2006-10-17
This is the proposed agenda for the Annual Board meeting of October 17th, 2006, to be held at 19:00 UTC in #spi on irc.spi-inc.org.
- Opening
- Roll call
- Apologies received from Jimmy Kaplowitz, Bdale Garbee, David Graham, Branden Robinson
- President's report (Bdale Garbee)
- Treasurer's report (Josh Berkus)
- Outstanding minutes
- Items up for discussion:
- Further on Debian trademark in Spain? (Resolution 2006-04-03.jfsp.1)
- Engaging the services of Rich and Bander of New York (Resolution 2006-10-17.jmb.1)
- OFTC election results
- Results of email resolutions
- GPG keys - request of admin@spi-inc.org
- Items requesting comment from the DPL - see discussion
- Next board meeting - Tuesday, October 17th, 2006
President's Report
(none)
Treasurer's Report
Status of Treasurer Work ---------------------------------------------------- I am currently focusing my main energy on two things: 1) Minimally completing 2005 revenue and expenses so that I can file our 2005 taxes, due 11/15. 2) Getting the raw data entered in preparation for having a true accounting system. Note that we had no previous data entry of expenses, meaning that I will be entering this information from source material. Additionally, revenue was not entered in a way that makes it possible for me to associate specific transaction fees with specific designations, so that's being redone as well (fortunately, not from source material). I estimate that I will be able to file 2005 taxes in two weeks, and that straightening out the books will require another 1-2 months. I am waiting for the board to approve the contract with our new CPA (Rich & Bander of NY), whose assistance is needed in setting up a new chart of accounts to better track per-organization expenses (see board meeting agenda), so that I can start using LedgerSMB for real accounting. 2005 Preliminary Balance Sheet -------------------------------------------- From Mark's. What this is missing is designations for revenue & expenses. The revenue is easy; the expenses are hard. Dec 31, 05 ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings 1000 · ALL BANK ACCOUNTS 1002 · Amex Centurion 1296789 238.27 1003 · First Internet Bank 4169 27,422.73 Total 1000 · ALL BANK ACCOUNTS 27,661.00 Total Checking/Savings 27,661.00 Other Current Assets 1204 · AMEX MONEY MARKET 1201 · Cost 39,882.62 1200 · Amex Money Market funds & cash 39,697.42 1203 · Accrued Dividend -24.70 Total 1204 · AMEX MONEY MARKET 79,555.34 1300 · Undeposited Funds 1,430.00 Total Other Current Assets 80,985.34 Total Current Assets 108,646.34 TOTAL ASSETS 108,646.34 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Equity 3000 · Opening Bal Equity 83,940.00 3500 · Retained Earnings 7,519.89 Net Income 17,186.45 Total Equity 108,646.34 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 108,646.34 Recent Activity ------------------------------------------ Bank Statement for September: Balance as of last statement 81,671.62 0 Deposits and other credits 0.00 0 Checks Posted 0.00 0 Returned Items Credited 0.00 8 Other Withdrawals 4,201.73 Balance as of this statement 77,469.89 Other Notes ------------------------------------------ Note that, between various accounts, SPI has nearly $70,000 in cash (90% Debian Funds). Debian should really think about ways to spend that money which fulfill our mission, rather than just accumulating it. Development? Machines? Maybe the oft-mentioned E&O insurance?
Discussion appendix
Since there's a new board, I thought it might be a reasonable time to
go back over some of the issues that Debian would appreciate SPI input on:
1) Response to concerns related to the acceptance of Sun Java into
non-free, see:
From: John Goerzen <jgoerzen@complete.org>
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 18:28:22 -0500
Subject: Questions about Java license and related questions
Message-ID: <20060607232822.GA31686@katherina.lan.complete.org>
2) Response to concerns related to interaction between Debian developers
and citizens of embargoed countries, see:
From: Anthony Towns <aj@azure.humbug.org.au>
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 17:47:49 +1000
Subject: Debian in embargoed countries
Message-ID: <20060609074749.GB1408@azure.humbug.org.au>
3) Response to concerns related to online harassment, see:
From: Steve Langasek <vorlon@debian.org>
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 17:04:51 -0700
Subject: request for assistance with ongoing harassment
[debianwomenpassaway@yahoo.com: Debian women: please pass away.]
Message-ID: <20060610000450.GN13192@mauritius.dodds.net>
4) Precise accounting of funds held for the benefit of the Debian
project (my imprecise estimate is $0, split between -$50,000 for
debconf, and +$50,000 for misc debian use, which will obviously
only be useful when the HP money makes its way in)
None
5) Is there any sort of online/electronic report of donations from
Click & Pledge that can be made available?
6) I think Debian would appreciate it if SPI would formally comment
on the asset handling changes proposed on debian-vote, to ensure we
can maintain a friendly and consultative relationship. (Even if the
comment is just "yup, that's fine by us!" or whatever) See the threads
related to:
From: Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org>
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2006 20:12:54 -0500
Subject: Constitutional Amendment GR: Handling assets for the project
Message-id: <87r70f92w9.fsf@glaurung.internal.golden-gryphon.com>
http://lists.debian.org/debian-vote/2006/07/msg00005.html
Resolutions
Resolution 2006-04-03.jfsp.1: Debian trademark in Spain
WHEREAS
1. The Debian trademark in Spain is currently held by Jesus Martinez which
has no association with either the Debian project or SPI Inc.
2. The SPI trademark committee wants to register the Debian trademark EU-wide
and any registration in an EU country will stall the process
3. Mr. Martinez has been contacted by the "Debian Spain" association and
by Javier de la Cueva and has rejected to transfer the trademark over to
SPI unless the following terms are met:
* Deletion of all Internet web pages with prior references to
Mr. Martínez trademark appropriation.
* Payment of 3,000 Euros as a fee for having made the defense of
the trademark and the costs.
* SPI letter granting him the rights to use perennially the trademark
"Debian".
4. The SPI Board considers the transfer term unacceptable.
THE SPI BOARD RESOLVES THAT
5. SPI will initiate legal actions against Mr. Martinez.
6. SPI will provide a notarized and apostilled Power of Attorney to
the Spanish lawyer Javier de la Cueva, who will act in a Pro Bono basis,
and will litigate on behalf of SPI.
7. SPI will provide certificates of the trademark registry and any other
relevant documents to Javier de la Cueva needed to provide
documentary evidences necessary to defend the case.
Resolution 2006-10-17.jmb.1: Engaging the services of Rich and Bander of New York WHEREAS as an organization with a volunteer Treasurer we rely on our bookkeepers for continuity and support should the Treasurer not have adequate time for all aspects of SPI finance, or should there be a gap between Treasurers, and for timely and accurate filing of tax forms and advice on tax rule compliance. It is hereby resolved that SPI Inc. retain Rich and Bander of New York as the new SPI accountant and bookkeeper by signing the Letter of Engagement attached, and retain them for the services outlined in the letter of engagement, budgeting up to $6000USD per year for this purpose.