One other factor contributed to successful operation this year, as it has in other years. This factor does not show up in figures in a financial statement for the simple reason that the figures are modestly withheld from the treasurer. I refer to the out-of-pocket and unreported expenditures of officers and committeemen, which expenditures sometimes are sizeable. Certainly they were this year. The fact that such contributions were made should be noted.
The sum total of all this is a financial showing for the year that may be considered satisfactory. Our debts are all paid. No bonds were cashed. Nothing was borrowed. And we have money in the bank.
At this time last year we had a cash balance of $1313.78. Today our balance is $303.70. We spent $1,000 more than we took in. But we paid for two Annual Reports. The lesser report cost $1200. If this were subtracted from this year's business, where it does not belong, our cash balance would be $1500.00. In short, on this year's business—even with all its unusual expenses for promotion—our income was more than our disbursements—by $200.00. This reverses the deficit trend of recent years.
RECEIPTS
Membership Dues $3,638.05
Sale of Annual Reports 394.00
Advertising in Nutshell 110.00
Contributions 39.00
Interest on Government Bonds 37.50
_________
TOTAL $4,218.55
DISBURSEMENTS
42nd Annual Report (Urbana) $1,205.53
Printing (1000 copies) $1,050.00
Reporting (addi. billing) 97.05
Postage & Addressing 58.48
43rd Annual Report (Rockport) $1,760.72
Printing (1200 copies) $1,477.42
Envelopes, 800 19.60
Reporting 100.00
Postage & Addressing 163.70
The Nutshell
Printing, 4 issues 353.11
American Fruit Grower 39.00
73 Subscriptions at 50¢ 36.50
2 Subscriptions at 75¢ 1.50
1 Subscription at 1.00 1.00
Association Promotion 620.47
Application folder, printing 11,200 164.28
Stationery for Sub-Zero and V. P. campaigns 337.24
Mimeo Sub-Zero and follow-up, 1500 59.00
Postage, Things of Science 59.95
Secretary's Fee, 50¢ per member 517.50
1952-53 Fee to date 506.50
Balance of 1951-52 11.00
Stationery and Supplies 268.22
Secretary's Expense 315.87
Treasurer's Expense 143.21
Dues, American Horticultural Society 5.00
_________
TOTAL $5,228.63
Cash on deposit, First Bank, South Bend $ 303.70
Disbursements 5,228.63
_________
$5,532.33
On hand, August 18, 1952 $1,313.78
Receipts 4,218.55
_________
$5,532.33
U. S. Bonds in Safety Deposit Box $3,000.00
MR. PRELL: I am going to close right now with this information which the Association, I think, should have. The membership promotion consisted of a campaign called the "Vice-president's Campaign" sparkplugged by Mr. Best. Thousands of letters were sent out through the vice-president's and from the president's office to the membership. You may have received some of them. In addition to that, thousands of other letters were sent out to people who had responded to a story that appeared in Farm Journal wanting to know about the Association. I can't calculate how many went out, I have never been told, but I would guess about 5,000 of them. And those all went out from Mr. Best's office. In addition, our addressograph plate system was not in very good shape, due to the fact the organization was too poor to keep it up. Mr. Best supplied addressograph plates for the whole list.
I wrote to Mr. Best on April 27th, as I wanted all the bad news, and I wrote to some other people. I said, "You have not yet rendered a bill for postage on your mailing. Will you please make your request?" And he answered,
"I was surprised you asked about the postage charge from here. It has been my intent from the beginning of the campaign to carry the postage charge myself."