The following tables present The Transverse Myelitis Association Annual Report for 1998. The 1999 Annual Report will be presented in the next newsletter. The TMA General Fund column presents all funds received and expended directly by TMA as recorded in the Association's financial account. The Total Donations and Expenses to Benefit TMA column is presented to help convey the total costs of providing TMA member services during 1998. This column includes funds/activities reported in the TMA General Fund as well as non-reimbursed expenses paid by members of the Board of Directors. These non-reimbursed expenses also are shown as Donations made by Board of Directors under Revenues. The Donations made by Board of Directors line item presents the amount of funds spent by members of the Board of Directors that were not reimbursed by the TMA General Fund.

The Transverse Myelitis Association 1998 Statement of Financial Activities (in US Dollars)

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the persons and the organizations that support the work of The Transverse Myelitis Association. It is through their generosity that we are able to offer services to our membership; they also make possible the expansion of services to our existing and future members. The following persons and organizations made donations to The Transverse Myelitis Association in 1998. The donations made by members of the Board of Directors include non-reimbursed expenses.

This newsletter presents several articles that have conveyed the past accomplishments and future goals of the TMA (for example, see the President's Message, Debbie's personal account of the 1999 Symposium, and Jim's information about TMA Online). This edition also contains the 1998 financial report which presents an accounting of charitable contributions received during that year and the operational expenses incurred by TMA to deliver its member services. The financial report also presents non-reimbursed operational expenses incurred by members of the Board during 1998. The TMA continues to grow and develop, expanding not only in the number of members (from 187 in January of 1997 to almost 2000 currently in 35 countries), but also in the range of member services that are provided (such as the 1999 First International Symposium). As the TMA grows, the operational costs continue to increase, as do the costs associated with efforts to provide new and expanded services.

Currently, the TMA provides many basic services that include the Initial Information Packet; Membership Directory and Updates; Newsletters; the Web site; TMIC, chat and electronic bulletin boards; Support via mail, phone and e-mail; Symposia; and maintaining contacts and building relationships with medical facilities and providers, agencies, and other organizations that share in our goals of providing information, knowledge and support to individuals with TM and their families. The TMA is also working to expand its services by developing a Children's and Family Network Directory that will be provided to parents of children with TM. The purpose of the Children's and Family Network Directory is to provide a safe means for parents to support other parents and for parents to find other children for their children to communicate with and build friendships/supports with peers. Another way in which the TMA is expanding its services is by strengthening its organizational support and advocacy for cure research. As stated in the President's Message, the continued development of critical partnerships will facilitate implementation of this vital outcome: a cure for TM and other spinal cord injuries and dysfunctions.

Based on our current membership levels and geographic locations, a conservative estimate of the cost of providing the TMA services to an individual or family for the year is $25.00 (U.S. funds). Please consider this information as you decide how you might be able to support the TMA. If you would like to support TMA's continued growth and development, and the expansion of the services TMA currently offers, please consider a larger charitable donation. The future of TMA depends on membership support of the Association's general operational activities and services.

In keeping with TMA's expanded goal of strengthening its organizational advocacy and support for cure research, the Board has established the TMA Endowment Fund. The purpose of this fund is to generate a lasting source of funds that can contribute to ongoing and future TM cure research efforts. Revenues from the Endowment Fund will be used to partner with other organizations and funding sources to support research that is applicable to persons with TM. The Board has set a challenging goal of building the Endowment Fund to $100,000.00 during the year 2000. The Endowment Fund does not support TMA's operational activities and services, so please consider an additional contribution to the Endowment Fund.

Only by working together can TMA reach its financial goals and be a significant force in helping to direct and fund research to benefit individuals with TM. Please support the Association's efforts by giving what you can. An envelope has been provided with this newsletter to assist you. We hope that you will use it to make a tax deductible charitable contribution to The Transverse Myelitis Association. Thank you for your support.