THE VASA STAR Vasastjärnan Publication of THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA Special Issue 2013 www.vasaorder.org Special Issue Financial Reports Vasa Order of America Grand Lodge January 1 December 31, 2012 Vasa National Archives May 1, 2012 April 30, 2013
Dear Vasa Brothers and Sisters, One of the areas of greatest concern for many of you is the financial well-being of the Vasa Order and the Vasa National Archives. As your Grand Master and the Grand Lodge Executive Board restoring financial health has been our focus over the past three years. I have shared steps and progress with you regularly via my messages in the Vasa Star, in letters to District Executive Boards and past Grand Masters and directly when addressing District Conventions. In 2010 I promised the Order transparency related to our financial practice. We are pleased to report that we have now accomplished that goal, our auditor s report and financial statements are now available for your personal review electronically. Accomplishing this goal took time as we needed to do an exhausting evaluation of our financial situation, modernize our recording practice, hire non-profit CPA experts and coordinate our fiscal year to match our assessment year. We feel we have developed the very best possible check and balance framework for the Order. The Vasa National Archives has proceeded in like manner. These sound accounting practices will successfully take the Order through the 21 st century meeting all legal and government requirements. Please review these annual financial reports. Should you have questions bring these to me, or Keith, the GL Treasurer or your GL Executive Board Member. The Order is grateful to Grand Treasurer, Keith Hanlon whose hard work and dedication helped the Grand Lodge accomplish this goal. In Truth and Unity, Wm Lundquist, Grand Master Kära Vasasyskon, Ett område som har varit av stor oro för många medlemmar är det ekonomiska välbefinnandet av Vasa Ordern och Vasa Arkivet. Som Stormästare tillsammans med Storlogens Exekutiva Råd har vårt fokus under de senaste tre åren varit att återställa den finansiella hälsan. Jag har delgett steg och framsteg med er regelbundet via mina meddelanden i Vasastjärnan, i brev till Distriktens Exekutiva Råd och till FD Stormästare samt direkt när jag har varit närvarande vid Distriktsmöten. År 2010 lovade jag Ordern insyn i vår finansiella praxis. Vi är glada att meddela att vi nu har uppnått detta mål. Vår Revisors rapport och finansiella rapporter finns nu tillgängliga i elektroniskt format för dig att ta del av. Det har tagit tid att nå detta mål eftersom vi var tvungna att studera vår finansiella situation i detalj, modernisera vår bokföringspraxis och anlita en revisor med expertis om skattebefriade organisationer. Vi anser att vi har utvecklat en god kontroll och balans. Vasa Arkivet har också arbetat i samma riktning. Med denna redovisningspraxis kommer vi att framgångsrikt kunna föra Ordern framåt och möte alla juridiska- och myndighets-krav. Läs gärna igenom dessa årsredovisningar. Ställ frågor du har till mig, till Storlogens Kassör, eller till din Medlem av Storlogens Exekutiva Råd. Jag framför härmed Orderns stora tack till Storlogens Kassör, Keith Hanlon, vars hårda arbete och engagemang har hjälpt Storlogen att nå detta mål. I Sanning och Enighet, Wm Lundquist, Grand Master
Dear Vasa Brothers and Sisters, It is my privilege to serve the Vasa Order as President of the Vasa Order of America National Archives, Inc. As you may know the Archives is a 501c3 organization, separate from the Vasa Order of America but under its control. A major focus of the Archives Board of Directors is to assure that the Archives revenue is large enough to handle the operational costs and ensure that the endowment grows. I see the Archives as the most valuable asset of the Vasa Order; one that can continue serving the Order, genealogical researchers and Swedish America into the future. We are grateful for the support of the Archives through your per capita contributions to the Grand Lodge and individual support of our two fundraisers, the Heritage Fund (Friends of the Archives) and our Ever Living Julgran Memorial. We also are thankful for the donations from district lodges, many using the OA&B funds to support the Archives. As a result, as you can see from the financial report, we have met our operations budget and have been able to begin to regrow the endowment somewhat. We have a long way to go but I am pleased with your support the last three years. As part of our goal to provide financial transparency to all our members, our auditor s report and financial statements are now available on our website for your personal review. Due to changes in the non-profit laws accomplishing this goal took time but we are now following standard financial reporting practices. As our Grand Master noted in his letter, we needed to do an exhausting evaluation of our financial situation, modernize our recording practice [and] hire non-profit CPA experts. These sound accounting practices will successfully take the Vasa Order through the 21 st century meeting all legal and government requirements. Please review these annual financial reports. Note that the Archives fiscal year is from May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013. This will change next year, as the Archives will follow the Grand Lodge by using the calendar year for our fiscal year in 2014. Should you have questions, bring them to me. The Archives Board is grateful to Grand Treasurer, Keith Hanlon, whose hard work and dedication helped us accomplish this goal. In Truth and Unity, Rolf S. Bergman President, Vasa Order of America National Archives, Inc.
Independent Auditors Reports The Grand Lodge Vasa Order of America and The Vasa National Archives Inc. The Grand Lodge Vasa Order of America auditor s report and Financial Statements were prepared by Abbott, Stringham and Lynch, San Jose, CA. The report is for Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2012. The Vasa Order of America National Archives Inc. report and Financial Statements were prepared by H & J CPA, Willoughby Ohio. The report is for the Fiscal Year ending April 30, 2013. Both firms are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants with specialists serving nonprofit clients. The Grand Lodge Executive Board voted to change the Fiscal Year to the Calendar year beginning with this report. The Fiscal Year now matches our assessment year, and improves reporting clarity. The change was approved by the IRS. The Vasa National Archives Fiscal Year will change to the calendar year in 2014. Keith Hanlon Grand Treasurer