New Local Treasurers Hit the Books

April 6, 2010

How do you get spending approval from the membership? What if your local is short of funds because of previous arrears in the trustee audit reports? How do you do a local budget? Should you give bank cards to the local executive committee members? What’s the difference between a bargaining unit member and a signed up member, and what difference does that make to your entitlements? Can trustees also be on the Health and Safety Committee? These are just a few of the questions tackled by new local treasurers who “hit the books” for two days at a centrally-run, Local Treasurers’ Course this past week.

These practical and ethical questions were the central core of the work of 23 local treasurers from all 7 regions of OPSEU who came to clarify their roles, learn to create and present a local budget, and to track and be accountable for local funds.

While people were practicing how to prepare a trustee audit report and how to access local funding support, they were also learning that a budget should be developed with the whole local executive committee (LEC). An annual local budget is required by OPSEU’s constitution. Presenting the proposed budget to the membership involves the members in the local’s proposed program, not just in numbers on a page. And an approved budget gives the LEC spending authority to carry out the work of the local over the coming year.

Treasurers also learned from each other. “It’s nice to share and hear other treasurers’ experiences. I don’t feel so isolated,” said one treasurer. “I loved hearing about problems and solutions other treasurers were trying. Some would work in my local,” explained another.

Back row left to right: Monty Mohammed (facilitator), Jean-Guy Robichaud, Barb Thomas (facilitator), Paul Milligan, Heather Stoneman, Betty Stevens (Secretary of Training and Development)

Middle row left to right: Brigitte Storey, Tatiana Gorskaia-Belova, Diane Burns, Marty McFarlane (facilitator), Marilyn Woof, Cindy Wilson, Ranate Evans, Joscelyn Ross, Andrea Falcioni, Margaret Miller, Cindy Kissick, Lina Narusevicius

Front left to right: Cynthia Diane Logsdail, Annette Scott, Sue Fairweather, Angela Bach, John N. Mitchell, Debbie Modin, Charlene James, Rosemarie Bergeron, Scott Geirtuga.

Copies of the new Local Treasurers Toolkit, which was included as part of the course materials, are available from regional offices. Treasurers, trustees and LEC members are encouraged to get and read the Toolkit.

The Local Treasurers Course is run in the regions for treasurers, and other members interested in the treasurers role.