Grants Committee Final Montreal Report and Important Request For Volunteers

[RAB]

This is the report from the latest bank statement for the Grants Committee account.

Beginning Balance              $2,170.00

Deposits (3)                          $348.00

Withdrawls (3)                   $1,005.28

Ending Balance                   $1,512.72


RAB

[Grants Committee]

Hello Everyone:

To offer further transparency we are providing you with this summary of our financial activities.


Cash Donations Received by Committee       

Unrestricted     

From Donors                               $2,195.00
From Zephyr Foundation                 $253.00
Candle Fund Raiser                          $70.00
(Note this donation came from Trish for the candles she sold personally--no other monies have been received to this point.)

TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS                      $2,518.00

Restricted

Specified by donor for Joe              $300.00
(in transit--not yet deposited)

TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS                           $300.00


GRAND TOTAL OF FUNDS IN
 GRANTS COMMITTEE ACCOUNT                                                           $2,818.00


Expenditures/Commitments Made Using Those Funds

Airline Tickets (Full or partial) (3)       < $1,005.28>

Committed to Assist Members
  With  Travel Costs                            <$300.00>

Committed to Pay Hotel
   Costs (8 nights)                   est     <$1,000.00>

Committed to Use As
    Donor Specified (Joe)                      <$300.00>

GRAND TOTAL OF EXPENDITURES
         AND COMMITMENTS                                                                  <$2,605.28>


PROJECTED BALANCE                                                                              $212.72

 

OTHER DONATIONS RECEIVED TO BE USED AT GRANTS COMMITTEE DISCRETION


4 Nights Hotel (Paid directly by donor)                  $500.00
2 Nights Hotel (Paid directly by donor)                  $250.00
Airline Miles Donated For Ticket  (est value)          $425.00
Shared rooms--20 Nights                                  $1,250.00
(Attendees offering to pay for their own
room but share at no cost to recipient)

GRAND TOTAL OTHER DONATIONS                                     $2,425.00


PRIVATE GIFTS MADE FROM ONE MEMBER TO ANOTHER

These were handled outside the Grants Committee.  We are including an estimated value here
only to include that figure in our grand total donated to emphasize the amazing generousity of
all forums members.

7 nights hotel and 2 RT airlines tickets    ESTIMATED  $1,775.00



FINAL SUMMARY OF CASH/ DONATIONS/GIFTS

Cash to committee         $2,818.00
Other Donations             $2,425.00
Private Gifts                   $1,775.00

TOTAL VALUE OF CASH/DONATIONS/GIFTS  =  $7,018.00!!!!!

[jkinatl2]

Holy Crap thats a ton of cash.

I am just saying.

Good going, us!

[The Canuck]

Thanks for the detailled information and must say this is pretty impressive. 

The Canuck

[RAB]

This is the report from the latest Grants Committee bank statement.

Beginning Balance                 $1,512.00

Deposits (1)                            $300.00

Withdrawls (1)                         $200.00


Ending Balance                      $1,612.00

[david25luvit]

Rab....Looks like you guys are doing a bang up job.  When you have a chance PM me about making a donation.  Perhaps its been asked and answered before but what criteria do you apply in regard to who has their flights and lodgings paid.  I'm assuming those who are having their trips subsidized had to apply to the grants committee.

[RAB]

David

The donors who gave so generously are the members who deserve the real credit.  Followed by the hard work done by the 3 voting members:  Jody, Trish, and Joe.

In regards to your offer of making a donation, Jody would be the individual to send you instructions on how to do that.  My role on the committee is limited to providing information to the committee on their finances and provide as much transparency as possible (while maintaining annonymity of the donors/recipients) to the forums at large.

To your 3rd issue regarding criteria, you are correct, it was discussed extensively previously.  However, I couldn't find it in the archived forums to provide you with a link.

So I will attempt to summarize it for you here:

The bulk of what the committee did was done at either the direction or suggestion of the donors.  Secondly, members were also nominated by other members.  Third, members could ask for help for themselves (not sure if that is what you refer to as "applying".).

The committee also took the following factors into consideration:

1.  Those who faced the highest travel costs.
2.  Those who did not receive help last year.
3.  Those who were able/willing to pay a portion of the cost themselves.


The decisions of the voting members was unanimous in every instance. 

Hope this helps.

RAB

[david25luvit]

Thank You Rab....  I apologize for making you revisit this subject.  My memory and the old forum threads regarding this subject seem out of reach for me.  I fear I have too many "senior" moments.  But you answered my question and I thank you.

[Grants Committee]

Meaningless post so we can reach the #3 required to use pm option.

[Grants Committee]

ditto

[RAB]

This report is from the Grants Committee bank statement dated 8-3-2006


Beginning Balance          $1,612.72

Deposits (1)                      $315.40

Withdrawls (2)                   $400.00

Ending Balance                 $1,528.12





Edited to correct typo

[Lis]

I say pay for the meet and greet and a GREAT dinner... drinks, wine, food optional LOL... God bless you all on your journey!!! hugs from the mid west!!!!  oh, and for the love of god..... make sure that Jan has way too many wet dreams!!!! 

Love to you all!!!

lisbeth

[RAB]

Lis:

Party down girl!   

I don't think they can pay for the meet and greet, cause they've got to pay for hotels and a couple other commitments, but the party will go on regardless!  Trust me!   

RAB

[RAB]

This report is for the Grants Committee Bank Statement P.E. 10-4-2006

(Please note: I neglected to post a report in September.  Since there were no transactions on that statement the ending balance in the August report above is identical to the beginning balance on this October report.)

Beginning Balance          $1528.12

Deposits                         $198.67

Withdrawls                   $1,460.97

Ending Balance                $265.82



Summary:

Going into Montreal the GC had available funds of $1528.12.  They spent $1,360.97 (US) for 10 nights of hotel rooms and $100.00 as a travel assistance grant to one member. 

That left them with a balance at the end of Montreal of $67.15.

All the bills for Montreal have been paid, there are no further obligations the GC will need to meet.

Since Montreal the GC has received the following:

T-Shirt Sale Proceeds               $105.00
Anonymous Donation                 $50.00
Anticipated GST Refund             $43.67

There is an additional GST Refund in transit.




RAB

[RAB]

This report is for the Grants Committee Bank Statements P.E.s 11-5-2006 and 12-5-2006

Beginning Balance    $265.82

Deposits                   $35.00

Withdrawls                 $0.00

Ending Balance        $300.82


As I mentioned in the last report all the bills from Montreal have been settled, with the receipt of the final GST refund (deposit noted above), we can now officially close the books on  AMG 06--Montreal.

The Grants Committee made two significant changes in how they functioned this past year.

First, in order to provide more transparency and accountability , the structure was changed to include 3 voting members and two non-voting members.  The voting members raise the money, follow the requests/suggestions of donors, and decide how best to use the resources made available to them.  They do not have direct access to the funds raised, but control the disbursement by instructing the member who serves as the banker.  The two non-voting members include one person who actually holds the money and writes the checks (the banker) as directed by the 3 voting members, the other non-voting member acts as an auditor by receiving the bank statement directly from the bank and preparing these reports to the membership at large (goal of which is to provide transparency while maintaining the anonymity of both the donors and recipients).  The two non-voting members have no role in deciding how to use the resources available.

Second, the voting members this year elected to try and provide some help to many members, as opposed to providing total help to just a couple.

I feel both of these changes worked out well.  Jody, Trish, and Joe accomplished more than I could have ever imagined last year at this time.
As noted previously, adding up the cash contributions, gifts directed to members, airline mileage donated, and  hotel rooms shared/paid for, the total for Montreal exceeded $7,000.00. If that isn't impressive, well then I don't know what the hell is.


Looking forward to our next gathering, Gerry and I (who served as the non-voting members this year) discussed many weeks ago whether we could do this next year and have decided to step back from those roles. 

So at a minimum next years committee will need at least two new members to fill those non-voting positions. Thom Martin (banker?),  Mark (Aztecan), David NC, Shane (Living Positively), Alan (Alanbama), Jan (AnnieBC), Canuck, Long Islander,  Cliff?  Anyone? 

As this will be my last report to the membership at large I once again must thank the generous members who made such significant contributions that allowed the committee to provide assistance to so many members who would not have otherwise been able to go to Montreal.  Your donations and gifts were used to the maximum benefit and touched members in ways you could never truly know.  THANK YOU!

RAB

[gerry]

To the next keeper of the AMG donations checkbook, please let me know by PM where to send the remaining balance which was intended to be used toward AMG07.

Thanks.

Gerry