Research Foundation Fund Report
For the Trustees, Alfred S. Martin
The Research Foundation fund of the American Rhododendron Society can safely be said to have gotten off to a start but unfortunately, a rather disappointing one. To date, including donations and interest earned, the fund's total stands at $16,403. This is broken down as follows:
1975 & 1976 Donations & Interest ............... $11,223
1977 Donations. .................................$5,890
Interest ............................... ......$ 723
6,613
Total Income to 10/31 /77 17,836
Less Expenses ..................................................
1,433
Balance in Fund ............................................ $16,403
The Trustees had hoped to have a wide base of support for this project within the membership but to date, this has not materialized. Sixty percent of the funds were contributed by 34 members or slightly less than 1% of the Society membership. Contributors to the fund to date number 240 which is only about 6% of the 1977 membership of the Society. Approximately 190 members have made three-year pledges which should bring in about $5,000 total during 1978 and 1979. There has also been one Chapter contribution. We have received several contributions from members of the Japanese Rhododendron Society largely through the efforts of Hideo Suzuki who translated our materials and sent them to the members of the Japanese Society. To date, there has been no support from Foundations or Trusts. This type of support might come if the Foundation becomes better established and shows some concrete developments from its programs.
Hopefully, with interest from the funds available, we will be able to start one or two seed projects during 1978. Current plans call for another general letter to the membership early in 1978 and publication of the results of the program in each succeeding quarterly. Our sincere hope is that a far greater percentage will become involved with the Research Foundation and its endowment fund so that we can become effective in attempting to solve many of the problems facing us today in growing and maintaining rhododendrons and azaleas.