February 2024 issue online-

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Program Committee Chair, the Finance Committee, and the Bookkeeper. The City of
Guelph provides the software (RecEnroll) we use to register programs and activities as
well as processing credit and debit card payments by our members.
As an Association, we are required to purchase commercial general liability coverage
insurance. Property insurance policies have been affected by rising claims cost for
property across the industry which resulted in an 8% rate increase for the GWSA for
2023/2024. This insurance covers our members and the capital assets at the Evergreen,
West End Community Centre, and offsite equipment owned by the GWSA, like canoes
and trailers.
Recently some members have made some false assumptions about our finances that I
would like to address;
ASSUMPTION: Membership fees raised for our activity group must be used for
the benefit of only our group.
FALSE: Membership fees are paid to become a member of GWSA. Activity fees
are collected to cover Activity Group/Club expenses AND to help cover the cost of
overhead. Reasonable equipment costs for our activity groups are covered by the
approved Activity Group budget. When groups require additional supplies or
equipment, they should initiate their own fundraising opportunities.
ASSUMPTION: If the GWSA gets a grant to cover supplies for my activity group,
we can just subtract that amount from our activity fee.
FALSE: Grants come directly to the GWSA and must be matched to the actual
purpose or else our non-profit status could be put in jeopardy. Grants are an
unreliable source of income. Grants are not part of the Activity Group budget.
ASSUMPTION: My activity group needs new equipment or repairs – the Board
can just approve it because they are sitting on a pile of cash.
FALSE: All funds are allocated, and savings are invested so that we can cover
future expenses. In 2021, we lost nearly 80% of our funding for our Community
Support Programs which required us to lay off four members of staff. Although the
GWSA is stable right now, there may be times in the future when we may have a
large, unexpected expense or a loss of membership and we need to be prepared.
ASSUMPTION: Why does our group have to get permission to spend our money?
We should have the right to spend our fees the way we choose.
FALSE: All 40+ activity groups are covered by the insurance policies we
purchase on their behalf and the Community Benefit Agreement we have with the
City of Guelph. Our auditor has made it clear that no activity groups should have
any separate bank accounts for their groups. We have no problem with you
collecting funds for social events and we can assist you. But ultimately, if you
want to be part of the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association, you must be a
member of the GWSA and that is an individual who has fully paid all dues and
fees and is in good standing with all requirements of the Guelph Wellington
Seniors Association.
The Sentinel - February 2024 — Vol. 48, No. 6