President's Blog: Why We 'Due' What We Do

For the Junior League of Midland, September is the unofficial start of the League year. We transition into our new placements on June 1, but we don’t start having General Meetings until the third Tuesday in September. September also begins with a Ways and Means fee notice for all Active League members. This fee is due on October 1 of every year. For many years I wrote my $150 Ways and Means fee check automatically without a thought as to why I was paying the fee. I knew the fee was a requirement as an Active member but I never questioned why it was needed. As time went on, I took on leadership roles and I began to understand why this fee came about.

Many Leagues ask their members to sell things or buy things to contribute financially to their Leagues. Some Leagues require their members to buy cookbooks and sell them. Many of these members find themselves stuck with a closet full of cookbooks because everyone they know has already purchased one from them or another member.  Other Leagues require their members to buy tickets to their events and attend them. This was the case for the JLM for many years. Charity Ball was the primary fundraiser for our League for decades. Each member was required to purchase a ticket to the event and attend the fundraiser.  As time went on, being required to purchase a ticket to and attend the event became unpopular. The members of the League stressed that they would rather pay a simple fee than be required to sell things or purchase event tickets. The JLM instituted the Ways and Means fee as a reaction to this sentiment. The Ways and Means fee helps to defray all of the costs that the League incurs. Our fundraiser supports our community projects, but the League still has other expenses. We maintain our building, have an office manager that receives hourly wages, and we must purchase supplies to keep things running. The Ways and Means fee helps to make all of this happen. As a side note, the Ways and Means fee is not required of Provisional or Sustaining members. Provisional members instead pay a Provisional Course fee of $100. Sustainers are exempt.

Each member of the League (Provisionals, Actives, and Sustainers) is also required to pay Annual Dues, which must be received by April 1.  Dues for the JLM are $90 and are meant for the following League year, beginning on June 1. If dues are not paid by May 1, membership in the League will not be continued the following year.  $43 of the $90 fee goes to our parent organization,The Association of Junior Leagues International. The remainder of the dues goes into our general fund to support operating expenses.

Financial support of our members is critical to the Junior League of Midland. The purpose of this article is to let our members know exactly WHY they are asked to make financial contributions every year. A financial commitment of a combined $240 every year (for Active members) is a big pill to swallow, but it is definitely a commitment worth making. The JLM offers payment plans to our members who need that option. We also have a “Fairy Godmother Fund” that members can apply for if they need financial assistance. We truly appreciate our members and their contributions to our League, both financially and in their commitment serve the Midland community through League involvement.

 

-Michelle Dinger

President, 2014-2015