[Noisebridge-discuss] Re: Draft Finance Policy

[jim]

Okay, it's on the wiki (including my rejoinders): 
https://www.noisebridge.net/index.php/FinancialPolicy 

note that original headings are bolded, original 
text is Italic, Jake's and my comments are in 
normal font. 


On Tue, 2008-09-30 at 11:44 -0700, Jacob Appelbaum wrote:
> jim wrote:
> >    seems doing something quickly is better than taking 
> > longer to do a better job. 
> 
> Hi Jim!
> 
> This kind of document should probably go onto the wiki. It would help us
> to better collaborate.
> 
> It's worth noting that we've actually been over nearly all of these
> issues at our physical meetings! Have you come to the meetings? Or been
> to the irc channel?
> 
> I'll put my comments in line here and if you'd like to create a wiki
> page, that would be great!
> 
> (As a disclaimer:
> The thoughts that follow are my personal thoughts as reflected by our
> meetings. I am a board of director person but I really loathe anyone
> using that as some kind of sacred cow status. No one on the board is
> special, we've just been tackling these issues for a while. We are at
> best, people who have the legal liability. Our positions of power are
> not to be trusted. We are not the final say, we're an instrument of the
> membership. Please feel free to disagree if you become a member or even
> if you're not. :-) )
> 
> > 
> > ----------------------------------
> > 
> > NoiseBridge Finance Policy (and related considerations) 
> > Draft for Discussion 
> > 
> > 
> > Minimum Reserve 
> > 
> > A NoiseBridge bank account should have at least six months' 
> > expenses to pay rent, insurance, ISP, power, and various 
> > supplies. 
> > 
> > NoiseBridge should run a funding drive if balance falls 
> > below five months, to continue until balance exceeds 
> > seven months. 
> > 
> > Consider having parties as part of funding drives. What 
> > other events and efforts? 
> 
> This is very much in line with what we've been trying to do. So far
> we've raised pledges of around $10,500USD:
> https://www.noisebridge.net/index.php/Finances
> 
> > 
> > 
> > Bank Account Access 
> > 
> > Noisebridge corporate account checks should require two 
> > signatures, any two of four Noisebridge members may sign 
> > checks (or all board members or all officers may sign 
> > checks: the important point is to require two signatures 
> > for a check). Those who can sign checks should also have 
> > the responsibility for reporting current financial status 
> > at regular times. 
> > 
> 
> It's possible that we'll implement something like this. I suspect the
> limiting factor is two-fold:
> 
>     1) Banks are probably not going to like this very much.
>     2) Members may not be happy with any two people being able to drain
> the bank account.
> 
> Remember that we've structured the (soon to be) 501c3 in such a way that
> we're all capital 'M' "Members." This is an important legal distinction
> and one that I'm really happy about (we may live to regret it but we
> don't yet).
> 
> The finances will be published, hopefully in real time. Transparency is
> key. We want to avoid major issues with money by letting it all hang out.
> 
> > Consider a second short-term CD or other interest-bearing 
> > account as a complement to the checking account. Such an 
> > account should have a restriction to control release of 
> > funds, perhaps funds can only be released to the checking 
> > account. 
> > 
> 
> This is a great idea. If you have some suggestions for a bank that can
> handle all of the above, that would be wonderful! We've put up a lot of
> banking stuff on the finances page. Do you have any preference?
> 
> > Member Dues 
> > 
> > Two-tier membership plan: higher tier pays a higher 
> > monthly dues for unrestricted use; lower tier pays a 
> > lower monthly dues but must also pay a per-use fee. All 
> > payments must be by check. 
> 
> Here's where we're going to diverge. We're a flat organization. There
> are no "high priests" here. We're not running a service center, people
> won't just stop by and pay a daily use fee to use the electronics lab.
> If people stop by to fix something, we're hopefully not going to be so
> hard up that we can't share with them. This is critical in fostering a
> good relationship with our neighborhood and in bringing in new people as
> something more than their so called "worth" measured in dollars.
> 
> We will accept money in any form people want to send it. Check, paypal,
> cash, anonymously blinded (David Chaum! Why didn't you sell to visa or
> mastercard?!) e-cash, e-gold, sacks of quarters, etc -
> 
> When we're officially a 501c3, we'll even issue specific receipts to
> ensure people get the tax benefits they expect.
> 
> > 
> > Consider a vetting process for new members. SF Gem and 
> > Mineral Society's vetting consists of prospective 
> > members getting two current members to vouch for them 
> > (first step is a short chat with each of the existing 
> > members, second step has two members okaying the 
> > prospect at a meeting, third step consists of new member 
> > payment and receipt of a card. 
> > 
> 
> We have a vetting process. In short, people coming to the space need to
> be a part of the community by being a part of the community.
> 
> > Consider issuing a NoiseBridge member card with a 
> > member number and a date. Possible to barcode or 
> > otherwise enable electronic verification (alternate 
> > possibilities could be fun). 
> 
> If we have any card, it will probably be a blank entry card. People can
> decorate it however they like and we (as an org) will hopefully do
> nothing of the sort. We're not creating a flashy emblem or status
> symbol. People can do that themselves.
> 
> We're very likely to use the anonaccess system by Das Labor (as has been
> discussed many times, David and I are looking at the hardware for this
> as I write this):
> http://events.ccc.de/congress/2007/Fahrplan/events/2351.en.html
> 
> We want anonymous credentials for our door and the card shouldn't
> identify someone as a member. We don't need or want status symbols.
> 
> > Consider requiring higher tier members to maintain at 
> > least two or three months' paid-ahead status. 
> > 
> 
> We almost certainly won't require anything. People can do as they
> please. Their contributions will be noted in public, on the wiki and in
> the bank balance statements.
> 
> > Consider releasing keys only to higher tier members. 
> > This idea suggests regular hours and some set of 
> > persons willing to open the place for those without 
> > keys. 
> 
> We're going to ensure that the space is open to all members. We're not
> going to treat some of the group like less because of their financial
> status. A member who donates $1000 but never hacks, never shows up and
> doesn't participate (other than bike shedding) isn't actually part of
> the community. Money isn't the most important facet of community
> participation.
> 
> > Some small group should share managing and tracking 
> > this stuff. 
> >
> 
> The entire thing is currently and will continue to be managed with our
> wiki, mailing list and possibly using crabgrass in the future.
> 
> > 
> > Physical Supplies 
> > 
> > Donations of equipment and other physical goods do 
> > not count as member dues. Consider loaning or giving 
> > things for NoiseBridge use. 
> 
> If someone donates us a $20,000 laser cutter, they're probably going to
> get a pass on their $50 membership dues. Not from any one specific
> person but from the membership as a whole. I'm also pretty sure this is
> going to self regulate. Some people will contribute things that are of
> value that cannot be counted in terms of dollars per month or per hour
> or whatever time frame, etc.
> 
> We do not need _anything_ currently. Loaning things is probably a very
> bad idea. If you're burdened with something and Noisebridge could use it
> or would want it, please by all means donate it. When we're a 501c3,
> this will especially be great. With that said, we're probably going to
> destroy or consume a lot of things. It's unrealistic to want it back and
> it may even create personal drama when someone brings in "their"
> do-hickey that is "misused" or otherwise not available to them on their
> personal whims.
> 
> > 
> > Supplies to be paid for as part of ongoing expenses 
> > could include cleaning chemicals (to be determined) 
> > along with one good quality broom, one good quality 
> > mop, up to four various-sized sponges, supplies of 
> > paper towels, toilet paper, toilet seat sanitary 
> > covers, plumber's friend, toilet bowl brush and 
> > holder, two five-gallon plastic buckets, two 
> > two-gallon plastic buckets, up to four other 
> > various-sized buckets or containers. 
> 
> This is pretty reasonable.  It should go on the wiki somewhere, perhaps
> under a supplies page for the space?
> 
> > 
> > Consider drinks to be personal items. Or consider 
> > purchasing a vending machine. Having an honor bar 
> > with a cash jar and the responsibility of getting 
> > the cash and stocking contents seems too much 
> > hassle for the possible rewards. 
> 
> Heh. We're a space full of hackers. If we put a vending machine up, I'm
> personally going to hack it and give away whatever is inside. If we
> can't trust each other to put in for soda or whatever, it's probably a
> moot point to even attempt sharing _anything_. Personally, I'm of the
> mindset (and I'm not alone) that we're going to assume some risk.
> Someone will drink a soda without having a dollar. Someone else will put
> in a five and not ask for change.
> 
> We're not solving that problem until we actually have it!
> 
> Best,
> Jake
>