Dear Members:1998 was a great year for DAADS! It was a year of significant growth in membership and in our entire organization as well. Our members, including new Friend, Patron, and Benefactor members, continue to show their strong commitment to DAADS, and we greatly value your support.
We were able to offer some wonderful tours to our members and their guests in 1998. The Frank Lloyd Wright House Tour and Luncheon in June; the Detroit Athletic Club Tour, Lectures and Luncheon in October; and the magnificent Edsel Ford House Tour, beautifully decorated for Christmas, in December were all well attended and well received.
We had our "First Annual Garage Sale" in October. Not only was it a successful fund-raiser for DAADS, but all the dealers had a fabulous time together as well. Plans are in the works for a second annual sale this year.
The 1998 Michigan Modernism Preview Party surpassed our expectations, both for fund-raising and fun! Thanks to the steering committee — all their hard work paid off, and it was a spectacular evening to remember.
We hope to "outdo" ourselves in 1999 and continue to provide our members with many great programs and events that will prove to be both educational and exciting.
1998 was a year of other memorable accomplishments for DAADS as well. We began a new relationship with Cranbrook Art Museum as sponsors of Saarinen House. We were very happy to work with the director, Gregory Wittkopp, in this endeavor, and look forward to continuing a mutually beneficial relationship with Cranbrook in the future.
Preservation was of concern to us in 1998, and we were elated that the Elwood Grill was saved from demolition, due largely to the efforts of our preservation Chair, Rebecca Binno. We intend to continue our efforts in this area in 1999.
Among our other accomplishments, we begin the New Year with a new Board and newly established Board of Trustees, as well as new bylaws. Some of our main goals this year, in addition to the ongoing scheduling of events and programs, will be to establish a revised budget. This will alleviate some of our growing pains and provide projections for the funding of specific programs, preservation efforts and scholarships.
We hope to increase our strengths in the areas of promotions and publicity, both for the organization in general, but also for specific planned events. We have set another goal of increasing advertising in The Modern, and we need help to do this. We are also looking for a Recording Secretary to take minutes at our Board meetings.
If these are areas that might interest you, please let us know. We could certainly use your help.
My sincere thanks and gratitude go to the Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees and a committed core of volunteers that are always there for us. This dedicated, untiring group of individuals really do make the wheels of this organization turn and make a great team. They are deserving of much appreciation and respect for their commitment.
Thanks again for your continued support. Best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year for us all.
Robin Cohen, President
