Financial Accountability
This page is the homepage for the Financial Accuntability Working Group (FAWG). Please fill this in with pertinent information and resources for newcomers. Use the Discussion tab above to start discussions.
Current Financial Accuntability Working Group Members
Shane Aspinall (Facilitation)
Theresa Earle (Media)
Bruce Ehrlich
Lisa Goldstein (Media)
Matthew Krawitz (IT) (Credit Union Account Signer)
K. Eric Martin (Logistics), 857-236-2734, occupyeric@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 Accuntability Working Group Consultants
Daniel Paradis, tax lawyer - occupygc@gmail.com, 617.470.5049
OccupyBoston Internal Revenue Service and Banking Structure
• To open a credit union account, 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.
Note: Paul Carnes also obtained an EIN in the name of OccupyBoston and has not shared that paperwork or information with FAWG.
• 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
Note: Paul Carnes also obtained a Certificate of Business from the City of Boston. That certificate lists Paul Carnes (we think) dba Occupy Boston. Mr. Carnes has not shared that paperwork with FAWG.
• 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 us for opening the account. FAWG will make a decision, soon, on whether to move the money in the WePay accounts into this credit union account, or possibly into a trust, for an interim period of time.
Note: It is FAWG's understanding that Mr. Carnes opened an account at the same credit union, on 10/20/11. He has not shared any paperwork with FAWG and maintains that this account is for his fundraising purposes, on behalf of OccupyBoston.
Procedures for workgroups to obtain funds
Each workgroup may request up to $100 a week ('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, the WG must make a proposal directly to GA.
Workgroups need to first register with FAWG in order to receive funds. The workgroup 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 workgroup 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 request form is first submitted to Logistics, which will try to provide the items requested from its existing stock. If not immediately available, Logistics will endeavor to get the same items or reasonable substitutes donated in the next day or two.
If Logistics has signed off on items they cannot get donated and must be purchased, the workgroup 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.