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This is the seventh in a series of occasional ASHA Executive Director Updates. Many thanks to those of you who have provided feedback regarding the previous updates, or suggestions for future ED updates.
This update focuses on ASHA National Office Efficiencies and Cost Savings Efforts in 2004. Like many other organizations, ASHA continuously faces the challenge of rising costs of operations. The staff who are budget managers for ASHA's programs and operational units routinely seek out and implement cost saving measures that enable the Association to continue to enhance the cost-effectiveness of our operations. Examples of some of the 2004 measures include:
- Further increased use of email and listservs for Committees/Boards/Councils/Working Groups to reduce postage costs.
- Continued use of the ASHA Web site as the primary source of information "24-7" for members and consumers, which also reduces printing and postage costs. Examples of information that is now downloadable from the web site include:
- Public Relations Handbook - savings + (approximately) $3,000-5,000 per year.
- Better Hearing and Speech Month materials - savings + $10,000 per year.
- Consumer Brochures - savings + $15,000 per year.
- Launched four new electronic newsletters ("e-zines") to enhance communications with member constituencies - with no printing or postage costs.
- Contracted with a new vendor for audio conferencing services at $.08 per minute less - savings + $10,000 per year.
- Discontinued fax on demand (material available on the web) - savings + $10,000 per year.
- Stopped outsourcing late dues renewal telemarketing, now done by Action Center staff - savings + $16,000 per year.
- Upgraded building security system and eliminated daytime guard - savings + $30,000 per year.
- Combined HVAC monitoring system with access control system - savings + $11,000 per year.
- Installed new water saving fixtures - savings + $10,000 per year.
- Retrofitted all florescent lights - savings + $25,000 per year.
- In-house printing of Certification Handbooks - savings + $30,000 per year.
- Negotiated purchase of paper at a bulk rate reducing cost to 1999 prices.
- Negotiated 6% decrease in UPS rate and switched to later pickup time (most orders are shipped the same day they are placed) - savings + $2,500 per year.
- Instituted electronic processing of return mail and address changes - savings + $18,000 per year.
- Revenue generated through the corporate sponsorship program helped to defray some Convention costs.
- Changed vendors for the Convention Call for Papers - savings + $65,000 in 2004.
- Revamped the Convention Program Book - savings + $60,000 in 2004.
- Negotiated complimentary future meeting space/sleeping rooms as part of contract with Marriott.
- Developed an in-house program to reduce Convention expenses that reduced: Federal Express expenses; number of signs ordered; number of computers and equipment ordered.
- Identified a low cost online survey package (cost per response is $.02 vs. $4.00 for a paper survey) - savings + $20,000-30,000 per year.
- Changed Omnibus Survey methodology - savings + $40,000 per year.
- Publications program selectively outsourced certain aspects of the journals process - freeing-up one full time position.
- Identified a way to deliver e-learning activities from a special section of the ASHA web site instead of using leased, proprietary software - savings + $9,000 per year.
- Established a process for entering self-study test results directly into the ASHA computer system - saving staff time.
National Office Staff Update
The following individuals are new to the ASHA Staff since November 2004:
- Shante Harris - Certification Case Manager
- Lemmietta McNeilly - Chief Staff Officer for Speech-Language Pathology
- Cynthia O'Brien - Financial Information Systems Analyst
- Larae Taylor - Administrative Assistant - Office of Multicultural Affairs and Continuing Education
- Linda Vaughan - Director of Audiology Practice Industry/Private
Several staff have relocated or left ASHA for other opportunities since November 2004:
- Charlemae Clarke - Scanner Operator
- Health Haynes - Director, Customer Service
- Michelle Fetsko-Liston - Assoc. Director Conventions and Meetings
- Neely Okopal - PR Manager
- Katharine Rankin - Director, CE Customer Accounts
- Brenda Siler - Director, Public Relations
- Hemali Vyas - Product Sales Agent
Recent ASHA National Office/Staff Awards:
- "Keep an Eye on your Ears" National Public Service Advertising Campaign received the Aesculapius Award (Top Honor) awarded by Health Improvement Institute for television public service announcement.
Next Executive Director Update - will begin a series covering "AACEIU" (the Academic Affairs, Accreditation, Certification, and Ethics Issues Unit)
Feedback please!!! Please let me know (apietranton@asha.org) if such information is of interest to you and what other topics or information you'd like to see included in future Executive Director Updates.
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