AOPA Facts

AOPA Facts

1/19/1999

I am not yet prepared to enter the debate on consolidation. Just back
     in the office after my 3rd trip already this year and too many more to
     go. I am so far behind it is all I can do to read all this email
     between patient appointments. However, as President-Elect of AOPA I
     must clarify several issues about AOPA.

     1. The AOPA National Assembly increases in size every year. Chicago
     in September set yet another record for attendence in every category,
     including practitioners, technicians, students, exhibits, allied
     health professionals, and foreign visitors.

     2. AOPA is financially in excellent condition. AOPA has more than
     the advised/desired 6 months operating costs set in wisely invested
     reserves. As the reserves grow beyond our targeted amount, through
     the performance of the market, the board moves the excess into
     operations, thereby detering any need of dues increases.

     3. The AOPA membership approved in Chicago at the Assembly a new
     membership structure that is equitable for all size members. AOPA is
     not experiencing a decline in membership. The shift from Active
     members to more Affiliated members is occurring through the
     consolidation in the profession/industry (not the Consolidation of the
     boards). The large companies that are actively consolidating the
     profession/industry have committed their support to AOPA.

     4. With all due respect to my friend and colleague, John Billock,
     AOPA did not initiate consolidation of the boards. During the last
     major audit of the National Office by KPMG Peat Marwick (I think I got
     their name right, one of the major national accounting/audit firms)
     the leadership were all told for the third time in this decade that
     they should consider consolidation.


     Respectfully,