Thank you Area 46 for a successful December Assembly. I think we accomplished a lot and my hat’s off to you. I’m very happy with the many motions that we passed which utilized a significant amount of the contributions we have received this year. As I have been saying since June, our usual budgeted expenses for 2020 were not going to happen and thus, as contributions continued to arrive, we were going to end the year with about $20,000 available cash. How-ever, with the motions passed at our assembly we have taken advantage of a great opportunity to update our resources (i.e. website redesign, hybrid meeting set up) as well as fulfill our responsibility to the groups by helping to carry the message.
I’d like to take the opportunity to try and shed a little light on two of our motions that seemed to cause some confusion, if not a little angst. These proposals were the motion to contribute the remaining available cash from the 2020 budget to GSO and the motion to place any excess monies at the close of the books in an allotted fund for special projects. When I first considered these two motions, it appeared to be an either-or situation indicating two uses for the same funds. However, I remembered that as I was preparing the books prior to the assembly, I discovered that our General Fund available cash was $3,581 greater than our budget available cash. Turns out, this is exactly the amount of assembly hosting funds, a 2019 expense, that have been returned to us. As I explained in my August El Farolito report, these funds were placed in non-budget income and therefore are not included in the end of the year budget available cash. This occurrence is certainly an anomaly for Area 46 finances considering we have never received money in this way before. At any rate, back to assembly, when these motions came up and questions were raised I tried to give this explanation as best I could as I was still somewhat con-fused about it. Maybe I’m splitting hairs or just “trying to please” every-body but I do appreciate your confidence in me as you did pass both motions presented.
I want to be completely transparent in my work and I don’t want any-one to feel “tricked” or treated unfairly. I am always available to clarify or talk about Area finances so please don’t hesitate to contact me.
In service,
Christoph, Area 46 Treasurer