How It All Began: An Interview with Wade Channell

Ever wonder how the Bungee Book Club (BBC) came to be?

It formed organically among colleagues who shared a curiosity for learning. Wade Channell fondly remembers walking by Jim Bellis’ desk intrigued by his stack of books. Recognizing their mutual interests, Wade naturally wanted to discuss the ideas presented in these books with him. 

Over time, they started adding colleagues to the group who joined their conversations and love for reading. Other USAID colleagues would offer recommendations. What started as a conversation between two colleagues grew out of friendship and appreciation among people in the office.

The BBC formed as a way for friends and colleagues to exchange ideas and build “creative and collaborative relationships” within USAID. The driving force behind the book club is the question of “How can we do our work better?”

After its founding, the book selections have been crowdsourced more and more over time. As the BBC grows, the variety of genres have expanded, and it has brought together people throughout the Agency and outside of the Agency. 

The BBC has grown into a place where readers and thinkers have come together to share a mutual love for reading and to discuss new ways of thinking. Wade describes it as, “We’re cross-training our minds.” Among many other ‘behind-the-scenes’ efforts, an executive board coordinates the club and selects books that are enriching and provide professional development.

Since 2009, the BBC continues to follow its founder’s original intentions for this organization to spread ideas and share knowledge, which you can read more about on our Welcome page!

Wade light-heartedly describes the BBC rules as:

Bellis’s Rules of Order for the Bungee Book Club

1. Start on time, end on time.
2. The best way to be on time is to be early.
3. Eating is highly encouraged.