A Financial Account for our ASTD-Cascadia Chapter Members

A quick quiz to test your ASTD financial acumen:
(Note: Members do NOT have to be financial gurus to answer these questions!)

1) The total income for 2004 was:
a) $62,527
b) $84,612
c) $102, 314
d) None of the above

2) The ASTD-Cascadia Chapter Financials (year-end financial Statement) are posted on the organization’s web site.
a) True
b) False

3) The VP of Finance has lived in Portland for five years.
a) True
b) False

4) The VP of Finance is looking to recruit volunteers to serve on the Strategic Financial Committee. 
a) True
b) False

Financial Success

If you answered c for number one, you are correct…For the first time in Chapter history, the total income for 2004 exceeded the $100,000 mark! We owe this success to several programs, including the Annual Regional Conference, “Get a Head Start for Tomorrow … Today,” and the “Faster, Cheaper, Better: How to Design Performance-Based Training within Tight Budgets and Hectic Schedules” with Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thigarajan. Additionally, our members helped the Chapter to reach this significant goal through extensive attendance and support in 2004. Thanks to all of you for helping to achieve this monumental financial success!

Sharing our Figures

The ASTD-Cascadia Chapter Financials are posted on the web site; a gold star if you selected true for number two! You may reach these materials via the financial health link located on the home page. The Chapter’s financial documents are also listed on the Board of Directors page, where you can find other informative documents such as Annual Goals, Annual Report, and the Chapter’s Organization Chart. The 2005 Approved Budget is posted on the Financial Documents page; balancing at $106,300, this year’s budget appears to be quite robust! We look forward to utilizing our budget for quality programs this year. It is also our goal to share the financial data with our members via the web site and other methods. We are open to your feedback about the most effective techniques to do so; please feel free to email me with your ideas. Many thanks to our Business Manager, Kathleen Bergquist, for helping to prepare and post our financial documents. 

A Fresh Perspective

If you answered a) to number three, you are incorrect, for I moved to Portland in June 2004. However, I spent many several years volunteering with the Tucson, AZ Old Pueblo Chapter where I assisted with the finances, chapter programming, and member development. Simultaneously, I was serving as the Learning and Development Manager at a local Health Resort and Spa while working towards my MBA. While this degree has significantly guided me towards my new role as VP of Finance, I certainly have lots to learn (as most of us do) and am looking for volunteers for our committee…

We Want You!

Yes, we truly do want you to join the new Financial Review Committee! Note, you do not have to be a financial wiz; I am looking for passionate members who are interested in helping to guide the chapter’s financial goals, policies, and strategy. This could be a terrific stretch opportunity to enhance your financial skills…I know I have learned a tremendous amount from my own experience thus far! 

Upcoming projects include conducting internal and external financial reviews, updating financial policies, and helping to develop the 2006 Budget. The preliminary meeting of the Strategic Financial Committee will be held Thursday, March 10, 6:00 pm, at Starbucks located in the Governor Hotel Lobby (611 SW 11th St).

Interested or curious to learn more? Call or email. I’ll gladly answer your questions and explain how a few hours a month can contribute to our Chapter’s continued financial success.

Liza Greene
VP of Finance
liza@mblgroup.com

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