Update by the Executive Director
Tim Merriman, Executive Director
February 2007

Audit, Budget and Cash Flow
Changes and updates on surplus revenue from 2006 left us with a final net surplus of roughly $196,000 from all activities. The final audit report in summer will incorporate other adjustments to give us a report to the IRS on Form 990 and audited statement for any grant givers.

Business Plan
The 2007 Business Plan is our first using a logic model with projected output, outcome and impact objectives. We believe the conservative budget and clear model for success will make it a good year next year.

Grants
We will work on the second phase of the EPA/NPS grant this year to make what was learned through Sara Melena’s study of nature and environmental centers more accessible. This will likely be through a website that can provide access to data she collected while collecting additional information from respondents.

Definitions Project
This project has been completed except for going live with the website that shares the resulting glossary. We expect to have this up and accessible by anyone in March, 2007.

InterpPress
We have two prospective books for 2007 under review and will finalize contracts for those by summer if reviews are appropriate and final manuscripts meet our standards for publication. Amazon now sells each of our titles and book sales through them are growing. American Association of Museums and Acorn Naturalists are our two biggest wholesale buyers at this time.

Investments
NAI owed about $560,000 on the mortgage for the building at the end of 2006. Our Legacy Trust Fund investments produced $14,605 in 2006, our best year ever for growth of $100,000 in investments.

Journal of Interpretation Research
We do not have our first manuscript for editing yet but Carolyn Ward has indicated she has had many submissions and should be able to turn out both issues this year on time.

Networking
I participated in a National Preservation Trust planning meeting in Denver in early February with broad participation from their networks. I led the NAI Ecotour to Ecuador in January which produced $3900 in revenue, while providing a very high quality experience to participants. Lisa and I also taught a CIP course in January and CIT in early February.

Travel Plans
My upcoming travel may be viewed here.