Minnesota Women of Today

This elected position prepare state budget; acts as chairman of the Finance Committee; supervises the State Ways & Means program manager; and serves on MNWT Foundation Board.

Treasurer’s Trimester Challenges

Each treasurer who completes my challenge will receive an incentive. Please send your verification to me by July 31st, October 31st, January 31st and April 30th. Verification may be written, by phone or by email.

First trimester: Send in transmittals, make a donation to Ways & Means, submit an annual budget, have two (2) signatures on every check.

Second trimester: Send in transmittals, make a donation to Ways & Means, participate in the MNWT Raffle by selling or purchasing 10 or more tickets, write a newsletter article and/or report at a chapter (or district) meeting about online requests for the state store.

Third trimester: Send in transmittals, make a donation to Ways & Means, update your chapter budget and present at your January meeting, calculate and pay your chapter’s sales tax prior to the February 5 deadline.

Fourth trimester: Send in transmittals, make a donation to Ways & Means, present information to your chapter (or district) about the 4th trimester promotional, review the Finance Bylaws and Policies for your chapter and recommend changes if necessary. 

June Finance Update: Deficit Projected

The Finance Committee met on June 1 to discuss finance related issues and recommend a budget for the 2007-08 Fiscal Year to be approved at Summer Awards. Despite the cutting of officer budgets and other Women of Today budgeted expenses, the result is still a projected deficit of $8,400. Contributing factors include:

1. A modest projected income from State Ways & Means (state store sales, promotional/catalog sales, donations) and Finance sponsored fundraisers (raffle, vendor sales);
2. Less income from a declining membership (last year membership numbers dropped statewide by 203 members resulting in a loss of $6,100); and
3. Increasing expenses (postage, office supplies).

Among the deepest cuts were executive council communication budgets, and state committee chair budgets. Some expenses were cut naturally as we are eliminating officer positions and competitions. Other expenses continue to increase including utilities, postage and awards.

Non-finance committee members attended the meeting and urged further discussion of a chapter fee/assessment (stemming from the defeated Bylaw change at Annual Convention). A committee was formed to study the details of a Policy proposal to be presented to the membership for approval at Summer Awards. More details will be available soon.

The Finance Committee did approve new items for the state store, 2nd trimester promotionals, Raffle Fundraiser and other ideas for income potential. However, without additional funds and a better than expected projected income, (through increased membership, fundraisers and State Ways & Means) the projected deficit will become a reality.

What can you do to help? Support the Minnesota Women of Today sponsored fundraisers and Ways & Means.

1. Make a donation. Individually, through your chapter, from your district, choose to give money to assist the Minnesota Women of Today with operating expenses.
   
   
2. Shop at the State Store. The State Store offers a variety of items that you can use for gifts, supplies and fun. Plan to support the Minnesota Women of Today by shopping at the state store and make a habit of purchasing items each trimester.
   
   
3. Sign a Member. Every member that is renewed or welcomed as a new member in our organization will help our organization to increase our revenue through membership dues.
   
   
4. Participate in Statewide fundraisers, Trimester Promotionals and Vendor Sales. Approximately 20% to 50% of the proceeds from participation in sales, fundraisers and promotionals will contribute to our total income.

Complete a Transmittal Online!

Available once again for your convenience is the online transmittal form. It is simple to use and time-saving too! Simply click this link to online transmittals: Go to Book of Forms; Choose Programming; Click on Transmittals.

You will need to know the amount of the donation and to whom the check was sent before going online. Once you click on the transmittal, you can begin filling in the form. Confused about which area your donation falls under? Don’t worry! The SPMs, External Vice President and Treasurer will insure your donation goes to the correct programming area. So, don’t let that stop you from completing your donation.

If you have any questions, contact me or the EVP. You may also use Page 5 of my CIP to educate you and your chapter with information about transmittals.

Attention All Treasurers

While it may be a bit early in the year to file state sales tax, it is not too early to check out the Minnesota Department of Revenue website http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/ for tips on how to calculate and submit your sales tax online. I will have more details on the process as this deadline approaches (February 5). Feel free to check out the website for information on sales tax and other questions you may have.

The finance committee will be sponsoring a fundraiser by using a search engine.

What if the Minnesota Women of Today earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.

Just go to GoodSearch.com and be sure to enter "Minnesota Women of Today" as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7,300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! And, be sure to spread the word!

After the first time, each time you return to the home page, Minnesota Women of Today should appear as your designated charity.

1. Encourage everyone you know to download the GoodSearch toolbar.
   
   
2. Make GoodSearch the homepage on all of the computers in your home, company or school. Every time you start your Web browser GoodSearch will load automatically and be the first site you see. Plus, no matter where you are on the Web, you can always click your browser's home button and return to GoodSearch instantly.
   
   
3. Add GoodSearch to your bookmarks make it easier to use.
   
   
4. Add GoodSearch to Your E-mail Signature For example: "I GoodSearch for the Minnesota Women of Today. Raise money for the Minnesota Women of Today just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch- www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo!"

It does not get much easier than this to raise money for the Minnesota Women of Today. Please spread the word, it is just too easy not to.