Software/Databases to Track Fraternal Matters

[John]

Greetings! My name is John Borgen and I am the Fraternal Director at Catholic Knights. I started 3 weeks ago and look forward to meeting you at the Mid-Year in Minneapolis.

I am wondering how other fraternals store fraternal information such as branch officers (and their corresponding contact information), manage volunteers, track special events and members participation in them, process requests for money (either from a foundation or from the Society) etc.? What type of sofware or databases do you use?

Thanks in advance for any help that you are able to offer.

[Mary Barbara Kurtz]

Hi John, I work for Catholic Holy Family Society (I have been here 10 years) and we are very small, but we put everything on an Excel Spreadsheet. The officers have a quarterly report that they have to complete and send in to report all of their fraternal activity. We are basically at their mercy for getting information. One of my biggest challenges is with regards to volunteer hours. I never feel they are accurate. Some lodges (I feel) inflate their hours and some don't document near what they do, but I have never been able to find a way that I feel will correct this problem. If you have any ideas I would appreciate hearing them.

Fraternally, Mary Barbara Kurtz
CHFS Fraternal Director