Strengthening your Organization

For AFS Chapter and Section Leaders

April 28 and May 1, 2015

Dan Cassidy / Tom Bigford / Doug Austen

Agenda

What’s up @ AFS and how it impacts your Organization

Financial, Tax and Risk Management

Final Thoughts …

Contact Information

What’s Up @ AFS-AFS on the Move

Policy and Advocacy Activities:

Capitol Hill briefings - 3 events on marine fisheries

Joint effort with CASS – National Wetlands Month briefing

Partnerships with CERF and its regional affiliates

RAE-The Coastal Society joint summit

Coastal Management special issue on fish habitat conservation

NFHP symposium at AFS-Portland re habitat conservation efforts

Partnership with CLF and NRDC re marine wilderness areas

Newspaper opinion pieces

Monthly policy columns in Fisheries magazine

What’s Up @ AFS-AFS on the Move

AFS Annual Meeting, August 15-20, Portland, OR

Registration Opens TODAY

Expecting over 3,500 attendees -- hotel rooms are selling fast

104 Symposia; 400+ papers; 400+ posters

10 Continuing Education programs- 8 of them New!

Many exciting opportunities for Networking

Spread the Word!

http://2015.fisheries.org/

What’s Up @ AFSMembership and More

Membership Recruitment and Engagement

Results of 50% off dues promotion = 277 new AFS members

Have not translated in Chapter-Section joins (opportunities for recruitment)

New Member Newsletter and Engagement Campaign

4 Themes: Member Discounts, Networking, Education and Meetings

The Society that Made Fish Famous – Offering Savings and Benefits You Can Use Today!

Thanks again for joining the AFS community. We want to make you feel welcome and make sure you are taking advantage of all the benefits your

new AFS membership offers.

What’s Up @ AFSMembership and More

Contact AFS for list of new members in your state

Share chapter only member list with AFS, at least annually

Make sure your officers are members of AFS, it’s required!

Division Rebates + Chapter and Section Dues Remittances

Being distributed starting this week

AFS and Units Web Site Previews

The FIRST preview of the new sites

AFS Main site; Layout for Unit sites

What’s Up @ AFSWeb Site Preview (Top Secret)

What’s Up @ AFSMembership Database Upgrade

A few examples …

New Communities Module

Lists the member's communities

Announcements and resources

Member's recent activity

Connections to social networking sites

Private communities for special interest groups and peer-to-peer communications

Improvements to Member Directory

New search capabilities by chapter, section and division

What’s Up @ AFSCommunications Study

AFS retained Potomac Communications Group (PCG)

PCG interviewed a diverse mix of stakeholders; Conducted traditional media audit and social media mapping

Developed list of objectives and goals, including a creating reliable system for sharing information with chapters and sections

Worked with AFS Governing Board crafting set of consistent Key Messages

Defined an Action Plan of Communication Strategies and Tactics

AFS will hold a Board follow up session at the Portland meeting and review implementation plan and resource requirements

Considering the appropriate vehicle for seeking wider input from membership

What’s Up @ AFSCommunications Study - Outcomes

Areas of Need-

Improve the consistency and quality of information being circulated to members, thus enhancing the value of AFS membership.

Better define AFS’s messages to the organization’s membership, potential members and other targeted individuals and groups.

Reinforce AFS’s status as the primary and most beneficial membership society for fisheries professionals.

Increase AFS’s influence with external groups and individuals, such as policymakers and other important leaders and advocates.

FinancialAnnual Tax Filing

Small Tax Filing of Form 990-N (e-Postcard)

Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less

Filed electronically

https://epostcard.form990.org/

Due date – May 15 for December 31 year-end

due every year by the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of tax year

No penalty for late filing but …

Group Tax Exemption maintenance

Risk losing tax exemption if organization does not file Form 990 for 3 consecutive years

Will have to apply for reinstatement separately from AFS

FinancialInformation Needed to File e-Postcard Completing the e-Postcard requires eight items:

Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

Tax year

Legal name and mailing address

Any other names the organization uses

Name and address of a principal officer

Web site address if the organization has one

Confirmation that the organization’s annual gross receipts are $50,000 or less

If applicable, a statement that the organization has terminated or is terminating (going out of business)

FinancialInvestment-Management of Unit Funds

Professional account management with AFS investment committee oversight

Long-term focused- allocation is 73% equities; 20% fixed; 7% cash

Account performance 10 year avg annual return = 8.8% versus the benchmark index of 7.6%.

Criteria Minimum investment amount of $10,000

Time horizon should be minimum of three years.

Additional funds can be added to the account at any time.

A 30-day notice should be provided in advance of withdrawal of funds.

Application From is available

Financial Risk ManagementAFS Insurance Program

General Liability insurance program Includes: Slip/fall, Products, Personal (Libel/Defamation), Advertising, Hired

auto

$4M aggregate coverage with annual cost = $150

Policy year October – October

Does not include- Directors and Officers Liability

Crime / Property

Employee Practices (harassment and discrimination)

Event cancellation

How to file a claim: Travelers: 1-800-238-6225

Final Thoughts …

Make sure your organization’s tax form is filed each year (and let us know when you’ve filed)!!!

Encourage chapter-section only members join AFS by promoting the Annual Meeting

Heads-up for info about Member Communities and Communications Study

Consider participating in the AFS investment and insurance programs

Follow AFS on social media- it strengthens the Chapter-AFS connection and is another reposting source for news, alerts and information.

Share your organization’s year end financial report with AFS

AFS Contact: Jasmine Sewell, jsewell@fisheries.org

Contact Information

Tom Bigford, Policy Director

tbigford@fisheries.org

301-897-8616 x207

Daniel Cassidy, Deputy Executive Director

dcassidy@fisheries.org

301-897-8616 x214

Jasmine Sewell, Units Coordinator

jsewell@fisheries.org

301-897-8616 x205

Eva Przygodski, Membership Manager

eprzygodski@fisheries.org

301-897-8616 x203