Instead, picture the 15-year-old treasurer of the high school environ- mental club, the 13-year-old Girl Scout running the troop's camping fund- raiser, or the 19-year-old college sopho- more overseeing his fraternity's $20,000 operating budget.
Young students learning the financial ropes at an early age -- those are the types of money jobs I had in mind.
As millions of students of all ages return to classrooms, many will be joining school-related clubs, holding student council offices and vying for leadership positions in Scouting and other organizations.
This will come as no great surprise, but my favorite position is the money manager's job, or treasurer. As a former youth club money man myself, I learned firsthand in high school the job could be a terrific training ground for working with budgets, running fund-raisers, setting prices, paying bills, developing communications skills and helping to run meetings.
While your son or daughter might steadfastly resist the urge to take on the money job, serving in that role (or any other leadership position, for that matter) can be good for just about anybody.
"I think the most important thing kids can learn at any age is responsibility, and learning fiscal responsibility is even better," said Elisabeth Donati, the founder of the Money Camp, a Santa Barbara-based youth education program.
If you have a budding student council treasurer, Scout troop fund-raiser or sorority book- keeper, here are some of the financial experiences that come with the job description.
MONEY IN, MONEY OUT -- Job one: Pay attention to the numbers from the very beginning -- from what is collected in dues, fund raising and other money to what goes out to pay for parties, supplies and other items.
The goal is to make sure the club is making money or at least breaking even during your watch. The last thing you want is for the club to end up in a hole and wondering how it happened.
That means the financial ledger must be in shipshape condition every month until the books are handed over to someone else next year.
THE ART OF THE DEAL -- Realize that being in charge of finances means learning to evaluate alternatives, negotiating, striking compromises and making tough choices based on how much the group has in the bank. Thick skin comes in handy.
Why? Because at some point, you may have to say "no" to an idea because your club can't afford it, or because not enough people want it or are willing to support it.
MINDING THE STORE -- Think of your club or organization as a small business with banking accounts, budgets and payment deadlines. It's all about the money. Whether you're working with a limited amount of money or tens of thousands of dollars, the treasurer will learn a thing or two about making bank deposits, paying bills, requiring receipts and collecting dues.
FUND RAISING -- Here's the deal. Some clubs or extracurricular groups might operate on a very tight budget, and members may be required to raise money to cover "extras," such as trips or new uniforms.
The money manager, among other things, will need to lead in the group's decision-making about how to raise the money, what expenses will need to be covered, whether any special sales permits will be required. Will corporate sponsors be en-listed? Will parents write the checks?
Drew Popplewell learned valuable lessons with a fund-raising project last fall. As junior class president at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kan., Popplewell and his board directed a T-shirt sale that finished several hundred dollars short of covering costs.
"It was a big mistake," said Popplewell. "I learned that you really need to develop a target market, and that you need to time the sale so you're not competing with other fund-raisers."
DIPLOMACY -- Finally, as the financial officer, there may be some touchy money moments with members. For one thing, dealing with students who are perpetually late in paying monthly dues, or being aware that some club members may come from homes where money is tight.
Student leaders may not realize the "enormous variances in their peers' level of income," said Maureen Dolan Rosen, author of "The Cash Management Connection." But those types of experiences can provide the most valuable training.
