The Academy's recent election produced more results than just the election of Catherine Cotten to President-Elect and Maureen Corcoran to Director. (We do congratulate them on their victories and pass our thanks to the other candidates who were willing to help serve the Academy.) We also voted on potential future meeting sites. The outcome was definitely in favor of having more meetings in Biloxi. However, there was also significant sentiment in favor of a North Mississippi site, either Tupelo or Olive Branch. We will be going to Biloxi for both 1997 and 1998. We will explore the economics of the North Mississippi site for 1999. Both sites have facilities large enough to handle a meeting of our size and sufficient hotel rooms on site or close by. Tupelo is readily accessible by US 45 that is rapidly being four-laned. Olive Branch is in the far northern corner of the state but has the advantage of being minutes from Memphis.

It looks like once again our financial expenditures will come in under our budgeted values and just about even with our income. The budget values were higher than income because of anticipated Journal costs that did not materialize in the last fiscal year. However, it is almost certain that expenditures will increase in the current fiscal year. We may need to use some of our reserves to keep our Journal on a more professional plane. We would like to resist any increase in our dues and fees. Therefore, once again we ask members for help in soliciting contributions from corporate sponsors and donors. This is a largely untapped source of funds for the Academy. There should be interest among companies that do business in Mississippi in supporting our goals. Companies can contribute to our general funds or can target specific items. In particular, they may be interested in helping to fund our Junior Academy activities or in helping to keep student membership fees low. If you know of any interested companies or just have suggestions please contact the Academy office.--John Boyle