Treasurer's Reports

     I recently asked the clubs in my District to send me a copy of their current financials / Treasurer's report.  This, of course, created somewhat of an uproar.  This was my response to inquiries as to why I was asking:

Why am I asking for financials?

      First off, there is nothing sinister going on.  Everyone needs to relax.  This information will not be shared with anyone.  It is strictly for me to review.  There will be no punishment involved.

     After meeting with different clubs, it is obvious that serious Treasurer training needs to be done, particularly for incoming Treasurers (or current Treasurers who are staying on).  We are working on getting that organized soon.

Monies are to be accounted for in two separate accounts:  Administrative and Activities.

·         The two accounts are not to be merged into one account.

·         Administrative funds are to be used for club expenses (postage, printing, etc.) and that money is to be strictly raised only from Lions either from dues or from a fundraising activity that is closed to the public.

·         Activities funds are to be raised from fundraising activities that are open to the public (crab feeds, BBQs, golf tournaments, bingo, etc.) and all those funds are to be returned to the community (eyeglasses, scholarships, etc.).  They are not to be used for club expenses.

·         An annual audit is mandatory for all clubs.  This should be done by the end of this fiscal year.  If you need help with this, contact me.

      I am also interested to see where money comes from and where it goes.  This will give me information about what kinds of fundraisers are being conducted and what types of community services are being provided.  I plan to put together a chart with that information that can be available when a club is looking for a new fundraiser idea or community service project.

     And just so you’ll know, the District Governor does get a monthly Recap of Accounts from LCI that shows the balances due to LCI, including those that are overdue at 30, 60, 90, and 120+ days.  I normally contact clubs who have outstanding balances that are overdue more than 30 days.

     I hope this explains why I am requesting to see your financial reports.  There is no special form.  Your Treasurer’s report should show income and expenses divided into two accounts for Administrative and Activities.  Nothing fancy.  Can be handwritten or computer-generated. If your Treasurer needs help, please contact me.