Advocacy Articles

Advocacy Is Alive and Well at Connect2One!
By Mark Palmore, Executive Director and Institutional Store Advocate

Since I assumed the duties of Executive Director on April 1st, I've been asked many times, "What about the institutional store advocacy program? Is that still a part of the offerings of Connect2One?" The answer is a very emphatic YES!

The Institutional Store Advocacy program is alive and well. We continue to lobby on a daily basis with NACAS, NACUBO, ACUI and ACAP members as well as work with a vast number of stores to help them stay institutional/self-op. Connect2One and Nebraska Book Company are now and will forever be committed to the independent college bookstore!

The next question I receive is whom should they contact at Connect2One for any advocacy-related issue. The answer is simple. Feel free to contact any of us here at Connect2One or any of our colleagues at Nebraska. I will continue to work the industry national and regional meetings, but I will also work directly with any institutional store manager/director and his/her boss to promote the value of the institutional/self-op store model.

Rest assured at no time would Institutional Store Advocacy ever be less than a major priority for our organization. Many stores have experienced the value of Connect2One membership by using this invaluable program, because we have helped them stay institutional/self-op. If you have any advocacy needs, feel free to contact me at (800) 563-9034.

And remember, be proactive, be prepared, and be positive!