[NCSG-FC] Opening a bank account

Wed Mar 6 11:41:13 EET 2019

Sorry, I am just seeing this.

As much as I understand the urgency in opening an account for NCSG it's
important we do not over flog this issue.
I think even if that was the position of EC, the FC should have formal
Communication prior to and the level of discussion now should have been put
to rest. Because it is within the FC mandate according to our charter but
with common understanding we make more progress.

To the best of my knowledge it did not confirm with our charter outside the
exigencies of one paying out of pocket. I really emphatise with Farz
hitherto and Stephanie now.

One major area I remember we got stuck was adoption of SPV - Special
Purpose Vehicle - which was what ISOC invariably used PIR for instance to
achieve to manage .org; with the hope that I thought NCUC already has an
account? I will like to be corrected if otherwise.
I am also sure NPOC has one, with intension that any of the existing
accounts could be used under subaccount to receive inflow from outside
sources like PIR etc under an MoU to avoid future abuse incase those who
understand the Mou have exited office and to make it business like which
in long term is what  Stephanie said was advised by Milton. If I got that
correctly.

The NCSG account issue should look beyond PIR support to people or entities
that will like to deal with NCSG as an organisation on its own, which very
often will demand a corporate account with attendant structure. So it goes
beyond trusting our chair IMO but institution.

Whilst we enjoy our relationship with PIR, I will also suggest that the
NCSG chair look at the draft FC operating procedures and let's have her
feel now she is on the saddle.

And let's continue talk on this.
Best regards.
Remmy Nweke

On Tue, 15 Jan 2019, 1:08 a.m. Stephanie Perrin <
stephanie.perrin at mail.utoronto.ca wrote:

> 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> 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> 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
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NCSG-FC mailing list
>>> NCSG-FC at lists.ncsg.is
>>> https://lists.ncsg.is/mailman/listinfo/ncsg-fc
>>>
>>
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