Doll News Winter 2021 - 142

2020 UFDC

Annual Report
PRESIDENT

his report covers August 31, 2019 through the end of 2020. As such, it covers a very active
period (pre-Covid-19) and the remainder of 2020 (Covid-19) which presented many
unanticipated challenges. Despite a global pandemic, it has been a productive time with many
successes to be proud of and goals that were accomplished.
It is a privilege to serve as your UFDC President. I am honored that you the members have
placed your trust in me and my fellow officers to carry out the UFDC mandate of education,
conservation, and protection of dolls. We celebrate the efforts of all our members who work to
promote the organization, who give of their time and talents all for the common cause - the
love of dolls. It is this dedication that drives your officers and board members to do our best.
And we congratulate our membership for their continued generosity and active support.
Looking at Club Activity Reports I am so impressed with the variety of different dollrelated activities our members undertook and the charities they supported in addition to
UFDC. So many were wonderful UFDC emissaries in their local communities. Clubs and
individual members shared their love of dolls with displays in local libraries and museums,
gave presentations in a variety of places including senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals,
and schools. Providing these educational experiences served to enhance our endeavors and
encourage interest and growth.
Membership is always a concern. Our Membership Committee under the leadership
of Carol Cameron met monthly to develop strategies to improve our numbers. One of the
specific proposals they developed was a recruitment drive called the " +1 Challenge, " aimed at
increasing the number of Club, MAL, Museum and Library members (and Junior Collectors).
This initiative has now been launched with very positive results. In the March through
September time period 144 of our UFDC members brought in 183 new members. During this
same period 226 people joined UFDC which means that 80-percent of the new members were
brought in by current members.
The Fundraising Committee, led by Maryll Goldsmith, met monthly to review the current
fundraising campaigns, discuss future fundraising possibilities and to stay updated on
the financial needs of UFDC. Each year the committee plans a special Fundraising event at
Convention. Since this year's Convention had to be cancelled the committee has turned its
focus to the 2021 Convention for a special event fundraiser. The committee had video spots
during UFDC's July online event to promote donations to UFDC with a special emphasis on
the current HVAC upgrade needed for our Headquarters and Museum. Many thanks to the
committee for going that extra mile - and too all those who answered the call to donate!
Our Collections Oversight Committee, chaired by Linda Edward, has worked incredibly
hard to organize the collection and maintain the highest standards. In October the Executive
Committee and the Collections Oversight Committee hosted an afternoon tea to celebrate the
grand opening of the Museum's Special Exhibit " The Dolls' Tea Party at Emery Bird Thayer
1911-1953 " curated by Neal Foster.

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WINTER 2021

Doll News Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Winter 2021