[Request for Decision Concerning Propriety of Army Using Appropriated Funds To Pay Toastmasters International Dues]

The Army requested a decision concerning whether it should use appropriated funds to pay membership fees and to purchase supplies for its employees participating in an organization for public speaking training. GAO held that the Army: (1) could use the appropriated funds to pay the membership fees since the training organization required them and the Office of Personnel Management approved the organization as a source of public speaking training; and (2) could not use the funds to purchase trophies since this expense was not necessary to the training. Accordingly, the payment for membership fees was allowed.