Insights into Serra Organization and Leadership Training in Iowa

2018

Serra Iowa

Leadership

Training

Objectives

•

To provide Information and ideas to

make your upcoming year successful

•

To inspire you!

–

Readings from 

“

To Save A Thousand Souls

”

by Fr. Brannen

Overview

•

The Big Picture (above the Club level)

–

Serra International

–

Serra Foundation

–

Serra US

–

Serra  in Iowa

–

The State of US Vocations

•

How Clubs Function & the Event/Planning Calendar

•

Vocations/SerraSpark website  & Programs

•

Communications & Membership

•

Treasurer Functions & New Serra Web Portal

Serra: The Big Picture

Our Mission Statement:

   To foster and affirm vocations to the

ordained priesthood and vowed

religious life, and through this ministry,

affirm our Catholic faith.

Three Distinct Missions:

•

To Foster NEW Vocations

•

To Affirm EXISTING Vocations

•

To Increase our Holiness

Saint Junipero Serra

“

Always Forward, Never Back

”

•

Born 1713 in Mallorca, Spain

•

At age 16 joined the Franciscans

•

At age 36 volunteered to go to new world as a missionary;

established missions in Mexico

•

At age 56 began establishing missions in California

•

1784 died at age 70 in California

–

traveled 24,000 miles as a missionary

–

Missionary works remarkable in light of challenges

•

Canonization : September 2015

•

Feast Day:  July 1

History of Serra Organization

•

1935: Started by four Catholics in Seattle, WA

•

1951: Became Official apostolate of Catholic Church

–

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Our Role is to be the LEADERS on vocations effort

–

We LEAD by our own efforts: prayer, service & fellowship

–

We LEAD by encouraging and supporting vocations efforts

by other Catholic lay organizations

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Organization of Serra

USA

Canada

Spain

Italy

Philippines

Mexico

Scanspac

Brazil

Great Britain

Thailand

15,000 Members Worldwide

500 Clubs in 46 Countries

(96% of worldwide

Serrans served by

one of these ten

councils)

USA

Canada

Spain

Italy

Philippines

Mexico

Scanspac

Brazil

Great Britain

Thailand

(96% of worldwide

Serrans served by

one of these ten

councils)

Episcopal Advisor: Cardinal Collins

President 2018-19: Mario Biscardi

Exec Dir: John Liston

      Office staff: 3 FT Employees

                         1 PT Employee

Serra Intl Financial Overview

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2017 Budget

  2017 Actual           2018 Budget

Value of Serra Intl to local Clubs

•

Our mission statement is not limited to USA, but to

the worldwide Catholic Church

•

SI spreads the Serra model to areas of the world

where no such vocation effort exists adapted as

necessary to local culture

•

SI brings Serrans together once a year at the

international convention.

•

SI coordinates Serra activities with the worldwide

priorities of the Vatican

Serra Intl Convention 2018

Nashville, TN

•

June 27 

–

 July 1 Nashville

•

Limited to 400 registrations

•

Special bus trip for Reg 9 attendees

•

More info:

–

nspire.serrainternational.org/2018-serra-

international-convention

    Serra Foundation

•

Mission

–

To fund programs that foster & promote religious

vocations

–

To fund formation programs for men & women in

consecrated religious life

–

To enhance recognition of Serra International

Serra Foundation Grants

•

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To 9 USA organizations:

$  71,500

–

To 16 org. in 8 other countries:

$  85,000

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To 18 USA organizations:

$  71,000

–

To 35 org. in 12 other countries:

$  80,500

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Serra Intl Foundation

•

Inform Seminaries, Convents,

Houses of Formation and even

Diocesan Vocations Offices of the

opportunity to apply for a grant.

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Serra US Council

14 Regions organized along lines of US Catholic

Council of Bishops regions

(consolidation being studied)

Overall USA:

7,502 Serrans

214 Clubs

Region IX:

  -Iowa

  -Nebraska

  -Kansas

  -Missouri

    + Tulsa OK

    + 2 Clubs in

       Western IL

  1,623 Serrans

  26 Active Clubs

Episcopal Advisor:

Cardinal Collins (Toronto)

Serra US Financial Overview

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   Reserves/

   Bequests: 

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$ 212,000

$ 200,000

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Value of US Council to local Serra Clubs

•

Repository of 

“

Wisdom

”

 of Serra through the years

–

Training programs, officer & club manuals

•

Clearing House for new ideas and problem solving

–

National workshops, national conventions*

–

Serran magazine (with SI);

•

Communicates vocation priorities of US Bishops

–

Annual vocation awareness program support materials

–

Newman Connection

–

Digital resources for Vocations Directors / SerraSpark

•

Professional support for all-volunteer clubs

–

Maintenance of membership records/database/mailing labels

–

Liability insurance certificates for club & vocation activities

–

Maintaining 

serraus.or

g website

Serra US Council Priorities 2018:

per US President Greg Schwietz

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2018 Region 9 Convention

No 2018

Region 9 Convention

in lieu of

SI Nashville Convention

June 27-July 1, 2018

SI & US Dues Structure

(per year)

•

Serra International : $ 47.00

–

Spouses & Under 35:  $23.50

•

USA Council - $45.00

–

Spouses & under 35 - $22.50

•

Dues billed separately twice per year

–

Billed on or before June 1, Dec. 1

–

Due July 15, Jan. 15

Region 9 Dues Structure

(per year)

•

Regional Director fee: $ 2 /member

•

District Governor fee : $ 3 /member

•

Regional Convention : $ 4 /member

•

Total : $ 9 /member ($4.50 per spousal member)

–

Invoiced in July

–

Due by July 30

–

2 separate checks sent to addresses

designated on invoice

Serra 9E (Iowa) Membership

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Jan

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Apr

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Total        311

Iowa--No. of Seminarians

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Iowa--No. of Seminarians

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Challenges for Serra

in USA

•

Visibility/Awareness problem in most parishes

•

Name confusion problem

–

Too often confused with Sierra Club

–

Option:  St. Serra or St. Junipero Serra Club

•

Poor Hispanic representation

Status of US Vocations

•

Shortage of Priests remains a CRISIS

•

Lots of Good things happening:

–

New priest ordinations increasing since 2000

–

Grad level seminarians up since 1995

•

Total No. Diocesan Priests still declining

–

Down 30% since 1965

•

US Catholic population up 50% since 1965!

•

35% of US Catholics are Hispanic while only

5% of priests are Hispanic

What We Know about Vocations

(from 

A Priest in the Family

 by Fr. Brannen

)

•

Holy Spirit calls the vocation, not us

•

Culture of Vocations critical to call being heard

•

“God does not choose the qualified, he qualifies the chosen”

•

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50 % of Seminarians ”discern out”

•

92% of Priests are happy being priests

•

Inability to marry is not cause of shortage--mainline

protestant churches have same shortage

Session # 2:

How Clubs Work

&

The Event/Planning

Calendar

How Clubs Work

•

Clubs are chartered by Serra Intl and have a club

number 

(Carroll: 997; CB: 229; Dav: 269; DSM: 44; Dub: 243; SL: 858)

•

Organized by diocese:  Work with and for Bishop and

Vocations Director

•

Focus:

–

Prayer

–

Fellowship

–

Service

•

Vocations ”recruitment” is not primary function

•

July 1 – June 30 typical planning cycle

How Clubs are Structured

•

Board: current & former officers

•

President & President Elect

•

Vice Presidents:

–

Vocations

–

Hispanic Vocations*

–

Programs

–

Membership

–

Communications

–

Secretary

–

Treasurer

Clubs Need Constant

Leadership Development

•

Recruit new members with Leadership Potential

•

Plan for who’s going to do what over the long term

•

“Feed” leaders up the line to Serra US

•

Engage new members but not in officer roles

immediately

•

Be Vocations Leaders, not the entire vocations effort

–

Engage non-Serran organizations in vocations effort:

•

Knights of Columbus

•

Parish vocations committees

Club Meetings & Activities

•

Board meetings (usually quarterly)

•

Monthly Member meetings (two monthly)

–

Program meeting (3rd Thurs, Fri or Sat)

–

First Friday or First Saturday Mass w/ informal gathering)

•

Annual events 

(often in place of program meeting):

–

Ordination Mass

–

Priests Appreciation dinner

–

Bishop’s Appreciation dinner

–

Sisters’ Appreciation dinner

–

Seminarian lunch or dinner

How Clubs Finance Activities

•

Low Dues, user pays meal costs

•

High Dues, Club pays meal costs

Friends of Serra

 & 

Emeritus

Membership Concepts

•

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What they get (optional):

–

Publicity in newsletter

–

Newsletter

–

Attendance at prayer functions

•

No dues obligation to US Serra or SI by Club

•

Caveat on overuse—no support of US or SI

Thoughts on Officers

•

Officers must be a team, not “stand alone” players

•

Continuity of officers essential

–

Position rotation concept

–

Assistants, helpers

–

Operating 

“

solo

”

 harmful to club

•

Consider 2 year terms for key officer positions

•

Consider former officers for repeating role

•

Caution throwing new members into officer roles too

quickly

•

Goal:  identify new officers by April for Leadership

training

Motivate Non-Serran Catholics

to Pray for Vocations!

•

Organize & Promote:

–

Rosary programs in parishes (31 Clubs)

–

Special Adorations for Vocations

–

Call by Name program

–

Parish Vocations Committees

–

Seminarian Prayer boards & cards

–

Diocesan newspaper coverage of vocation events

–

The four National Vocations Events:

•

Priesthood Appreciation Sunday

•

Vocations Awareness Week

•

World Day for Consecrated Life

•

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Event / Planning Calendar

See separate Calendar handout

Session # 3 :

Vocations & Programs

Serra Spark:

Focus for Parishes

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•

Designed primarily for Vocations Directors

•

But several programs can be introduced in

parishes by Serra Club:

–

31 Club

–

Call by Name

–

Holy Hours/ Adoration

–

Traveling Chalice/crucifix

–

Altar Server awards

–

Adopt a seminarian

Serra Vocations:

Three Focal Areas

•

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–

The Mass

–

Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations*

–

The Rosary*

•

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–

Newmann Connection*

–

Parish Vocation Committees*

–

Traveling Chalice/Crucifix/Statute program

–

Altar Server Awards program

–

Scouting/Venturing Vocations programs

•

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*

* Follow up slides

Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations

Two Approaches:

•

O

n

e

H

o

u

r

A

d

o

r

a

t

i

o

n

f

o

r

e

n

t

i

r

e

S

e

r

r

a

g

r

o

u

p

•

M

u

l

t

i

-

h

r

c

o

n

t

i

n

u

o

u

s

p

r

a

y

e

r

b

e

f

o

r

e

E

u

c

h

a

r

i

s

t

–

“Piggy back” on parishes that have Adoration

–

6-hour to 24-hour period

–

Each hour covered by assigned Serrans

–

Location rotates between parishes

•

Provides Serra exposure in numerous parishes

•

Parishoners invited to attend for vocations prayers

via advance bulletin announcements

–

Allows Serrans with schedule conflicts to participate

Rosary for Vocations

(within the Club)

•

Two approaches:

–

Group rosaries

–

Individual rosaries covering each day of

the week or month

•

31 Club Concept

•

Allows homebound Serrans to

participate

Newman Connection

www.newman

connection.com

•

80% of Students Stop Practicing their Faith at Some Point

During College

•

A key time for vocation callings!

•

Bishops believe young people who participate in Catholic

campus ministry more likely to consider vocational call

•

Serra Club involvement:  Assist with gathering and uploading

student information to Newman site (information from Catholic

high schools and RE programs)

•

In past three years, 150,000 students connected with Catholic

College Ministries

•

Contact 

ccampton@newmanconnection.com

 or 866-815-2034 x

708

Parish Vocation Committees (PVC’s)

•

Start Simple!   Initial functions:

–

Weekly bulletin message

–

Petition at Prayer of the Faithful at each weekend Mass

–

Daily rosary / 31 Club

–

Contact person/ Chair

•

Keep Vocations Office up to date on PVC doings

•

Contact youth ministers in parish to inquire about

prospects for Andrew Dinners, Bishop

’

s vocations

events and then report prospects to parish priests

Seminarian/ Priest Support

•

Pray for Our Priests

 Calendar (like 31 Club)

•

Care Packages to Seminarians

–

Twice a year coordinated between two clubs

–

Items:  Stamps, phone cards, gum, microwave

popcorn; hot chocolate packs, cheese crackers

•

Birthday, Christmas & Anniversary cards to

Seminarians, Priests & Sisters

•

Adopt a Seminarian Program

•

Seminarian Prayer Boards and Cards

Serra Programs Function

Thoughts on Serran Programs

•

Focus is on regular monthly meetings

–

The program challenge is for monthly meetings

•

Religious Appreciation events/ ordinations tend to be 

“

self-

programming

”

–

Remember importance to membership retention!

–

Be careful not to 

“

overload

”

 a month with too many

scheduled events

–

Be as consistent as possible on dates, times and

places for monthly mtgs

Key to Successful Programs

•

Line up all speakers at beginning of the year!

•

Suggest a topic for speakers to talk on! 

(Individual vocation

stories get old fast!)  

Possible topics:

•

For the Voc Dir:  “How to Ask”

•

Describe personal prayer life

•

What makes for a good confession

•

What you like best/least about being a priest or sister and why

•

Forgiveness

•

How to pray in Eucharistic Adoration

•

What is the diocesan newspaper doing to promote vocations

•

What are RE teachers doing to promote vocations

•

What is spiritual direction

Tips on Program Planning

•

Stay focused on 

vocations

•

Consider Outsiders:

–

Focus, Newman Connections, Regional Resources, visiting

missionaries, ordered priests, Diocesan news reporters

•

Include prayer as part of every meeting

•

Have some backup plans

Other Programs Options

•

Pope Francis talk to Serrans 2017

•

Fishers of Men DVD

•

Holiness Programs 

(Serraus.com)

•

Greg Schwietz presentations 

(Serraus.com)

–

How to be Top Ten Club

–

Audio of talks at recent Clubs

•

Who Really was St. Serra?  

(Mike Downey)

Special Serran Programs

•

S

e

m

i

n

a

r

y

V

i

s

i

t

s

–

Weekend trips can be spiritual, educational &

uplifting.  Consider monthly program to report

experience.

•

R

e

t

r

e

a

t

/

D

a

y

o

f

R

e

f

l

e

c

t

i

o

n

–

Personal spiritual growth an important part of our

mission.  Mass, Adoration, Rosary and

Reconciliation if possible.  Usually Advent or Lent.

•

A

n

n

u

a

l

M

a

s

s

t

o

P

r

a

y

f

o

r

D

e

c

e

a

s

e

d

S

e

r

r

a

n

s

Affirming Existing Vocations

•

Priests’ Appreciation Dinner

•

Bishop Appreciation Dinner

•

Sisters’ Appreciation Dinner

•

Seminarian Lunch

•

Ordination Mass

Natl Vocation Events

•

P

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•

*Frequently favored by bishops

Session #3 :

Membership & Communications

Why Membership is Important

•

NOT DUES!

•

Need more Prayers for Vocations!

•

Need to increase the pool from which to draw

future officers and leaders

•

Need more hands for more service

•

Need to grow membership to demonstrate to

priests and religious the strong support from lay

Catholics!

Membership: The Big Picture in US

•

US Serra Council Membership Goal:  Net increase 5% per year

•

Factor in membership losses due to death, disability, other

reasons

–

Losses due to death are not major source of lost

membership!

–

Last year, Serra US had a net lost 500 members.  Longer

term losses have been 9%.

–

Retention of members is major challenge (50% of new

Serrans drop out by end of second year.)

•

C

l

u

b

s

n

e

e

d

t

o

t

a

r

g

e

t

a

g

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o

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t

h

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a

t

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o

f

1

4

%

n

e

w

m

e

m

b

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r

s

t

o

a

c

h

i

e

v

e

a

5

%

n

e

t

m

e

m

b

e

r

s

h

i

p

g

r

o

w

t

h

–

(assumes no improvement in retention)

Membership Goals for 9E

       Club                  Current Mem.       +10%    +14%

Davenport

    23

2

  3

Dubuque

    64

6

  9

Des Moines

             124

         12

18

Council Bluffs              34              3

  5

Carroll

               37         

4

  5

Siouxland

    29

3   

  4

New Member Growth Strategies

•

Challenges shaping strategies:

–

Visibility/Awareness problem in most parishes

–

Name confusion problem with 

Sierra

 Club

–

Concern that main activity is recruiting for vocations

•

Implications:  advertising is of limited value

–

Exceptions:

•

Bulletins: ads/ announcements/regular Serra messages

•

Articles in diocesan newspapers, diocesan web sites

•

Key implication: challenges require 

one-on-one

 recruiting

–

M

e

m

b

e

r

s

h

i

p

c

a

n

n

o

t

b

e

a

o

n

e

-

p

e

r

s

o

n

j

o

b

!

New Member Recruitment

•

Member Recruiting should be an ongoing activity, not focused on

just a few months

•

Make succinct information about membership available to all

members

–

Cards like our Serra Prayer cards or brochures to hand out regularly

–

Emphasize 

prayer-based

 nature of Serra

•

Keep membership foremost in members

’

 minds year round

–

Regular mention at meetings

–

Once a year presentation for part of a meeting?

•

Without being exclusive, look for leadership potential

Where to Look for Serran Prospects

•

Daily Mass, Adoration attendees

–

Sign of prayerful hearts, eucharistic devotion

•

Parish Vocation Committee participants

•

Adults in charge of altar server programs

•

Parents & relatives of Priests and Seminarians

•

Knights of Columbus (with their permission)

•

Suggestions from priests of parishes with no

Serra presence but close enough to participate

•

Spouses

Ideas for New Member Recruitment

•

Annual prospect dinner (informative only--no pressure to

join!)

–

Challenge: must be of interest to current Serrans too so

prospects see the Club in its best light/high membership

turnout

•

Inviting prospects to Club events involving the Bishop

–

Lay Catholics like to rub shoulders with their Bishop!

–

Option:  using most popular events to inform, recruit

•

Ask the Bishop & Vocations Director to regularly suggest

Serra membership as a way for lay Catholics to actively

participate in the Diocese

’

s vocation efforts!

N

e

w

M

e

m

b

e

r

R

e

t

e

n

t

i

o

n

“

5

0

%

o

f

n

e

w

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e

r

r

a

n

s

d

r

o

p

o

u

t

i

n

f

i

r

s

t

2

y

r

s

”

•

Assign mentor (not VP Membership!)

–

Call & offer to pick up for events

•

Introduce! Introduce! Introduce! new members (first 3 meetings)

•

Make a welcoming environment for new members at meetings

–

Encourage existing members to go out of there way to introduce

themselves to new members at all events

–

Provide table seating within groups of current Serrans

–

Name badges at meetings

–

Annual directories

•

Get them involved with active Serrans in club

•

Encourage Regional Convention participation (with group)

•

New member orientations

New (and Veteran) Member Retention

•

Good 

Programming

 essential to membership retention

–

Challenge VP-Programs to find passionate speakers, guests

(maintain interest in attending!)

–

Stay focused on vocations!

–

Keep events as consistent in scheduling as possible

•

Good 

Communications

 essential to membership retention

–

Accurate directory (pictorial if possible)

–

Program set at the beginning of the year, not on the fly

–

Upcoming Events in newsletter/ minutes should go out TWO

months forward for calendar planning

–

Call Tree, email reminders, teleblasts before events

When a Member Quits

•

Find out why and report to President & VP Membership

(keep data!)

•

If the reason is 

“

no time to participate

”

 encourage them to

become a 

Friend of Serra 

or 

Emeritus members

•

Friend of Serra/Emeritus

 concepts:

–

Financial support of Serra Club in amount determined

by individual

–

Continued inclusion in newsletter mailing (kept in the

loop)

–

Opportunity to come to prayer-based events (Serra

Masses, Adorations, Rosaries) as time permits

–

No dues to US Council or SI/ no official Serra

membership

Communications

-- Internal

-- External

Thoughts on Communications

•

Communications

 critical to membership retention!

–

“

Hard to belong if don

’

t know what

’

s happening

”

•

Communications Tools

–

Newsletter or minutes

–

Annual Directory (include schedule for year)

–

Websites

–

Reminders for events/ schedule changes/ member

deaths or illnesses:  call tree, emails, teleblasts

Newsletters / Minutes

•

Purpose is informational, not motivational

–

Simple design

–

Large type for easy reading

•

Send same time every month

•

Upcoming Events most important part of newsletter

–

Cover schedule for next TWO months just in case

–

Include prayer requests

•

Don

’

t hold up for anything except upcoming events

Final Thoughts

on Internal Communications

•

Communications depends on the Officer

team passing information to VP

Communications in a timely manner

•

The best communications efforts cannot

overcome poor planning

External Club Communications

•

Publicity

–

Diocesan newspaper articles

–

Diocesan vocations websites

–

Sunday bulletins

Session # 5 :

Treasurer /Finance

Thoughts on Treasurer Function

“

More than just the money person

”

Treasurer often has the most one-on-one interaction with

all the members as a result of handling dues

Key source of 

information

 regarding 

membership

 and

communications

•

First to learn of members quitting or dissatisfied

•

First to learn of address, email changes

•

Most important officer to proof the directory

•

Treasurer must communicate 

“

change

”

information to other officers in timely manner

SI & US Dues Structure

(per year)

•

Serra International : $ 47.00

–

Spouses & Under 35:  $23.50

•

USA Council - $45.00

–

Spouses & under 35 - $22.50

•

Dues billed separately twice per year

–

Billed on or before June 1, Dec. 1

–

Due July 15, Jan. 15

Invoice and Club Rosters

•

Invoice shows number of members--full, spouses,

under age 35 and gift subscriptions

•

Rosters show members names and addresses and

whether they are a spouse or gift subscription

•

Club Treasurer is to correct invoices and rosters

Region 9 Dues Structure

(per year)

•

Regional Director fee :  $ 2 /member

•

District Governor fee :   $ 3 /member

•

Regional Convention :   $ 4 /member

•

Total : $ 9 /member ($4.50 per spouse)

–

Invoiced in July

–

Due by July 30

–

Send checks to addresses designated on invoice

payable as indicated

Filing IRS Form 990 EZ

•

Very important to file annually with IRS

–

Maintains Club’s non-profit status

–

Validates contributions as deductible

–

Maintains Serra US and Intl non-profit status

•

Use 990 EZ (not 990 n(e) the electronic postcard)

•

Due 5 months following close of fiscal yr

•

N

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a

U

S

!

Club Financial Audit

•

Serra US Policy: audit every two years

•

At a minimum :

–

President to receive and review exact copy

of bank statement each quarter

New Serra Web Portal

•

Features / benefits:

–

One central database of Serra membership

–

Find & update club officer & member roster

–

Invoicing/billing*

–

Contacting officers and/or members by one email*

–

Finding other Serran officers or members in US*

–

Secure website

•

Concerns: Privacy 

(still being addressed)

* Future—End of 2018?

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–

Listed Officers (within their club)*

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District Governors (within their District)*

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Regional Directors (within their Region)*

* Future—End of 2018?

How to Access Portal

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