{news} GPC Treasurer's Report

Mon Mar 6 15:06:16 EST 2006

I haven't heard any calls for a mid-year election at the meetings, Judy, but
we have acted as quickly as possible. The resignations came in November.  It
takes several months to hold an election, as you know, and the Internal
Elections Committee is working on it.  We targeted the election for March,
but the election was just postponed until April, which is the same month as
last year. 

I haven't heard questions about the quorum at the meetings.  No actions are
taken until a quorum is met.

Nor requests for formal facilitation/mediation or conflict resolution.  What
conflict are we resolving?  What are we mediating, our meetings?

Since no one is bringing any of these issues to the meetings, I wonder if
there is another discussion group other than our forum?  If so, please add
my email to it, as I am unaware of the dysfunction, etc?  From what I see, 3
people quit, and explained their actions for various reasons.  One candidate
quit, I understand because his chapter basically stopped meeting, so he felt
there was no support.  I have no idea why people from your chapter have
chosen to not attend SCC meetings, or whether you have been meeting as a
chapter, but we have been making quorum without that chapter.

Internal elections do not fall under CT Campaign Finance Laws.  You are not
acting as a campaign treasurer, but as a Party Treasurer.  The Party, acting
at monthly meetings with quorums, does have the power to authorize legal
expenditures.  There are no by-laws requirements for a proposal, chapter
notification or a formal quote.  We did discuss elections and what process
to use (mailings were proposed) at a previous meeting, and approved the
expenditure at the following meeting.  

I do agree that under the leadership which was elected last year, active
membership has fallen.  I hope that with new leadership, we can change that.
Which is why it is important to hold internal elections, as I'm sure you
agree, since you pointed out the need for prompt elections in your email.

I hope that you and Audrey will finish your internal audit promptly.  If it
takes you another year, you don't plan on holding the books for that year,
do you?  I'm no lawyer, but if you are doing an audit of your own books, is
that a valid reason to not turn them over to the next elected Treasurer?  I
suspect that an independent person should do the audit without any present
or former treasurer's direct involvement, other than providing information.
Since we have not offered to pay Audrey nor established any deadline (no
contract), perhaps we should vote on whether we need an audit done outside
the party, as you suggest.

I do have a couple of questions and concerns:

Why did you change checking accounts?    

Why did you change the PO Box?  

With less than2 months to go in your tenure, (you have not announced an
intention to run again), it appears strange.  

Jean

-----Original Message-----
From: ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org
[mailto:ctgp-news-bounces at ml.greens.org] On Behalf Of Judith Herkimer
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 8:42 AM
To: ctgp-news at ml.greens.org
Subject: [Possible SPAM] {news} GPC Treasurer's Report
Importance: Low

Dear Green Party of CT,
There are some issues of concern regarding the current financial affairs of
the GPC that relate to both organizational and personal liability.

Since late 2005, established GPC bylaws and procedures are not being adhered
to. From the GPC bylaws on our website (
<http://www.ctgreens.org/bylaws.html> http://www.ctgreens.org/bylaws.html )
it states under Organization Structure:

"...Officials shall include two Party Co-Chairpersons, a Treasurer, and a
Secretary....(The Bylaws were amended in 2000 to add a third Co-Chair)..."

Since the resignation of two of the Co-Chairs in 2005, there have been
multiple calls for an election to take place to fill the vacancies. As far
as I am aware, no action was taken to plan for a mid-term election.

Additionally, the question is being raised by many whether "quorum" is being
reached at "State Central Committee" meetings, and if the meetings that are
taking place can actually be considered "SCC" meetings. Any "Executive
Committee" meetings during this period that consist of the one remaining
Co-Chair and the Secretary (who are married to each other) are dubious at
best. Due to the probable lack of quorum, combined with the disregard to
statutory and established GPC procedures, as treasurer I am unable to
recognize any votes as valid that arise from these so-called "meetings".

Please know that I am receiving calls and emails from multiple members
throughout the state expressing their concern on how the party is currently
being handled. Approximately 50% of the long-standing recurring monthly
donors have requested that their donations be cancelled. Donors have
expressed that they do not want their contributions to support the state
party in its current disarray. We are experiencing multiple resignations,
ending of campaigns and members throughout the state leaving active
participation in the party.

The CT Secretary of the State's Office and officials of the Green Party of
the United States are aware of the difficulties the GPC is dealing with.
According to GP-US, we are not alone and many GPC members look forward to
the request for formal facilitation/mediation be honored so that the GPC can
move beyond the dysfunction to a place of accountable viability and
productivity. The GPC has an excellent vehicle for conflict resolution that
was created in large part by David Adams and Charlie Pillsbury. We should
seriously consider taking advantage of that process.

The GPC books will not be transferred until such time that CT Campaign
Finance laws are adhered to (* see below) and an audit is completed. If for
any reason I am forced to transfer the books, I will immediately file (with
counsel) a formal request for an investigation and audit of GPC finances
with the CT Secretary of the State's Office. Additionally, until such time
that the current authorized internal audit being undertaken by Audrey Cole
and myself is completed, I believe it is not in the best financial interest
of the party to make any considerable expenditures (this does not pertain to
existing obligations, legitimate chapter accounts and legitimate requests
for chapter-level reimbursements). There is a possibility that an outside
independent audit might be necessary and the members will be informed if
that is required.

It has come to my attention that a printing job is possibly under
consideration that might amount to somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000. Any
request for payment in the absence of the implementation of bylaws,
policy/procedure, proposal, quorum, chapter notification, formal quote and
statutory requirements will not be honored and no check will be disbursed.
If this printing job is indeed under consideration by member(s), you do not
have authorization to requisition such services and I strongly urge you to
cancel the job.

The current financial status of the GPC is essentially status quo from my
last report. On 2/28, the transition from the old checking account to the
new checking account is 95% completed ($25 remains in the old account for
any incidental credit card processing fees). We recently received a donation
of $5,000 from a supporter in California. The most recent bank statement for
the old account shows a balance of $13,709.13. I will produce a detailed
quarterly treasurer's report to coincide with the next mandatory SOTS
financial filing which is due April 10th.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me with questions, comments or
concerns. Please accept my apologies for the delay in completing the audit;
I accepted the books in poor condition and the audit has turned into a
labor-intensive undertaking.

Sincerely,
Judy Herkimer
GPC Treasurer  

jherkimer at snet.net

860-672-6867

* The Treasurer Alone May Make and Authorize Expenditures 

The treasurer is the only individual who may authorize and make
contributions or expenditures on behalf of the committee. All committee
expenditures must be made by check, debit card drawn on the committee's
checking account, or the committee's credit card. Committee checks must
contain the committee's name and address. This information must be typed,
printed or stamped on each check. The name of the treasurer must also be
included, but may be handwritten. The committee treasurer may allow a
committee worker to be an authorized cardholder of a credit card issued to
the committee, provided that the individual's expenditures are for goods or
services that are authorized by the treasurer for a lawful purpose of the
committee. Additionally, a committee worker may be reimbursed by the
committee if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the worker has paid
for any permissible expenditure on behalf of the committee from his or her
own personal funds, (2) the treasurer authorized the expenditure, (3) the
worker provides the treasurer with a written receipt from the vendor proving
payment by the worker, (4) the expenditure is for the lawful purpose of the
committee and (5) the expenditure is not a contribution to any other
committee.. 

[Section 9-333i(d), (l), (j) General Statutes, as amended by P.A. 04-91] 

http://www.ct.gov/seec/lib/seec/publications/2005/party_guide_7-2005.pdf

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