Board Candidate Information

Thank you for your interest in joining the board of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. We are a hardworking group of individuals committed to upholding the values important to independent bookselling. 

Overview of the nomination process

In May through June, the nominating committee begins accepting nominations for members to join the board. The number of positions open is determined by the number of board members completing their second three-year term (each board member is entitled to serve two three-year terms) and are thus ending their years of service. Whether the board member terming out is a bookseller or industry member will be carried forward and we will solicit new candidates accordingly. Those who meet the eligibility criteria receive a link to fill out an extended background information form and provide references.

Board member candidates are reviewed for a number of diverse factors, including geography, demographics, type of bookstore, and cultural representation. We typically present 2-3 candidates internally for every available spot on the board. Every candidate we hear from offers valuable contributions, so if you are not selected during any given round, your application will be saved for the next opportunity.  The selected nominees are put forth to the membership for voting and the results are shared at our annual meeting. 

If you have questions about this process, please email either our executive director, Grace Hagen, or our nominating committee members, Riley Jay Davis and Barbara Cerda. 

Details

• Our board of directors is a volunteer position. Board members are reimbursed for board-related expenses such as travel and lodging for all of our meetings and the annual spring and fall events
• We currently hold 3 in-person meetings annually, plus 2-4 virtual meetings as needed. Board members should be able to travel for a period of 2-5 days at at time. Approximate travel expectations are as follows:
  
  • Spring: April or May, all-day meeting held in-person in conjunction with our Spring Road Trip
  • Fall: October, in-person meeting before or after Heartland Fall Forum
  • January: Planning meeting at the site of that year's trade show
• Our board members are eligible to serve two 3-year terms
• Board members can serve in the following officer appointments for up to two 2-year terms: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary
• Standing committees are as follows: Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, Finance Committee, Education Committee, and Heartland Steering Committee. We expect board members to be able to fulfill their duties on the board while serving on 1 or 2 committees as appropriate

Eligibility Criteria

• Bookseller directors: Candidates must be the owner or employee of an independent bookstore operating according to sound business principles
• Industry directors: Candidates must be actively employed by one of our book industry members, typically a publisher, wholesaler, or rep group
• Board candidates must have enough recent experience as an owner or employee of a member company in order to contribute substantively to furthering our mission
• Board candidates exhibit qualities of leadership and creativity, have a strong reputation for integrity and character, are willing to carry out various assignments, and are dedicated to the association’s mission and objectives
• Our board members operate a bookstore or company, work for a bookstore or company, or live in a portion of the Midwest that MIBA represents: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula

On Representation and Inclusion

In alignment with MIBA’s values, as we solicit nominations for new board members, we want to make some things clear:

• Diversity for diversity’s sake is not the end-goal. Having representation on a committee, a board, in an organization, etc. does not automatically create an inclusive environment. In fact, it often tokenizes people with systemically oppressed identities and can create the appearance of living into values without having to do the challenging work of culture change.
• It is MIBA’s responsibility to understand why there is a lack of diversity in nominations and to rectify the issues.
• Asking people from marginalized communities to serve on a board is automatically an ask for intellectual and emotional labor that is greater than that expected and needed from folks with privileged identities. (Humans are complex, with many intersecting identities, so we want to be clear that different forms of privilege and oppression show up in myriad, simultaneous ways.)
• Given the reality of the above statements,
  • We are aware that in seeking diverse board representation, our attempt at just compensation and recognition will be imperfect.
  • Board members and staff will take part in ongoing training so that we can continually grow our culture toward equity and inclusion.
  • Board practices will continue to be evaluated for areas of inequity, behaviors assessed for the impact of biases, and mechanisms for feedback and accountability will be developed and implemented.

Our goal is for  MIBA’s board to recognize its growth opportunities, learn from them, and continually strive toward liberation in our circle of influence.

Nominate yourself or someone else here