Dear JWHA Friends!
We are inching our way closer to the Fall Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa, we have a wonderful program planned thanks to Nancy Ross, Eric Paul Rogers, and the Program Committee who have put in countless hours to make this possible. I want to reiterate the importance of registering right away so that we can get an accurate headcount for food, venue, and the excursion activities. So, here’s a friendly nudge to register as soon as you can! Thank you.
With that out of the way, I want to take a moment and share some thoughts I’ve had as your president. As many of you know, the JWHA is a special organization, made up of special people with a special purpose. We all have a love for Restoration History. No matter the tradition we identify with, the church we attend, or the God we worship, we have a shared affinity through the prophet Joseph Smith and the theology he taught. We recognize his lasting importance today, not only on our own shared history but in his contributions to American history more broadly. Some of my most cherished professional experiences have been attending these conferences, learning from you, sharing meals with you, and developing deep and long-lasting friendships with you. As I contemplate this rich tradition, I want to make sure that it survives well into the future. At present, our cash flow is strained and our revenue streams diminished by shrinking membership numbers due to age, increased costs, and other factors. One of the most important things we all can do to preserve the rich heritage of the JWHA is to do our part to invite friends and relatives to join. We rely on our members for both content to enrich our conferences and membership dues to preserve our financial vitality. The Board is having significant discussions to bring in additional revenue streams by identifying new donors and maintaining good relationships with current ones. We rely on their largesse to sustain us, and we are grateful for their generous donations. If you know anyone who would like to contribute to JWHA, please share our online donation link. Whether large or small, we’d be grateful for any donation.
Together, as we move into the future, we will continue to hold these important discussions about how to remain solvent so that we can sustain ourselves for another fifty years and beyond.
Thank you for all that you do.
I hope to see you in Council Bluffs!
Sincerely,
— Matt Harris
President, JWHA
