1.
Executive Director
Update
by the Executive Director
Tim Merriman, Executive
Director
Budget
and Cash Flow
Membership is up to 5,000 again, our all time high. However, the membership income
for fall is substantially off. We are not realizing the gains from NIW signups
by non-members that we usually get. We have no members whatever in Mobile and
only 22 in all of Alamaba. We rely on moving the NIW around to build membership.
If attendance at NIW 05 is low as it appears it may be, we may not get the Region
3 growth that we usually get from such an event. Cash flow is very good at this
time of the year and most budget categories are doing well.
Building
Heath Construction is trying to get us a permanent Certificate of Occupancy
since the property adjacent is under construction and our parking area
should be done within the next 8 months. Our Temporary CO just expired
and this requires renewal every six months. The building is now out of
warranty so all repairs are at our expense.
Consults
and Grants
We received the $25,000 check from the Boettcher foundation for the building
fund and it will be applied to our mortgage with Wells Fargo Bank. We are making
great progress on the Definitions Project and will have our first meeting with
the participants in Fort Collins on January 5 and 6. We will also apply for
another Bohemian Grant to support the training of planners in Fort Collins.
Legacy
Trust Fund
The Legacy Trust Fund now has $78,078 in gifts since first of the year with
many other gifts pending. Boettcher Foundation's $25,000 brought us close to
our $80,000 goal for the year. This brings the total for the campaign to $424,219.
Julie continues to work with major donor prospects while also writing grant
proposals. For
more information on Legacy Trust Fund click here.
Networking
Lisa and I recently spent 12 vacation days in China doing training with 28
national park and refuge managers from all over the country. On the last
day we had lunch with the Director of the China Construction Bureau, the
Director of National Parks, Assistant Director of National Parks, and Executive
Director of the their National Parks Cooperating Association. They expressed
an interest in a long term relationship with NAI and plan on sending a
delegation to the Interpreting World Heritage Conference in Puerto Rico
in 2006.
Staff
Changes
Russ Dickerson started with NAI as the IT and AV technician on September 6.
He also assists Paul with design and illustration activities. Please get acquainted
with Russ as you have the time.
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.