This comment is from Norm Cook, DTM, PDG (Candidate for Toastmasters International Director from Region II; www.ExcellenceThroughTeamwork.com):
"You may not want to encourage clubs to have debit cards linked to their accounts (#4). There have been a couple of instances in the past where one of the officers took the money and ran. It's better to have checks that need two signatures to withdraw funds. The better way to pay dues is for a member to use his or her personal credit card and then get reimbursed by check from the club treasury."
This brings up a good point. Sometimes the club treasury is a tempting target for embezzlement. Make sure your club requires 2 signers on each check (President and Treasurer), and that these signers change with each officer election. The signature card at the bank must be completed by the new officers, who must also bear a copy of the minutes of the meeting at which elections were held. The club Secretary must sign the minutes, personally verifying the results.
If you don't already have one, request a DEPOSIT-ONLY card for the checking account. This will allow the Treasurer to use an ATM to deposit income and check balances, but will not allow cash withdrawals.
As Norm states, the best way to do club business online is with a personal credit card. Make sure the club collects the money from members and deposits it, then have the Treasurer write a reimbursement check immediately after the online transaction. Even better, use your credit card with airline miles!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Crunch time!
We are coming down to the wire for membership renewals! Toastmasters clubs around the world must pay dues twice each year, once by October 1st and once by April 1st. The month of September is special because it also concludes the contest for the Smedley Award, bestowed annually to those clubs who add 5 new, reinstated or transfer members between August 1 and September 30. For more information about membership contests, click here.
To help you renew all your current members and win the coveted Smedley Award, here are some suggestions:
1) Call your current members to remind them to pay their dues to the club treasury. You can divide this task among the club officers, but a call from the President may be most persuasive.
2) Call your past members and guests to invite them to rejoin or attend another meeting. Offer an incentive if they join before September 30. For example, you could reduce or waive club fees or dues for a certain period of time.
3) File membership renewals as they come in. Don't wait until the last day to file! That's what the other 12,000 clubs are doing. Can you imagine the processing traffic jam at World Headquarters?
4) File membership renewals (and other club paperwork) online. It is fast and easy - you can renew an entire club in about 2 minutes! You will need a deposit or debit card linked to your club account (make sure the funds are there first!), or a credit card (get a check for reimbursement!).
If you renew all your members, you will be well on your way to eligibility for the Distinguished Club Program (DCP). If you add 5 or more members, you will win the Smedley award AND accomplish at least one DCP goal!
To help you renew all your current members and win the coveted Smedley Award, here are some suggestions:
1) Call your current members to remind them to pay their dues to the club treasury. You can divide this task among the club officers, but a call from the President may be most persuasive.
2) Call your past members and guests to invite them to rejoin or attend another meeting. Offer an incentive if they join before September 30. For example, you could reduce or waive club fees or dues for a certain period of time.
3) File membership renewals as they come in. Don't wait until the last day to file! That's what the other 12,000 clubs are doing. Can you imagine the processing traffic jam at World Headquarters?
4) File membership renewals (and other club paperwork) online. It is fast and easy - you can renew an entire club in about 2 minutes! You will need a deposit or debit card linked to your club account (make sure the funds are there first!), or a credit card (get a check for reimbursement!).
If you renew all your members, you will be well on your way to eligibility for the Distinguished Club Program (DCP). If you add 5 or more members, you will win the Smedley award AND accomplish at least one DCP goal!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
No excuses!
So I just finished reading a book I picked up at the Toastmasters International Convention in Phoenix. The author was our keynote speaker, W Mitchell. And yes, that is his full and legal name – not W. or William, just W Mitchell.
His story is simply amazing (to quote our Past International President Johnny Uy)! He survived two horrific, wrenching, life-threatening accidents that would put most of us on the road to eternal self-pity. You know, that constant, bitter “Why me?” attitude. But the philosophy he developed along his journey was stated in the title of his speech, and in the title of his book: It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.
No matter what blows life metes out, what hardships we encounter, the result depends ONLY on how we perceive and react to events. We often allow ourselves to be imprisoned by limitations we impose upon ourselves. Mitchell refused to live in a prison of self-imposed limits. He allowed his spirit to soar and learned to handle adversity with gentle good humor by taking control of his life, by taking action to make the lives of others better. His philosophy is quintessentially existentialist: our actions are ours alone, and we are free to act as we please.
At the core of his belief is that we must take action. He challenges each of us to take charge of our lives, to take action to improve our own lives and those of others. He does not accept excuses, something I learned as a 17-year-old at Norwich University. “There are only 3 responses to any inquiry: “Yes, sir!”, “No, sir!” and “No excuse sir!” (There weren’t that many ma’ams around my school at that time.)
What are you blaming on someone else right now? Are you taking full responsibility for the course of your life? What limits are you building around your life? What is keeping you from taking action?
His story is simply amazing (to quote our Past International President Johnny Uy)! He survived two horrific, wrenching, life-threatening accidents that would put most of us on the road to eternal self-pity. You know, that constant, bitter “Why me?” attitude. But the philosophy he developed along his journey was stated in the title of his speech, and in the title of his book: It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you do about it.
No matter what blows life metes out, what hardships we encounter, the result depends ONLY on how we perceive and react to events. We often allow ourselves to be imprisoned by limitations we impose upon ourselves. Mitchell refused to live in a prison of self-imposed limits. He allowed his spirit to soar and learned to handle adversity with gentle good humor by taking control of his life, by taking action to make the lives of others better. His philosophy is quintessentially existentialist: our actions are ours alone, and we are free to act as we please.
At the core of his belief is that we must take action. He challenges each of us to take charge of our lives, to take action to improve our own lives and those of others. He does not accept excuses, something I learned as a 17-year-old at Norwich University. “There are only 3 responses to any inquiry: “Yes, sir!”, “No, sir!” and “No excuse sir!” (There weren’t that many ma’ams around my school at that time.)
What are you blaming on someone else right now? Are you taking full responsibility for the course of your life? What limits are you building around your life? What is keeping you from taking action?
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