ISPRS
2000
edge this contribution from the University of NSW to the
work of the Secretary General and to ISPRS over the past
4 years. | also acknowledge financial contributions
totalling AUD 35,000 from the Australian Federal Govern-
ment department AUSLIG and the Australian Remote
Sensing and Photogrammetry Association of Australasia
(RSPAA) to the work of the ISPRS Headquarters.
Finally, | wish to thank the General Assembly for their
electing me in 1996. The position of Secretary General is
a most rewarding one in many ways, and | am grateful for
this experience. | am sure it will provide me with an excel-
lent foundation for the job that lies ahead over the next 4
years.
Report of ISPRS Treasurer to ISPRS General Assembly
Amsterdam, July 2000
by Professor Heinz Rüther, Treasurer
This report of the treasurer of ISPRS together with the
attached Income Statement for the years 1 April 1996 to
31 March 2000 is submitted to the General Assembly for
approval. The format of the statements adopted for the
annual reports as well as this final report is based on the
advice of a professional accountant. The final four-year
statements were checked independently by a different
registered accountant.
The Society’s bank accounts are held in Swiss Francs and
US$ in a branch of the UBS Bank in Zürich. The accounts
were transferred in September 1998 from their original
location at the Lugano branch of the same bank for purely
logistical reasons. Communication with and support from
the UBS in Zurich is excellent. The introduction of a US$
account made it possible for membership payments and
other transactions to be carried out in this currency. The
Society's investments were transferred together with the
account and this occasion was used to diversify the Soci-
ety's assets, which are now held in four different invest-
ments. This decision proved beneficiary to the Society as
the original portfolio in the form of Swiss Bonds, which
showed a gain of 12 96 in the 1992-6 period, has since
experienced a reduction in its value by approximately 696.
Without the diversification this loss in bond value would
have affected the Society's assets.
The Society's assets have increased from SFr 446,499 in
1996 to SFr 654,607 or SFr 580,710 if donations, UN
related funds and advance payments of subscription
dues are excluded. It must be noted that an amount of
SFr 81,325 of these assets represents overdue member-
ship payments owed to the Society. It is unlikely that all
these arrears will be recovered and thus the actual worth
of the Society is slightly lower than the amounts quoted
above.
The increase in the assets is principally due to four factors:
membership subscriptions, UN Funds, donations and
investment gains.
- The Society's income from membership subscriptions
has increased by 2596 from SFr 91,840 in 1996 to
115,250 in 2000 .
- An amount of US$ 29,917 or approximately SFr 50,000
was received from the UN for co-sponsorships with
112
ISPRS. US$ 8,037 of this was spent on a UN spon-
sored symposium in Cotonou. The remaining US$
21,880 (SFr 36,000) are held in the ISPRS account in
Zurich and can only be called upon for UN-related
activities.
- Adonation of SFr 20,000 for the Young Authors awards
was received from the Japanese Society. The Italian
Society for Surveying and Photogrammetry (SIFET)
donated SFr 2,500 for the 2000 Congress Cassinis
Award.
There are additional donations, which cannot be quanti-
fied, but which make a significant indirect contribution to
the Society's assets and these are the generous accom-
modation arrangements provided for Council during Coun-
cil meetings and Commission Symposia.
Income /Expense and Receipts/Payments
Invoices were mailed to members at the beginning of each
financial year, typically in April, and reminders to those in
arrears were sent in September or October. The income from
subscriptions for the report period fell short of the expected
amounts due to non-payment. The shortfalls were 1296 for
Ordinary Members, 1096 for Sustaining Members, 7096 for
Regional Members and 4596 for Associate members.
The investments have earned SFr 81,271
Royalties received amounted to SFr 28,244, however,
these include some amounts due from the 1992-1996
period. Advertising in the Society's bulletin brought in SFr
31,291 for 1997 and 1998, which was paid to ISPRS and
used to offset costs for the publication. In June 1999 High-
lights and its advertisement responsibilities were con-
tracted to GITC, the new publishers of the bulletin.
Expenses
The expenses incurred are largely due to the cost of Coun-
cil activities and the introduction and publication of the
Society's newsletter, ISPRS Highlights. Council expenses
amounted to SFr 232,684 while Highlights costs were SFr
196,864.
Council related expenses arise from travel, telephone, fax,
mailing, supplies and clerical assistance. The cost for
Council activities would have been significantly higher had
International Archives of Photogrammerty and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part A. Amsterdam 2000.
