[Businessmtg] Prudent Reserve & excess Funds

[Steve Rankin]

Hi folks,



Here’s my take on what is most appropriate for ASP to do.



1.	Remove dollar amount from our Group Conscience on the Prudent
Reserve.  I’d like to thank Jerry for the suggestion to remove the dollar
amount from the group conscience on the Prudent Reserve and confine the
decision to a description, such as one year’s operating expenses.  It is
far easier for the Steering Committee to make adjustments to the Prudent
Reserve as expenses change, than it is to bring that administrative process
to the Business Meeting and go through the extended Group Conscience process
we have here.



2.	ONE YEAR vs. SIX MONTHS.  A few months ago I went over the Treasurer
Reports on the website and noticed that we have had less than our prudent
reserve too often in my opinion.  I found many times when the balance was
under $550 (less than half our current Prudent Reserve) and under $400 at
times.  Additionally, we’ve a Treasurer has donated excessive funds to WSO
and dropped our balance well below our Prudent Reserve.  Considering the
real expenses that ASP has and our voluntary organization, I believe our
Prudent Reserve needs to be a full year.



3.	DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS FUNDS. Every group that I have had more than
a passing acquaintance with over the last 39 years has subscribed to the
60/30/10 formula for distributing their excess funds; 60% to their District,
30% to their area and 10% to WSO.  Why this formula instead of 33/33/33%?
It’s really very simple and very appropriate.

Districts have real expenses, just like Groups.  Districts often pay for an
answering service to answer a “Hot Line”.  Districts fund their District
Rep, Alternate DR and Coordinators to attend Area Assemblies.  Many
Districts are incorporated - mine was.  The District also pays rent on the
space it uses for its District meetings.  All of these expenses are paid for
by the relatively few groups in the District.

Areas also have expenses that are very similar to Districts.  My Area paid
the travel expenses to Area Meetings and Conferences for all current
officers, all Coordinators and all Past Delegates; about $80,000/year.  We
also paid the Actual expense of sending our Delegate to the World Service
Conference, the mailing of the quarterly Area newsletter, and the balance of
our conference expenses not covered by donations. The total was about
$100,000/year, supported by about 250 active groups → about
$400/year/group.



Love and SERENITY,

Steve