The New Lodge Treasurer

About this book

The last treasurer held the office for twenty-six years. Now the ledger, the checkbook, and the cash box are yours, and the per capita is due in March.

Most lodge treasurers take office with no training at all. This course walks you through your first year in six practical sessions, with plain-English explanations built around a small lodge you’ll get to know along the way. It covers the business side of lodge life only, and it works for any fraternal order.

• How to take over from the last treasurer, and what to collect before the handoff is done
• Keeping the secretary-and-treasurer check that protects both offices
• Dues, delinquency, and per capita that belongs to the grand body, not the lodge
• Relief funds with written criteria, endowments where only the income is spent, and a hall association with its own books
• Tax status for fraternal lodges, the 990-N, the annual return, and the trustees’ audit
• Simple controls that protect the lodge’s money and your good name

Each session ends with discussion questions to work through with your outgoing treasurer, secretary, or trustees. A companion workbook with practice exercises and reproducible forms is available separately.

The treasurer books are general education for volunteers. They are not individual tax, legal or accounting advice; for your organization's specific situation, consult a qualified professional.