July 20, 2002

Proposal to Simplify Quota's Calendar, Save Costs, Unveiled by Board of Directors

At Convention 2001, an international committee (composed of members of Quota International's Board of Directors) was formed to find ways to alleviate the impact of the cost of membership in Quota International. More specifically:

"That an international committee be formed to consider and report back on a more equitable structure or organization or method for Quota International in order to try and alleviate the impact of international dues and convention levy on small American clubs and non-American countries."

The committee appointed task forces in all Quota countries to examine dues and exchange rate concerns and provide recommendations. When reports were submitted, major themes emerged surrounding the desire by countries to find ways to reduce costs and simplify the way in which Quota International operates. In response to these findings, the Board of Directors created a proposal recommending changes in Quota International's calendar that would:

1. Result in the reduction in costs to clubs, districts, and Quota International.
   
   
2. Simplify the workload of club, district, and international leaders.
   
   
3. Simplify and streamline operations Quota-wide while at the same time increasing direct international support and service to members and clubs.

This proposal was unveiled at Convention 2002 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it will be discussed at upcoming 2002 district conferences. Highlights of this proposal include:

• Switching to a system of biennial conventions with an optional service meeting (held in both North America and the South Pacific) during "non-convention" years. The advance convention fee would be paid only in "convention" years.
  
  
• Changing the scheduling of district conferences from September/October to April/May/June and holding the annual Quota training seminar as part of the district conference agenda.
  
  
• Providing governors seminar training at the biennial convention or through area director instruction for those districts not in attendance.
  
  
• Changing the scheduling of optional area meetings from March/April to October/November.

Switching to biennial conventions and readjusting Quota's calendar will save U.S.$472,862 in a two-year period—an average of U.S.$236,431 per year. In a two-year period: each club will save an average U.S.$866; each district will save an average U.S.$2081; and Quota International will save an average U.S.$117,000.

In addition to proposing actions that would impact all clubs worldwide, the Board of Directors took actions that would specifically benefit clubs in Australia:

• Eliminate Payment of GST Tax:
  
  The Board of Directors took steps to de-register from Australian GST payments, an action that is now complete. In the future, Australian clubs will pay dues and fees in U.S. funds. South Pacific Area Liaison Beris Pritchard will continue to receive and process payments. However, payments will be forwarded to the QI Office in Washington, D.C., for banking. This will save each Australian member approximately Aus.$15 adding up to a total savings of Aus.$30,000. It will cost Quota International approximately Aus.$5,000 per year in GST taxes the organization must pay on items purchased in Australia (printing, supplies, etc.)
  
  
• Trial new payment dates for international dues and fees for South Pacific Area:

  South Pacific Dues Payments: Due October 1 (30-day grace period) instead of January 1. Collecting dues by October 1 is a more convenient time period for South Pacific members as it precedes the December holidays and the South Pacific summer season. The transition will occur this way: All South Pacific clubs will be billed for payment due October 1, 2002, rather than January 1, 2003. They will be billed for three-quarters of the normal per member dues amount (U.S.$33.75 per member) since they are being billed a full quarter earlier than non-SPA clubs. (This will offer some immediate financial relief this year to South Pacific area members.) The subsequent South Pacific dues payment will be collected in October 2003 for the full U.S.$45 per member amount.

  South Pacific Advance Convention Fee: Due March 1 (30-day grace period) instead of January 1. This change will offer some immediate financial relief for South Pacific clubs as well as a more convenient payment date.
  

• For estimated financial savings, click here*.
  
  
• To review the proposed transition calendar, click here*.
  
  
• To review four options for 'how' and 'when' districts can change their calendar, click here*.

* To view or print out these publications, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to go to Adobe's Web site and download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.

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