Chapter Liaison Update

July 2011

Greetings all:

This is the first message being generated to you under the new Chapter Liaison program.  The next issue of the Journal will show which board members are assigned to which chapters, and each month you will receive an update from us about activities of interest or news you should know.  We will be asking for feedback, and hope you will share with us items or programs of interest to your chapter.

This is our important, first line of communication with you and your chapter members.
We will make every effort to share important information, and ask for your feedback.
Please share this with all of your members.

Of note in this Liaison Message:

1.) The convention, hosted by EMCATOS, was most successful.   Although attendance was down a bit, musically, it was spectacular.  A full review will be in the next journal;

2.) There will be a new, two-disc set of convention concert highlights, available for purchase/shipping hopefully in early October;

3.) All ATOS chapter leaders are being asked to complete a simple form which will update us on all of you.  By last count, we have some 81 chapters listed, but we know some of these are inactive.  Also, the election cycle changes officers and it is good to know who is now leading the chapters. Please fill out this form once received and send it to Jack Moelmann as we attempt to update our records, contact information, and get a current, correct list of active chapters;

4.) During deliberations at the Annual Meeting, the board (led by new treasurer Mike Hutcherson) worked through a lengthy and serious budget process.  Budget requests exceeded available dollars by well over $100,000.  Some new programs were scrapped.  Serious cuts were made across the board.  We completed the meetings with a balanced budget going forward, but there will be work to do.

5.) Membership generosity generated more than $140,000 in gifts this past year, and the work continues.  This is vital because with membership numbers down from five years ago, annual operating income is down.  The shortfall must be covered somehow, and the board has NO intention of raising dues.  Ongoing fundraising efforts are vital to ATOS’ growth.

6.) That stated, ATOS is in excellent financial shape.  Jack Moelmann’s Challenge Grant which matches donations made at the convention will help get the Endowment Fund principal amount up to the “magic” One Million Dollar level.  THANK YOU, JACK!!!  His matching total could be almost $22,000, if not more!!  The Investment Fund currently has more than $500,000.  The recent Financial Review was completed in May, with a report that ATOS funds are in good hands, and sound practices and procedures have been followed in caring for ATOS finances.

See your Journal for more details.  Thanks!

/s/ Ken Double