A few things happened a couple of days ago that started me thinking about money, as it affects our homeschooling group:

First, I got a call from a woman (don't know how she got my name) who is in the business of selling kids educational toys, from Highlight and a company called Jigsaw. It seems they are sold along the same lines as Discovery Toys, Pampered Chef, etc. through home parties. Anyway, she suggested I might want to do some sort of group sales pitch (obviously she didn't put it that way) to our homeschooling co-op. I didn't say no outright, but just asked her to send me her catalog of toys so Icould look at it. What I thought about it was this: I don't want to ruin my credibility in helping to start this group by turning my new friends and acquiantances into potential customers. It seems to me that people would certainly question my motives in starting such a group if I started making money from it, right? On the other hand, since I'm sort of the public relations person for our group it will happen occasionally that I hear about interesting things that others in the group might want to know about, so... I guess I'll bring this catalog to the meeting and if anyone else is interested in talking to this person about buying/selling these toys, feel free to do so.

Second, I started thinking about how we might want to thank the Heights Cumberland Church for donating the classroom for our use. One possibility is to have a box available at each Monday class for anyone who's so inclined to drop in a buck for the church. At the end of the year, we could donate the money to the church or buy them a gift certificate, etc. If we do that, though, who will take care of the money until year's end? I was sort of hoping that by doing away with dues and fees except of the most necessary kind (reimbursement for class expenses as needed) we wouldn't need a "treasurer" or any form of accounting or financial accountability. It seems like once you start collecting money you need to account to the members somehow for what you're doing with it. That all seems so complicated that I don't want to have anything to do with it, personally. What do you think?

It might be easier to just donate the money to the church as it is collected, rather than saving it for the end of the year. Of course if we saved the money it would be a larger chunk of change to give to the church for our appreciation, or we'd be able to buy something nice. However, it does create a situation where someone is in charge, and put on the spot for taking care of the money. The responsiblity of taking care of the money itself doesn't bother me at all... it's the comments, and questions that come about from  assuming people that would bother me. That's not a situation anyone needs. In my opinion...... I think this is something the whole group needs to decide on, one of those "touchy" subjects. ) Maybe we should some how put this up for a group vote to decide on????


Sarah

Well, this message board actually supports something called a "poll" where you can ask a question and people can vote. I guess we'd need to decide exactly what the question was that we need answered, and then try the poll -- maybe keep it open for a month and that gives everyone a chance to vote.

Ask the contact person at Heights Cumberland:  what is appropriate?  What is
needed by the congregation?  They might ask for help keeping their pantry
stocked for the needy.  That's canned food, and doesn't require accounting
or other worries.  It could be as simple as that.

Julie Akers
still pregnant

Julie! Nice seeing another familiar face!
Shelby