By Samatha Botz ’14
Everyone knows that the real stress of finals season has nothing to do with 12-page papers and exams. It’s all about that excruciating moment when you realize you have no Flex Dollars to buy coffee.
A group of Oles have identified this all-too-common lack of budgeting skills as a serious cause for concern. David Hastings ’14, Greta Johnson ’14, and Ashley Belisle ’15 are joining forces to fill what they believe to be a pressing issue too long left unaddressed.
The idea for the club was born shortly after campus’ annual Co-Curricular Fair, where hundreds of organizations promising to meet every need imaginable set up tables across the Quad. Ping pong, taiko, even herpetology: you name it, there’s a club for that. But what about flex dollars?
“Everyone has something to say about flex dollars,” says Greta, one of the club’s founding members. “At dinner one night, the three of us thought, ‘How fun would it be to make a club to talk just about flex dollars?’ This is actually an issue that needs to be addressed.”
David chimes in to explain: “Just last week I was talking to someone with only $60 left on her card, and it’s not even the end of September—people need help!”
And so the Flex Dollars Club was born. The founding members are hoping to cultivate an inviting, laid-back atmosphere promoting conservation through conversation. “Think of it as a support group,” says Ashley. “We want it to be a positive, fun, not-scary experience.”
If anything, the atmosphere of the Flex Dollars Club was immediately made apparent by the trio’s introductory email sent out over St. Olaf Extra last week. While the opening was all business, the application to apply included such hard-hitting questions as “What is Nic Cage’s most attractive quality?”, “Do you prefer flowers or flours?” and, perhaps the most enigmatic, “Where did you go if you went after the dance that day?”
“With the questions, we’re really looking for creative responses,” says Greta. “We want to make the Flex Dollars Club fun – it’s not about what your major is or what year you are, or even if you have flex dollars to spend. Everyone’s welcome!”
“Everyone reacted differently to the email,” adds Ashley. “Most people jumped on board right away, but I definitely got texts asking if my email had been hacked. We really want everybody to know it’s not just an inside joke.”
“Part of it is definitely goofy, but this isn’t just going to be a week-long deal,” continues David. “We’re going to help people set up parameters for budgeting and follow their progress from week to week; we’ll be there to support people when they spend too much and to celebrate when they meet their goals.”
“And we look forward to getting input from members,” Ashley says. The club’s first email resulted in over 50 completed applications, while the FDC Facebook page has nearly 100 Likes and counting.
While all three members agree the Flex Dollars Club is definitely “a grassroots club” at this point in time, it only took me a couple of minutes talking with them to realize how much they believe in their movement.
“Our goal by the end of the year is to see that the club doesn’t just end,” says Ashley. “As the Junior of the group, I’m looking for future partners to help carry the club forward.”
So, do you like what you hear? Be on the lookout for posters advertising the first official meeting of the St. Olaf Flex Dollars Club, but in the meantime, check out the Facebook page or fill out an to get involved with the club that Greta, David and Ashley promise will take St. Olaf by storm. As they state on their official page, “St. Olaf College is a breeding ground for community, creativity and love. Inspired by every random club present at every annual co-curricular fair, Flex Dollars Club aims to embody St. Olaf’s true spirit as a school for all kinds.”