The June 30 meeting of the advisory council of the New York Center for Independent Publishing was described by interim director Leah Schnelbach as productive. “It was quite a brainstorming session,” Schnelbach said. “We tossed around a lot of ideas about the future direction of the organization.” The meeting was called after what Schnelbach called a number of “rocky months” that began with the forced departure of executive director Karin Taylor and the resignations of several members of the NYCIP’s executive and advisory councils.
One result of the June 30 meeting was to compile names of new people to invite to join the advisory council, and Schnelbach is in the process of contacting those candidates now. Schnelbach said she believes the most recent controversy between the council the General Society of Mechanics & Tradesman which oversees the NYCIP has been resolved with honorariums sent to speakers at April’s Writers Conference.
The next major event planned by the NYCIP is a day-long seminar set for October 2. “The Next Chapter in Publishing” will cover how independent publishers can use the growing array of new technologies in their businesses. Schnelbach said the NYCIP has the “full support” of the GSMT who have encouraged her to plan of full slate of programs for the fall and winter. A meeting is being planned at the end of July to solidify some of the ideas brought up in the June meeting on how the NYCIP should move forward.
