The SABR web site is once again evolving, making it more useful for the baseball researcher and writer, and better fulfills SABR’s purpose of facilitating and disseminating baseball research. We now have a searchable content management system in place. See the related story on page 13 for more information.

As you all know by now, The SABR Bulletin was cut back to four issues this year, primarily so SABR could bring you Deadball Era Stars: The National League later this year. In an effort to keep members more informed, I have been sending out e-mail messages (about one every week to 10 days) to all members who have an e-mail address on file with SABR. About 70% of all members have an e-mail address on file, but I am sure there are many more of you who have not yet shared your e-mail address with SABR. Many members have commented on how these e-mails help keep them more in touch with what is happening, making them feel more in touch with the organization.

Having your e-mail address on file also helps regional leaders and research committee chairs send you the latest regional information or research committee news. This ability to stay in touch with you, the member, is extremely important so if you have an e-mail address, please share it with us (we do not rent or sell anyone’s e-mail address).

Also, if you use a spam blocker, please set it to allow mail from sabr.org.

If you do not have a computer, but are a regular visitor to a local library that provides its patrons with Internet access, you can establish a free e-mail account with several companies. We have information on page 13 on how you can set up an account with Yahoo! 

I have worked for SABR in one capacity or another for 13 years now, and have been executive director since January 1, and one thing is very clear to me. SABR is an outstanding organization that has existed for the past 32 years relying too much on breaking even each year. We budget each year to break even, and most years we do, plus or minus a few thousand dollars. In 32 years, our reserve fund (the amount SABR has taken in over the amount spent) is still less than $100,000, or about one-quarter of our annual operating expenses. Most non-profit membership organizations have a goal of having six months to a year’s worth of operating expenses in reserve, so we have some work to do. Also, SABR’s Endowment is still less than $5,000, meaning that it has a long way to go before its interest and investment income can help support any programming.

So what needs to be done? One thing we can do is to raise more money through donations from the membership and/or the general public. About 10% of all members made a donation to SABR in the past year; I’d like to increase that percentage, and, obviously, I need your help.

If you have been making an annual donation to SABR on a regular basis, thank you! My challenge to you is to increase your gift. If every donor increased his or her gift by $1, we’d raise over $600, which pays the annual expenses of nearly any one research committee, or covers 6 months of the office’s Internet access, or covers a little more than 2 months of the costs of the office copier/printer/scanner. It’s a start.

A second way you can help is to make SABR part of your estate plans. Consider including SABR in your will. While leaving SABR your baseball papers and books is a very important and worthwhile gesture of support for baseball research and history, it costs SABR time and money to use these gifts properly. If also gave SABR a portion of your estate, even 5%, your gift can have a more long-lasting impact. I am always willing to discuss any way that you are willing and able to help make SABR an organization on a more solid financial footing. You can call me at 1-800-969-7227 or e-mail me at jzajc@sabr.org.

John Zajc

Executive Director