<VV> Dues Increase

[tim mahler]

VV land

I do not consider VV to be a great place for these discussions -- but since 
it is here  .

I will like to add that dues have been on the boards agenda for over a year. 
The budget was discussed at length last year at this time.  The solution 
then was the same as now -- dues will need to be increased to cover 
expenses.  I think the board discussed dues in 2006 as well.  It has been 
put off too long.

As to fat.    CORSA has changed printers, and most recently changed the 
number of pages to optimize the printing set up expenses.  It has been 
trimmed a lot.  Not much fat left,  any more and it will be tough as heck. 
Postage is outside CORSA's control.  Insurance has been shopped around, but 
chapters wanted more coverage,  with added some back.  For the Chapters, 
insurance is much cheaper.
Most of the office supplies are lower now than 5 years ago.

Expenses have ONLY risen 2.5% in 5 years. Considering how much Postage has 
increase , this is remarkable.

The problem is revenue --  revenue is primarily membership dues.  membership 
has fallen as it has (in general) for the last 20 or 25 years.  Lots of 
attempts have been made to reverse that trend.

Choices. -- pay a little more each year.  OR eliminate 2-3 Communiques (or 
more);  OR stop mailing the Communique  OR fill half  the Communique with 
ads -- IF we can find people to advertise.

BTW:  The 2007 operating loss was around $10,000.  2006 the loss was over 
$16,000.  2005 the loss was just under $3,000.  2004 saw a 500 profit.   The 
deficit for 2008 will be over $20,000  mostly because of printing and 
postage (Communique AND membership renewals).

We waited too long to raise dues,     Fat HAS been trimmed.   The next thing 
to be cut is meat and bones -- services.  And we may need to do that even 
with the dues increase.  In fact,  I am pretty sure we will.  Hopefully, 
when it comes to that, it will not be overly painful. But first things 
first,  stablize the organization.

tim mahler