Page 8 - FDCC_Flyer_Winter2024

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winter | federation flyer
www.thefederation.org
A Peek Behind
the Curtain
Let’s get real. No one
becomes a member of
the FDCC aspiring to
be Secretary-Treasurer
of the organization.
Instead, the position is viewed as
simply a means to an end – the
obligatory first step on the officer
track leading to President. But I have
learned in just my first few months of
serving that the position is so much
more than that.
Did you know that the Secretary-
Treasurer chairs not just the Finance
and Budget Committee, but also the
Bylaws and Resolutions Committee and
the Convention Review Committee?
That every invoice and reimbursement
paid out of the Federation’s operating
account is reviewed by the Secretary-
Treasurer and President to ensure
that payment is appropriate? That
the officers meet monthly and,
as members of the Executive
Committee, make decisions during
the period between formal Board of
Director meetings? That the officers
collaborate and seek guidance
from one another to address the
various issues that arise on a
day-to-day basis? That the Secretary -Treasurer works
with the Executive Director on the all-important Blue
Book roster and has the solemn honor of compiling and
giving the In Memoriam report at the Annual Meeting?
As I get my feet wet in my new role, I have grown to
appreciate the governance structure established in
our bylaws. Although an officer has typically spent 6
years on the Board and has served on the Executive
Committee, there is still so much to learn. The structure
and responsibilities assigned to the Secretary-Treasurer
give a newly minted officer time to adjust to the
position and the daily cadence of the organization.
One of my most important responsibilities as Secretary-
Treasurer is to monitor the finances of the organization.
The significance of member dues to our operating
account cannot be overstated – they are the largest
source of funding for the operations of the organization.
They are what help us keep the lights on and support
the quality programming you have come to expect.
This is where I need your help. All of you should have
received your dues invoices in September. If you are
still in arrears, you have also received several reminders
from Headquarters. As we approach the holidays,
now is the time to move your dues invoice to the top
of the payment list. If you need a new invoice or have
questions about your dues, please let us know.
Happy holidays and I look forward to seeing you in 2025
in Charleston and Park City.
Jennifer Johnsen is an FDCC Defense Counsel member and a
Partner with Gallivan White & Boyd in Greenville, SC. Contact her
at: jjohnsen@gwblawfirm.com
Jennifer Johnsen
So You
Want to be
Secretary - Treasurer
(said no one ever!)
By Jennifer Johnsen