Author
Peter Hübner, Treasurer
Members, dear Alphas,
Dear readers,
Re-elected, I will be managing the finances of our patient organization for the next two years and look forward to this task as well as working with the board! On behalf of the board, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the donations collected during our wonderful information day in Bad Wildungen. The exact amount was €269.01 and 30 DM. I was pleased to round the sum up to €280.00. We gladly budgeted for and paid the costs of this special weekend. However, there is a slight disappointment regarding the costs for services that were not used. Our association incurred considerable expenses due to the fact that some members canceled their participation at short notice for various reasons or only used parts of the event (e.g., spontaneously choosing one night instead of two, not using the childcare arrangements). This is a shame. We are happy to support our members with these costs, but every expenditure should have a benefit or added value for our community. Due to the changed requirements of the hotels, which unfortunately no longer offer us short-term cancellation policies, we plan to develop clear rules regarding cost coverage and cancellations for future events.
The costs for the Maritim Hotel have been settled, and the budget, considering the reserves/assets, is once again at a level that ensures the continued operation of the association. Looking ahead: This year, we have received a commitment of €20,000 in funding from the health insurance companies for the first time. This is very welcome news.
The changes in the financing of self-help groups are also bearing fruit, with some groups having applied for and received lump-sum funding from health insurance companies or their associations. This cooperation also eases the burden on our budget. As announced at the members' meeting, we are continuing to work towards initially structuring our income to consist of 50% industry funding and 50% membership fees, private donations, etc.
Therefore, I can conclude this article with satisfaction and turn my attention to the other tasks, about which I will provide a deeper insight into my work in the next post.
Yours sincerely, Peter Hübner
