I apologize if this is confusing, it was written in a hurry. I will gladly clarify anything that’s unclear.
Background: I’m the treasurer of a small costume club, with five or six members that meets once a month. The president, let’s call him James, has always been the first to contribute money and ideas for gifts when birthdays and Christmas roll around. He even had a baby shower for one of our members. He isn’t what I’d call a gimme pig, but I think this incident crosses the boundaries of good taste.
A few days ago was our club meeting. It was sparse with only three of us, including the president. The president took part of it to talk about the next meeting, which would fall on his birthday. He mentioned two rather expensive items he wanted, and suggested that everyone contribute money for the purchase of one. He too would contribute money and the treasurer (me) would collect it all. This felt like an etiquette violation to me, especially since he put the other member on the spot, asking if she would contribute. She said that she didn’t have the money on her, and he left her alone. I went home shortly after that, with a costume Sally, a close friend of mine I would see the next weekend, had ordered. Later on, I got a phone call from him, asking if I had called one of the members that hadn’t been at the meeting to ask for a contribution. In addition to collecting the money, I was apparently supposed to solicit donations! He would later call me again, to ask if first if Sally had gotten her dress, then if she was going to contribute.
To be honest, I’m not sure what I should do. I don’t want to call everyone up, asking them for 35 dollars, but I don’t want James to be disappointed on his birthday either. I'll probably give money just to be nice, but it won't be enough for one of the items.
Thoughts?