Adoped Budget Proposal (approved December 31st, 2001)

Fellow CC Members and All,

Thank you all for your comments and corrections to the budget for 2002. I have made the requested changes. They are:

Fundraising:
– Item 2.a. increased gross income projection to 1.99% based on current return rate for prospect mailings.
– Item 2.c. corrected math error net income was $21,600; is $30,600

Staff:
– Overhead was calculated at 10% of gross salary; is increased to 30% of gross salary.
– Office Manager/Accts Receivable position is increased to a living wage of $10.50 per hour for 32 hours per week, was $14,400/year; is $16,935/year.

Jo Chamberlain
———

The remainder of this budget is as presented for discussion:

Introduction:

The Steering Committee worked for weeks on this budget and every attempt was made to provide the funds requests by committees. Two committees did not receive their requested amounts: International and Shadow. They have both been given about the same amounts as the other committees $2,500.

A reorganization of the Treasurer’s responsibilities due to the huge work load increases caused by our very successful fundraising efforts and new reporting requirements has necessitated hiring a bookkeeper and when the DC office is opened a combined office manager and accounts receivable staff person. Additionally, to maintain sound business practices the over site and participation of a bookkeeper is budget. Because the implementation of the these changes will take a couple of months we are requesting that Robbie Franklin our Treasurer received the accounts receivable income of $1200 per month in the form of a stipend in the interim. Robbie has been spending 30 to 40 hours a week doing accounting work since mid-Nov. We expect the office to be opened by February 2002.

Field Organizing does not have additional staff budgeted at this time. Field organizers are a high priority. Dean Myerson will be putting together a detailed field organizing plan and we have every reason to believe that our fundraising will exceed the projections and these positions will be funded. Expect an update/recommended budget before the July meeting planned for Philadelphia.

We have budgeted a Reserve Fund to start collecting $2,250 per month starting in January. The buffer of a Reserve Fund provides us with a fall back monetary source in the unlikely case of a slowing of fund raising or emergency project. In the event of limited funds, allocation will be as follows: staff salaries, staff benefits, office, fundraising. When funds in excess of the budget are available the following allocation will occur: field organizing, International Committee, Diversity Committee, Steering Committee.

Jack Uhrich will be providing us with a materials proposal soon. We would like to have things like bumper stickers, buttons, t-shirts, platforms and Green Pages available on line for purchase.

BUDGET TOTALS:
Projected gross income after expenses from fundraising: $165,999
Proposed expenses: $165,999
Totals: $0 = balanced budget

BUDGET SUMMARY
Office: $48,804
Steering Committee : $75,750
Reserve Fund: $27,000
Accreditation Committee: $2,046
Diversity Committee: $1,304
International Committee: $2,500 – $10,000
Media Committee: $3,295
Platform Committee: $2,800
Shadow Cabinet: $2,500 – $21,180
Total, Ranges of Requested Expenses: $165,999 to $192,179

STAFF EXPENSE SUMMARY

Jack Uhrich, Fundraising, Salary: $39,000
Overhead for Jack: $11,700
Expense account, phone, postage, copying, travel: $13,731

Dean Myerson, Field Organizing 3/4, Fundraising 1/4, Salary: $36,000
Overhead for Dean: $10,800
Expense account, phone, postage, copying, travel: $6,600

Office Manager/Accts Receivable, Salary: $16,934
Overhead for OM/AR: $5,080
Total Staff Salary, Overhead, Expenses: $139,845

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DETAILS OF COMMITTEE REQUESTS AND WORK PLANS FOR 2002

Fundraising Budget 2002

1. Events
a. Nader Events – 5 different cities
invitation/venue/food: $11,000
gross income 5 X $10,000: $50,000
net income: $39,000
50-50 split with host state: $19,500
net income to GP-US: $19,500

b. Events General – 10 different cities
invitation/venue/food: $4,000
gross income 10 X $5000: $50,000
net income: $46,000
50-50 split with host state: $23,000
net income to GP-US: $23,000

c. Super Rally – Philadelphia Convention
invitation/venue/advertising/materials/guest travel: $8000
gross income: $20,000
net income: $12,000
50-50 split with host state: $6,000
net income to GP-US: $6,000

Total Income Events: $48,500

2. Mailings
a. Prospect Lists
purchase .10/name X 10,000/month X 12 months: $12,000
printing/processing/postage: $48,000
gross income projection: 120,000 X 1.99% X $30: $71,550
net gain to GP-US: $11,550

b. Re-solicitations
4 mailings per year: Mar, June, Sept Dec
Mar 1000 pieces
June 1000 + 450 new from prospect + 225 donor: 1775
Sept 1775 + 450 new from prospect + 225 donor: 2550
Dec 2550 + 450 new from prospect + 225 donor: 3225
Total Re-solicitations: 8550
postage/printing/processing $.40 X 8550: $3420
projected income 5% (427.5) X $40: $17,100
net income to GP-US: $13,680

c. Joint Mailings with States
3000/month X 12: 36000 pieces
postage/processing/printing $.40 X 36000: $14,400
projected income 2.5% X 36000 X $40 : $36,000
75-25 split with host state:$16,200 – $5,400
net income to GP-US: $30,600

Total Income Mailings: $55,830

3. Personal Solicitations
Jan/Feb/Mar X $8000 per month: $24,000
Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sept/Nov X $10,000 per month: $80,000
income Jan to Nov: $104,000
split income with host states: $25,000
net income to GP-US: $79,000

Total Income Personal Solicitations: $79,000

4. Sustainers
January $1000/month increase to $5000/month by October
net income to GP-US: $36,000

Total Income Sustainers: $36,000

5. Internet/Web
January $1000/month increase to $3000/month by October
gross income: $18,000
list purchase: $6,000
net income to GP-US: $12,000

Total Internet/Web: $12,000

6. State Party Contributions
estimate $12,000

Total State Party Contributions: $12,000

Expenses from general funds:
Staff:
Jack’s salary + overhead: $50,700
25% of Dean’s salary + overhead: $11,700
Staff Expenses:
Jack’s: $13,281
25% of Dean’s: $1,650

Total Staff/Staff Overhead: $77,331

Totals:
Income all sources: $243,330
Expenses: $77,331

Total Income Fundraising: $165,999

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DC Office Proposal – Does not include any personnel expenses

Set-Up Expenses

Computer (1) $1000
Laser printer $200
Scanner $150
Fax $150
Answering machine $30
Office furniture $500
Telephone equipment $250
Software $300
White boards $50
Phone install $250
Utilities deposits $150
Total Startup $3,030

Monthly expenses
Rent $1200
Local phone $50
Long distance $100
Cell phone $50
Office supplies $100
Paper $100
copying $50
Postage $200
Internet access $30
Insurance $100
Total monthly $1,980 X 12 months $23,760

Office Manager/Accounts Receivable 32 hrs/wk @ $10.50/hr: $16,934
Overhead: $5,080
Total Office Manager/Accts Receivable: $22,014

Total for office for 2002 = $48,804

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Steering Committee Budget

Conference calls 2 hours per week x 50 weeks = $1,500
travel one air trip per year x $250 = $1,500
Discretionary funds for new committees and emergencies $150/month =
$1,800
Discretionary Phone Expenses $64/month per SC member: $5,000
Discretionary Legal Services: $8,000
Web site: $200/month = $2400
Bookkeeper estimated at $500/month X 12 months: $6,000
Field Organizer (3/4 of Dean’s salary + overhead + expenses): $40,050
Presidential Search Ad Hoc Committee
2 hours teleconference per month/copies/postage = $500/year
Green Pages: $2,000
Coordinated Campaign Committee: $2,000
July Meeting Organizer: $2,500
Audit estimated: $2,500

Steering Committee total = $75,750

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Reserve Fund

Retain $2,250/month: $27,000

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ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE $2000

Our proposed committee budget is based on receipt of 5 state party applications, with associated copying and postage costs, and the cost of producing desktop nameplates for these additional state party members; it also calls for partial support ($200 per person) for the committee’s travel to the Summer 2002 meeting. We have not used conference calls, so printing and postage are the committee’s only out-of-pocket expenses associated with accreditation reviews. We cannot guarantee that every committee member will be able to attend the summer meeting of the national committee, but offering a minimal stipend of $200 to help with expenses can encourage full committee attendance.

1. Copying

5 applications @ 50 pages x 8 x $0.10 $200.00

2. Postage

5 applications x 8 x $3.90 $156.00

3. Desktop plates

5 plates @ $18.00 $90.00

4. Travel

8 members @ $200 $1600.00

TOTAL FOR 2002: $2,046.00

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Diversity Committee
Scholarship fund for economically-stressed people to attend Green Party meetings 1,000
Dismantling racism training materials 200
Conference calls 250/year x 5 months 104
Total $1,304

Name of Committee: International Committee
Names of Committee Co-Chairs:
Tod Sloan
Annie Goeke

Please type in the mission statement or general goal of your committee, particularly as it applies to the 2002 calendar year.

  • Foster collaboration and exchange with Green parties around the world.
  • Network with organizations and movements working for global peace, social justice, human rights, and environmentally sustainable economics.
  • Develop and advise on policy for international and global aspects of the National Green Party platform.
  • Coordinate Green Party representation to the Federation of Green Parties of the Americas, Global Green Network, and international events and meetings.
  • Inform U.S. Greens about international issues.

Please list what physical materials (such as printed material) your committee plans to produce in 2002 and your estimated cost, both per unit and total, if applicable.

The IC needs to have accessible national GP materials to distribute internationally at meetings etc.

This would include national platform, green pages publication and other NGP documents that are important for our networking with Greens internationally.For routine ongoing business which includes copying costs $100 for photocopying (for Co Chairs and other official delegates from GGN and Federation )

Please list any physical or tangible materials your committee will need to purchase (computer supplies, books, etc.) and their cost. Occasionally, the IC needs to buy gifts for international visitors coming to our National meetings and also sometimes taking our visitors out to lunch.Estimate costs $300

Please list any supplies you will need (things that get used up: postage, paper clips, etc) and their cost).

Estimate costs for international postage, photos, historical archiving, business cards, and paper: $100

Please list how many phone conference calls you need. We use Turtle Island conference services, run by a Green Party member in California. It costs either $15 or $25 per hour. If you have access to cheaper conference calls, please indicate so. Also list any reimbursements your committee members will need for personal phone calls.

We would like to start a monthly teleconference call which would mean 12 X $25 ($15 would be good but how do we get this price?) $300 teleconference calls $200 for Co Chairs and official delegates ie GGN and Federation – includes international calling Estimate costs: $500

Please list any travel needs your committee will have. Include likely locations, the reason travel is needed, and why the need cannot be met by telephone or computer.

Obviously, the IC needs to have most of their funding given to travel costs.

Calendar for 2002 so far

  • Jan. – Senegal (African GP Congress) $800 *
  • Jan. – Porto Alegre, Brazil – World Sustainable Summit $800
  • March – Bogota, Colombia – Presidential elections observers – $500
  • May – EFGP 3rd Congress, Germany $800 * late spring – Canada coordination of US/Canada GP (?Toronto) $300
  • June – Earth Summit, Johannesburg S. Africa – $1000 * other meetings July – December still in the planning phase $3000

(* urge strongly USGP participation)
Estimate costs for the whole 2002 travel budget: $7200

Will your work involve working with groups outside of the Green Party? If so, please describe. Will the Green Party potentially need formal representation with these groups?

Yes, we hope to work with organizations similar to Heinrich Boell Foundation and international NGO’s who have offices in the United States.Does your work overlap with that of other Green Party standing committees? No, but we certainly collaborate with the SC, Platform and Media committees.

Total estimated costs for the International Committee 2002 budget $8200 ($10,000 would be nice J)

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MEDIA COMMITTEE BUDGET REQUEST

Purchase of yearly Burrelle’s or Bacon’s new email media list to go to Steve Wexler $795 per year(this is updated throughout the year and is essential for us to get out message out). The new Burrelle’s 2002 directory is nearly ready.(This may not be needed as several people are currently working with Steve to get him an updated list without cost but I have inserted this in case they are unable to work it out).

Phone $50/month -estimate – (for faxing and for calls to reporters and editors)

Lexus/Nexus search service $50/month (at present we have the use of this search but it may not always available).

Postage $100 per year – high estimate Travel $200/year – estimate

Stock of videotapes for potential Green video graphers $200. We will eventually also need money for video cameras and computer editing equipment.

Cost of 2-3 press conferences a year with sound system rental, catering, press packets, photography, copying costs, one time fax service such as Contact Telephony and more. $800

Total $3,295

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Platform Committee

$2000 for platform production
some income from selling platforms
hosting platform website (gp.org, or under another name of gp.org is
used for some other Green Party purpose): $300
web design template for PRA submissions for the 2004 platform
development process: $300
teleconferencing: $150-200

Total $2,800

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2002 GREEN SHADOW CABINET BUDGET PROPOSAL

Committee CoChairs: Jerilyn Bowen, Blair Bobier

In the next calendar year, our committee plans to do no less than create what may well be the Green’s premier tool for visibility, development, and organizing: the Shadow Cabinet. This bold initiative has met with an enthusiastic response from established leaders and prominent spokespeople who are potential cabinet officials, including Greens nationwide, a member of the United States Congress, and a former FCC Chair.

Once established, our Cabinet will provide a highly visible vehicle for the Green perspective and for Greens with aspirations to elected office. Shadowing the moves of the Bush administration, the Cabinet will put forth both positive Green proposals and trenchant critiques of current government policy. The aim is to make ourselves seen and heard beyond our own circles and to influence the terms of public debate.

With an open-ended “war against terrorism” underway, the Democrats are more than ever complacently following the disastrous lead of a Republican adminstration that contrives to benefit corporate interests above all else. The Cabinet will underscore the similarities of the two major parties and present the Greens, not the Democrats, as the true alternative to business (and war) as usual.

In the next year, the committee plans to move from the present exploratory phase to actually forming the Cabinet and publicly launching it. We are presently completing the screening of nominees and preparing to send an approach letter to determine the interest of those we would like to consider for the cabinet. Once we have those responses, we will follow up to explore the suitability of those interested in terms of their politics and willingness to work accountably with us. Using that information, we will winnow the list down to our top choices and post these to the USGP Coordinating Committee for the final selection process.

Once the Cabinet is in place, the GSC Committee envisions using it to build the party from the grassroots through the national levels. Toward that end we will put out an organizing packet and work to link Cabinet officials with state Green parties and local GP groups.

Since this promises to be one of the major organizing efforts our party will undertake in the next year, we hope that it will be funded accordingly. While the budget we propose below represents a substantial amount for a fledgling national party, we feel it is a most modest one for a project of this dimension. Among other things, our proposed budget does not call for paid staff, office space, or incidental office supplies, with the attendant overhead. At present the committee chairs, two long-time highly experienced organizers (one of whom is an attorney), are willing to work pro bono, and to donate their homes as office space.

If the Green Party of the United States wants to be player on the national stage, we must be prepared to raise the money needed for programs of national scope like this one. With the funding requested, we believe we can make the Cabinet fulfill its promise. Without sufficient funding, we would be able to accomplish much less. We hope that the national party will make the financial commitment needed to get the Cabinet off the ground and into the public arena.

In addition we foresee that, once the Cabinet becomes a major national operation, it will require special fundraising efforts to ensure that it has the staffing and other resources needed to make it effective in the long haul. Toward that end, we are willing to lend a hand with targeted Cabinet fundraising.

In conclusion–not including additional fundraising specifically earmarked for the Cabinet–we request the following budget from the USGP general fund to cover the expenses of Green Shadow Cabinet organizing:

Materials & Equipment

1000 brochures/flyers $150
100 organizing packets for state & locals $200
1000 GSC letterhead $150
1000 GSC envelopes $250
Computer printer cartridges $100
Two fax machines $300
Two cell phones @ $40 a month for one year: $960
(contacting cabinet nominees, keeping in touch with cabinet officials, organizing speaking engagements & press events, and many other aspects of the program will require a great deal of phoning & faxing.)

Postage & Website

Mailings to nominees, media, other organizations, states & locals: $600
Setting up & maintaining interactive website for public use: $400

Conference Calls

Committee conference calls: 6 months bi-weekly @$15=$180
Conference calls, including Cabinet members: 6 months weekly @ $15=$390
Other long distance calls: $2000

[Note that Sparks Communication allows unlimited conference calls to an organization as a whole for $75/month, except that calls can’t be made from 4-9 pm Pacific Time.]

Travel

Trip to DC for two CoChairs to interview nominees in person & another CoChair trip to DC for the initial cabinet meeting, launching events, & press conference: $2000

We feel that personal meetings with key prospects could make a big difference in bringing together a first-rate Shadow Cabinet. Once the Cabinet is assembled, to launch it a national press conference is called for.

One round trip for co-chair Blair Bobier to Philly for USGP July CC meeting. (Blair is not a delegate to the CC and therefore less likely to get state party support for this trip): $500

Travel fund to bring Cabinet members to DC for initial meeting/event/press conference: $3000

Travel for speaking tours & other speaking engagements for Cabin members (possibility of recouping this through speaker honorariums, admission, etc.): $10,000

TOTAL GSC REQUEST FOR 2002: $21,180

USGP Questions

Will your work involve working with groups outside of the Green Party? If so, please describe. Will the Green Party potentially need formal representation with these groups?

The Green Shadow Cabinet entails contacts with both Greens and like minded progressives. It is envisioned as the vehicle of a broad outreach to a diversity of organizations around the country. Because of the particular form this takes, it doesn’t look as if there will be any need for formal representation.

Does your work overlap with that of other Green Party standing committees?

Yes, notably Platform & Media. In addition, some Cabinet officials and other nominees whom we will have contacted may be of interest to the Presidential Exploratory Committee for the election of 2004.
——

/Jo Chamberlain.