[gpva-ic] Receipt (was Re: Vote (was Re: Convening IC--Reimbursement))

[aloe at rev.net]

John,

This invoice shows a cost of $ 237.50 to mail a quantity of 500. The 
proposal specified $236 for a quantity of 467. It appears that for an 
additional $1.50, another 33 postcards were mailed. The numbers do not 
match.

To a club, this small discrepancy might be trivial. However, GPVA is a 
visible political party, trying to convince the public that we are 
capable of scrupulously minding tax revenues. If our books don't 
balance, what financial credibility will we have?

Whether you want to pursue this any further is up to you. Do you see any 
point in trying to change my mind?

Charlie Jordan
Blue Ridge Greens
<http://www.rev.net/~aloe/green/brg.html> 
<http://www.rev.net/%7Ealoe/green/brg.html>


On 5/9/2013 8:03 AM, John Reeder wrote:
> Charlie--below is the invoice for the printing and mailing.  
> Hotcards.com did this job for us; they do most of Audrey's and other 
> Arlington Green candidate campaign printing and did all of my campaign 
> printing and mailing.  They are completely reputable and reliable; use 
> recycled paper and are union shop.
>
> What Hotcards charged me was actually $328.00; I am paying the cost of 
> the printing which was $97.50.  The cost of mailing charged is higher 
> than the cost of just the U.S. postal service fee since Hotcards.com 
> also printed the addresses on the cards, and delivered these to the 
> Post Office.  These are full color postcards.  So I am donated $97.50 
> to the GPVA.
>
> I did not have the time nor interest to do the mailing myself.  This 
> is a standard procedure for campaign mailings something that probably 
> are not aware since you have not been involved in any campaigning in 
> perhaps 20 years.
>
>
>
> Hotcards.com  Job Number: *129346-15281-1*
> Status *Preparing Shipment* *Postcards with Mailing*
> Full Color, Two Sided Postcards with Mailing
>
>     * *Dimension : *4 x 6
>
> *Trim Size Width : *4
> *Trim Size Height : *6
> *Quantity : *500
> *Paper/Coating : *14pt Card Stock + Hi-Gloss UV Coating Front and 
> Uncoated Back
> *Full Color Print : *Both Sides
> *Rounded Corners : *No
> *Drilling : *No
> *Scoring : *No
> *Perforation : *No
> *Custom Die : *No
> *Design Service : *No
> *Proof : *No
> *Direct Mail : *500
> *Postage : *First Class
> *Stock : *Card Stock
> *Expedited : *No
> *MailAdd2Days : *Yes
>
>
>           Shipping/Delivery Information
>
> *Pickup From Hotcards Office*
>
> *Address*
>
> *Item Cost*
> Price : $ 328.00 *
> Shipping : $ 0.00
> Mailing List : $ 0.00
> Taxes : $ 0.00
> Total : $ 328.00
>
> * Includes mailing cost of $ 237.50
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 17:32:19 -0400
> From: aloe at rev.net
> To: gpva-ic at vagreenparty.org
> Subject: [gpva-ic] Vote (was Re: Convening IC--Reimbursement)
>
> Kirit,
>
> You have over ten years of experience as GPVA's treasurer. With all 
> your expertise, why did you bring us a request with figures that don't 
> add up?
>
> Postcards cost 33¢ to mail individually to domestic destinations, 
> (less on a bulk mailing permit, which I believe GPUS lends to state 
> parties). That means the cost of mailing 467 postcards within Virginia 
> is $154.11 at most, not $236.00. Why are we being asked to pay another 
> $81.89? That looks like a 53% overcharge. Did some of the cards go out 
> of the country? There is no way to tell.
>
> Until this discrepancy is explained or eliminated, I see no way we can 
> justify a disbursement. We are responsible to our contributors and our 
> members to make sure party money buys the most it can. In this case, 
> it appears it did not.
>
> Having no other choice, I must cast a NO vote, without prejudice. If 
> we are provided numbers that agree, we can consider this question 
> again. However, it is still preferable to handle business that is not 
> urgent at a business meeting.
>
> Respectfully submitted,
> Charlie Jordan of the Blue Ridge Greens
> <http://www.rev.net/green/brg.html>
>
>
> On 5/6/2013 1:33 AM, aloe at rev.net <mailto:aloe at rev.net> wrote:
>
>     Kirit,
>
>     We all have a responsibility to make an informed decision.
>
>     Other than mentioning the operating fund, you have specified
>     neither a budget line nor the amount that would remain after the
>     disbursement.
>
>     Your subject line refers to convening the Interim Committee. I
>     would like to know why that is necessary. This item might have
>     been handled before it occurred or at the business meeting last
>     week. Now, I see insufficient urgency to convene. It can be
>     handled at the meeting in September.
>
>     It is not clear why it cost 50¢ to maileach postcard.I thought
>     GPVA had the use of a mailing permit. If addressing was included
>     in that expense, it is not clear.
>
>     Not having the postcard in front of me, I don't remember the
>     recycled content and biodegradabilityof the paper and ink.
>
>     Charlie Jordan
>     Blue Ridge Greens
>     <http://www.rev.net/~aloe/green/brg.html>
>     <http://www.rev.net/%7Ealoe/green/brg.html>
>
>
>     On 5/3/2013 11:51 AM, k mookerjee wrote:
>
>         Co-Chair John Reeder has authorized me to convene the Interim
>         Committee on his behalf.
>
>         I request approval from the Interim Committee for
>         reimbursement of $236 from the GPVA operating fund. In early
>         April, a postcard was mailed to 467 names promoting the state
>         party and the April 27th state Business meeting.
>
>         Please vote in the next 5 days no later than Wednesday May
>         8th @ Midnight.
>
>         Thanks,
>
>         Kirit
>         Treasurer
>
>         ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>         From: jreeder123 at msn.com <mailto:jreeder123 at msn.com>
>         To: kamno5 at hotmail.com <mailto:kamno5 at hotmail.com>
>         Subject: invoice for GPVA postcard mailing
>         Date: Wed, 1 May 2013 16:04:27 +0000
>
>         Kirit--I request reimbursement for $236 for the cost of the
>         postage of the 467 cards.  I will pay the cost of the printing
>         myself.
>
>         thanks
>
>         John Reeder
>         Cochair GPVA
>


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