February 16, 2006
This is another in a series of occasional ASHA Executive Director updates. These updates are intended to provide ASHA members with a more in-depth view of various National Office units, their key member services and the names and roles of ASHA staff in those units. Information about staff changes and ASHA National Office recognitions/awards is also included.
Many thanks to those of you who have provided feedback regarding the previous updates, or suggestions for future ED updates.
This update focuses on 2005 ASHA National Office Efficiencies and Cost Savings Efforts
Examples of 2005 Cost Savings:
Communications:
- Discontinued Spring Supplement to The ASHA Leader (contained new policy documents, Code of Ethics, etc.) in favor of making the ASHA Web site the official repository of policy documents. Savings is approximately $100,000 annually. Also discontinued printed Desk Reference containing all policy documents since sales were low and Web site more current.
- Reduced frequency of The ASHA Leader from 22 to 17 issues and adopted a PDF workflow saving $145,000. At the same time, total ad revenue for the Leader increased by $40,500 over 2004.
- Expanded use of e-mail instead of paper mail resulting in additional savings on postage and paper (e.g., some announcements and communications to accredited programs were communicated via the on-line Access Academics and Researchers e-zine rather than through direct mailings).
- Expanded use of the ASHA Web site (e.g., 2005 ASHA Convention session handouts posted on the Web site) resulting in reduced photocopying and mailing costs.
- Reduced mailing costs by including information in Division newsletters instead of sending it via a special mailing.
Convention:
- Despite higher paper costs and an increase in both copy and page count, the cost of the Convention program plus "grids" increased by only 5% this year. Savings of $12,500 were attributed to use of a PDF workflow, selection of a lower priced paper stock, and drop shipping. Total advertising revenues exceeded expenses by more than $22,000.
- Change in vendors resulted in a no-cost ASHA Daily and Exhibits Guide at Convention for an $8,700 savings over 2004.
- Revised various Convention-related past practices: decreased the number of rented on-site computers; chose "timeless" giveaways so that extras could be distributed at later dates.
- Reevaluated the purpose and effectiveness of the Minority Student Get-Together reception; outcome was to eliminate the networking reception and provide students with a gift (net decrease in expenses).
- Careful attention to the numbers of items shipped to (and returned from) the 2005 Convention; resource materials distributed at Convention directed members to a specific location on the ASHA Web site, decreased paper and postage costs.
Professional Programs
- Substantially increased revenue and decreased expenses:
- Overall number of programs completed in 2005 increased by 40% (from 8,833 in 2004 to 12,402 in 2005, not including Convention): journal self-studies increased by 56% (from 2,309 to 3,600); telephone seminar completions increased by 57% from 3,106 to 4,884. Two blockbuster telephone seminars (one on childhood apraxia and one on response to intervention) logged more than 1,300 completions each!
- Gross program revenue increased from $1.3 million in 2004 to $1.55 million in 2005.
- Increased use of low-cost blast emails (vs. mailings) to promote live programs (especially telephone seminars).
- Journal self-studies available online, reducing costs of printing, shelving, packing, and shipping.
Surveys and Information
- Implemented use of a low cost Web-based survey package. Cost per response was $.06 in 2004 and $.04 in 2005 vs. $5.29 for a paper survey - savings of $17,800 in 2004 and $89,000 in 2005.
- A change in the former Omnibus Survey methodology saves approximately $40,000 per year and allows the conduct of two, versus one, comprehensive surveys each year.
Finances
- Set up an online treasury management system to monitor the Automated Clearing House (ACH) account for postage, health and 401(K) for a savings of $2,500.
- New National Office building:
- Managed cash flow very tightly, postponing the need to borrow; savings of $50,000 in 2005.
- Worked with a consultant to conduct a Request For Proposals (RFP) competition for the building financing. Savings of $500,000 in lower proposed interest rates (vs. the published commercial rates) over the life of the loan.
- Negotiated a loan that is several basis points lower than bank's original proposal; savings of $84,000 over the life of the loan.
- Selected a repayment schedule that accelerated principal repayments; savings of $2,500,000 over the life of the loan.
National Office Operations:
- Retired the "ASHA Grey Van", with associated reductions in insurance costs, gas, maintenance, and registration fees for an annual savings of $5,000; tighter scheduling of ASHA's two minivans eliminated the need to replace the grey van.
- Implemented an electronic requisition and purchase order system; resulted in greater internal control, eliminated manual redundancies in processing, and reduced outside printing costs.
- Negotiated reinstatement of expired phone cards - savings $2,000.
- Increased the number of catering vendors and negotiated prices to keep the lunch costs at $15 per person for committee and board meetings at the National Office (note: the cost per person has not changed for the past 10 years).
- Changed to a postage system that transfers funds when needed vs. being held in deposit by the vendor - $10,000 savings.
- Switched from FedEx to UPS for a savings of $15,000+ per year; with UPS equipment two people can work simultaneously.
- Emphasis is on maintaining the current National Office building in good working order through the relocation date of Fall 2007 and expending as little money as possible on building upkeep and repairs. No capital budget money was used in 2005.
Other:
- Enrolled in Medicare Part D subsidy for providing drug benefits to ASHA staff retirees; savings of $6,000.
Additional Efficiencies:
- Implemented an online tutorial for CE Administrators; CE Administrators can refer to the tutorial 24/7 if they need a refresher on how to file a form or complete a process; saves staff time.
- CE providers can now file participant forms electronically saving the providers and the CE program time and money.
- Replaced postal checks for mailing of The ASHA Leader with wire transfers to a USPS CAPS account; allows ASHA to hold and collect interest on the funds for a longer time and simplifies postal accounting.
- Used a postcard for the second dues notices vs. a duplicate invoice; saved staff time (fewer duplicate payments and no need to insert material in envelopes).
- Outsourced the Convention CEU process resulting in saving of staff time in December and January and faster turn around time to post convention CEUs to transcripts.
National Office Staff Updates
The following individuals are new to the ASHA staff since November 2005:
Deb Darcy - Director, Grassroots Advocacy
Evelyn Dompencial- Financial Information Systems Analyst
Susan Frey - Instructional Designer, Prof. Ed. Service Cluster
Tom Jelen - Director, Web and Knowledge Strategy
Ghazala Osman - Registration Manager, Conventions and Meetings
Paula Seesman, Director, Customer Service
Jason Pasatiempo - Accounts Payable Specialist
The following staff have changed positions within ASHA:
Annette Gorey - Public Relations Specialist (formerly Senior Administrative Assistant to Chief Staff Officers for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology)
Karen Graham - Internet Content Developer (formerly Assistant Content Developer)
Yingtao Zhu - Staff Accountant (formerly Accounts Payable Specialist)
The following individuals have left ASHA to pursue other opportunities:
Gretchen Gould, Librarian - ASHA National Center for Evidence-Based Practice in Communication Disorders
Dominica Groom - Governance Technology and Project Coordinator
William Jones - Administrative Assistant, Science and Research
Sarah Lawrie - Manager, CE Registry
Judy Levinson - IS, Programmer, Analyst
Alina Paz - Director, Audiology Pediatric Practices
John Savage - Manager, Distribution Center
Betty Somerville - Assoc. Director, Continuing Education Customer Accounts
Linda S. Vaughan - Director AUD Practice, Industry/Private
Emily D. Yeh, - Sr. Accountant
Recent ASHA and ASHA National Office/Staff Awards:
Minority Health Leadership Award - On January 10, 2006, ASHA received the first Minority Health Leadership Award from the Office of Minority Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Minority Health Leadership Award is for "a private or non-profit entity with demonstrated vision, innovation, creativity, and leadership in developing opportunities or investing in effective models for improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities." The nomination cited ASHA's efforts to eliminate health disparities by preventing speech, language, and hearing disorders whenever possible; increasing the awareness of available services; ensuring that professionals have the skills needed to provide culturally competent services; and recruiting (and retaining) underrepresented minorities into the professions.
IACET Licensed Standards User - ASHA was recently recognized by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) as an IACET Licensed Standards User (LSU). ASHA is one of the first organizations to receive this designation from IACET. Recognition of the ASHA CE Program by IACET serves to further enhance the recognition of ASHA CEUs with licensing and certifying agencies that regulate speech-language pathologists, audiologists and speech/language/hearing scientists.
Stefanie Reeves (ASHA's Director of Political Advocacy) appointed to the Board of Directors of the Washington Government Relations Group, an organization of African American government relations professionals. In addition to being a member of the board, Stefanie will serve as secretary.
Neil Snyder (ASHA's Director of Federal Advocacy) elected Vice President of the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) for 2006. CEF is a coalition of more than 100 educational groups representing a broad spectrum of the education community that advocates for increased federal funding of education.
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