ASHA Finances: Part 5 In A Continuing Series

I thought you would be interested in reading my most recent 
communications with Martin Rome. Feel free to add them to your post along with the first letter.

XXXX (Name hidden to protect

Dear XXXX,
Thanks again for all you do for the members!
ASHA Watch

Mr. Rome (note: Mr. Rome is the chief staff officer for communications at ASHA),
Clearly we do not see eye to eye.  Please allow me to clarify some of 
my concerns in a response to your latest email. 

You stated that "the actual, per certified-member cost of providing
 all of ASHA's programs, products and services is currently more than
 $325."  I am curious to know if this includes ASHA staff salaries as 
part of the "services."  Recently I determined, by looking at ASHA's
 2008 financial statement, that approximately 40% of ASHA's total
 revenue of $43,051,204 was spent on salaries and pensions.  In order 
to support multiple ASHA staff salaries that are several times higher 
than the salaries of other SLPs and audiologists, I am sure that ASHA
 would have to seek various sources of non-dues revenues! 

ASHA's own financial statement also clearly delineates the Total
 Program Revenue as exceeding the Total Program Expenses by well over 
ten million dollars, so I'm not sure where you are getting your 
information and your figures. ASHA's most expensive liabilities come 
from the high cost of the mortgage for the new headquarters, and well over 
fifteen million dollars in salaries and pensions.  Many of us simply 
cannot believe that our organization's money, at the national level, 
is spent judiciously - as should be done according to the parameters of 
a not-for-profit organization.

 You also stated: "You are proposing that ASHA provide member benefits
 and services to those who do not want to pay for the service. That is 
not a viable or reasonable model."  In response, I will restate very
 simply that those who pay for the service should receive the service,
 member or not.

 Thank you for your time.  I sincerely hope that this organization has 
begun to realize some of the many concerns that are widespread throughout the 
professions of audiology and speech-language pathology, even though
 ASHA staff fail to acknowledge this fact.  You should know by now that
 the concerns I raise represent the views of many current and former ASHA members from across the country.  We implore ASHA to be more 
frugal with the money received through our organization, and more fair
 in the allocation of resources to those who pay for them anyways.


Sincerely,

ASHA Watch and friends