Dear Backus Supporters,

     On behalf of the Board of Directors, THANK YOU for your past membership support! 

       Membership dollars are vital to our day-to-day operations.  They provide the revenue necessary to pay our modest staff, support programming, provide for building maintenance and pay for utilities.  Each year takes at least $40,000 to heat the building, $10,000 for electricity and almost $2,000 for water and sewer.  Your dollars help pay staff costs related to bookkeeping, grant writing, administration and coordinating volunteers.

      Member dollars are well-spent and our budget of almost $200,000 per year is closely monitored.  Added operational support comes from the City of International Falls and Koochiching County.  Grant writing efforts secured almost $120,000 for capital improvements in 2008 and over $135,000 in 2009.  Your member dollars helped us plan and follow-through on a number of capital improvement projects such as: roof replacement, kitchen/dining room project, elevator and third floor remodeling. We believe in purchasing locally, relying on local contractors and keeping dollars circulating in our community. 

      Your dollars are vital to our daily operations and Backus could not function without the support of our members.  During 2009 our member total grew to 405 with a dollar total of $34,831!  Our goal for 2010 is to reach 500 members with a total of $40,000.  With your help we can reach this goal.

       Please click on the link below to print out a Membership Form to renew your membership today. 
All Backus memberships are tax deductible.  We appreciate your past support and look forward to your continued membership!

Thank you,                                                                                        

Ward Merrill,  Executive Director