[DivineMsJunebug]

HI everyone!!

My name is June and I belong to TOPS in Seattle, WA. We have an evening group which I am currently the leader of. Very nice ladies and a couple of men, about 17 to 20 in all.

We have a member who doesn't pay any of her dues and now won't pay her annual membership but still wants to come to the meetings. I have told people many times that if they have trouble paying to please come to me privately and we can work something out. So hopefully she will, I am going to send her out a nice letter (as nice as I can) and tell her that we are not suppose to weigh her in unless she is current with her dues. Maybe she is too proud to accept money, maybe I should just pay the dues and see if anyone else wants to help without telling who the needy member is.

Do any of you have any situations like this or have any ideas for me. I really have a hard time with anything like this because I don't want to hurt anyones feelings.

[Eleni]

Does this lady say why she won't pay. I have had a member from time to time who was having a hard time financially and I personally paid their dues for awhile. But they came to me and said they were leaving because theycould not pay. if she just plain refuses to pay her annual fee you have no choice but to tell her she can not attend as she is no longer a member. I would try to talk to her privately first and find out what is going on.
As long as their yearly dues are paid we can't stop them from attending. If they do not pay their chapter moneys they can not be eligle to win anything. Not at local ,weekly or state level.Read all your bylaws and TOPS rules carefully. You are not in a good situation. Being leader is not always easy.
Hope you come up with an answer. Welcome to board and please return
Happy Thanksgiving to all

[DivineMsJunebug]

Thank you Eleni! I really do think it is a financial issue. Our weight recorder is not very sensitive to people who cannot pay their dues (she has never had to go without money like I have) so sometimes she gets a little impatient and wants to confront people head on. I think I am going to pay her annual dues and just tell this lady that an anonymous member would like to contribute to anyone that needs a little assistance. I am also going to read my bylaws again and see what is said. I think she is just really proud and doesn't want to ask for help. I think all she wants is to weigh in anyway, she doesn't like to get involved in too many activities.

I have enjoyed being leader but I will be SOOO glad when my two years is up in March...whew. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!!