The good news is that TLNA is in sound financial condition. Our financial resources have been steadily growing due to years of fund raising, (especially the persistent efforts of Membership Chair, Richard Linster), and to good fiscal management of the organization.. So starting from a strong position, how can we make our neighborhood organization even more effective?

Recently the TLNA Finance Committee (Tim Olsen, Richard Linster, and Alf Meyer) met to draw up a proposed annual budget. Our intent is to develop and detail the organization's strategy for managing our assets, and to provide a guide for the present year's financial activity.

Additionally, we want this document to stimulate and encourage thought, discussion and action about things that can be done to improve our neighborhood. We invite and welcome your comments and suggestions about this proposed budget, which details the annual income and expense items of TLNA

You will notice that the Newsletter and Social Events are essentially self-

sustaining activities. The two major income sources are membership dues and bank interest; these items cover our administrative/organizational costs and continue the growth of our Capital Fund. We have included a "Committee Expense & Publicity" item so that the members of our various committees will know that the organization stands behind their efforts. No committee members win incur personal financial costs due to their participation.

A significant item is the Capital Fund expense, which is a way of saying that we are continuing to accumulate some neighborhood capital. Allowing for a contingency reserve fund, we have about ten thousand dollars in the Capital Fund. We want to continue to increase this amount while we consider how such a resource can be used to make significant improvements for our neighborhood. Might this fund help facilitate a major or minor parks project, an environmental project such as bird houses for purple martins, or something related to traffic or safety? What else can you imagine as improvements for our neighborhood? We endeavor to find matching funds from other sources so that TLNA can make the most effective use of our financial resources.

Again, we invite your input regarding the TLNA Annual Budget for the year 2000. We expect that the TLNA Council will review this proposal at its February 17th meeting, with additional discussion at subsequent meetings as needed. The Council can be expected to vote on approval of the budget at its' March 16th or April 20th meetings. We welcome the input of neighborhood residents. Please contact a Council Member or Members before these meetings to share your ideas and opinions, or come to the meetings in person. Visitors are always put first on the agenda, so you won't have to sit through the meeting before speaking.

• Alf Meyer

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