It’s time to take stock. OLÉ! has completed its first year, so before we launch into year two we’d like to submit a “report to members”:

· 112 members enrolled

· 19 courses and three field trips offered

· 50 unpaid teachers, facilitators and guest lecturers involved

· 203 classroom hours (not including field trips) offered

· $13,000 in the bank

· Innumerable volunteer hours spent

· All goals met

· Many new friends made

Perhaps you are wondering why OLÉ! continues to charge a membership fee when it has no paid employees and has net assets of over $13,000. One reason is that we are marketing a new program and it costs money to run ads, print newsletters and pay for mailings. The second is that we do not intend to be a volunteer organization forever. OLÉ! needs to replace at least some of the time contributed by our team of sturdy volunteers with paid help if we are to grow to the level we think Anchorage can support.

One potential source of long-term funding is The Bernard Osher Foundation which has provided endowments to over 100 Lifelong Learning Institutes across the country. Although OLÉ! came into existence just as the Osher Foundation was changing its focus, the Foundation has invited OLÉ! to approach them again when it has 300 annual dues paying members.

Your Board of Directors has accepted this challenge. In order to attract new members and to keep its charter members, the annual membership fee has been cut to $150 per person. With the reduced fee and the continued dedication of its volunteers, we know OLÉ! can triple its membership, increase its course offerings, boost its presence in the community, and win over potential funders.

UAA Chancellor Fran Ulmer recently met with members of the Board and pledged to help OLÉ! reach its membership goal by strengthening the ties between OLÉ! and UAA. John Dede, Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Community Partnerships, will be OLÉ!’s liaison with the Anchorage Campus Community. UAA will continue to furnish classroom space and plans to add OLÉ! to the campus directory and to link to OLÉ!’s website. OLÉ! will also have the benefit of the University’s expertise in fundraising, promotion, course development and website design.

As it grows, OLÉ! will continue to depend solely on volunteers to teach classes, find and assign space, market courses, organize field trips, and provide social opportunities for our members. Some jobs take only a few phone calls to complete. Others take more time and effort. All are immensely rewarding. Please consider supporting OLÉ! with the gift of your time or with a financial contribution. Call 272-9434.