A Note From ABA President Gayle Shanks

Gayle Shanks

Dear Colleagues,

I want to thank you all for the messages of appreciation that have come into my mailbox, my e-mail box, and my voicemail in response to recent communications to you regarding the Board's decision to reduce our ABA membership dues. Those notes have been heartfelt, warm, and encouraging, and I have shared them with the Board. We so appreciate you taking the time to be in touch, and I believe this outpouring shows how connected we are to each other in this country. These communications are important -- ABA is a far better and stronger organization when there is lots of back-and-forth among the Board, the membership, and the staff.

I apologize that I have not been able to respond personally to every one of you. I fully intended, after reading your notes, to write back to each of you, but, like you, I, too, have a bookstore to run and time slipped away and e-mails got buried along with my best intentions. Rather than let any more time go by, I decided that sharing this group letter would be better than you thinking I'd ignored you. I do love hearing from you and hope that you'll write to me again with anything that's on your mind.

I hope that when spring arrives it brings you new customers and books that you are excited to recommend to them. We are all such important cultural centers in our communities, I have to believe that in spite of the downturn in the economy, we will survive and prosper.

Warmly,

Gayle

Gayle Shanks
President, American Booksellers Association

Changing Hands Bookstore
Tempe, Arizona