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"The secretary-treasurer, in recognition of his considerable duties, shall be allowed compensation of 20 percent of the total membership fees paid." This was WFSC policy from the time of its inception in 1932 through the early 1970s, when compensation was no longer allowed. In 1978, the office of secretary-treasurer was divided to create two separate positions.

I thought the idea of monetary compensation for service to any local (or regional) hobby club had become a thing of the past. That was, however, until Post Scripts, newsletter of the Kenosha Stamp and Cover Club, published an announcement that the group recently approved a constitutional amendment regarding the matter. Apparently, KSCC's treasurer traditionally received a sum equal to 50 cents per member per year. The amendment still allows compensation, but the amount, if any, is now at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Obviously, no one is going to feed a family on a percentage of a local club's annual dues. But, is there an advantage to some monetary compensation for an officer, newsletter editor, etc.? Does it promote diligence in duty and an incentive to participate? Is it really any different than distributing stamp bucks for club service?

I have mixed emotions about this issue. First, let's not confuse compensation with reimbursement for actual expenses incurred. The club should always provide reimbursements. Sometimes, though, there are undocumentable hidden costs to service, and this is where compensation is a plus.

The downside of compensation is that the membership's view of this benefit is often distorted. It fails to consider those hidden costs when it doles out the club's meager affordable amount. It also tends to look at the recipient as an employee. At the very least, the recipient experiences self-induced pressure to perform a respective service as though it was the bread and butter on the table. In my opinion, that's not what hobbies are all about.