About Amelia Island Book Festival
Vision:
We are dedicated to improving literacy skills in children and adults throughout Nassau County, FL.
Mission:
To enhance overall life skills, we will elevate an appreciation in Nassau County children and adults for reading, for writing and for authors; thereby generating increased appreciation for books and a lifelong love of reading.
AIBF HISTORY
Amelia Island Book Festival engages adults and young people in the joy of reading and writing through a series of public events featuring New York Times best-selling authors, independent publishers, awards programs and workshops. Held annually in February, these events attract thousands of people for learning, entertainment, and the excitement of seeing and meeting some of the most remarkable authors of the times.
In 2001, the late Don Parker and his wife Andrea, and Joe and Joani Selement, had a genius idea. Why not combine the lure of books with our spectacular location? As the idea caught on, they gathered supporters and founded a nonprofit organization to launch the first Amelia Book Island Festival. Leveraging partnerships and community support through fundraising events, the festival continues to promote and celebrate the wonder of books while promoting literacy throughout the region and especially through the popular Authors in Schools program in Nassau County.
Leadership
The Amelia Island Book Festival is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization supported by the community through membership and donations.
The Festival does not have full time employees, however, it does, from time to time, contract out services such as accounting and website management.
The 2020-2021 AIBF Directors are all local residents, and several are authors as well.
Also, several long-time AIBF supporters who are dedicated to AIBF’s mission of promoting literacy have been named to the newly formed Board of Ambassadors.
Honorary Chairman
David Baldacci
Board Officers
President: Larry Williams
Vice President: Paige Foery
Treasurer: Crawford Ward
Secretary: Janet Hild
Member-at-Large: Dr. Bill Amos
Board Directors
Paul Andrews
Joelle Crahay
Mary Elwell
Barbara Heggenstaller
Brant Kelch
Lisa Marciano
Kate Vollmers
Board Ambassadors
Marie Fenn
Mark Fenn
Pam Park
Terry Ramsay
Kim Sartor
Fran Shea
Kristi Simpkins
Jim Weinsier
About Amelia Island
Located in Nassau County, Florida, Amelia is the southernmost of the Sea Islands, a chain of barrier islands stretching along the East Coast from South Carolina. The island is 13 miles long and about 4 miles across at its widest point. The communities of Fernandina Beach, Amelia City, and American Beach are located on the island.
Named for Princess Amelia, daughter of George II of Great Britain, the island is sometimes known as “the isle of eight flags.” for those that have flown over it through history, including French, Spanish, British, Florida/Patriot, Green Cross, Mexican, Confederate, and United States.
The Amelia Island Trail is a part of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000 mile-long system of trails connecting Maine to Florida.