EVER ONWARD

April 2005

Once again we find ourselves in a new season of CHEACT. Sadly, we must say goodbye to Jim Bob and Amy Howard. Jim Bob has served as our Treasurer for almost two years now, and took a position on staff to R.C. Sproul Jr. in Virginia this past month. Even though he is remote, Jim Bob will continue as the CHEACT Webmaster while we work through architectural changes in how the site is built and maintained.

It is with sincere thanks that I would like to announce that Craig Horton has agreed to step into the Treasurer role. Craig is an engineer at Intel, has been active as a deacon at Hyde Park Baptist Church in the past, and is now a Founder of White Stone Family Bible Church – a Family Integrated worship church. Craig and his wife, Susan, have been home schooling for four years now, have four children and share our vision and passion for family and home schooling. Welcome, Craig!

For about six months now, the Board has been considering our donation-based membership renewal policy. As you may recall, we began this plan about three years ago when many of our members were starting to drop off the membership rolls, because so many men were either un- or under-employed. The greater Austin economy has improved much since then, and we can no longer contain our expenses without this fee.

For the record, we have collected roughly $4.50 per member household during this season. From the letters we have received, this has helped many of you out. During this time, our membership has grown from about 600 families to about 1100 families today. From that perspective, the measure was a success. But to live within these means, we went to the much-maligned electronic newsletter and have not published a membership directory since 2001. At the same time, there are other initiatives that we have not been able to consider while under these financial constraints, like growing our library resources. While we have been able to keep the lid on some expenses, as you can see, we very much needed to start printing a newsletter. Only about two thirds of you were able to receive the electronic version.

To be effective at accomplishing our mission, the Board has decided that the time is right to move back to a fee-based membership. Beginning June 1st, we will ask $25.00 for an annual family membership. And as a way of saying “Thank You” for choosing to partner with fellow homeschool families to Safeguard, Promote and Encourage Homeschooling that Glorifies God in central Texas, we will send your family a copy of “When You Rise Up – A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling,” by R.C. Sproul Jr., a $9.99 value. We can think of no better gift to encourage and promote Homeschooling that glorifies God in your family. It will also prepare you for our 2006 summer conference!

As you Read this, CHEACT is fast at work on this summer’s conference. The first date to put on your calendar is May 20th. This is the day of the CHEACT Used Curriculum Sale. This is a great place to sell materials you no longer need and find bargains on items that you do need for the coming year. See our web site for further details.

June 24th and 25th are the days of the 18th Annual CHEACT Home Educators Conference and Book Fair. Once again, we will be at Palmer Auditorium with nationally-known exhibitors and speakers. Dean and Karen Andreola of The Charlotte Mason Research and Supply Company will be our keynote speakers. See the first part of our interview with them inside this issue. And if that wasn’t enough, James and Stacy McDonald of Homeschooling Today Magazine, Family Reformation Magazine, and Patriarch’s Path will be our guest speakers. There will be a LOT of exciting content, so mark these dates on your calendar now! Plan to be on time each day.

Yours truly,

Brett Adams
Chairman, CHEACT

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