The Voucher Service Policy was approved at the October 18, 2004 meeting as published in the October 2004 issue of The Chariot, the club's newsletter.
Dues for the year 2006 will be increased by $100 for each category of membership; for an individual, to a nominal $220 per member. Base dues (minimum) for an individual, with sufficient voucher credit, would be $120.Implementation:
When membership cards for 2005 are issued, each member would also receive a voucher card.
The voucher system would be subject to review at each annual meeting.
Voucher Policy
This policy was adopted October 2004 as a means of offsetting expenses incurred for routine tasks that must be completed at the club. It was also designed to increase member participation at the club and boost interaction among members. The policy is subject to review and revision.
The "voucher for service" program is as follows:
Service credit may be earned in one year to offset a maximum of $100 in dues per member or family for the succeeding year. For example, credit may be earned in 2005 to offset $100 in dues for 2006.
The base dues ($120 for 2005) may not be offset by service credit.
Members have the option to participate in the voucher program or not. Should a member choose to pay the increased dues, that money will be earmarked to cover the cost of using a vendor or other service to perform a function [which] a volunteer might perform, i.e. spraying weeds in the parking areas.
New members will be required to pay base dues and initiation fees in the year they are elected to membership. They may begin immediately to earn service credit for the succeeding year of their membership.
Each member will be issued a voucher upon completion of the task for which they volunteer. (Values in no less than 1/4 increments.) This voucher should be submitted with their base dues to receive credit.
A continually updated list of opportunities to earn service credit will appear monthly in the Chariot and on the club’s website.
It is the member’s responsibility to notify the activity leader ahead of time of the member’s intention to volunteer service.
Activity chairmen and chairwomen will determine the service value of participation. Some service, if performed may earn full credit, other participation may earn partial credit. Some service value may be based on "time spent" or "availability and expertise" or relative effort necessary to complete a task, etc.
It is a member’s responsibility to arrange to participate, have participation validated by the activity leader, and submit the validated voucher to the Treasurer at the time of dues payment.
Being an elected or appointed member of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, or [an] office holder (i.e. President, President-Elect, Treasurer, etc.) does not earn voucher credit; other service is necessary.
A voucher committee, appointed by the President, will review and resolve any disagreements.
A quorum of the Executive Committee, under the leadership of the President will be the final arbiter of any disputes arising from the voucher program.
Exemptions for health and other reasons may be requested, simply by writing to the voucher committee which will review each case.
Members of the armed services on active duty are exempt.
No member may validate his or her own service credit.
The President will validate service-credit for activity leaders if needed.
The President, for service in an activity other than as a club officer, will have his/her service-credit validated by an activity leader.
Each member has the responsibility to "sign-up" for a service opportunity and to participate constructively.
Voucher credits may not be transferred between members, pooled, or carried over from year to year.