2008 BUDGET UP FOR APPROVAL

Early in the Friday evening November 30th EXCOM meeting Col Arthur “Ike” Isensee, USMC-Ret, the Council’s treasurer, will deliver the bylaws mandated financial report.

As part of his presentation he will offer a proposed budget for 2008 and EXCOM members will be asked to discuss, debate, and ultimately approve the document.

The new budget will show an income forecast as well as recommendations for expenditures. How much money does the Council have and how much does it intend to spend in 2008? Specifically, what will be funded and what will not be funded.

Once the budget is in place, theoretically monies will be spent only for those things that are a line item with approved funding.

Some adjustments might have to be made throughout the year for a variety of reasons and will be made only in accordance with bylaws provisions.

The EXCOM meeting is open to all members. Chapter president or their authorized representatives with a keen interest in Council financial issues are urged to attend and share their opinions and concerns.

The following morning, once the EXCOM has approved a recommended budget, the budget will go before the Council of Presidents for final approval. Since time on Saturday morning is expected to be limited, it would be best to have any heavy duty detailed discussions take place at the Friday evening EXCOM meeting.

Every effort should be made to tie the budget to the Council’s 2008 plan. That is, the presidents should determine what they want to see happen during the upcoming year and then provide the financial resources to implement the plan.

Right now the proposed budget is being based on the standard activities related to carrying out the purposes of the organization. Some examples:

–Should the Council, either directly or through the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC), fund partially or in whole the services of a Sacramento lobbyist, specifically Pete Conaty & Associates, and if so in what amount? In the recent past the Council has allocated $1,000 per year and a proposal is to raise that to $2,000;

–What chapter support services do the presidents expect from officers and area directors and to what extent should expenses be reimbursed? The bylaws make provision for reimbursement to the extent included in the budget. In the recent past, only partial reimbursements have been made. Is it important to provide full reimbursement as given MOAA National directors when on association business? Would that be only fair to the Council’s volunteers especially in a time of dramatically rising costs?

–The Council has always been a generous organization. Should the Council help support the veterans homes in California? And if so, for how much? In the past the Council has provided up to $500 for certain homes with the money used to purchase small items designed to improve the quality of life of residents.

It would be important for those who plan to vote to examine the proposed budget in advance and become acquainted with the specific issues.

In addition, should anyone who has an item, project, activity, or other potential cost for 2008 that person should contact the treasurer without delay and ask that monies be included in the new budget.

In the words of Col Isensee, the new budget represents targets for initial discussion and eventual approval.

Col Isensee can be reached at telephone (951) 697-2609 and e-mail ikeisensee@earthlink.net.

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