Fiscal Year-End Issue:
Circle Annual Report | Signature Program | Reports | MyODK Update | New for FY2025
Last Chance to Submit the Circle Annual Report
The 2023-24 Circle Annual Report (CAR) form is open and ready for circle submission. A PDF version of the report is available here. Download the PDF and prepare your answers ahead of time. Remember, only one officer can submit the annual report through Survey Monkey. The form is designed to allow the submitting officer to save completed work and return it to the form at a later date. The Circle Annual Report is required to meet minimum standards. If you have questions about the report process, contact Jamie Bouldin, director of membership services, at jamie@odk.org.
The Circle Annual Report is due Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Program Reports
This is a reminder to submit your Program Reports for your Signature Leadership Program, Signature Service Project, and any other program or service project in which the circle is active. O∆K policy states that circles must complete the program report within 60 days of completion for these to be counted toward Circle Minimum Standards.
Photographs are strongly encouraged for these events, and they may be featured on the O∆K website, in The Circle magazine, or on social media. Read more about Signature Programs here.
UPDATE: The launch of MyODK has been delayed to ensure that all the necessary components are working and we have time to train circle officers on the various functions.
We anticipate launching the circle portal on July 15, 2024. Circles will continue to use MMS until June 30, 2024, when the application functions will be closed. Circles will still have access to records in MMS for next year as we fully transition to MyODK. Circles with early fall recruitment times can start the application process in July.
New for FY2025
Changes in Policies
Each year, the Mission Committee and the Board of Trustees review and approve policies and procedures that must be updated. This year is no exception. All policy changes will take effect July 1, 2024. We will post the revised ODK Policies and Procedures Handbook before that. Below is a list of some of the more significant changes.
- National Initiation Fee replaces (Lifetime Membership Fee): This is part of the process of clarifying the purpose of the fee and restructuring all ODK fees.
- Honorary replaces Honoris Causa: The term Honorary in the Bylaws has been used interchangeably with the certificate designation Honoris Causa. This has been changed in the new application, MyODK, and other databases. Honoris Causa is Latin, meaning “for the sake of the honor.” The member status is Honorary. Honoris Causa will still be on the certificate.
- Clarification of Alumni 5-year Rule: The language was updated to remove confusion about when alumni of an institution with an active circle can be initiated.
- Circle Assistant: All advisors or anyone accessing ODK records must be initiated members. Circle Assistants will now need to be initiated members. ODK will continue to cover the initiation fees for all advisors.
- Stewardship Recognition rule clarification
- Election of Student and Faculty/Staff Trustees – these important board positions will now be appointed by the Board, as are all other Board positions.
Financial Changes (there will be a separate detailed email to circle about these)
- QuickBooks Invoicing – Beginning in June 2024, ODK will send QuickBooks invoice circles with the ability to pay online for Institutional Membership Fees, Initiation Fees, or Ritual materials. Circles may pay with a credit card or bank transfer through this portal. Invoices are sent via email from our finance@odk.org account.
- Late fees – ODK is considering charging late fees for any invoice more than 90 days overdue. Please note that all invoices are “Net 30,” which is due within 30 days.
- Institutional Membership Fee—The Institutional Membership Fee (IMF) will increase to $300 over the next three years.
- FY2024 = $125
- FY2025 = $200
- FY2026 = $275
- FY2027 = $300
We will be sending emails with more details about policy changes, financial changes, and program changes through July and August. It is imperative that all officers read these and understand the policies and procedures that are necessary for ODK to function efficiently and effectively at the circle and national level.
