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Chairman’s Message,
May 2005
Get A Grip!
As your association Chairman, I receive many Chapter
Bulletins and I read them faithfully when received.
Often I’ll read about issues or concerns in various
editorials in the Bulletins. It’s always informative,
but occasionally, I read articles that are negative,
disparaging or misinformed. It seems that when it comes
to change, some people can talk the talk, but just can’t
seem to walk the walk.
To set the record straight for you, as your Association
Chairman, I would like to assure you that our
Association is not in any financial difficulty. The
association has a healthy budget in the neighborhood of
about $450,000 per year. Our investment funds and bank
accounts are all in the black. Like most people, we live
on a budget. I’ll admit that that budget doesn’t allow
our association to spend freely or irresponsibly, but we
certainly have enough income to meet our expense
requirements now and for the foreseeable future.
I can categorically promise you that the Association is
not planning to raise International dues. I assure you
that your Association is not “plotting” too confiscate
Regional, District, Chapter or Member bank accounts.
Aside from comments like these being absolutely
ludicrous, the association could not confiscate anyone’s
bank account any more than you or I could confiscate a
neighbor’s bank account. Even attempting to do so would
probably land you in jail.
As an Executive officer of the Board of Directors for
the past three years, I’ve heard and read a lot of
gripping about travel reimbursement for the Board. I
agree that we should reimburse some travel. In fact, we
have instituted a number of initiatives over the years
to do just that. We have had a budget item for Director
travel and for Executive travel for a few years now. We
have an incentive tied to Gallery entries that pays for
travel, accommodations and registration to Convention
for the Directors. The money is available for those
willing to earn it. The bald fact is that in recent
years, very few Directors have qualified for any of
these reimbursements. None of your Executives have been
submitting expenses for reimbursement for a number of
years and none of them have been heard to complain about
it.
That we have problems, there is no doubt. Our biggest
problem by far is membership. All others pale in
significance by comparison. And it’s a problem only you
can solve. If every member could recruit just one new
member this year and get just two Gallery entries this
year, our association budget would go from $450,000 to
$900,000 per year, just like that!
All, and I mean ALL, of the changes that have been
taking place over the last year have been in an effort
to add more value to your membership. Every one of our
efforts has been geared to making it easier and more
rewarding for you to invite a friend or colleague to
join. So please, become part of the solution. Invite a
friend to join, submit a Gallery entry or two and get a
grip.
Norm Belanger,
Chairman,
IAPHC – The Graphic Professionals Resource Network |
