Saving Money

As I have been reading reports from state presidents and visiting with members I have been asked the question, "What is International doing to save money?" Are we economizing as our chapters and members have had to do?

My answer is YES. We are doing many things to use your money responsibly and wisely. I have worked with a number of chief financial officers (CFOs)in my administrative experience and I have found that the first answer to any question is "NO" and the second one is "How much is that going to cost?" Our business services administrator is a good CFO as Phyllis responds to new ideas with these same answers.

One of the major cost cutting measures we have implemented is in the area of printing. Our current contract for copiers ran out and Phyllis was able to renegotiate one that provided higher end results at a lesser cost. When reviewing printing numbers, we found that we were printing about 50% fewer copies over the last two years. This is true for two reasons. One is that we do many more things electronically therefore fewer letters and packets are sent. This year all applications for scholarships and for world fellowships were placed online rather than sending copies to the committee. The second is that the number of copies of materials for conventions and conferences is closely monitored and fewer copies are prepared. This means there are fewer copies in the round file at the conclusion of the meeting. As a result of this and our extensive use of email for sending information to executive board, administrative board, and committees our postage has decreased also.

Electronic meetings have been held. One committee meets entirely online and two other committees have held online meetings. This helps save money also. My travel expenses are less because I am spending more time in Austin rather than flying home every week.

On the other side,our non-dues revenue has been increasing. Although I have received comments from members that we should stop "commercializing" Delta Kappa Gamma, these activities have produced funding that goes directly into the available fund. We receive royalties from our insurance companies, bank credit cards, advertising, and One-Cause. These royalties have increased dramatically over the last few years. So participation by members in these programs adds to the Society bottom line.

Many green practices are in place at headquarters. We recyle paper and pop cans, use glass cups rather than paper ones, have janitorial services only three times a week. Committees usually only go out to eat once during their meeting time. They have soup and/or sandwiches in the Blanton Room at lunch time and a catered dinner in the evening. Your professional staff is good at putting soup in the crockpot, preparing beverages, and serving whatever maindish has been brought in for dinner. Everyone helps clean up and put the dishes in the dishwasher. All of these practices save money.

Contracts with hotels and convention centers are carefully negotiated so that we get free rooms for guests and use of meeting rooms at no cost. Food costs help offset the cost of renting rooms for the meal functions. Corlea and Phyllis are excellent negotiators and able to work out good deals.

If you have further questions or suggestions about ways to economize please feel free to send them to me. We are very careful with your moneys.