1. Since July 1997, the section has sponsored (indicate number of each):
__ Meetings __ Workshops _1_ Conferences
_3_ Award Programs (three awards granted at the Conference)
1997 S. Kenneth Howard Award
1997 Aaron Wildavsky Award
1997 Graduate Student Paper Award
__ Other (please describe):
2. Were the above programs well attended?
_X_ Yes __ No
Comments: The attendance was right about the average for the conference - 140. The conference does not have the capacity to serve an audience much larger than 160 nor does the executive committee have the desire to expand the size of the conference. The sessions on Thursday and Friday are best attended with the Saturday morning sessions generally attended by out of towners who are taking advantage of cheaper airline rates.
3. Does the section publish a newsletter. If yes, please indicate its frequency of publication.
_X_ Yes _4_ times per year. __ No
4. The section leadership includes the following committees:
_X_ Membership Development
_X_ Conference Program
_X_ Membership Retention
_X_ Publications
_3_ Awards/Recognition
_X_ Nominating
__ Others (please list): Membership development and retention are the same committee. We have an ad hoc committee working on alternate sites for the conference.
5. Please describe the section's membership recruitment activities:
The membership chair, Paul Posner, sends a letter to new members, welcoming them and describing section activities and publications; a letter to members whose membership has expired at least 3 months previously to request that they reconsider; and a letter to ASPA members whose job title suggests that they have an interest in budgeting and financial management. All three have brought responses. The third one brought an immediate response from several ASPA members interested in section membership and has resulted in Paul seeking a way to allow section members to join during the middle of their membership year. We have adopted a logo, designed by Christine Jewett, which we will use ina planned membership brochure.
6. Please describe the section's membership retention activities. The second one letter, particularly, has resulted in a number who were not aware that their membership had lapsed, some who were angry with us because we were the messenger. Others are pleased that we have reminded them. We have kept no official counts.
8. (There is no 7!) Based on your observations, what have been the greatest difficulties experienced by the section in the last year.
Membership is a key issue with ABFM. We are concerned that whatever activities we undertake, the loss of membership in ASPA is a phenomenon that we cannot control. Therefore, we have undertaken positive efforts to retain and increase our membership. The membership drop also affects our finances and our ability to fund our conference adequately.
9. What assistance or services from the ASPA National Office do you believe would be beneficial to the section.
We received excellent services from John Larkin and Christine Jewett this past year in publicizing our conference. We could use more help with marketing and with designing our marketing.
Membership assistance. Make it easier for people to belong or join or retain membership. For example, we are exploring the possibility of mid-year section membership to accommodate ASPA members we have recruited. We'd like to offer a student membership to the section as these are the people who will be our future full members. This is not yet possible without our subsidizing student members.
10. Does the section publish a journal? If yes, please indicate its frequency of publication.
_X_ Yes, it is published _4_ times per year.
11. (Question applies only to chapters, not sections.)
12. As you may know, ASPA is in the process of making revisions to its strategic plan. A draft copy of the plan has been sent to all ASPA leaders. Please share any comments you may have about the proposed plan.