[NCSG-FC] Opening a bank account

Tue Jan 15 02:07:55 EET 2019

THanks Farzi, and as I have said from the get go, I am happy to follow whatever procedures we have developed but we cannot afford to leave the PIR money in limbo any longer, we need to open an account in the name of NCSG>

Let me know if I can help with the procedures.

Stephanie

On 2019-01-14 17:57, farzaneh badii wrote:
I fully support Stephanie's action on this matter. It was a last resort action, but it's needed because Stephanie's personal money is at stake. The finance committee since at least June 2018 has been stuck in drafting the operating procedures, it did not come to consensus over its terms and delayed resolving the issues until now. Meanwhile, I had to pay out of pocket to keep the NCSG services going and now Stephanie has to It's totally unfair.

The chair cannot just continuously pay out of pocket and wait for being reimbursed because the Finance Committee cannot come up with a solution. I 100% trust Stephanie in being the account holder and I am sure she will come up with a consultative solution later on. The current NCUC funder also knows Stephanie very well and it won't cause a problem with that regard should they decide to send the money to NCSG. Also note that she won't be the treasurer, so she doesn't unilaterally decide on the approval of funds.

I encourage the Finance Committee to resolve issues of the operating procedures and have a lightweight process in place for disbursement of the fund which should be approved by EC. I thank Stephanie for accepting this responsibility for now.

Best

Farzaneh

On Mon, Jan 14, 2019 at 5:29 PM Stephanie Perrin <stephanie.perrin at mail.utoronto.ca<mailto:stephanie.perrin at mail.utoronto.ca>> wrote:

What procedures have we been following in the past Thato?  I am happy to follow them, but to the best of my knowledge they do not exist.

Separation of duties is normal in financial accountability procedures.  EC is responsible for delegation of authority to spend (they make the decision about who gets funded with the PIR money), FC is accountable for oversight.  RIght now, nobody is taking responsibility for paying the bills, except me.  Farzi did it before me.

Now I have spent days on this, answering emails and trying to respond to everybody.  If we don't open a bank account, we won't get any money.  I am getting a bit grouchy, I will respond once I get to Toronto where we have a major battle looming on the EPDP.  If people did not trust me, they should not have elected me Chair, and I will cheerfully step down if that is the case.  Oh and apparently, according to Milton, who has been accepting the PIR money for many years, we will need a business number that they recognize.  That will be my next job, registering a non-entity for a business number, and ensuring that it has non-tax status.

THis is not a simple matter and I would apprecaite support

Kind regards, Stephanie

On 2019-01-14 17:13, Thato Mfikwe wrote:
Hi Stephanie,

I just saw your statement on the mailing list regarding the bank account as follows:

" I am happy to sign a letter that acknowledges my accountability for any funds that I will deposit on behalf of NCSG, and any payments will of course be made only with the consent of the NCSG-EC; the Finance Committee canbe cc'd on those if that is a function that you wish to commence doing (oversight, not approval). "

1. If my memory serves me well, the last time NCSG FC discussed the bank account there was no way forward, not sure how this decision was reached because the FC was yet to investigate and discuss the matter before any action taken according to your comments during an online meeting and on the mailing list, correct me if I am mistaken, maybe I am losing something here.

2. What provoked this action from your side?

3. Please kindly clarify what you mean by oversight not approval? Are you referring to the FC and/or the PC of NCSG? If any, please also carefully review section 2.6 of NCSG charter because the charter is the guiding document of NCSG activities and committees, thanks.

Thato Mfikwe.

On Mon, Jan 14, 2019 at 11:23 PM Stephanie Perrin <stephanie.perrin at mail.utoronto.ca<mailto:stephanie.perrin at mail.utoronto.ca>> wrote:

As promised, I have opened a bank account for NCSG under my name at the Royal Bank of Canada, Pakenham Ontario Branch.  I have named Tamir Israel of CIPPIC as an "or" cosigner, which means either one can sign a cheque.  This will of course only be used if I get hit by a bus, which is a really bad joke in Ottawa these days because we just had a dreadful bus crash which killed three people.  (proving that even old expressions like that one have meaning.)

The account is free, because I am a senior, and I can write cheques or do e-transfers with it.  I think it is all we need for now, but if someone like PIR wants to write us a cheque, they have to write it to me on behalf of NCSG so that I can deposit it.  I think we are stuck with that reality until we create an entity.  Even a non-incorporated ngo would have to have a business number, which has tax implications, so this is our best solution.  I will forward the bank details, transit numbers etc. as soon as these numbers are available online.  I am happy to sign a letter that acknowledges my accountability for any funds that I will deposit on behalf of NCSG, and any payments will of course be made only with the consent of the NCSG-EC; the Finance Committee canbe cc'd on those if that is a function that you wish to commence doing (oversight, not approval).

I am happy to discuss any aspects of this either on the list or on our next call.  Advice from Milton, who has so ably managed our money in NCUC for many years, would be most welcome.

Cheers Stephanie

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