored for IndieBound, the community-oriented movement, launched in May 2008, which brings together booksellers, readers, indie retailers, local business alliances, and anyone else with a passionate belief that healthy local economies help communities thrive.

The Associations Advance America Awards program, now in its 19th year, recognizes associations that propel America forward -- with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship, and community service.

"ABA's IndieBound movement truly embodies the spirit of the Associations Advance America (AAA) campaign," said AAA Committee Chair Janet C. Gibbs, chief financial officer of Feeding America, in a statement. "It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society."

"We're very pleased that IndieBound has been recognized by ASAE for the Advance America Honor Roll," said ABA Chief Marketing Officer Meg Smith. "One of the goals of IndieBound is to fortify communities, from streets to neighborhoods to towns, starting in the bookstore and extending outward. We, and the thousands of members of the IndieBound community, truly believe that healthy and thriving indie bookstores do advance America!"