MESSAGE FROM ASOR’S PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MESSAGE FROM ASOR’S PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTORMarch 20, 2020
Dear Fellow ASOR Members,
The ASOR family is a strong and close one, and that fact has never been more evident than in these challenging and stressful times.
Please know that we at ASOR are doing all that we can to continue serving our constituents, while keeping the safety and health of our members, volunteers, officers, and employees as our highest priority.
First, we want to share (and in some cases repeat) the things that we are doing to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible:
- The ASOR Office—The James F. Strange Center—in Old Town Alexandria, is transitioning to a remote-only work schedule. Operations continue with all staff working remotely and staying in touch with frequent messaging and video conferencing. No layoffs have occurred, nor are any planned. Our dedicated staff has been, and continues to be, outstanding.
- The ASOR Board Meeting (April 24-25) will be held as a virtual video meeting. ASOR has already started testing our new Zoom subscription, and we will continue to conduct tests so that the Board can carry out essential business.
- Dig Scholarships, Excavation Grants, and Research Fellowships—We have postponed making decisions until at least April 15th in order to get a better idea about what activities can be conducted safely. We will segregate endowment distributions and gifts already received for awards in 2021, if necessary. 2020 has been our largest year ever for scholarships, grants, and fellowships, and we are so grateful to all of our supporters.
Second, we want to share some of the things that we are doing to support you, our members, while many are self-quarantining:
- Online Resources—The ASOR office staff (led by Marta Ostovich [programs@asor.org]) has launched webpages to share resources that will support students, professors, and teachers at all levels who are participating in online education with little advance notice. These pages are expanding daily, and we invite you to participate so that we can help each other by sharing ideas and expertise.
- Online access to ASOR journals—The full-text and enhanced online access to ASOR journals have never been more important. Members with online access to journals can not only view the full text of articles, but all illustrations and figures may be downloaded seamlessly into Powerpoint. Please e-mail Felice Herman (membership@asor.org) if you have questions.
- Publications—Thanks to the excellent work of our editorial teams, the ASOR staff, and our partnerships with University of Chicago Press and with ISD, the production and distribution of ASOR journals and books continue without interruption. Everyone is working remotely as much as possible, and we do not anticipate any interruptions in fulfilling this vital member service.
- Annual Meeting—We continue to prepare for our largest and best Annual Meeting in Boston in November. The Program Committee and ASOR staff are working remotely to ensure that the program will be the strongest ever. We, of course, will keep the health of all participants as our highest priority.
- General Operations—The ASOR staff and our volunteers continue to respond to e-mails and phone calls. With our staff working remotely, answering phones and voicemail may be delayed. Please consider sending an e-mail if you are able.
- Shepard Urgent Action Grants—In the midst of so many things being postponed, we are thrilled to announce a new initiative that we hope can take place in spite of social distancing and self-quarantining efforts. These new grants are designed to address urgent needs for site mitigation and stabilization. Please check out the webpage and announcement.
Third, we need to share some challenges. We will continue to update you on these items. If you are aware of other issues that we should communicate in subsequent member correspondence, please let us know.
- The programs at our Overseas Research Centers in Amman, Jerusalem, and Nicosia are suffering from travel restrictions and cutbacks in fieldwork. Significant portions of their income derive from visits to and work on ASOR field projects and other research, for which they provide essential support and services. These projects for 2020 are being cancelled for the most part. We have been in touch with all the directors. They are coping effectively with the changing circumstances. The Albright in Jerusalem has been particularly hit hard.
- ASOR’s Endowment Accounts—Like most institutions, ASOR has invested our endowment accounts using an 80/20 allocation—80% in equities and 20% in bonds and cash. We have thus experienced a significant correction over the past month. Because we maintain a 20% allocation in bonds and cash, we will rebalance our portfolios in April per our investment guidelines. We also make quarterly distributions based on averages from the last 12 quarters, so we will continue to be conservative in distributing funds from endowments.
- ASOR’s Annual Fund (unrestricted giving)—While ASOR remains in sound financial shape, and while we have modest accumulated funds to see us through a challenging year, we need members to consider unrestricted contributions. To date in this fiscal year (ends June 30, 2020), we have received about half of our budgeted $125,000.
Finally, we want to conclude as we began—your health and well-being is our highest concern. We are grateful for your continued support of ASOR and of your fellow members. You are, and continue to be, amazing.
Best regards,
Sharon Herbert, ASORÂ President
Andy Vaughn, ASOR Executive Director