Honored to Receive BMI "Cased-In Club" Award

It's difficult to pen an article tooting one's own horn, and yet to a degree, that's what blogs are for. I will, however, still plead for your indulgence.

Book Manufacturers Institute (BMI) is an international non-profit organization that supports the creation and manufacturing of the Book (with a capital B). In recent years with the growth of digital print, this has meant providing for the creation and delivery, in many ways, of the content.
What used to be simply receiving the content from the publisher and then printing and binding it as a book, is now about content aggregation that allows delivery to the reader via a website, cloud, or other virtual means.

And the physically printed and bound book can be manufactured in a variety of ways, depending on the quantity, delivery, price point, and needs of the buyer. Accordingly, we as printers have had to morph into different business models to survive. BMI has been the forerunner and facilitator of this to ensure the delivering of the content, and ensuring the viability of the Book for perpetuity. 

I have been in printing all my life (I have ceased saying how long), and in the book industry for most of it. So BMI has been an important part of my life. This is an organization of great people and companies, big and small, from RR Donnelley to Malloy, to Visual Systems. Terrific cooperation, even with some as competitors.

So when I was honored at the recent President's Conference in Amelia Island, it was very special to me. The award reads: "Having served in the book manufacturing industry for more than 20 years, and having contributed to both the industry and the Institute with Distinction & Honor throughout those years, Jeffrey L. Hengsbach With the grateful appreciation of his peers is elected to Lifetime Membership in the CASED-IN CLUB with full Rights and Privileges."

Not only was Wendy (my wife) there, so was my daughter Bethany. Definitely a night to remember.