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President's Message - January 2009
Days of Smoke and Mirrors are Over
For far too many years, your AU has held together an organization striving for Champagne service on a beer budget.
2020 Vision was instituted to transform the AU into a progressive organization focused on delivering a better product to the membership. The cry was, “We need to be more than just a distributor of bands and diplomas!” Over the past 20 years, we’ve more than accomplished that. The list of new and innovative programs stretches over several pages (when someone feels moved to takes the time to tally them all.)
Unfortunately, like so many legislative bodies “solving” educational system problems, the programs have been established without new sources of income coming into fruition.
The AU has fought the good fight as long as the economy and dollar strength allowed for clever budgeting and cost-cutting methods to stretch the buying power of income generated solely by dues and band sales. This “single source income” situation was recognized and dealt with inside of 2020 Vision by establishing a Financial Committee charged with locating and tapping into to-be-found, new sources of income.
A number of economic issues have conspired to diminish the membership services possible because of lower profits (band sales) and the increased operational costs. The constant postage and printing cost increases is one culprit. Another has been the skyrocketing fuel costs (somewhat decreasing recently at the gas pumps, but not evidenced in the airline ticket market where a tremendous amount of the budget is spent annually moving AU reps around the country.) Just take a second and consider what your feed bills have become as a result of these conditions!
Additionally, the dollar has been extremely weak over the last several years causing a lower income level when purchasing bands from foreign manufacturers (whether European or Chinese). Lower profit means less to spend on services.
With that background, the board moved in October to make major cost cutting changes to compliment several changes also made in July.
The three “big cost” items are in the realm of communication. They are the quarterly newsletters (AU Update), the Yearbook, and travel expense of getting officers, directors, and judges out to the membership to represent, present, and interact in a meaningful way.
Despite our 2020 Vision pledge to offer better communication, each of these pieces has been pared back. The number of pages has been reduced in the newsletter (and advertising is now being accepted for four of those pages in hopes of re-couping some of the rising costs.)
The board discussed removing membership and band lists from the Yearbook. If they are removed, members will need to go on-line to access that information. Additionally, the entire, full version of the mid-year and annual meeting minutes where voted for removal in July. Again, interested members will have to go on-line.
So, what does it all mean?
The BOD is attempting to go more electronic (cut printing and postage costs) and hope that by placing "watchdog" elements (approval steps required for any travel and re-instituting the Treasurer position) that the basic membership services can be maintained.
AU membership is strong. We value each and every member! With your support, we will continue to provide the quality programs you enjoy as an AU member. Additionally, your AU Board of Directors and national staff remain committed to developing new services and programs that will benefit not only you, but also fanciers for future generations!
Steve Lawler
President
American Racing Pigeon Union
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