[HCoop-Discuss] Request for voluntary donations

[Davor Ocelic]

On Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:10:47 -0400
Adam Chlipala <adamc at hcoop.net> wrote:

> Here's an update on donation offers from members so far:
> 
> Number of members: 9
> Total amount: $193.80
> Mean donation: $21.53
> Minimum: $13.80
> Maximum: $50
> Median: $20
> Part of deficit not yet covered: $1626.70

Good; let's keep it open. I intend to donate too, just didn't do it
yet.

-doc

> Adam Chlipala wrote:
> > HCoop has been around for a while, and our current financial
> > records trail back to before we were even an official legal
> > entity.  Somewhere along the line between then and now, our records
> > on the HCoop portal have gotten out of sync with the balance of our
> > bank account.  The difference between the two stands at $1820.50
> > now, when we consider negative balances of members who left while
> > still owing money, before we instituted our current policy of
> > freezing member accounts shortly before they reach the point where
> > this could happen.
> >
> > It seems prudent to get the two figures in line before proceeding
> > much further.  We don't really have any methods available to us for
> > finding the root reasons for the discrepancy, though, so I'm
> > proposing that we find some subset of members who will voluntarily
> > pledge extra amounts out of their balances to cover the difference.
> >
> > Please remember that HCoop has never yet had a single paid staff
> > member performing any service, including managing our financial
> > records.  I've done this particular task without pay since 2002,
> > and I'm kind of proud that the discrepancy isn't even worse, for 6
> > years of operation. ;-)  I can't think of any way in which a
> > suspicious member could construe the situation as a crafty attempt
> > by me to turn a personal profit, but let me know if you have an
> > objection along those lines, and I can try to explain why there's
> > nothing to worry about.
> >
> > It's worth stating explicitly that our bookkeeping system has
> > recently changed significantly, based on discussion on the
> > hcoop-sysadmin list, so there is good reason to expect that, once
> > we get things squared away now, we'll be in good shape from there
> > on.
> >
> > So, again, I am asking members for donations that will together
> > cover the $1820.50.  Donations are purely voluntary.  People who
> > make donations now will receive no preferential treatment or other
> > benefits later, and no one is expected to donate.  There is no need
> > to worry about not getting enough donations to cover the deficit,
> > because I can make up the difference from my personal balance.
> > (Though it's kind of sad if I end up providing both my time and my
> > money, to make up for other members' unwillingness to participate
> > in keeping our finances in order over the years.)
> >
> > As I write this message, we have 132 HCoop members.  That means
> > that $13.80 from each member would cover the deficit.  Anyone
> > considering donating should assume that nowhere near a majority of
> > members will donate, so that the even contribution required to
> > cover everything will be higher in reality.
> >
> > If you are up for donating, please e-mail me (adamc at hcoop.net) a
> > short note giving your HCoop username and the amount you want to
> > donate, to be deducted from your HCoop balance.  Thanks in advance
> > to everyone who does this!
> >
> > Below I've included a copy of a summary of the financial situation
> > that I sent to the hcoop-sysadmin list on September 6th.
> >
> > BALANCES:
> > Wells Fargo: 8067.20
> > PayPal: 37.98
> > Checkout (payments not yet transferred to our bank account): 38.60
> > SUM: 8143.78
> >
> > PORTAL SAYS WE HAVE:
> > Co-op balance: 911.06
> > Active member balances: 9053.22
> > SUM: 9964.28
> >
> > DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AMOUNTS:
> > Deficit: 1820.50
> > Negative balances of members who left without paying up: 314.31
> > Remaining: 1506.19
> >   
> 
> 
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