Voting Delegates present at the 2011 Georgia AAUW state convention support a motion to provide written 30 day notice to the branches and their members of a proposed $10 increase in AAUW of Georgia state dues, to be effective with dues payable as of July 1, 2011 … for the 2011-2012 AAUW year.
National dues remain at $49.00 for 2011-2012. State dues will be $20 per year. Branch dues are set by each branch. (Atlanta Branch dues will not change, but each member would pay a total of $87, if the state dues increase is adopted. The increase would be effective when members pay their 2011-12 dues this May.)
Branches are asked to present this proposed increase to their members immediately for discussion and reply with a response by May 10th to Debbie Karvey, AAUW-GA co-president. If any branch and/or member is concerned about the increase, the branch or individual is asked to provide Debbie Karvey with possible alternative solutions to the budget deficit.
All branch responses and suggestions will be shared with the budget committee. All branch responses must be received by May 10th. State convention is currently in recess and the delegates present at the convention on April 2, 2011, will vote electronically on May 15th, on the proposed increase.
BACKGROUND:
At the 2010 Georgia AAUW Fall Board meeting on October 30, 2010 in Columbus, the treasurer, May Ruth Bradberry, presented the finance report and also advised the members present that the budget has been running a deficit for several years. This deficit is the result of inflation or cost of living increases to the standard budgeted operating expenses that is additionally impacted by reduced membership and resulting reduced income. It was voted at the fall board meeting to apply reserve funds to offset this deficit for the 2010-2011 budget.
To further address this issue a committee (May Ruth Bradberry, Debbie Karvey and Marie Bruner) was tasked to review and propose a revised, balanced budget.
At 2011 State Convention, the finance report revealed a deficit budget, balanced with reserve funds. Reserve funds are not meant for operating expenses or budget short falls, and reserve funds should be allocated judiciously for special reasons. Many allocated funds for 2010/2011 were cut or removed as part of this attempted revision to reduce or eliminate the deficit. The key challenges are reduced income and increased costs over a period of more than 18 years. We are fortunate to have a viable AAUW-GA website but the subscription to the web service is one of the relatively new expenses not anticipated many years ago when the state due of $10 was set. By reducing or eliminating budgeted operating expenses, AAUW-GA members are shortchanged. Additionally, it is important that members who accept positions as state officers and appointed chairs understand that there will be funds allocated to meet expenses. For AAUW-GA to perpetuate value to all its members, funds must be made available.
Marie Bruner, in response to the report, proposed to increase dues by $10 a year, noting that state dues have not increased for 18 years. This dues increase of approximately 85 cents a month, will enable a balanced budget, as well as enable appropriate allocation of funds in order to provide better services, support and communication from the state to the branches – generating a more viable state organizational structure for AAUW-GA. Communication of national AAUW initiatives and information as well as interactive branch communication is a primary responsibility of the state – and funds need to be in place to maintain this viable structure. It is our goal to provide a benefit from the state organization to every branch member in Georgia. The present state of GA AAUW finances does not allow for a state newsletter or regular communications from state officers. I hope you will join the state executive committee and the finance committee in agreeing to solve this perpetual financial dilemma by increasing the state dues to $20 per year.
Debbie Karvey AAUW-GA Co-President