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Gas prices are affecting nearly everything these days, and student organizations will certainly feel the effects in the coming academic year. Some things to think about as we head toward $5 a gallon gas this Fall:
• Costs for attending conferences will be higher this year. Take whatever you spent last year and increase your budget by at least 25%. Gas to drive will be almost double. Airfares are expected to be significantly higher. You get the idea. Plan ahead to compensate. If you can't find more money for conference attendance, you will probably have to cut back on the number of people you are sending.
• It will also be harder for people to justify drive-in conferences when the drive is more than an hour or so. If you have a conference or an event that involves people driving over from other schools, you should anticipate lower attendance this year.
• Volunteer advisors are going to have a harder time driving to campus for meetings. Everyone is cutting back on their extra driving, it seems. Make sure if you are asking your volunteer advisors to drive up to your meeting or your event that they see the benefit and that you help them make the most of their visit. Every time I have to drive to Fort Collins, CO (1.5 hours away) for my fraternity, I feel the pinch. Remember, volunteering your time is one thing, but incurring costs of $40 in gas to attend a chapter meeting requires a bit more justification.
• Staff members will be less likely to commute long distances. Does your advisor commute a long way to and from work? Then you might expect that person to seek ways to cut down on the driving. You will likely see more four-day work weeks, and you will definitely see advisors less willing to drive back to campus for weekend events. Also, don't be surprised if these long-commuting staff members start seeking jobs that require less driving.
• Everything is going to cost a little more because every industry is being hit with higher costs. For example, the costs for t-shirts and advertising specialties (cups and giveaway stuff) will likely go up this year. Many of their supplies are petroleum-based, and their supplies are costing more. Even their shipping expenses are skyrocketing. So, don't get upset when they can't offer you the same prices as last year. And yes, speakers will cost a bit more. The costs of traveling are killing us.
These are just a few things I thought of this morning. Basically, I'm advising you to begin thinking about these rising costs now, before you get back to campus. You will likely have to trim some costs in the short run, but start thinking about how you can generate more budget income in the months ahead. Inflation is upon us, and I imagine many student organizations will have to increase dues, charge more for events, etc. in the coming year.
