PMA Scholarship

PMA awards a PMA-U scholarship to one member of each Affiliate group. The scholarship should be awarded to a publisher who needs assistance in growing his/her publishing company. The scholarship includes free registration to attend the May 2007 Publishing University, plus a $500 stipend to help pay for travel expenses to New York.

The criteria for applicants is as follows:

• Must be a member of BPNW in 2006 as well as PMA.
  
• Must be a publisher, preferably in the early stages of developing his/her company.
  
• Has not received the scholarship in the past.
  

Application process:
Download application from the PMA website, fill it out, and return it to Rosemary Jones, attn: PMA Scholarship, PO 19575, Seattle WA 98109/

The BPNW Board will review the applications and then forward them to PMA (PMA rules require all applications be submitted to the Affliate's Board to verify that the applicant is a publisher/member in good standing, applications cannot be sent directly to PMA).

PMA staff and the PMA Board Affiliate Liaison will make final recommendations for the Scholarship to the PMA Board.

Applications can be found on the PMA website – www.pma-online.org. You must send application to BPNW by November 30.

Sept 21 Meeting: Tradeshow Training

For the September meeting, Jeff Backstrom, president and CEO of Skyline Pacific NW, will discuss how companies should plan for tradeshows. Backstrom conducts seminars throughout the Pacific Northwest to educatepeople about how to be more effective with their tradeshow marketing. The topics that he will cover include:
-Setting Measurable Objectives
-Budgeting for Success
-Exhibit Staffing Skills

Backstrom encourages participants in his seminars to examine their tradeshow programs to determine what events will be best for them, based on their individual marketing situations. Publishers are welcome to discuss their own tradeshow experiences and ask Backstrom’s advice on how to make tradeshows an effective part of their marketing plans.

“I am a Seattle native, who grew up in the advertising industry. I began selling advertising in 1986, then opened a small ad agency in 1991. In 1995, I found tradeshows and haven’t turned back since. In 2001, I partnered with my brother John to buy Skyline Pacific NW,” said Backstrom.

This BPNW meeting will be held Sept. 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside N., Room 221, Seattle, Washington.

Directions to Good Shepherd

From I-5 north or south, take the 45th/50th street exit turning westward onto 45th or 50th, Sunnyside is about 1/2 mile up, at the top of the hill. Buses: From east/west, Metro bus route #44 stops 2 blocks south of the Good Shepherd Center at 45th Ave and Sunnyside Ave N. for north/south travel, route #16 stops on the west side of the Good Shepherd Center on Meridian. Free parking is available on-site.

PMA Offers Online Learning

Under the direction of PMA Board Member Frank Gromling, PMA/Independent Book Publishers Association has begun to explore online learning.

The first e-learning session will feature Jonathan Kirsch, PMA's General Counsel and publishing attorney, in an Legal Track, entitled How to Build a Better Book Contract on September 20, 2006.

This live session on September 20 will then move online and can be easily accessed throughout the year for those needing this information.

A longer explanation of this new PMA program and a complete description of the Kirsch session can be found on the PMA website.