A Letter From ABA President Gayle Shanks

Dear Fellow Booksellers,

Last week at our meeting in Salt Lake City, the ABA Board spent two days discussing ways to help and support booksellers in these extraordinarily difficult economic times.

We agreed that two courses of action would best serve our members: more services and lower costs. So that was the conundrum: How to provide more services while relying less on financial support from booksellers.

Our first step was to review the steps taken by ABA staff to reduce the association's operating costs. Thus far, the following steps have been taken:

1. Institution of a hiring freeze, resulting in a reduction of ABA staff by 5-1/2 FTE (full-time equivalents) -- or 12 percent -- achieved through attrition.
2. Implementation of a total wage freeze.
3. Suspension of ABA contributions to the association's 401(k) and SEP plans.
4. Elimination of all discretionary travel.
5. Elimination of all discretionary spending unless prior approval from the CEO or COO is obtained.
6. Increased implementation of web-based communication and webinars for delivery of ABA education programs.
7. Cancellation of ABA's annual spring forum schedule.
8. Revamping of the group medical benefit, with a move to a higher deductible and the implementation of a Health Savings Plan.

The savings achieved have been significant, and will continue into the foreseeable future. Most importantly, the savings have been achieved without diminishing the core services so badly needed by all of you. The recently completed Winter Institute, our successful advocacy efforts, ABA's extensive member outreach, and individual financial consultation services have continued without interruption. It is our intent to continue to offer services at this level of excellence. But, in our opinion, more is needed.

Consequently, the Board has agreed upon the following:

A Dues Adjustment

The ABA Board of Directors is instituting an immediate 50 percent dues reduction for the calendar year 2009. This means that at their respective renewal times all regular bookstore members in good standing will calculate their dues using the formula currently in place and then will reduce the result by 50 percent and remit only the reduced amount to ABA. The reduction will commence with January 2009 renewals and continue through December 2009 renewals. Any such members with January or February 2009 renewal dates who have already paid their dues will receive a refund of 50 percent of the dues paid. The dues discount will apply to new regular bookstore members joining ABA during 2009 as well.

The Board of Directors understands the enormity and seriousness of the financial difficulties facing our members. We, too, are booksellers. ABA is fortunate enough to have sufficient resources to be able to make these adjustments at this time. We only hope that this dues reduction helps to relieve some small amount of pressure and makes life a little easier for our fellow booksellers. We are committed to do whatever we can to help ensure that as many bookstores as possible emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.

With all best wishes,

Gayle Shanks, President
On behalf of the ABA Board of Directors

Changing Hands Bookstore
Tempe, Arizona

P.S. And, please, do read this week's important update in BTW about the money-saving offer for free admission to BookExpo America available exclusively to ABA bookstore and provisional members.