I found out recently that I was nominated for the position of Treasurer at our Spokesmen’s Club. The nomination, which I thought about and then accepted, was part of a general move to help provide leadership opportunities for some of the younger guys in the club. Even though I don’t necessarily often feel very young, I am relatively young as far as the group is concerned. As part of today’s new business, a lot of the business had to do with my own particular office and how it will be handled, and what sort of responsibilities fall into that office. As might be expected, I took a conscientious interest in such matters and made a mental note of the sort of matters that fell within my purview. So, as is the nature of things, I am writing it here as well to share with you all.

The first matter of business to me, as might be expected, is how much money is in the account and what I am supposed to do with it to pay our monthly meeting expenses. Also, it became my duty to make sure that we get enough dues to prepare in advance for our Ladies’ Brunch (which hopefully is a less lonely and harrowing experience than last year’s was, given that I’m now on the hook for paying for a date when the pool of suitable dates is a very small one). So now I get to nag everyone about how much money they need to pay me, which will be a fairly substantial amount considering I only got dues from about 1/4 of the members there. I don’t particularly enjoy nagging people, but sometimes it has to be done, especially since I’m expected to provide some supplies for refreshments like plates and cups out of the dues too. Pay me the money!

Other than those duties, club went well. Besides being the treasurer and answering comments about what impressions I had from the feast that I will remember in ten years and my thought of the government shutdown, I had an assignment for an evaluation of a book review from a fellow member of the club who happens to be somewhat of a neighbor of mine as well. He reviewed a book from the author of Seabiscuit that talks about a complicated story about a fellow whose life story is not too dissimilar from my own, a WWII story of bravery and courage in difficult circumstances. I borrowed the book to read after evaluating the speech, which got me the award for most helpful evaluator of the night (the first time I have won that particular award in the Portland Spokesmen’s Club). After I got done with that I ended up with the coffee supplies for the next meeting, something which I have no use for myself given that I don’t drink any coffee. But I suppose that’s what happens when one is a treasurer, having to guard and protect that which one does not use.