Minutes for the National Finance Committee meeting September 21, 2010.<br />
<br />
Meeting convened at 8:46 PM (ET) a quorum being present, the Chair and<br />
Secretary being present.<br />
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Attending: Alonzo Brown, R. Paul Martin, Simon Pius, Summer Reese, Tracy<br />
Rosenberg, Alex Steinberg, John Wenger, Lavarn Williams, Bruce Wolf, also<br />
attending was Pacifica Executive Director Arlene Engleheart.<br />
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Agenda:<br />
<br />
1. Approval of minutes<br />
<br />
2. Review of budgets<br />
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<br />
<br />
Motion: (Summer Reese) "To approve the agenda." (Passed without objection)<br />
<br />
Approval of minutes<br />
<br />
Motion: (Summer Reese) "To approve the minutes of the September 7, 2010,<br />
public session meeting." (passed without objection)<br />
<br />
Review of budgets 8:52 PM (ET)<br />
<br />
It was reported that the KPFA LSB is just starting to deal with the FY11<br />
budget. A Finance Committee has been formed. The first draft of the budget<br />
showed a deficit of about $800,000. This included central services payments<br />
of about $300,000. The size of the payroll for FY11 is unclear and they are<br />
waiting for another draft which may still show a sizable deficit. People<br />
from the National Office are helping to put the FY11 budget together.<br />
<br />
There was a short discussion of KPFA's 18 month training program and the<br />
way its costs are distributed throughout the station's budget. The CFO<br />
noted that the central services payments are being put back in.<br />
<br />
There was a discussion regarding what steps have been taken regarding<br />
Staff cuts in KPFA's FY11 budget. The Executive Director said that there<br />
was to be a meeting on September 22, to discuss this and that she should<br />
have the information for the next NFC meeting.<br />
<br />
The CFO stressed that expenses have to be less than expenditures in the<br />
budgets, there is no way that the National Office can pay bills without<br />
reserves and without the stations generating revenue. She said that KPFA<br />
didn't make its cuts two years ago and that's why it's in its current<br />
position. The committee discussed this. It was noted that the National<br />
Office is sending someone to KPFA to monitor their year end close, and<br />
prepare for the audit.<br />
There was a short discussion of Great Plains accounting software vs.<br />
Quickbook software.<br />
<br />
The issue of getting WPFW's budget spreadsheet arranged as per the<br />
Pacifica template was discussed.<br />
<br />
The committee discussed WBAI's budget progress. Some at WBAI think the<br />
FY11 budget is overly optimistic. The point was made the overly optimistic<br />
revenue numbers could result in projected income from central services<br />
payments that might never happen and that would impact the National Office<br />
and Pacifica Radio Archives. WBAI will be trying fund raising events that<br />
might help its bottom line and invoices will be going out sooner and the<br />
business reply envelopes should have the correct codes on them which<br />
should help to raise fulfillment over what it was for FY10. The committee<br />
discussed this.<br />
<br />
Motion: (Bruce Wolf) "To adjourn to executive session." (Passed without<br />
objection)<br />
<br />
Adjourned 9:51 PM (ET)<br />
<br />
Submitted by R. Paul Martin, Secretary<br />