Brethren:

Month after month for the last year we have been listening to the report of the Treasurer and all wondering the same set of questions. "Are we going to run out of money?" "If so, when?"

The current economic climate has taken its toll on all organizations from the largest multi-national corporations to the smallest of the "mom and pop" shops and everything in between including nonprofit organizations. Our Valley is no exception in this whirlwind. So "what can we do?" And more importantly "what have we been doing?"

First, the Valley leadership has been vigilant in reviewing the expenditures and coming up with ways in which we can reduce the costs of running the Valley. Some have included moving our meeting location to the El Bekal Shrine Center where our Brothers have welcomed us and provided us an opportunity to cut some overhead. There are other reductions that have been identified and are now in the process of being priced out with other potential vendors. But let's make no mistake about this. Cutting overhead alone will not get us to where we need to be. In fact, simply cutting alone may lead us to eventually cut the Valley of Santa Ana from existence over time. This is not acceptable.