Financial Accountability

This page is the homepage for the Financial Accountability Working Group (FAWG). Please fill this in with pertinent information and resources for newcomers. Use the Discussion tab above to start discussions.

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Email list: ob-finance@lists.mayfirst.org
Join the list and view message archives at https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/ob-finance

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VOLUNTEER BOOKKEEPER(S) NEEDED - PLEASE EMAIL ob-finance@lists.mayfirst.org

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Current Financial Accountability Working Group Members

Shane Aspinall (Facilitation)

B (Food)

Theresa Earle (Media)

Bruce Ehrlich

Lisa Goldstein (Media) occupylisa AT gmail.com

Linda Jenkins, occupylinda @ gmail.com

Matthew Krawitz (IT), OB-FAWG AT theherbalcurrent.com                      (Credit Union Account Signer)

K. Eric Martin (Logistics), 857-236-2734, occupyeric@gmail.com

Jacob McDermott (Media), occupymmedia@gmail.com

Gregory Murphy (Facilitation) 617-413-6472, gsjmurphy @ gmail.com    (Credit Union Account Signer - temporary)

Ariel Oshinsky (Logistics)

Rene Perez (Logistics), occupyrene@gmail.com

Rita Sebastian (Info)

Stephanie Skier (Logistics)

Current Financial Accountability Working Group Consultants

Daniel Paradis, tax lawyer - occupybostongc@gmail.com, 617.470.5049

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OccupyBoston Internal Revenue Service and Banking Structure

For Occupy Boston to open a credit union account to track donations to the general fund, and any resulting OB expenses, OB needed an Employer Identification Number, provided by the IRS. Gregory Murphy obtained an EIN in the name of OccupyBoston. Currently his mailing address is the IRS address. As soon as an OccupyBoston P.O. Box is secured, FAWG will notify the IRS of this change of address.

For the same reason and per credit union requirements, Gregory Murphy obtained a Certificate of Business from the City of Boston. That certificate lists Gregory Murphy dba (doing business as) Occupy Boston Financial Accountability Working Group. This is a temporary measure, simply to get an account open. OB's Financial Accountability Working Group is researching different organizational structures, and, at some point, will make a recommendation to the GA, in the form of a proposal.

On 10/25/11, members of FAWG opened an account at Liberty Bay Credit Union, in the name of Occupy Boston Financial Accountability Working Group, with a total deposit of $15,819.44, which included $5 LBCU gave OB for opening the account. FAWG will make a decision, soon, on whether to move the money in the existing WePay accounts into this credit union account, or possibly into a trust, for an interim period of time.

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General Fund Activity

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FAWG Proposals (Consented)

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Procedures for Workgroups and Individuals to Obtain Funds
Each Working Group (WG) may request up to $100 a week (defined as Monday through Sunday) from the Finance Accountability Work Group (FAWG) for purchases of items not available through in-kind donations without going through the General Assembly.  For amounts over $100, an Individual or a Working Group must make a proposal directly to GA.

Working Groups need to first register with FAWG in order to receive funds.  The WG fills out a form identifying two or three point people who are selected by that workgroup to make requests for funds on the workgroups' behalf.

To request funds from FAWG, the requesting WG obtains the request for funds form at the Logistics tent.  This form requires details on the items requested, planned place of purchase, and cost of each item.  (This advance research of the items to be purchased helps ensure that the $100 limit is not exceeded.)

The WG first submits a request form is to Logistics WG, which will try to provide the items requested from its existing stock. If not immediately available, Logistics WG will endeavor to get the same items or reasonable substitutes donated in the next day or two.  

If Logistics WG has signed off on items they cannot get donated and must be purchased, the WG brings the form to a FAWG representative during disbursement hours.  Initially disbursement will take place each day from noon to 3:00, currently at the Logistics tent

Receipts and change must be returned to the disbursement representative the next day or that workgroup representative loses their ability to receive disbursements.