16-05-2013, 11:57 AM
MAA FOCUS - Secretary’s Report
MAA FOCUS.pdf (Size: 923.27 KB / Downloads: 21)
I am pleased to report that in general the MAA is
doing well. Although membership is down slightly,
retention is fairly high and the activity level of our core
members has been outstanding. The programs and activities
at the Carriage House continue to be of the highest
quality and many are available to all via the internet.
The MAA Board of Governors met on January 4th and
spent quite a bit of time discussing budgetary issues.
The economic situation in the country has affected the
MAA. Our investments lost money but less than many
others did. We are strong, but in this environment we
need to consider carefully what our priorities are. The
2008 budget shows a deficit, but the deficit will be
about $100,000 less than we had budgeted. The staff
worked with the Budget Committee, chaired by Richard
Cleary, to find ways to reduce the deficit that had been
anticipated when the 2009 budget was presented to the
Executive Committee in May 2008.
The Board approved a modest increase in dues for
2010, while keeping student dues at the same level as
2009. Members may recall that there was no increase in
dues from 2008 to 2009. In a recent change announced
by the staff, gratis memberships to students who have
presented their research at section meetings will no longer
be offered. Sections are urged to offer their own incentives to
students who give talks at meetings.
As we speak of priorities, it is important to note that we are
still engaged in what we hope will be a continuous strategic
planning process. New groups now are actively working on
Cycle III in the areas of STEM issues, periodicals and communications,
meetings, and sections. In every case, we have
kept the working groups small but we have tried to involve
the membership and the leadership in focus groups to help in
charting the course for the Association. Now more than ever,
we are using these reports to help us set priorities for the Association.