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Dear Chapter/Affiliate President
or ACA Contact:
It is with great pleasure and
excitement that I tell you that ACA is well on the way to
purchasing our own headquarters! The Executive Committee and
the Board of Governors unanimously passed authorization for us
to move forward with the purchase of an office building
located at 206 North Washington Street, Alexandria,
Virginia. For any history buffs, the building is located
literally next door to Christ Episcopalian Church, where
President Washington worshipped. It is also on the site of
the first Synagogue in Alexandria. It has parking lots
included with it (2), and the building is ample to house our
offices for the future. We plan to settle on the property in
March 2005, if everything works out.
ACA will own its own building
while spending at, or near, the same amount we currently spend
in rent. While there will be moving costs, as well as
remodeling costs incurred, we believe strongly that this is a
wise and fiscally prudent decision for our Association. We
will undertake a fund-raising campaign in the near future to
assist with related costs of remodeling, moving, and
furnishing the building (which was built in 1965).
President Chunn and Immediate
Past President Kehoe have toured the property and led the way
in securing the site for ACA. I want to thank them for their
leadership and support in this effort, as well as the entire
Executive Committee and the Board of Governors. Without them,
and each of you, this could not be possible.
I want to ensure you that we are
doing many things to recognize the importance of the current
ACA Staff and in assisting any and all of them who will move
to our new offices, sometime in late next year (or possibly
later). I want to also acknowledge the fine work that
Membership and Financial Services Director Cathy Gibney has
done, and continues to do, in making this dream a reality.
Please feel free to call me at
extension 1901 with questions or comments, or e-mail me at
DESIVA@AOL.com. Also, if you would like to see a picture of
the new building, please visit
https://www.aca.org/news/acanewbuilding.jpg.
I hope you are as excited, and
happy, as are we in seeing this wonderful, historic
Association finally have a place to call home that it owns.
May your Holiday Season be one
of joy and thanksgiving for you and your family and friends,
and may 2005 bring peace to our world.
Sincerely,
Jim Gondles |
