I’d like to give you an general update on what’s going on at AERDO:

Annual Forum ‘07
The 2007 Annual Forum was a real success. Attendees heard presentations on many relevant topics and took advantage of the chance to build relationships with their relief and development peers. Our post-event survey showed that 100% of respondents would recommend future forums to their peers. With this in mind, we hope to expand on this success with even more relevant content for the 2008 Forum. The dates of the 2008 forum are currently up in the air, so please watch for details on this soon.

New AERDO Bylaws
Last month at the Annual Forum the AERDO membership unanimously approved a new set of bylaws. The largest adjustment to the bylaws shifts AERDO from an organization where major decisions are made by the Executive Committee to one where decisions are made by a Board of Directors, whose membership will be derived from AERDO members and elected by the full AERDO membership. If you’d like to see a copy of the complete bylaws, please let me know.

AERDO Board of Directors
We’d like to thank Ben Homan for his years of service as President of AERDO. His term as AERDO President and Executive Committee member ended recently. Ben’s leadership has been invaluable for AERDO in raising the profile and quality of the association. We would also like to thank Doug Seebeck for his many years of service on the AERDO Executive Committee.Last month the AERDO membership unanimously elected Stephan Bauman of World Relief and Larry Bollinger of Nazarene Compassionate ministries to the AERDO Board as well as re-electing Deborah Bensen of Operation Blessing. The new Board has elected Andrew Ryskamp of CRWRC as Board Chairman. We are very grateful for AERDO’s high-quality leadership.

Membership Dues
The AERDO Membership has also unanimously approved a new dues structure. The dues for an AERDO Associate are now $300 per year and the dues for AERDO Members begin at $400. There is also a small assessment based on the size of GIK income. For a complete list of the dues structure, go to: http://www.aerdo.net/AERDO_Membership_Application_2007.doc. Dues invoices will be sent out in the Spring.Conference Calls
As you recall, in 2007 AERDO hosted conference calls for members on topics of interest to Christians in relief and development. We plan to continue this in 2008. If you have any ideas for subject matter or people you would like to see covered, please let me know. Other Members?
If you know of an agency that might be interested in AERDO membership, please feel free to send them my way. AERDO has received a good number of new members in the past year (somewhere in the range of 15) and I think the new energy that they bring is good for everyone.

My Location
As many of you know, the AERDO Executive Director position is “virtual” and for my first year with AERDO I was based in Washington DC. I’ve just completed a transition to Colorado Springs, Colorado. In a personal sense, this move brings me “closer to home”. On the professional side, this change in location is affording me the chance to become more familiar with additional AERDO members. The AERDO phone number is unchanged, but the new physical address is: 6815 Overland Dr., Colo Springs, CO 80919.

Thank You!
I want to thank you for everything you do for your not only your beneficiaries, but for all you do for others who share our mission to serve Christ through relief and development.

AERDO exists to serve you. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.