Michigan Bird and Game Breeders Association 

January 30, 2012

Greetings,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this message.  Because of many factors (economy, gas prices, mailing cost, etc) MBGBA is in financial difficultly.  For the last several years we have struggled to stay ahead and keep our non-profit group in the black.  We have done things like raise the sellers fee at swap meets, (we are still charging much less than other big group swaps that charge for profit)  reduced newsletter publications to 6 per year, went to 3^rd class bulk mailing(we have since had to go back to 1^st class because it was taking a month for members to get their newsletters), and reduced club donations to groups like Potter Park Zoo, and Kellogg’s Nature Center.  Even with all of these reductions the cost to run MBGBA is more than what the club brings in.  There are less sellers (and less buyers) at the swaps, there are less classified ads and there are less members.  I realize that the internet is a great tool—But many people have stopped paying for a membership because they can get the information they need from the internet.  If we continue down this road, our group will run out of funds and be forced to dismantle.  I do not want to see this happen.

Please take the time to review the Treasure’s Report---and RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!!!! Do this before we have to send out postcards.  Also-take the time to get someone you know to join our club.  If each one of us got someone new to sign up, our club could get back on track.

Let’s make 2012 the Best Year Ever.

Sincerely,

Jeff Hedrick

**Congratulations to Dennis Thorpe of Lake Ann MI.  He is the lucky winner of a 2013 membership to MBGBA.  Dennis was 1 of 121 members who had renewed their membership as of Dec. 31, 2011.