Update
by the Executive Director
Tim Merriman, Executive
Director
Budget
and Cash Flow
We ended the first quarter with about $39,000 less operating income than expense
and that is usual. However, membership income was better last year by $20,000
so we have planned a variety of promotions to improve that area. Cash flow
is not a problem due to the expanded line of credit but it could become a problem
if we have another poorly attended NIW this fall. We are doing extra promotion
for it to ensure that we do get exceptional attendance in Albuquerque. Other
business areas are performing well. We will soon know how the Interpreting
World Heritage meeting is performing since it begins on May 1. We are hopeful
that it will break even but cannot be certain at this point.
Business
Plan
Progress toward business plan objectives is steady but lagging behind expectations.
We will have a better idea after end of the second quarter of the kind of year
this will be financially.
Building
We will attempt to renew leases in May for July, 2006, when both existing leases
expire. There is a possibility that RMBO might move out to their own building
nearby. If that occurs, NPCA will move to the larger suite at the rear
of the building and we will take over the front suite. It is needed now
and could be effectively used but we have agreed they can stay another
year if that is needed.
Consults
and Grants
We continue to await the results of a $30,000 grant request with the Bohemian
Foundation for planning funds to assist the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.
We will complete our grant with the Gates Family Foundation in June and receive
a percentage of our total pledges from the LTF building fund. We are hopeful
this will bring in $25,000 or more. We have received $24,000 of the funding
of $32,000 on the CSU/NPS/USEPA grant. The study is likely to be completed
by end of May and provide results about environmental education curricula in
use that we can share with members. We will be doing a two-day consult in Dayton,
Ohio on May 24, and 25, for Carrilon Park.
InterpPress and NIW Warehouse
We
have obtained storage space from Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
for the InterpPress and NIW warehouse. They now have a building
near us on E. Vine Street that will be their temporary home for
two to three years while they build appropriate space on their
land acquired last year. It increased our storage area from 400
SF to 600 SF and put it 7 blocks away, not three miles. It also
saves us on monthly rent. The entire staff moved the 10 tons
of stock and organized it on palettes for easy access. We disposed
of about one ton of obsolete records and relocated many archive
files.
Legacy
Trust Fund
The Legacy Trust Fund total for 2006 thus far amounts to $8,285, which added
to previous gifts has brought total support for the building fund to $739,331.
We had an additional $25,000 restricted gift in 2005 as a Charitable Gift Annuity
from Dick Taylor of Colorado Springs, Colorado. For
more information on Legacy Trust Fund click here.
Networking
I gave a presentation at the Massachusetts Governor's Conference in Springfield
in March. This was an audience of tourism professionals from the convention
bureaus, hotels, attractions and heritage sites. A few members were present
but this was mostly people who have never heard of NAI or heritage interpretation
so it was an opportunity to introduce us.
Strategic Plan
Please look at the Strategic Planning page in this report and
see if you have any updates to make based upon your efforts related
to those tasks. Please let Jim Covel know of any updates at JCovel@mbayaq.org.
Travel Plans
My upcoming travel may be viewed at www.interpnet.com/board/schedule.htm.