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To All Active ALPA Members -18- January 26, 1948

In 1948, possession of good standing flying cards will be required before participation in any form of ALPA activity will be permitted. The Council Coordination and Administration Department has issued instructions that no ALPA local council meeting will be convened to conduct regular business unless its first order of business is to ascertain whether or not all those in attendance carry good standing membership cards. No form of representing activity membership credentials -- current flying cards. All members must realize that in order to obtain a good membership credential -- and ALPA flying card -- all dues and assessments must be paid in full. 

Headquarters receives letters from members who state, "I paid my dues; why can't I have my flying card?" The reason these members are not issued good standing flying cards is that someplace probably an unpaid assessment or some small fine which must be aid as provided by the By-Laws, before a good standing membership flying card can be issued. 

Before the recent Bookkeeping Department reorganization, it was the practice to not send out a good standing membership flying card until the processing of a member's account was complete, even to the point of depositing the check or draft in the bank. This has all been eliminated. Now, when dues or assessments come in, they are sent immediately to the proper clerk in the Bookkeeping Department who checks the individual Kardex financial record and if the check or draft causes a member to be paid up, he is promptly sent a good standing membership flying card in a special envelope for that purpose. 

This improved procedure will greatly strengthen ALPA and make it more effective and respected. If members will develop the habit of questioning one another about whether or not they are in good standing, it will help greatly to keep the books up to date. No ALPA member should enter upon the flight deck of an air liner without making certain that all others in the cockpit hold paid-up current quarter flying cards, it is prima-facie evidence that he is not in good standing. In plain words, we must become more frigid about members who ride along dragging their feet and refusing to pay their fair share of the representing freight. There can be no other way. This is one place where every member can cooperate to make ALPA better, stronger, and more effective, and a great deal more highly respected. 

8. OBSERVATIONS ON ALPA'S DUES AND ASSESSMENTS OLLECTION PROBLEM, ITS FLIGHT PAY LOSS EXPENSE PROBLEM AND THE ASSOCIATION'S 1948 DRIVE TO BREAK EVEN.

During the shooting war and for a considerable period both before and after, our Bookkeeping and Accounting Department was greatly handicapped by the lack of help and the inability to procure supplies and bookkeeping equipment. 

Since the war, our Bookkeeping Department has been completely reorganized, re-equipped, and sufficient help has been added to keep things up to date. We have instituted all new methods and new procedures, and have made repeated drives to bring in dues and assessments owed to ALPA, the last of which was initiated on December 5, 1947, and is now nearing completion. The result has been well worth the effort but there's still plenty of room for improvement.