Dear Fellow Members,
各位親愛的會友
I know the recent announcement regarding the
increment of annual fee from US$54 to US$72 must have brought
impact to all of us. This inevitably aroused some discussion
among members. In order to help members better understand the
use of the fee paid, I would like to try to explain this issue
to all of you.
我知道最近有關年費由 54美元調漲為 72美元的消息，一定為大家帶來衝擊。這件事情無可避免地引發了一些討論。為了讓會員們更瞭解您所繳的年費到底都用在哪裡，請容我在此試著向大家做個說明。
According to the “Governing Documents of
Toastmasters International” and the District Leadership
handbook, and here I quote: “Districts receive 25 percent of
every dues dollar World Headquarters receives from clubs within
the district.”; and “During the final months of the program
year, the district reserve account balance shall remain equal to
or greater than 25% of that district’s membership-dues income
for the prior year.”
根據「國際演講會章程」以及「地區總會幹部手冊」，我引述下列敘述：「世界總會從來自地區總會內之分會所繳交之費用中撥款百分之廿五給地區總會做為公積金」；「年度末期，地區總會公積金帳戶餘額必須維持至少年度公積金的百分之廿五」。
So for the US$72/year submitted by every one
of us, US$54 goes to the WHQ and the district receives US$18.
From the information sent by the WHQ, the estimated 2011-2012
revenue is NT$1,585,541, and the 25% retention at year end is
NT$396,385. This means that for 2011-12, the district has a fund
of NT$1,189,156 to serve our members (around 3,300 members). The
fund is to be used for district and club officer training, club
growth and retention, supporting clubs in their membership
growth efforts, the promotion of Toastmasters International
educational programs within clubs, district communications,
administrative materials, awards and recognition items, district
leader travel, district meetings, and speech contests conducted
by the district.
所以我們每個人所繳交的 72美元年費中，54美元歸於世界總會，18美元撥給我們地區總會。根據世界總會寄來的資料，2011-12年度預估的地區總會歲入為新台幣壹佰伍拾捌萬伍仟伍佰肆拾壹元整，而年度末應維持之百分之廿五餘額為新台幣參拾玖萬陸仟參佰捌拾伍元整。也就是說 2011-12年度，我們地區總會預估可以有新台幣壹佰壹拾捌萬玖仟壹佰伍拾陸元整的經費來為我們約 3300名會員提供服務。這筆經費必須用在地區總會與分會之幹部訓練、分會的成長與維繫、協助分會招募新會員、在各分會推行國際演講會教育課程、地區總會訊息傳遞網絡、行政用品、獎項、地區總會幹部交通補助、地區總會會議、以及主辦各類演講比賽。
To be more specific, our district sponsors
different trainings to members, including officer training twice
a year, judges training, manual training etc; pays for members’
educational achievement (CC, CL, AC, AL, and DTM) badges; orders
trophies from the WHQ for speech contest winners; pays for
maintenance fee for district website; and so on. In the
beginning of the year, District trio and treasurer will make a
district budget and submit it to the WHQ. As the District
Governor, I fully aware that it is my responsibility to make
sure every penny of the district fund spent wisely and properly.
更明確地說，我們地區總會資助各類教育訓練，包括每年兩次幹部訓練、裁判訓練、手冊訓練等等；支付會員各類教育成就榮銜（中級演講員、中級領導員、高級演講員、高級領導員、以及傑出會員）名牌；向世界總會訂購演講比賽優勝者獎杯、支付地區總會網站租賃與維護費等等。年度一開始，總會長與兩位副總會長和總會財務長必須一起制定年度預算，並且向世界總會呈報。身為總會長，我非常清楚自己有責任看管好地區總會經費的每一分錢，明智且妥善的運用。
As for the US$54, minimally you receive
monthly magazine. Honestly speaking, the Toastmaster is a very
good magazine with many practical and useful articles in it. If
you divide US$54 to 12 months, it is US$4.5 (around NT$130) a
month. With the rising of postage and shipping plus a
worth-reading magazine, US$4.5 (NT$130) really isn’t too much.
至於歸於世界總會的那 54美元，每個月至少有一本期刊。老實說，這是一本收錄了很多實用文章的優良期刊。如果您把 54美元除以 12個月，等於每個月 4.5美元（約等於新台幣130元）。高漲的郵資與運送費用再加上一本值得細讀的期刊，4.5美元（新台幣130元）真的不算太多。
As a member, you can also take some action to
make sure that you get full benefit from every penny you pay to
the Toastmasters International. I’d like to encourage every
member to participate all the training sponsored by the district
to learn and grow; set and achieve goals and receive recognition
provided by the district; serve as club and district officer; be a contestant in
all kinds of speech contest to benefit from the experience and
even win yourself a trophy presented by the district; and, of
course, read the articles in the magazine. Be an active member
and an active learner so that your membership fee is not wasted.
身為一位會員，您也可以採取一些行動，來確保自己從所繳交給世界總會的每一分錢中得到所有的好處。我要鼓勵每位會員參加由地區總會資助的所有教育訓練來學習並成長；設定並達成目標來接受地區總會為您準備的各類榮銜名牌；擔任各級幹部來服務會員；參加各類演講比賽來獲得寶貴經驗，甚至為自己贏得地區總會頒發的獎杯；當然還要閱讀期刊裡的每一篇文章。讓自己成為一位主動又積極的會員暨學習者，才不會浪費了您所繳交的會費。
The Toastmasters membership is a privilege.
Though the annual fee is increased, Toastmasters program remains
the most economic and effective training program for personal
growth. Let’s cherish it and make the best out of it. Together,
we will “Move One Step Forward”.
成為國際演講會的會員是一種榮幸與幸福。雖然年費調漲了，國際演講會的教育訓練，仍然是幫助個人成長最實惠又最有效的訓練。讓我們珍惜這份福氣，盡情發揮。讓我們一起「穩步邁進」。
Sincerely,
Grace Shih 施惠芳 謹上
District Governor 2011-12 總會長 |
