The second half of 2008 brought extraordinarily tough times for both REP and its “sister” ConservAmerica. We’ve always been lean organizations, but toward the end of last year we had to cinch our belts even tighter. We lost major funding that we had thought we could count on, because of the polarizing political climate and because quite a few members were unable to maintain their previous levels of support. With the collapsing economy, we could not make up the difference from other sources. Among other things, we had to eliminate the important climate-change projects that we had planned to do in 2008. We will now aim at doing those in 2009.
We’ve learned that other national organizations are assuming twenty percent revenue decreases for 2009—based on current economic conditions—and are making across-the-board expense reductions of an equal amount. In comparison to those groups, REP already has a tiny staff and low overhead, which means that making cuts without negatively impacting our core mission is difficult. We have spent the last month reviewing expenditures, looking for ways to save money. Starting in January, we will implement several major changes to bring costs down at least fifteen percent and also make some other important organizational adjustments. One of those changes is to make our quarterly Green Elephant available on our website, but not to print and mail it again until our finances are stabilized. This will save us approximately $3,500 per quarter in printing and shipping costs.
Although we remain optimistic that we can diversify and increase our funding base in 2009, prudent stewardship dictates that we take action to strengthen REP for the long run, even if doing so is painful in the short run.
Looking forward, REP and ConservAmerica still have vital roles to play in influencing future federal legislation. Several newly elected Congressional Democrats are not as conservation-minded as the Republican incumbents they replaced. Many conservative House and Senate Democrats are not “green” at all. Despite their majorities in Congress, President Obama and the Democratic leaders in both houses will need the Republican votes that REP can deliver to pass good bills and thwart bad ones.
And REP remains the only organization in the country dedicated to coaxing, nagging, pushing, prodding, teaching and leading the Republican Party to do better on environmental and conservation issues. At this time of GOP soul-searching—when pundits across the spectrum are arguing over the future of the party—REP’s clear and persistent voice is needed more than ever.
The Republican Party will certainly return to power one day. REP offers the best chance to make sure it’s really good on our issues when that happens.
