dues of all members begin at the same time, that is, at the beginning 
of the chamber’s fiscal year. For purposes of illustration in this 
pamphlet, it will be assumed that the end of the fiscal year is Septem- 
ber 30. To take care of members elected other than at the beginning 
of the fiscal year, one chamber of commerce at least has adopted the 
following desirable practice: The member is billed at the time of his 
election for the dues for a year in advance. At the beginning of the 
next fiscal year a new invoice is issued to him for the ensuing year’s 
dues, with a credit corresponding to_the amount pro rata for which 
he has paid beyond the beginning of the fiscal year at the time of his 
election. 
Some chambers of commerce find it desirable to allow the members 
to pay amounts less than the full annual dues. In such instances it 
has been found good practice to bill the member for the full amount 
of his annual dues, but accept his proportionate payment. This seems 
preferable to the practice sometimes employed of billing all dues 
quarterly or semi-annually. 
HANDLING OF REMITTANCES. 
Remittances will be received in two ways, by mail, and by pay- 
ment in person. Remittances will be in the form of negotiable instru- 
ments, such as checks or money orders, or in the form of cash. What- 
ever the method or form of remittances, it is important that they be 
handled in the chamber office promptly and carefully. Remittances 
should be handled by chamber employees especially designated and 
suitably bonded. Every remittance, including small remittances in 
coin, should be deposited to the chamber’s account in the bank. This 
is of first importance if a thorough control is to be exercised and a 
convincing audit is to be made. When a remittance is received unac- 
companied by the stub of the invoice, one should be prepared for use 
in the making of postings to the Member's Ledger Card. In fact, the 
actual remittance should never be employed for this purpose, other 
than in the very smallest chambers where one employee not only 
receives the mail but makes deposits and keeps the chamber’s books. 
Instead, the remittances should be kept together and a daily deposit 
slip in duplicate prepared. 
A check on the posting to the Members’ Ledger accounts with 
the deposit of funds can usually be provided for by bringing together 
all of the invoice stubs supporting remittances for a given day, and 
on the following morning or late in the afternoon of the same day 
making the check with the day’s deposits. Invoice stubs should be 
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