Activity Budget

[kristas_mom3 0]

I'm not sure where to begin. I have the MOST difficult time EVER raising money for our activity fund..Before I started, I was told we had a budget of $260.00 per month. When I started it was $100 per month. This was tough, but I worked with it. I held Bake Sales and Hotdog chili luncheons and contests and a Bingo split to supplement our budget's income. Well, one of the other department heads noticed that I was pretty overworked and kindly offered to help out. She made the Bingo cards and passed them out and collected money and then split the money between the winner and the Activity fund. She held the money in a safe. Well, since then, I have recently requested the balance and she told me that she "gave the money to the administrator." Now....I have to ask the administrator for money and getting into see her is ridiculously hard...she gives me sometimes 60.00 a month, sometimes 200 every three months, etc...never reliable and this makes it so difficult to PLAN! I have had to take money from my own pocket as our computer at work is no longer operating and I am using my HOME computer....I have had to pay out of my pocket for computer ink! I work sometimes from home doing calendars, newsletters and discussion group research...this takes alot of my own personal time so I have been coming in late but telling HR that I am working at home...which of course creates problems with the rest of staff saying that I "make my own hours,etc." Also, staff makes comments such as "you never develop the pictures like the old AD did" I feel like saying,"The old AD got 260/month and I dont" but of course I dont. Also, now even the Bake Sales are causing petty arguments. The girls in my department do not always bake something but they work the sale....and we all know how little activity assistants make...and a few of the girls are supporting a family on this income...but nevertheless...the rest of the staff boycotts the Bake Sale saying we dont bake so why should they? I bake ALWAYS. I just feel at my wits end. Fighting a never ending fight and always come home stressed. Any suggestions?! And yes I have tried talking to the Administrator...no avail...she shakes her head and says how petty everyone else is but I still haven't solved my income problems....is there a rule on how much budget Activities should receive if at all?

[Diana 0]

Krista's Mom

 

Boy I hear you loud and clear!!! This is what we all go through. SET BOUNDARIES!!! It's hard, but people will know when they've crossed the boundary only if you set them.

 

Be scarce with fundraising - you don't want to raise too much, or Administration will come to expect it. I was told that when advertising for fundraisers, we had to publicize exactly what it is for and it had to be for REsident Council - which is non-profit. Since our corporation is for profit, we could get in loads of trouble for raising money and using it for our own free will, which is actually for the residents, but you have to prove it. That's where REsident Council comes in. It has to be logged in resdient council minutes, and any transaction that is made with Resident Council money has to be approved by them, and documented. If the sale is being raised, lets say for Bingo money, then that is what it has to be used for. If it is used for something else, it has to be approved by Res Council and documented in the minutes. I don't know about any other facilities, but this is what we've been doing for teh past year.

 

We all know what it is like to pay for things with our own money, and do work at home - we feel your frustration!!! I finally started scheduling it in my monthly calendar so that I had time to do it at work and not take away from my family.

 

Remember to set boundaries - we all love our job, but we want to continue to love it and not be frustrated with it!

[darlenebe 0]

Dear Krista's Mom,

 

Wow...I thought that kind of stuff only happened to me! Stop, I repeat STOP TAKING YOUR WORK HOME.....tell them to fix the computer....yes it is easier to take it home and do it on your computer, but use your work hours to accomplish this task using a pen and paper....when your Admin sees that he is paying you for paperwork and not programming or delivering programs that should open his/her eyes. People only use you if you let them.....Yes your Admin may be hard to see...but leave a note on his/her door specifically asking for computer repairs and for a set allotment for this months Activity Supplies.

As long as you are taking your work home, why should Admin get your computer fixed?

As long as you are paying out of your own pocket, why should Admin give you a budget?

Find out when your Admin is there, take a 2nd person in with you, such as your DOC, or RN in charge and make your concerns known. The only person who can stop this craziness is you.........and when you do........your Admin should step up to the plate........and if he doesn't.......well.........get out........find another job in a facility that values their Activity Dept., and the staff who do all the heart work in order to give their residents the best quality of life possible. Activity Directing is one of several careers I have had........to say the least it is the one that I love, however I learned the hard way........WORK SMARTER.......NOT HARDER!

You need boundaries........remember, people only use you if you let them, and you are being used. All the best to you.