Welcome to Monday

There is a different feeling on campus now that the students are slowly filtering out as they complete their tests, presentations, papers and projects. Seniors remain to enjoy Senior Week. I had a successful weekend of getting organized, so I feel more ready to conquer the world.

Postage rates go up today, which frankly frightens me when I consider the Guild's budget. In the past six years, we've steadied, and often decreased, the amount we spend on operating though costs continue to rise. In 1999-2000, the Guild spent $141, 709 (that includes everything that BOTH the University and Guild funds: operating, salaries, benefits, events, printing). In 2004-2005, we spent $123,611. Last year we were up due to having both an Executive Council and the 75th Convention. This year, we will likely spend about $130,000. Costs are steady, the increase is primarily due to annual wage increases.

If we divided the cost evenly among each of the 671 members, it would cost $193 each to keep the Guild office running! Fortunately, the University subsidizes the Guild by funding the staff salaries, benefits and about $9,000 toward operating. Where in the old structure, 50% of a Guild member's dues went toward operating costs, this year only 20% of all contributions will go toward operating (this percentage will decrease as the endowment grows). In these cautious financial times, the Guild was wise to invest its income into an endowment rather than our previous raise/spend model.

I spend a lot of time considering figures as we get closer to the end of the fiscal year (June 30). I can't believe I'm posting such a boring entry today, but honestly, this is what is currently on my mind.