Our executive director team of Mike Karpowicz and John Hamer have announced that 2009 will unfortunately be their final year in their current positions. John will continue to serve as editor of the JWHA Newsletter and of John Whitmer Books and Mike will continue to serve as the association’s webmaster, but they will need to pass their other responsibilities onto new successors.

The Board has empowered Mike and John to conduct a search for new members of the Executive Director team. Because the scope and duties of the position have increased dramatically, it has been proposed to divide the responsibilities among a number of new staff positions.

(1) Treasurer. The treasurer will be responsible for managing JWHA’s operating fund, for maintaining the association’s accounts, for sending out membership notices, for keeping the membership database updated, and for making filings with the IRS.

(2) Executive Director(s). The executive director(s) will be responsible for planning and operating the fall JWHA conference and the spring Restoration Studies Symposium, in conjunction with the program and local arrangements committees.

(3) Editor of John Whitmer Books and the JWHA Newsletter. Not to be confused with the editor of the JWHA Journal and the editor of Restoration Studies, this editor will oversee the publication and marketing of the various John Whitmer Books titles and the JWHA Newsletter. The editor will also be responsible for the printed programs for the conferences.

(4) Publications Manager. A publications manager will process and mail out John Whitmer Books orders and will assist the John Whitmer Books editor in fulfilling the JWHA Journal and Restoration Studies subscription lists.

(5) Webmaster. The webmaster will keep the association websites and email list updated.

We have had two excellent applications for the treasurer position and John and Mike will continue to fill the editor and websmaster positions. We are hoping to form a strategic partnership with the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo to handle the role of publications manager and book fulfillment.

Our primary need is for applicants to fill the Executive Director position. If you are willing to help the association by volunteering to serve in this capacity—the position carries a modest annual stipend—please list your qualifications and background in an e-mail to JHamer@JohnWhitmerBooks.com.