As a trade association, ABA depends on communication and feedback to better support and advocate for members.
Here are 5 easy ways you can reach out to ABA:
1. Regional Trade Shows Exhibit Table: ABA staff attend each of the Summer/Fall Regional Trade Shows and are available to speak to members (or aspiring members!) at the ABA exhibit table.
2. ABA's Virtual Community Forum: Every year on the 4th Thursday of May, ABA holds an Annual Meeting and Community Forum via Zoom. The ABA Community Forum offers an opportunity for members to share challenges their stores are facing, support they need from ABA, and their thoughts about the future of bookselling.
You can submit questions, comments, and suggestions during the meeting or in advance. Watch Bookselling This Week (BTW) or visit the ABA Events Calendar each spring to learn how to register for the event and submit questions.
3. Board Office Hours: Board Office Hours take place virtually several times throughout the year. During these events, Board Members are available for questions, comments, suggestions, or thoughts pertaining to their role overseeing ABA’s governance and Ends Policies. (Check out this infographic to learn more about the governance model that ABA follows, the Carver Method.)
These meetings are announced in BTW and posted on the ABA Events Calendar.
4. Staff Office Hours: Staff Office Hours take place virtually several times throughout the year. During these events, ABA Senior Staff and Membership representatives are available to hear questions, comments, suggestions, or anything members want to share about how things are going at their store and how ABA can help. These may pertain to advocacy and free expression, membership, resources, business discounts, publishers, wholesalers, programming, and/or education.
These meetings are announced in BTW and posted on the ABA Events Calendar.
5. Email: You can always email ABA staff at [email protected] with questions, comments, or requests.
You can also reach out to the ABA Board at [email protected].