FY 2011 Budget

Some of you are aware that there is a motion in front of the Executive Board to approve the FY 2011 budget. Keeping in mind that changes can be made to the budget during the General Board meeting in Reno, and that this proposed budget includes a dues increase that MUST be ratified by the General Board, having the Executive Board approve this budget does send the message that the EB approves of running the organization in the manner proposed by these expenditures and revenues.

Of course, the dues increase is the highly controversial part of the proposed budget, and it is highly tempting to blame the dues increase entirely on the passage last fall of the bylaws amendment prohibiting membership in competing GSD organizations and the subsequent loss in membership. According to the numbers I’ve seen (and many of you have seen them too, on USA-GSD and elsewhere), that drop does not account for the shortfall facing USA. The loss of a $35,000 sponsorship from Royal Canin is where the hole lies. The officers tell us they have also cut about $6000 in expenses from last year’s budget, and although we (the rest of the EB) weren’t provided a copy of last year’s to compare, I can tell you that expenses are comparable overall. The proposed budget does provide a “cushion” of about $17,000 (about 3%), some of which is proposed to be used for badly needed upgrades to a variety of record-keeping and electronic database functions (a need I personally soundly endorse). An earlier proposal to spend $15,000 on a website facelift was withdrawn so more bids could be solicited, but that subject has not resurfaced. The other interesting data is from VP Craig Groh, who pointed out we haven’t had an increase in membership dues in 14 years, and that the intervening inflation makes $60 in 1996 worth $85 now.

The punch line is that the voting on this ballot closes at midnight Wednesday night, and I have been holding off waiting to get this message out and get some feedback. I will tell you that I am sorely tempted to vote NO based on the fact that in a downturned economy it is inappropriate to consider “Cadillac dues for a Buick product” (with all due apologies to you Buick fans out there). I would consider a dues increase of 50% and a flat budget, with the idea that a successful bid for further sponsorship dollars could be used to cover additional upgrades to our electronics as well as for further educational and enrichment activities like fighting MSN and BSL issues.

Please let me know your thoughts on this. Relevant info on the proposal and the attached budget can be found at: http://www.germanshepherddog.com/members/index.htm#EBallots.

Yours in the sport,
WJ

PS – This year’s budget includes $25000 in new income and $25000 in new expenses arising from the new policy of USA providing basal support for the WDC and Nationals. Thus, if you just look at the totals, it appears we are spending and receiving more money than last year but these two things more or less cancel out unless the two national events are utter disasters.