Women’s Division treasurer reports to directors
by YVETTE MOORE*
Click here to READ the Treasurer's Report to the Board of Directors.
Women's Division Treasurer Andrea Hatcher projected a smaller deficit at the close of 2006 than in 2005 in her report to directors meeting in Stamford, Ct., Oct. 5-9. Ms. Hatcher cited increases in giving, property sales, interest rates and investment income for the lower deficit.
Ms. Hatcher's report covered Women's Division financial performance for 2005 and the first eight months of 2006. While Mission Giving in 2005 was lower than 2004 by 7 percent ($1.4 million), the division's operating revenues decreased by half that amount because of increased income from investments. In the first eight months of 2006, Ms. Hatcher cited significant increases, compared to the same time period in 2005, in Mission Giving, designated giving, interest and investment income, bequests/gifts/contributions, and other revenue sources, including publications and rental income.
"Our time-proven revenue patterns record the lion's share of receipts in December of each year," Ms. Hatcher said. "Assuming that our receipt patterns remain relatively stable, it is projected that overall Mission Giving will exceed that of 2005, but still be lower than 2004."
Mission Giving was $16.84 million in 2005 and $18.23 million in 2004. It was $6.03 million as of August 2006, compared with $5.99 million in August 2005.
Ms. Hatcher also reported on special giving opportunities of 2005 and 2006. United Methodist Women members' generosity demonstrated in the Repairers of the Breach offerings garnered $39,030 in 2006 to help sisters in conferences in the Gulf Coast region after hurricanes in 2005, she said.
"Through your generosity, we have been able to assist two conferences -- Louisana and Mississippi -- to continue their work among the women of the Gulf Coast," Ms. Hatcher said. "They were able to attend regional school and provide scholarships for schools of Christian mission and annual meetings. Assistance was also provided to one of the mission institutions so that trailers, which were no longer functional, could be removed from the property to provide a more permanent structure for housing volunteers."
Assembly provided new giving opportunities for United Methodist Women. The Walk for Mission, which allowed women who attended Assembly and those who could not attend to raise mission money in walk-a-thons, generated more than $30,000. Also Mission Giving receptacles located throughout the Assembly exhibit hall and in workshops generated nearly $26,000.
Click here to READ the Treasurer's Report to the Board of Directors.
* Yvette Moore is Response managing editor