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Publishing Committee Report
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A report from the Publishing Committee on making the best use of contributed funds.
Five years ago because of construction in the United States and throughout the world on K. H. and A. H. and branches the needs were greater than the available funds putting quite a strain on the resources.
The design build committee limited any building projects to only those absolutely necessary. This resulted in saving millions of dollars just the first year.
The operations committee with the help of a new integrated computer system was able to make some significant changes. Formerly there were 6 purchasing departments, 13 receiving departments and 262 inventory locations at Brooklyn, Patterson and Wallkill. Now there is 1 purchasing department, and just 7 service centers handling the receiving and inventories. The inventory has been drastically reduced and millions of dollars have been saved.
New energy efficient boilers located in the Towers residential building are now also supplying all the heat and hot water for not that building only but also the other main buildings on Columbia Heights.
An integrated financial reporting system has enabled them to consolidate funds. These have been used for K.Hs, Branches, etc in other countries such as Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and some of the Pacific Islands. Places that do not have the necessary materials, resources, funds or experience to engage in such projects on their own.
Since November 1999 a new program was instituted for building some 2000 K.H.s in the above areas. Local volunteers who were able to work full time on such projects are being provided with food and lodging. By the end of this past service year 1,750 K. H.s have been completed. In
Rwanda for instance 90 K.H. were built for less than $9,000 each in the 2001 service year. Tanzania built 177 K.H. for less than $10,000 each. And Malawi saw 195 K.H. for $6,000 each. By the end of August 2002 they expect to complete a total of 350 K.H. in that one country alone.
Donations unfortunately have not kept pace, but have decreased even prior to September 11. Now we see severe economic conditions resulting in even less funds avail able for expansion.
The Bethel family of 20,000+ worldwide is being urged to help conserve resources. As an illustration if each of the 20,000 Bethelites turned off a 100-watt bulb for one hour each day, at the end of the year there would be a savings of $25,000.
Well, we live in exciting times and we will have to wait on Jehovah as to what the future holds for all of us and up here at Bethel as well.