Follow-up to Reflections…
[I received a letter from a Rant reader on the subject of PMA (one of about
80 I received) and how the organization can be changed. Here is my reply to
all who wrote me on the issue of the most recent Saturday rant] – Al Canton
FOLLOW UP TO REFLECTIONS…. 5-6/00
>
>So after reading that specific passage of your rant, [about PMA] I have
this question:
>Can I help in any way? More specifically, have you considered ways to
>organize a group of active/vocal PMA members to influence the Board?
>
There are many "old guys" on this listserv that remember my Saturday Rants
of the past several years that called for free and open elections for PMA
board members. And PMA finally got the word (or felt the heat) and promised
that we would have open elections. But it never came to pass… in the two
years that they had to consider it. When I contacted Jan Nathan and asked
what the progress was, all I got back was double-speak about how there were
legal considerations, etc. etc. etc.
The real problem is that those who get APPOINTED to the board (and THAT is
what it really is) do not want to change the paradigm to where WE the
members get to choose those who represent us. As much as I admire Pat Bell,
she is APPOINTED by the PMA old guard. We don’t get to vote for her. And
that is the way she believes that it should be done. (And I have no doubt
that her anti-democratic belief stood her in good stead with the past
Board.) Many, many, many times in the past five years she has said that she
does not believe that free and open elections will benefit the membership.
I know Pat. I’ve known Pat for many years. I believe that she has been
co-opted by "the system" as would anyone who would accept a position on the
board of PMA. While I wrote in my last Rant that I wish her well and that I
hope she will represent those of us who do NOT have a say in this industry,
in my heart of hearts I just know that she will be (has been) co-opted by
the "power elite." She said on many occasions when she failed to make the
Board cut, "always a bridesmaid, never a bride." Well now that she has made
it (not through any kind of democratic process, mind you) all we can do is
hope that she will represent us. But if the past is any guide to the future,
others who have become part of the PMA Board of Directors, have NEVER made
any attempt to represent the membership, but instead, have enjoyed their
new-found fame in the book industry and gone about the business of agreeing
with Jan Nathan and the other board members who could care less about the
needs of the members.
So what can you or anyone do? So long as there is NO direct representation
of US on the PMA board, there is NOTHING we can do. Yes, yes, yes, Pat Bell
says that it would make no difference if there were free elections. But I
differ with her. Because if there were free elections someone like me, or
Mayapriya Long, or Shel Horowitz, or others could put themselves up for
election, reach out to the membership (which only has a tiny fraction on
this list) and perhaps have a chance of success. But NO. The PMA has done
everything it could/can to keep you and I from voting for a those who would
seek to represent us.
Don’t you think, that after all these years of protest, that *** I *** would
like the chance to run for office? Don’t you think that *** I *** would like
the chance to serve the MEMBERSHIP and not the vendor-interests? (Of course,
I
AM a vendor, so this whole argument is probably moot, yet I’m sure you get
the idea of what I’m trying to say). But NO. It is not meant to be. The old
guard is in control and they are the ones who choose the people who will
succeed them. And nothing happens without the direction of Jan Nathan.
Pat Bell, was CHOSEN to be on the board. She WAS not and WILL not be
elected in a fair and open forum. For many years she has made a loud
argument that elections are not necessary… she has done her very best to
counter my argument that free and open elections are in the best interest of
PMA. And I have no doubt that she has many people convinced that having free
elections would not result in a better PMA than that which we already have.
But I see a PMA that is NOT responsive to the membership. I see a PMA that
cares NOT for the benefits of the members. I see a PMA that seeks to
preserve the status-quo… of damaged returns, slow payment by the chains,
an unconditional returns policy, and a belief that change is NOT possible.
So what can you do? The answer is that you can’t do a fucking thing. It’s
true. You can’t. The only thing that might have some effect is if you sent a
copy of this letter, or one of your own to JanNathan@aol.com . I don’t even
think that will have much effect. And while I wish Pat Bell well as a PMA
Board Member, I am totally aware that she is the hand-picked puppet choice
of Jan Nathan and her puppet Board of Directors.
I always hope for great things from PMA… like a call for the end of
returns, for a call for the end of 120 day payment cycles and for the PMA to
speak out on other issues that effect all of us. With me it is always
"spring training" with PMA this time of year. The air is ripe with
possibilities. But year after year, after year, PMA always reverts back to
it’s "old boy" status where the organization seeks to serve the best
interest of the vendors (why does PMA host with Bookzone… maybe a
sweetheart deal seeing as Mary is on the BoD???) and not the members.
So what can be done? I wish I could be more optimistic. Maybe Pat Bell will
come into this forum and answer that question.
After all these years, I know that *** I *** don’t have the answer.
Had we been able to overturn the charter and forced free/open elections we
might have had a chance of "taking back" PMA from the vendors to the
members. But it won’t happen until enough members get mad as hell and decide
that enough is enough and call a special meeting (as stipulated in the
by-laws (which used to be online in http://www.pma-online.org/membonly.html
but is no longer is public … you have to have a password to read them….
I believe that PMA does NOT want anyone to KNOW about the abilities of the
members to call a special meeting.)
So yes, Pat Bell is now a bride. But will she become part of the PMA
Publisher Power Elite and be co-opted by the "system."? I’m pretty sure she
will be (if not already). Everyone else has.
Ask yourself just WHAT IF they had open elections and me or Mayapriya were
elected by YOU to SERVE YOUR interests, not those of Bookzone, Ingram, or
IPG? What a concept. A trade association run by the members. I don’t know
about Mayapriya, but you can bet that I would kick some ASS.
So you want to help? Then write Jan Nathan that you want to see free and
open elections and maybe we can take back PMA from those who could care less
about OUR interests.
Yeah, like that will really happen.
In your dreams.
Alan N. Canton
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