I just received an email from AIVF, which answers some of my earlier questions about the fate of The Independent:
AIVF Closing Operations While Moving Forward with The Independent.
AIVF is closing its operations and will vacate its office space by the end of July. In June, a group of supporters gathered to explore the potential for a turnaround that would include hands-on management of the Independent magazine while also reinventing AIVF as a membership organization. Although the AIVF Board is grateful for these expressions of interest, we are not seeing sufficient capacity and resources in place to move ahead. Instead we are focusing on transitioning the Independent to new management and securing benefits for AIVF members through sister organizations.
In order to keep the Independent as an information resource and voice for the independent community, AIVF has approached potential successor organizations to take over publication—including a combination of print and expanded online resources. The AIVF will be reviewing proposals over the next month and we hope to have a concrete plan for transitioning the Independent in the fall.