Members Only

Dear ACCA Members,

I trust this finds you well and happily working away at your consulting practise.  The ACCA board and committee members have been working away at a new Strategic Plan 2015-18 and three year budget which is now available on the website (My ACCA > Members Only News).The new plan calls for the organization to raise the ACCA profile by securing paid ads and sponsorships with select target associations that often provide work for our members.  To undertake this new activity increased revenues are required.  It is also prudent fiscal planning to gradually rebuild an accumulated surplus for future initiatives.

When you receive your next ACCA membership renewal invoice, you will notice there has been a modest increase to our annual dues.  Please see below for the detailed background on this decision by the Board that will ensure the long term financial sustainability of our association.

Best wishes for a successful year ahead.

Sandra Thomson
President

 ACCA Membership Dues Increase

NOTICE OF INCREASE TO ACCA MEMBERSHIP DUES

FINAL Draft January 22, 2016 for approval at Feb. 9th meeting.
If approved this notice would go out to members right away and the fee increase would be effective March 1, 2016.

Membership Dues:

• The ACCA Board has approved changes to the current membership dues structure as an investment by the members to build upon the organizations work to date.
• The fee for 2015 was $100.
• The new membership dues will be as follows:
  • $150 for 2016
  • $160 for 2017
  • $165 for 2018
• At the request of those members who are no longer fully active as consultants, a new category of Retired Member has been added at $50 per year.

New Activity:       

• The new strategic plan (2015-18) was created by the Board at its retreat in the Fall of 2015, and builds upon the earlier strategic approaches identified by the Board in 2011. The new plan calls for the organization to raise the ACCA profile by securing paid ads and sponsorships with select target associations that often provide work for our members.  To undertake this new activity increased revenues are required.  It is also prudent fiscal planning to gradually rebuild an accumulated surplus for future initiatives.

Background:      

• ACCA membership dues were set in 2005 at $100. The dues remained at that level for the first ten years of operations.
• As the membership has grown, the need for part time administrative support has also grown.  The contract for the secretariat has increased in 2015 from 10 hours per month to 20 hours per month.
• Benefits to members and the organizations impact have grown in the past decade. ACCA members now reside across all regions of the country.  In the most recent survey members reported that their work activity occurs in all 10 provinces and 2 territories.  ACCA’s bi-monthly Exchange has increased readership and outreach to a broader spectrum of the arts and culture sector. Knowledge Exchange events are organized in the regions.

Surplus:

• Over the first eight years ACCA was able to generate a small annual surplus which was accumulated until 2014.  That year the board voted to spend up to $5000 of the surplus on the website redesign and spread the cost over two fiscal years.  This was done and reduced the accumulated surplus to under $1,000.  The surplus will now be rebuilt over the next few years.

ACCA Bylaws SECTION 3 – MEMBERSHIP DUES AND TERMINATION

3.01     Membership Dues

Membership dues shall be established by the board of directors.  Members shall be notified in writing of the membership dues at any time payable by them and, if the dues are not paid within the time specified in the renewal notice, the members in default shall automatically cease to be members of the Corporation.

The Membership Recruitment & Retention Committee currently has a vacancy. The MRRC meets four times a year and is responsible for:

• determining content for member surveys
• recommending membership categories
• organizing Member Knowledge Exchange events and
• actively contacting consultants who might be prospective members of ACCA

If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact the MRCC chair, Virginia Stephen at vstephen.pearse@gmail.com.

ACCA’s 8th Annual General Meeting was held on September 18th
at the offices of Young Associates.

Thank you to all who attended!

 Download the 2015 AGM Materials

Dear ACCA Members:

ACCA is seeking individuals who can offer leadership, insight and commitment to serve on our Board of Directors and Board Committees and advance professional arts consulting.

There are three positions open on the Board of Directors.

Board members are expected to participate in Board meetings and initiatives (usually held monthly by teleconference); to participate in at least one Board Committee/Sub-Committee (approximately 6-10 teleconference meetings a year); to participate in ACCA events (such as professional development and Knowledge Exchange by teleconference or in person); and to actively encourage membership and engagement in the organization. 

Additional members are sought for the following Board Committees:

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Provides overall guidance and direction for website, marketing, member communications, and ACCA event promotion.

PROGRAMMING (PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT)
Recommends and organizes professional development workshops and seminars for ACCA membership.

MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Recommends and organizes services for ACCA members.

Committee members are expected to participate in Committee meetings and initiatives (approximately 6-8 teleconference meetings a year); to participate in ACCA events (such as professional development and Knowledge Exchange by teleconference or in person); and to actively encourage membership and engagement in the organization.

We encourage you to self-nominate, and to encourage your colleagues to self-nominate, by Friday, July 31, 2015.  Nominees must be ACCA members in good standing.  ACCA’s Board of Directors shall be elected at the AGM on September 18, 2015 and Committee composition will be approved at a following meeting of the Board.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me:

Carrie Brooks-Joiner

Chair, Nominating Committee
cbrooksjoiner@gmail.com

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