Dear 1974 Classmates,

Everything you always wanted to know about your class treasury but were afraid to ask

The year after taking office as your class treasurer, I attended Alumnae Leadership Council at Wellesley; there, in class officer classes, I learned how much I did not know about the class treasury. So here I share with you what I learned:

• What is the purpose of the class treasury?
  The class treasury provides funding for various class activities such as mailings, mini-reunions, Executive Board phone calls, travel expenses to Alumnae Leadership Council, and memorials. It can be tapped for seed money for class record books and reunion expenses – including entertainment and reunion aid to classmates – as well as for miscellaneous class expenses approved by the Board. Also, treasury funds can be used to augment our class’s Reunion Gift if so voted on by a quorum at reunion.
• How does the class treasury grow?
  The class treasury gets its monies from annual dues payments, donations, the sale of insignia items (post-reunion), and interest income from life membership dues, the latter (interest) provided annually by The College. Most classes, including ours, choose to have The College manage life-membership funds and forward the annual income to us. The life memberships constitute our class endowment – which, at some reunion in the future, our class can vote to give to The College.
• How much do we earn annually from life memberships?
  Our interest income has grown to over $2000 per year.
• How much are life membership dues – and why?
  Life memberships now cost $100; the original amount ($40) was set by the first Class of 1974 board – and was increased by vote at a recent reunion.
• Can life memberships be paid for in partial payments?
  Yes, we appreciate any partial payments; I can keep track of them.
• How much are class dues?
  $19.74 !!
• Are class dues counted as gifts to the College when calculating class stats?
  NO!
• Who are our life members?
  Over 230 members of the Class of 1974 are life members! I obtained the current list from The College; however, I know that there are some problems with it, as I know there are some class members who have paid but whose names do not appear on the list. I promised myself that before the end of my term I would go through all of our class’s financial records in hopes of compiling a definitive list.
• Are payments toward class dues and life memberships tax deductible?
  Yes – 100%!!
• Last but not least, how can you help your class financially?
  • You can fill out the dues/donation form by clicking here and mailing it to me, your treasurer: Bailey Siletchnik, 1037 Green End Ave., Middletown, RI 02842-5747
    Telephone: 401-846-3318 Email: siletchnikgf.ctr@npt.nuwc.navy.mil
  • You can purchase some past insignia items. Since this is the perfect time of year to think about giving gifts, why not “immortalize” the Class of 1974 and add to our treasury at the same time?! Click here to access our Class Insignia Store!

P.S. I just want to add how rewarding it has been to serve as a class officer – especially since it has given me the opportunity to get to know classmates I did not know while at Wellesley. I highly recommend the experience to all! Happy Holidays, and I look forward to seeing you at our next reunion!

Bailey Siletchnik
Treasurer, Class of 1974