1.
Executive Director
Update
by the Executive Director
Tim Merriman, Executive
Director
Budget
and Cash Flow
We are doing quite well this year in the areas of membership, certification,
and association store sales. InterpPress books are selling very well. It is
too early to tell how ad sales are going but Deb is keeping up with renewals
from previous years and has brought some commercial members back to advertising.
The NIW early registration is the lowest I have seen in ten years and of some
concern because it is about 30% of the budget. We are doing more than ever
to promote it, but the economy and agency cutbacks are having their effects.
Cash flow is improving greatly and should stay strong through end of the year.
Building
Our tenants, RMBO and NPCA, continue to be great partners. We have a monthly
brown bag lunch with them and that is great for communication among the
three groups. We also hold a monthly catered lunch for Fort Collins heritage
CEOs and Development Directors that tends to attract ten to 12 people each
time. That has been a wonderful opportunity to share what we learn about
funders for projects.
Consults
and Grants
The USEPA/FWS grant for the Definitions Project is up and running. We will
have the invitation to the first meeting out to participants this week. This
is going to be an imporant opportunity for collaboration among non-profit associations
working in the areas of nonformal education. The first meeting is in Colorado
and the second at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown,
WV. We are completing the $25,000 consult with Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
and will bill on that very soon. We also received a $25,000 grant from the
Boettcher Foundation for the building which is very helpful in matching the
Gates Family Foundation grant. We are making progress as well on the E.E. curriculum
grant in cooperation with CSU and USEPA. We have billable hours related to
it as well.
Legacy
Trust Fund
The Legacy Trust Fund now has $119,486 in gifts since first of the year with
many other gifts pending. This brings the total for the campaign to $415,627.
Julie continues to work with major donor prospects while also writing grant
proposals. For
more information on Legacy Trust Fund click here.
Networking
I recently took part in a national workshop on conservation education by the
USDA Forest Service which included the Chief and three Deputy Chiefs. They
are greatly concerned about improving their work in education and interpretation
and were taking input from us on how that might happen. I will be taking
vacation time in September and October to participate in trips to China
to train professionals at five world heritage sites and a tradeshow/training
activity in Seoul, S. Korea. We have 11 NAI members going on the trip to
S. Korea including Evie Kirkwood. A member has arranged the funding for
the trip through the Korean government.
Staff
Changes
Jamie has hired Ivy Newberg to work as membership assistant under her supervision.
Ivy is a 2005 graduate of CSU in resource management and has shown great adaptability
in picking up this role. She is often who you will talk to first when calling
the office. Russ Dickerson has been hired in the IT/AV technician role with
Paul. He has been doing similar work for an organization that certifies scuba
trainers so he has some familiarity with associations and certification. He
also has extensive experience with graphic illustration and design and will
be a great help to Paul in putting out our publications and starting our efforts
in video production.
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.