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Sponsor (Name of Working Group or Standing Committee): Coordinating Committee

Presenter (Name, address, phone number, email): Magali Offerman, sdmo1 at riseup.net, (858) 243-3378

Subject (10 words or less): Adjust CC budget for plenary travel expenses

Background and Purpose: (100 words or less; include relationship, reasons and/or justification to the GP): Of the $3000 allocated for the 2006-07 budget year, $1070 has been spent. During the CC discussion of the item, the $3000 represented $1000 for three plenaries. This means that there is $1930.00 available.

The Plenary Planning Committee is tentatively looking at having three plenaries in the next 11 months, during the current budget year. September in South Lake Tahoe; January in S. California; April or May in N. California. This means that there is $643.33 available in travel funds for each coming plenary. This is not enough funds for travel expenses of low-income members.

The next plenary has been scheduled on September 09 and 10, in South Lake Tahoe (El Dorado County). The cost of travel will be higher at this location because it is most likely that there will be no home stays. The number of home stay requests varies per plenary. It is safe to say that at least 10 members request home stays, although at times, there have been over 20 requests.

The cost of hotel rooms in S. Lake Tahoe is dependent on the type of hotel/motel. The cost of camping is $22.50 for 4 people and 2 cars however, it has been pointed out that the weather at 6,000 ft. altitude is not reliable.

GPCA Budget and Options

The budget that was approved at the last plenary is a deficit budget. The money allocated is more than the expected income this year. The CC could choose to spend money from the travel funds line item and leave less money available for future plenaries, or the CC could reallocate funds from its existing budget.It is recommended that the CC reallocate funds that have already been budgeted for the CC’s use. Funds would be taken out from legal fees.In the prior year the budget for CC/Legal was $1,500, but we spent $2,784.50 more for an actual of $4,284.50. At the start of that budget year, we knew we had a legal issue that was still in an unresolved state. Since we do not have unresolved legal issues that we are carrying forward this year, we should not budget for extraordinary legal expenses.

Approved GPCA-CC Budget

Insurance 1,250
Legal 3,000
Plenary Dinners 600
Travel support 3,000
Plenary Admin 800
Loans to Host Committee 4,500
Retreat 1,200
Phone 360
Supplies/Copying 200
Total 14,910

Proposal (200 words or less):

1. Reallocate $1,600.00 from the Legal line item, to the Travel support line item. This would provide $3,530 for the next three plenaries. The Legal line item would be decreased to $1,400.

2. Out of the $3,530, use $500 for the GPCA to reserve 10 hotel rooms in South Lake Tahoe. These rooms are reserved for members who are in need, and who request home stays in order to attend the next plenary. Priority will be given to low-income GA delegates.

3. The remainder of the funds ($3,030) will be divided equally for other travel expenses. If three plenaries will take place before the end of this budget year, then the CC will allocate $1,010 in travel expenses for each