Message from the Treasurer
What a great time we had in Killarney! All of you who were there became part of a successful, absolutely professional musical event in a small town in south west of the so-called “green island”.
The LOC Ireland under Chairperson Fergus O’Carroll did everything for us to feel comfortable, they did everything to have an immensely high artistic level — and they succeeded!
As treasurer, I am also responsible for the membership, and it was wonderful for me to finally see faces belonging to the names which I have on my screen when you are paying your dues.
At our last meeting in Chicago 2006, Executive Director Leon Bly said, “this is the first time that WASBE has money at the end of a year!” Now, why do we have this money? The reason is that we had an enormous number of sponsors during the last 2 years.
World Projects has sponsored WASBE the last two years with a lot of money for our Newsletters, the WASBE Reception at Midwest in Chicago, Commissioning Projects, Advertisement, the Opening Ceremony in Killarney and they have already agreed to sponsor us with an approximate total of 25,000 USD from 2007-2009.
Biblioservice Gelderland and Bert Aalders saved us a lot of money by sponsoring Newsletters; by printing Membership Cards, Annual Dues Statements, and Membership Register; and by travelling to WASBE meetings without charge.
Musikverlag Kliment, Gobelin Music, and De Haske sponsored Newsletters.
Jim Cochran & Shattinger Music, and Adams Percussion sponsored equipment for the Killarney Conference.
The LOC Ireland sponsored the Midwest Receptions each of the last 2 years.
President Bert Aalders has an incredible talent to search and (much more important) to find sponsors. I have already asked him to continue in that manner in his role as Past President!
Sponsorships totalled approximately the sum of 56,000.00 USD. Thanks to all who supported WASBE in the last years and will continue to do so, WASBE is now able to discuss the possibility of some bigger projects.
In the WASBE Budget 2006 and 2007, I expected the sum of income from Membership Dues to be 120,000 USD. On June 30, 2007 the Credit of Dues was 82,114 USD, so we are lucky to have all the sponsors.
WASBE has now 103 Life Members and a total of 801 members are registered in 2007. As of July 31, 2007 we have 88 new members.
At the Killarney Conference for the first time we had a New Members meeting with the theme “New Members – We Want To Hear From You!” It was quite a successful event with a lot of good discussion and good ideas from new members who want to be a part of WASBE, want to serve on committees, and be a part of our network.
Let me invite you all to keep in contact with the Board. But especially let me invite all of the Board to keep our ears in the direction of our members, keep our ears and eyes into direction of the future of Wind Band Music. We need it!
At the end of my report let me remind you:
- About changes regarding the Articles of
Association:
“Life Membership shall be available to members who have been active in the Association for a period of not less than ten years and are 65 years of age or older. Effective in 2008, the Life Membership fee will be USD 200.” - To save over the next days and weeks a little sum to renew your membership when you receive the “Annual Dues Statement 2008” from me in late Fall!
Thanks to all of you who trust in my work as WASBE Treasurer and thanks for your patience, especially at the beginning of my work.
And thanks to Glenn Price who has appointed me as Treasurer during his period as President of WASBE.
Remember: Leon Bly appointed me. So if you are content with my work, tell Leon. If not, tell me.
You can be sure: the eye will keep looking!
©2007 WASBE