Friends of Lemon Grove Library to Get New President

Jim Elliott, the veteran businessman, library enthusiast, teacher and respected marketing consultant, will be sworn in as the new president of the Friends of the Lemon Grove Library on Jan. 31 at 9:30 a.m. in the Rosemary Putnam Community Room of the Lemon Grove Library, 8073 Broadway, Lemon Grove.

In the late spring the brand new Lemon Grove Library and "Friends" bookstore on the corner of Lincoln and School Lane will open its doors.

Elliott was the co-founder with his wife, Ann, of Western Graphics, the award-winning direct mail company that became a Southern California powerhouse from 1974 to the present.  The Elliotts built and still own their own building, a handsome edifice on Lemon Avenue, Lemon Grove.  Over three decades, with Elliott as company president, they built the business into a go-to source for mass marketing advice, direct mail and graphic design.

Elliott has taught and lectured on Direct Mail at SDSU, USD and UCSD and presented seminars on nonprofit direct mail for the San Diego Postal Customer Council and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.  He is a former national board member of the Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association and received their Luke Kaiser Award for Direct Mail Education.  He co-chaired the San Diego Postal Customer Council and was president of the San Diego Direct Marketing Association, later receiving their Margaret Sellers Lifetime Achievement Award.

Currently he is the marketing consultant at Eye/Comm, Inc., a direct marketing solutions company in San Diego, specializing in multichannel marketing via print, online, social and mobile media.

That may be the day job, but Elliott's avocation is books and history.  As a long-time member of the Friends of the Lemon Grove Library, he has watched the volunteer group raise funds in its bookstore for countless library programs.

"Now, a new day has dawned," said Elliott.  "Lemon Grove is getting its first building constructed as a library.  The days of operating out of storefronts and shopping plazas are over.  The beautiful Mission Revival style Lemon Grove Library will serve the school district and general public alike--and feature a Friends bookstore right by the front door.

"The challenges will be larger.  One of my goals is to establish an endowment for the Friends of the Lemon Grove Library and encourage bequests."  

Elliott's deep belief in the importance of libraries and lifelong learning resonates with Rosemary Putnam, emeritus president and 20-year driving force behind the "Friends."

"Jim is the right man for this moment in our history," she said.  "We have a new leader in a new library, who combines business acumen with a non profit sensibility, and who knows Lemon Grove and its people."

Elliott and his 2013 board will be sworn in by Ernest Anastos, superintendent, of the Lemon Grove School District, and instigator of the successful, 2008 Prop W bond drive that is funding library construction and local school upgrades.

The public is welcome to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

--Lemon Grove Historical Society