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FROM THE DESK
Renewals - One Treasurer’s Approach
Jim Robison, DTM - Club Growth Director
September and March are the two the deadline approaches that they need
months of the year when Club Treasurers to get their dues paid.
pursue club members to remind them to When preparing to send the first
pay their dues. I am currently serving for invoice, and each time I prepare to follow
the 9th time as a Club Treasurer, and I’ve up, I like to print out the club roster from
learned a few things along the way. club central at toastmasters.org, and
First, start early. I like to start check each member’s “Paid Until” date.
reminding members that dues are This way I can be certain that everyone
coming due in August or February. Some who has paid has been credited at TI
time between early August/February (although I need to wait for TI to prepare
and the first of September/March, I the semi-annual dues invoices in order
send a dues invoice. Some members will to pay them online). In some cases, a new
pay immediately. Many members will member paid for the next six months
pay in early to mid September/March. when they joined, and I don’t want to
Some members will pay at the end of send them an invoice. This print out also
September/March. After sending my gives me a hard copy of the member list
initial invoice to members in August/ that I can keep in the club files so that 5
February, I will then send a followup or 10 years down the road, when we are
to those who did not pay early, in early holding a special anniversary event, we
September/March, and another followup can have past member’s information in
about mid month. order to invite them.
If I don’t hear back from a member How do you collect payments? Cash,
by the last week of the month, I will check, money order (in all my years as a
directly contact them. Usually I try Club Treasurer I only had one member
email first, then a phone call if I did not pay dues with a money order), credit/
get an answer to the email. This process debit card, PayPal, Venmo, others? In
usually requires about a half hour to send some cases the member has their
the first invoice, and just a few minutes dues paid by their employer, be
each time I do follow up. Oh yeah, I also sure to properly track whose
remind members at every meeting as membership is paid.
16 ONE COMMUNITY
