<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Most Esteemed Exchequer --<br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Your recent statement regarding your support of the proposed financial policy amendment prompts me to respond and I mean to do so in the spirit of chivalry. Specifically this:<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Sep 22, 2014 at 7:28 PM, Ben Jackson via Barony <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:barony@cynnabar.org" target="_blank">barony@cynnabar.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div><div dir="ltr">Dear Cynnabar,<br><br><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;display:inline">"... Next, if we give every officer $50 to spend, I'm willing to wager they'll spend it. Was our barony really lacking $600-ish worth of goods this year? I am not sure people realize that this will wind up draining our coffers faster than before. We have a decent amount of money. Right now. Do we want to spend several hundred dollars extra on "office supplies"? Aren't there better uses for the group's money?"<br></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">This is something of a non-sequitur. No one has "given" any officer money nor is that the intention of the proposal (as I understand it). "This will wind up draining ..." has yet to be proven. But more to my point, I don't think you realize that some officers may go over "about $50" in the conduct of our office annually without ever once asking for any reimbursement. It's just incidental to what we do, a loving part of our service. <br></div><br><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I will take your wager that if you give *every* officer $50 to spend, they'll spend it. I know at least one officer who never has -- put it back on the Barony to support such an expenditure. I'll wager there are more of us, too.<br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I have two bows in my possession (and wrapped with a band black-red-white electrical tape) bought before Celtic Festival archery at Dick's Sporting Goods because we (Forester Grey and I) knew we would need lighter-poundage bows for young beginners at that demo. Total spent: about $75. Because for archery marshals, THAT'S "office supplies." <br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I honestly don't think you meant to suggest that Baronial officers will just find ways of spending the money they appear to be given. But at the same time, one of the unspoken and critical aspects of retention is gratitude and recognition for the "time-talent-treasure" that goes into being an officer in a volunteer organization. That includes yours! Rather than what might be interpreted (as I did) as an implied accusation of poor stewardship with other peoples' money.<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I've been in your position: I've been the treasurer for a small volunteer organization (about 100 members) with several thousand in the bank. I know full well that it can go out a LOT faster than it comes in. Your caution is justified. I thank you for it.<br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">And thank you for reading my reply to your opinion.<br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">In Service,<br><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Godaeth<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">-- "retiring" Group Marshal for Target Archery, Cynnabar<br></div><br></div><br></div></div>