About the Minnesota Book Publishers’ Roundtable Board of Directors

MBPR is a member-led nonprofit organization, and employees of MBPR member companies (including those with individual memberships) are eligible to serve on the board of directors.

Directors serve a two-year term (an MBPR year/season runs from June to May) and perform the following duties:

Attend six MBPR board meetings and five luncheons per season, including a kick-off meeting in June. Board meetings immediately follow each luncheon of the season, in September, November, January, March, and May.
Co-organize at least one luncheon event per season (usually in teams of two or three).
Represent MBPR at one or more monthly Tweet Ups (either evening happy hours or morning events at local bookstores) per season, co-hosted with MN Publishing Tweet Up.
Fill or shadow at least one organizational role, such as treasurer, membership coordinator, or webmaster, per season.

A call for board of directors nominees is sent out prior to the May luncheon each season. Nominees should ideally have five or more years of publishing experience, a curiosity about emerging trends within our profession, and a desire to network with colleagues. Many current and former board members have enjoyed the experience so much that they’ve opted to return for another term.

The board is strongest when directors represent the full variety of roles and experience levels in book publishing. If you or someone you know would be interested in serving, please send the nominee’s name and email address to information@publishersroundtable.org with the subject “MBPR Board Nomination” during the nomination period, which opens in early April and runs through the first Thursday in May.

I am interested in serving on the board. How much time does it require?

The time commitment required of directors varies depending on the roles they volunteer to fill and the needs of individual events. Directors arrive half an hour early to set up luncheons and attend board of directors meetings (lasting approximately half an hour) after each event. A typical director might dedicate two to four hours (or more) to board dutiesin most months, plus approximately four hours of additional work to organize the luncheon they have volunteered to co-coordinate.

Do directors get free membership or admission to luncheons?

No. Board members are volunteers: they must be MBPR members, and they pay member rates to attend luncheons.

I’m a freelancer. Am I eligible to serve on the board?

Yes, freelancers with individual memberships are eligible. Freelancers make up an important part of MBPR membership, and we welcome their perspectives.

How do I nominate someone?

Send the nominee’s name, email address, and phone number to information@publishersroundtable.org with the subject “MBPR Board Nomination.” The board will contact the nominee to confirm interest and answer questions.

When are nominations due?

The board typically takes nominations starting in early April and contacts nominees in April and May to verify their interest and answer their questions. The membership votes on the final list of nominees at the May luncheon and annual meeting.

Are nominees required to be present at the election?

Nominees are not required to attend the May luncheon and annual meeting. However, we recommend that they do so to help other members put faces to names of those who lead the organization.

Minnesota Book Publishers' Roundtable