This topic contains 17 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by 
JimandLinda 5 years, 10 months ago.
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Whereas, WGA Board members are expected to spend a tremendous amount of time on official duties and at meetings and attending events and incur significant personal expenses in doing so (travel, hotels, campsites, materials, etc.).
We thereby propose that an ad hoc committee of the five soon to be retired Board members be formed to examine whether some sort of expense stipend could be provided when Board members are expected or required to be in meetings or at an event.
The five members, who will not benefit from any recommendations, will examine whether members would want to implement such a plan, what the stipends might be, and how any approved stipends would be funded.
Examples:
Possible full or partial expense reimbursement for some or all WGA official events.
Finance through normal WGA income and/or team “dues”, or specially earmarked donation fund.
Receiving a small stipend to help defray expenses does not take the volunteer out of volunteering.
And no, katste is not interested in running for a Board position but is willing to support our Board members financially.
Whereas, WGA Board members are expected to spend a tremendous amount of time on official duties and at meetings and attending events and incur significant personal expenses in doing so (travel, hotels, campsites, materials, etc.). We thereby propose that an ad hoc committee of the five soon to be retired Board members be formed to examine whether some sort of expense stipend could be provided when Board members are expected or required to be in meetings or at an event. The five members, who will not benefit from any recommendations, will examine whether members would want to implement such a plan, what the stipends might be, and how any approved stipends would be funded.
I agree that BOD members do spend a lot of time on official duties and incur personal expenses to attend meetings and events but I also do not think they should receive any expense stipend. As far as I know WGA has always been strictly volunteer and I think it should stay that way.
Well, this isn’t the first time THIS has been discussed!
As a past member of the BODs, and as a current member of the WGA, there have been a few ideas brought up to alleviate the financial burden of the BODs.
1) The ONLY gathering of the WGA BODs that should be required is the yearly BOD meeting in late winter, after elections.
2) It should not be required for ALL BODs of the WGA to attend every WGA sponsored event, including the Picnic and Campout.
3) It has been discussed in the past to divide the state into 3 sections, with 2 Directors elected from each area. There would also be 3 at large Directors from the entire state, thus making up the 9 member BODs. As Events rotate around the state, the 2 Directors in that area COORDINATE the Event, assisted by WGA members from that area (use the Membership Map or List to proactively ask members individually to assist).
4) A motion for the WGA General Fund to provide lunch to the BODs at their yearly meeting (in appreciation for their volunteer work) failed by a small margin because a few of the Directors thought it was not a good use of money and there wasn’t enough discussion. If a stipend IS supported, it will be interesting (and of note) to see which cost more; 9 Subway sandwiches or a yearly stipend. (If I recall correctly, the 9 sandwiches cost about $75. If we can pay the BODs a stipend totaling less than that, I’m for it.)
5) One of the many roles of the WGA BODs is preparing for Director turnover. Have the current leaders been mentoring the new Directors toward leadership roles? Have leadership responsibilities been shared equally? Have Event duties been delegated fairly? Are WGA members avid about serving on this “volunteer-only” BODs?
In past years, the BODs asked 1 or 2 WGA members to host the LCG Event, to see who would step up from our membership. It was an Event SUPPORTED by the WGA but not ORGANIZED by the Directors. This gave our BODs the opportunity to just come to an Event, once a year (if they chose to), to relax and socialize with the members, instead of running hither and yon, doing all the “stuff”. In my opinion, THESE members were the future of WGA leadership.
Before a stipend could be offered, the membership would need to know the income/expense ratio for the previous 5 years, as well as the expected revenue for the future, based on Event attendance and total sales at these Events according to the area of the state where the Events were held. We need to know WHO is supporting this additional expense and focus our Events in the areas that support the group financially.
That’s a good start in considering the stipend option.
The next question might end up being, “How much should membership dues be?”
Lots of good discussion. The WGA is one of the only state geocaching organizations that does not have a yearly membership fee. The WGA, through merchandise sales, is able to offset that cost thanks to the best members around.
I have to agree with Lois about not accepting any stipends for volunteering for the BOD as there is only one required face to face meeting after the election. Overnight hotel/motel stays are entirely up to the elected because they usually don’t require more than a couple of hours of travel.
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
-Henry David Thoreau
By the way… I most definitely appreciate the elected BODs efforts and the quality merchandise that they choose to offer the members and all geocachers that come in contact with us (WBCB).
As a BOD member, I would not accept a stipend. I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to take on my role with the board. I wouldn’t mind lunch, but I generally avoid the big-name sandwich place 😉
Another issue with the original proposal is that it assumes that the 5 board members with terms ending in 2020 will not be running for reelection. At this point there may or may not be directors who will be running for reelection, making the formation of an ad hoc committee difficult at best.
Thanks for thinking of us, Katste. It’s nice to know that we are appreciated. For me that’s reward enough.
All opinions, comments, and useless drivel I post are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the WGA BOD.
. Thanks for thinking of us, Katste. It’s nice to know that we are appreciated. For me that’s reward enough.
Well said Jim. And yes, thank you katste!!
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
-Henry David Thoreau
You all raise some very good points! Thank you!
We figured that many past and present Board members would say they wouldn’t want a stipend. Raslas makes a good point about not wanting a stipend for volunteering. We both respect and support you in that decision. We also do not file for stipends in the organizations we belong to. However we believe something should be available for those who want to or need to opt in. No questions asked and no judgements! As Dawn says, It’s her personal decision. However, even if everyone declines, we as an organization, did the right thing by offering.
However, some cachers maybe do not run for the Board because of the financial expense involved in serving, just as some are not geocaching premium members because they need that $39 to live on.
As Dawn has pointed out, Board members are required to attend only one face to face meeting and are not required to stay overnight, so an overnight isn’t expected. However an all day meeting and perhaps, a two to three hour drive each way is pretty demanding.
We checked several state geocaching associations on-line and found that some have no dues, but many have a sliding scale of dues from $0-$20 with a choice of a free, basic or premium membership. There doesn’t seem to be much difference in the benefits for free , basic or premium membership. We also admit that collecting dues involves some monetary, time and logistic costs.
We didn’t find any info in bylaws about whether Board members in other states receive stipends, expenses or meals. Doing so seems to be a decision by their Boards as circumstances warrant.
BigJim raises a good point about our suggested ad hoc committee make-up. Only those not running again should serve on the committee. Past board members would also be appropriate. Having retired Board members looking at it is necessary because they know how much expense and time is involved and know the history of previous discussions. The then current Board would take up the committee recommendations per the usual procedures.
We also agree with Jim and Linda about the research required before any recommendations can be made. The history of past discussion was interesting and new to us since we first joined in 2013.
As an example, if each member of the Board of Directors who attends and works in their official capacity would have available, at his/her discretion, reimbursement or payment for the following each year.
One night hotel night or campsites for the WBCB/WGA Pancake Breakfast or other WGA official event. (maximum $100)
Meal(s) at annual BOD meeting (going rate)
Pancake Breakfast
The cost would be a maximum of maybe $120 per Board member or $1080 per year if all elect to take it.
The WGA had $8500 dollars (rounded off) in our account at the beginning of 2019. It was about $9500 in 2018. It seems we certainly have the financial resources to, at the very least, offer 9 very dedicated and wonderful people a pancake breakfast or a lunch at an all day meeting or after working a full day at the WBCB or other official event. It looks like we could easily afford it. If the Board feels that the WGA doesn’t have the financial resources, then either dues or a dedicated donation sub-fund could cover it. <b></b><i></i><u></u>
When joining the WGA in 2013, we just assumed that Board Members were offered some sort of cost sharing so we never asked anyone. This past year, in casual chatting, we were surprised to learn that our assumption was wrong.
As for sub sandwiches, give Steve a choice of a free $60 meal at Vince Lombardi’s Steakhouse or a $4 sub at Subway and it is a no-brainer……..Subway all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unless of course, there is a McDonalds or a Burger King around.!!!!
I agree that some/many of the members don’t run for the BODs for several reasons, including finances and time commitments. It is up to THESE members to be involved by voicing their opinions or comments on this website or speaking one-on-one with a Director.
As far as the treasury balance is concerned, the money belongs to all the members of the Association, and ways to give it back to the members in meaningful ways should be the number 1 goal of the BODs who are elected.
Thank you for listing the treasury balances for the previous years. It helps to stay transparent to the membership.
One other note: If a stipend is paid to each Director, they COULD donate it back to the WGA, as a donation. Those Directors that have valid financial needs in their service to the Association could keep the stipend to help reimburse their out-of-pocket expenses.
Or if members would like to donate to the BOD out of their own pocket. I am sure Iwould be happy with a new WGA sweatshirt.. size XL. I did not run though for free handouts.. i ran because i enjoy geocaching.
As I said before I do not think BOD members should receive a stipend but if a member feels they want to do a little something extra for our wonderful organization, remember we have a donation box. Your donations and purchases allow us to continue to do things for the members!!
Good discussion, well done all.
Until we get our bill from 4Imprint for the embroidery (~$2,000), the WGA has about $9,100 in the bank right now.
JimandLinda once suggested to me about just having a catered food event where the BOD doesn’t have to do the work of cooking, etc. so all of us can just mingle with the members if the WGA had enough dollars in the bank at the time.
As far as the treasury balance is concerned, the money belongs to all the members of the Association, and ways to give it back to the members in meaningful ways should be the number 1 goal of the BODs who are elected.
That is probably the most discussed thing being on the board. We were lucky enough to do something different at the Fall Picnic this year and provide hot dogs, brats, and hamburgers at no charge as a thank you.
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
-Henry David Thoreau
We like Jim and Linda’s idea to Dawn regarding a catered lunch and we also really like the Board’s decision to supply the grilled fare at the Fall Picnic, although we did not directly benefit, as we did not attend. As members, we don’t feel we, as members, were shortchanged because we didn’t get a gratis brat. It is good for members as fifty people bringing fifty separate brats to grill doesn’t make a lot of sense. The Board can and should make those decisions as they see fit! We trust you to be able to make those small spending decisions without a long and tedious process.
Not to belabor the point, but seeing we already stirred the pot, we might as well add another ingredient to the discussion. If anonymous members asked to specifically pay the bill for all Board members lunch at the annual meeting, or pancake breakfast, etc. would those who are opposed to a WGA designated donor fund or formal stipend or reimbursement accept it as an earmarked donation in appreciation of your service? This would be akin to the volunteer appreciation lunch or picnic that most non-profits have annually.
We appreciate your opinions, feelings and insights on what seems to be a more delicate proposal than we originally thought!
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