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CBLDF Live Auction at ComicsPRO Annual Meeting

by Alex Cox

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is excited to announce the First Annual Retailer Auction, at the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting, Friday, February 10th, at 9:00 p.m.!

Taking place in the Hilton Double Tree “Cypress Room,” the CBLDF will be auctioning a number of original art pieces form artist supporters such as Jeff Smith, Francis Manapul, David Lloyd, and more, as well as a variety of surprise items from our publishing and distributor partners! Expect surprise guest auctioneers, one-of-a-kind pieces, and exclusive, one-time-only prizes! Best of all, all proceeds go directly into the First Amendment work of the CBLDF!

Sponsored by BOOM! Studios, there will be a full bar provided, and this promises to be an easy social highlight of an already exciting weekend! All attending ComicsPRO members are invited; this is a great way to support our free speech work, and go home with some amazing artwork, and much, much more!

Last Day to Bid on Latest Round of Signed Exclusives from CBLDF

CBLDF currently has a load of amazing signed books — including Elektra: Assassin, George R.R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight, Bloom County, a copy of the Halo graphic novel signed sketched by Moebius, Rasl, and more — up for bid. But your chance to take one home is coming to a close! The auctions end today, so head over to CBLDF’s eBay site to place your bids now!

CBLDF Joins National Organizations in Condemning Arizona School Censorship

In response to an Arizona state law banning the teaching of ethnic studies courses, the Tucson Unified School District released a list of books that have been banned from the classroom. Popular textbooks, novels, and collections by revered Mexican American and Native American authors were among the titles removed from classrooms. CBLDF has joined a coalition of organizations — including the ACLU of Arizona, ABFFE, ALA’s Freedom to Read Coalition, and many more — in a joint statement decrying this censorship.

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CBLDF Announces 2012 Member Benefits!



Fight Censorship! Celebrate Liberty! Join the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund today!

Today, the CBLDF unveiled its 2012 Membership Drive, featuring the best incentives and benefits in the free speech community, starting off with a stunning membership card by superstar creator Cliff Chiang! Channeling the classic depiction of Liberty through the influence of WPA art and comic book iconography, Chiang has created a powerful membership card that you’ll be proud to keep in your wallet. CBLDF offers membership plans for donors in every budget, each with its own premiums and benefits, and all of them are tax-deductible!

Joining the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund puts you on the front line of the fight against censorship! Your membership dollars provide the tools to fight back when comic book readers, retailers and artists are muzzled, censored, or attacked! When you become a CBLDF member, you are proclaiming that comics are important and that you are a protector of their First Amendment rights! Join now!

Washington DC Fox Affiliate Attacks Comics

Yesterday, Bleeding Cool broke the story about a news report from a Washington DC Fox TV affiliate attacking comics. In the teaser for the report, a commentator called comics “fictionalized Playboy.” CBLDF took immediate action, releasing guidelines for how retailers can defend themselves from media attacks.

ICv2 followed up today with video of the full report and commentary. As expected, the reporter who made the news report, Sherri Ly, used the same faulty reasoning that has formed the basis of so many attacks against comics: The mistaken belief that comics are created primarily for children, and the specious argument that violent or sexual content in comic books promotes violent behavior in children.

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CBLDF Now Hiring: Office Manager

With more than 25 years of defending free speech for the comics community, CBLDF has firmly established itself as the premiere non-profit organization in the field. Now you can join the fight against censorship by becoming part of the CBLDF team! CBLDF is currently looking for an Office Manager:

OFFICE MANAGER
(Full-Time, Salaried)

Works with the Deputy Director in the further development of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, with an emphasis on managing the day-to-day financial and practical operations of the organization.

The Operations Manager’s responsibilities include:
• Bookkeeping and day-to-day financial management of the organization, including but not limited to: entry of all income; bank deposits; bill entry and payment; supervision of document retention; and preparation of materials for treasurer and accountants.
• Responsible for processing all invoices, payables, receivables, expenses, and general reporting.
• Management of all workplace compliance, and preparation and responsibility for insurance, utilities, and supply vendors, with the oversight of the Deputy Director.
• Management of shipping and processing premiums and donor acknowledgments. This includes oversight of physical inventories of fundraising premiums.
• Management of bulk mailings, mailing lists, and membership data.
• Recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers and interns for office and off-site tasks.
• Managing logistics, staff preparation, material handling, vendor services, and shipping for off-site events and conventions.

Qualifications
• Extensive practical Quickbooks training and experience.
• Experience in human resources and insurance compliance useful.
• Education, training, and experience with bookkeeping sufficient to fulfill job description.

Additional qualifications:
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
• Strong financial, analytical and organizational skills.
• Experience with inventory management.
• Ability to work under pressure and balance numerous priorities simultaneously.
• Experience with project/organizational management and strategic planning.
• Experience with recruitment, supervision and training of interns and volunteers.

Please send cover letters, resumes, and inquiries to alex.cox@cbldf.org or submit a cover letter and resume by mail:

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
ATTN: Alex Cox
255 West 36th Street, Suite 501
New York, NY 10018

About CBLDF
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals.

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE Remains In School Library

In December, CBLDF and the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom wrote a letter to the superintendent of the Dixfield, Maine, school system in order to prevent the removal of the anthology Stuck in the Middle: Seventeen Comics from an Unpleasant Age from library shelves. On Monday, the school board voted to leave the book on library shelves with the caveat the students must have parental permission to check out the book.

Stuck in the Middle was edited by Ariel Schrag and includes contributions from acclaimed graphic novelists Daniel Clowes, Dash Shaw, Gabrielle Bell, Lauren Weinstein, and more. The book received praise from Booklist, New York Times, and Publishers Weekly, and it was selected for New York Public Library’s “Books for the Teen Age” list in 2008.

“While we’re pleased to see the book retained in the library’s collection, we’re very disappointed that it is retained with restrictions,” CBLDF’s Executive Director Charles Brownstein said.
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Please help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work by making a donation or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

CBLDF Kicks Off The Convention Year At Amazing Arizona Comic Con!

The Amazing Arizona Comic Convention debuted to huge crowds last year, and it looks to be even bigger in 2012, with superstar guests Robert Kirkman, Rob Leifeld, Greg Capullo, Scott Lobdell, and more! This year, CBLDF will be part of the first comic convention of 2012, exhibiting at booth #123!

The Amazing Arizona Comic Con takes place January 6 – 8, at the Mesa Convention Center (263 N. Center Street, Mesa, AZ 85211). Come on out and use get the gifts you really want and support Free Speech from the CBLDF! We’ve got a great array of grab bags, signed comics, signed graphic novels, and more! Get the best collectibles for a great cause from CBLDF at booth #123 during Amazing Arizona Comic Con, this weekend in Mesa, Arizona!

There’s Still Time To Fight Censorship in 2011! Please Make A Tax-Deductible Donation Today!

There’s still time to make a difference in the fight against censorship by making a contribution to the CBLDF today! All donations made up until midnight on December 31 are tax-deductible in 2011, and support the Fund’s urgent work. Additionally, all new, renewing and gift memberships made by December 31 will be matched with a $5 contribution from the The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation

Right now the CBLDF needs your support to pay for expert testimony and legal bills in a case supporting Brandon X, an American citizen facing a minimum sentence of one year in prison for possessing horror and fantasy manga on his laptop computer. His case is expected to go to trial in 2012, and legal expenses are estimated to run $150,000. Please make a tax-deductible contribution to CBLDF today to help us defend this case, and to create tools for retailers, librarians, and readers to help protect against cases like this happening in the future!

The CBLDF exists because of the grass-roots support of individuals like you! Please support our work by making a tax-deductible donation, signing up or renewing your membership, or signing up a friend for a gift membership. Your donations help us protect the First Amendment rights of everyone in the comic book field. Please make a difference in supporting that work by making a donation today.

CBLDF’s The Spirit of Giving Donation and Gift Drive Ends Today!

Thanks to the generous help of The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation, CBLDF has had a wonderful holiday season with The Spirit of Giving drive!

Throughout the drive, The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation has made a contribution of $1 for every donation and gift order placed on CBLDF’s website. Today marks the end of the $1 contributions, so be sure to order gifts for your friends and family (or yourself)! If you’re not sure what to get for the comic fan in your life, check out CBLDF’s gift guide here.

Through December 31, The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation is also donating $5 for every new or renewed membership. You can join the fight by becoming a member, or conscript your friends by getting a gift membership today!