By Ken Ackeret

Ken Ackeret

Prior to the ITE International Annual meeting in Vancouver, B.C. the International Board of Direction met Friday, August 6^th and Saturday, August 7^th at the Hyatt Regency. Your Western District Directors Zaki Mustafa, Dalene Whitlock and I participated in the meeting.

The Institute has not been immune to the recession. Executive Director Tom Brahms continues to make adjustments to reduce the Institute’s expenditures while maintaining our member services.  Headquarters has pursued and won contracts that are in line with our Strategic Goals and to increase the Institute’s income. On the expense side, staff salaries have been frozen. Currently ITE Headquarters is down to 26 individuals with no plans to replace any staff in 2011. Unexpected expenses in 2010 included a third candidate for Vice-President, with an associated cost of about $10,000, and an ethics case with legal fees of approximately $10,000.  The good news is that at this time the Institute is only projecting a year-end loss of approximately $14,000 that will need to be funded from our reserves.

Comparing July 1, 2009, with July 1, 2010, the voting membership has declined by 3.61% while Agency Membership has increased slightly. At this time 80 waivers for 2010 dues have been granted to our members. For the rest of the year ITE staff will be undertaking serious efforts to retain membership.

As budget planning begins for 2011 the Board discussions resulted in the following actions:

• The Spring Technical Conference and Annual Meeting registrations shall remain at their current level
• No increase in the staff salary budget for 2011
• A student reception will be funded for January 2011 during TRB
• A Member reception will also be held in January 2011 during TRB to show off our new Headquarters
• There will be a nominal dues increase of $5.00 per regular and agency member
• Lifetime members will no longer receive the ITE Journal for free, but will be able to purchase it for a $50 subscription fee.

Pat Noyes led a very productive work session with the Board to set priorities regarding the Institute’s Strategic plan. The highest priorities are to work towards a zero-fatality safety record and increase the understanding of techniques to provide an efficient (sustainable) transportation system that meets the needs of all users. As Coordinating Council Chair Pat Noyes provided a matrix to the Board that showed how technical projects that are currently underway align with the objectives of the Institute’s Strategic Plan.

Jim Westmoreland from the Southern District gave a presentation on the Leadership Development Program that has been developed in the Southern District.  The program was based around a survey conducted within the District that clearly mandated a need by members for professional leadership training for the transportation professional.  Due to the success of this program in the Southern District there is interest in partnering with International to expand this program to the rest of the Institute.

Due to contract negotiations in order to save money on the cost of next year’s annual meeting it will be starting on Sunday instead of our usual Monday opening session.  So please mark your calendars and note that next year’s annual meeting is being held in St. Louis, Missouri at America’s Center and Renaissance St. Louis Grand Center will be starting on Sunday August 13^th and will run through Tuesday August 16^th.  Our Spring Technical Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at the Disney’s Swan will run on the normal schedule of Sunday, April 3^rd to Wednesday, April 6^th.

Tom Brahms provided a report to the Board on the status of the forthcoming move of ITE Headquarters. The move occurred over the weekend of August 28^th and staff is now settled in their new home, as scheduled. Some of the planned improvements are being deferred as the 80^th Anniversary Fund is still in need of donations to achieve its $200,000 goal. These funds are being used to provide headquarters with the equipment that utilizes the latest cutting edge technology.  Everyone is encouraged to make what donation they can to the 80^th Anniversary Fund.

The next International Board meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 8^th and Saturday, October 9^th in Washington DC at our new Headquarters. The main topic of discussion will be the 2011 budget.