Nominations
Join the HBC Board of Directors!
The Hand Bookbinders of California (HBC) is seeking energetic, organized, and passionate members to join our Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
Serving on the Board is a rewarding opportunity to shape the future of our organization, deepen your connections within the bookbinding community, and help bring exciting new ideas to life. Whether you’re a seasoned member or relatively new to HBC, we want to hear from you—your perspective, skills, and enthusiasm are exactly what we need!
How It Works:
Nominations, including self-nominations, are open from February 21 to March 25, 2026.
The form may be filled out multiple times and shared with the community.
The Nomination Committee, which includes Bridget McGraw, Jennie Hinchcliff, Robin Brandes & Vanessa Hardy, will work with nominees to confirm their interest and eligibility before presenting them to the Board of Directors.
All qualified candidates will be included on the ballot for our general membership election in April 2026.
For questions about open positions or the nomination process, contact the nominations committee by emailing nominations@handbookbinders.org.
Open Positions 2-Year Term, May 1, 2026 - May 1, 2028:
(Click on the + sign to see details.)
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Chair all board meetings and the annual general meeting.
Ensure that all other board members have the necessary resources to perform their duties.
Act as HBC’s main contact for outside organizations and the public.
Sign official documents and contracts on behalf of HBC.
Help fill any vacant board positions when a vacancy arises.
Facilitate HBC’s long-term goals, as established by the board and members.
Write a message from the President for any HBC publication.
Correspond with agencies responsible for establishing and maintaining HBC’s non-profit status, and oversee that all necessary documents are submitted to the government.
Initiate, sign, and keep track of all HBC contracts, such as venues for workshops, exhibitions, and events.
Share responsibility for HBC’s postal mailbox.
Hand-sign letters of appreciation to all financial donors.
Before the annual meeting, goes over the finances with the Treasurer, and presents those to the Board in the April meeting. Discusses the forthcoming budget with the Board, and leads a vote on it.
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Give a financial report at every board meeting.
Distribute financial reports to board members 4 days in advance of each board meeting.
Maintain the financial records of the organization, including an itemized record of all revenues and expenses.
Deposit all funds into HBC’s bank account.
Make payments on behalf of the organization by any properly authorized member.
Prepare and submit all tax filing requirements to the Internal Revenue Service and other authorities.
Reimburse board members for approved HBC expenses.
Before the annual meeting, goes over the previous year's budget with the President, and works with board members to establish their individual budgets for the forthcoming year.
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Report to the Board about forthcoming activities at every board meeting.
Organize and arrange HBC events (online, in-person, or hybrid).
Set the date, time, and capacity for events, which include HBC’s traditional winter holiday party and summer picnic.
Work with the Digital Projects Chair to set up event information and registration/RSVP forms on the HBC website.
Coordinate with the Exhibitions Chair to arrange exhibition-related receptions.
Before the annual meeting, works with the Treasurer to itemize expenses for the year. Presents the proposed budget to the Board in April. If additional expenses are anticipated, present these to the Board for discussion and a vote.
Promote events through the newsletter.
Recruit volunteers to help with specific events.
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Report to the Board about forthcoming activities at every board meeting.
Organize and arrange HBC events (online, in-person, or hybrid).
Set the date, time, and capacity for events, which include HBC’s traditional winter holiday party and summer picnic.
Work with the Digital Projects Chair to set up event information and registration/RSVP forms on the HBC website.
Coordinate with the Exhibitions Chair to arrange exhibition-related receptions.
Before the annual meeting, works with the Treasurer to itemize expenses for the year. Presents the proposed budget to the Board in April. If additional expenses are anticipated, presents these to the Board for discussion and a vote.
Promote events through the newsletter.
Recruit volunteers to help with specific events.
NOMINATIONS FORM
Ready to nominate? Fill out the form below!
TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST & CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS
When I first moved to the Bay Area for a bookbinding job, I didn’t know many people. I promptly joined HBC and soon after volunteered to be the Membership Coordinator, where I slowly learned every member’s first and last name. It was such a wonderful way to meet people that had similar interests and to join a welcoming community of incredibly talented folks who are so generous and encouraging with their skills, resources, and knowledge. I still really enjoy meeting someone new and realizing that I already know their first and last name because of being the Membership Coordinator.
- Megan Gibes - HBC Membership & HBC Treasurer
Being on the HBC Board is about building community. Being part of a community encourages and supports members to do their best work. Organizing the HBC Members’ Annual Exhibition, I have built relationships with people at various venues and learned a lot about HBC members. My favorite week of the year is the week I receive the books for the exhibition. Opening all of those packages and seeing what members have made is better than all the holidays rolled into one.
- Beth Redmond - HBC Exhibitions Chair
I served for 3 years on the HBC Board producing the monthly members’ newsletter. At the time, I didn’t know many people in the HBC, but once I was a board member and became more involved with HBC, I really enjoyed the community. I especially enjoyed learning more about what was going on about different aspects of the book arts world, besides just in our book binding community, which was frequently discussed at board meetings. It was a very broadening experience for me and I definitely developed a more involved relationship with HBC since then.
- Samantha Cairo-Toby - Former HBC Board Member
I was involved in the antiquarian book world, but I did not know any bookbinders until I began to take classes and joined HBC in 2000. It was a new world, and once I became a HBC board member, that world opened up. I got to know the whole enterprise of bookbinders, book sellers, librarians, and conservators. I felt connected to history as I engaged in this old craft and then help to carry it forward. I find this very satisfying.
- Vanessa Hardy - Former HBC Board Member
Serving on the HBC Board has been full of happy, serendipitous experiences. Each discovery helps me broaden and refine my own perspectives and skills, and stimulates my willingness to experiment. As a mentor of mine says, “There are no mistakes. There are only design opportunities.” In documenting our meetings as the Board’s Secretary, I learn about opportunities available for study, connections, and resources. And I’m inspired by how supportively our members take such joy in each other’s work and progress.
- Laine Tammer - HBC Board Member