CBAS annual meeting and its future renewed again....

Tudor Book from the Tower of London

Before I post an article about CBAS's annual meeting, I want to share a small photo of a very massive book I saw at the Tower of London. The book which is exceptionally wide at the spine is from the Tudor era, you know, the most famous of famous, Henry VIII. The book is an inventory of all the armaments owned by the Monarchy, a massive book for a massive list. Weapons aside, I like the stitching on the straps on the spine. (Diane Stemper)

And now news of the Annual Meeting written by Janice Kagermeir, which I am sorry to have missed ....

About two dozen CBAS members and guests spent a great afternoon together at the CBAS Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 14.  While rain poured outside, we gathered at the Hyde Park Center for Older Adults at noon to share a truly exceptional potluck.  Not only is CBAS a group of exceptional bookmakers, it turns out we’re also wonderfully imaginative cooks.  Sharing lunch was a great opportunity to meet new members and their guests, and to catch up with book-loving friends.  Several people brought show-and-tell items, always a highlight of CBAS gatherings.

CBAS member's books

 After lunch, outgoing President Jack Campbell chaired his last official CBAS meeting, summing up the group’s accomplishments in the past year and letting everyone know about plans for the future.  Jack introduced and members voted to approve the slate of officers and Board members:

OFFICERS: Chairperson-Cecie Chewning, Vice Chair-Janice Kagermeier and Treasurer -Jo Diamantes.  The position of Secretary is currently open.                  

 NEW TRUSTEES:  Lou Kroner, David Umbenhour and Bobbi Vallery.

 RENEWING TRUSTEES: Robin Henderson, Mark Palkovic, Diane Stemper and Jeanne Strauss-De Groote.

After Jack reviewed the list of CBAS committees and urged members to become more involved, Bobbi Vallery volunteered to chair the Program Committee and Lou Kroner volunteered to serve as CBAS Historian/Archivist.  Thanks to both of them.

The highlight of the meeting was a wonderful presentation by guest speaker Matt Kish.  A Dublin, Ohio resident, Matt kept everyone in the group engaged and entertained while he recounted his journey toward creating Moby-Dick in Pictures: One Drawing for Every Page.  

Matt Kish's Moby Dick illustration

A librarian who has drawn for his own pleasure since childhood but has no formal art training, Matt first talked about the importance of images in his early memories of reading and how he continues to be a very visual reader.  In 2009, unsure if he should continue making art, he decided a challenge was what he needed for his 40th birthday.  Working in studio space that had once been a 4‘x7’ walk-in closet, he undertook the massive project of illustrating Moby-Dick, one of the books that has been most influential in his life.  For 552 consecutive days he drew one illustration for every page of the novel, influenced by text on that page.  The result is a massive and beautiful book, and it was wonderful to hear the story of its creation.   We are so happy that Matt Kish could take time out of his schedule to spend the afternoon with CBAS.  We look forward to his next project, an illustrated edition of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.

Matt Kish speaks to CBAS members

Special thanks to all the CBAS members who volunteered to help make the meeting possible, to Mark Palkovic for making arrangements for a projector, and to the Hyde Park Center for letting us use their beautiful facility.