[GREN-Exec] GREN financial status re. request for some funding for election debates

Tue Aug 27 13:50:48 EDT 2019

Dear Susan,

I'm not against the request for support - or for it.  I think as treasurer I should be able to account for expenditures.  How much is the rental?  Also, can you recall how much we contributed to such debates in the past?  That might help us decide how much is appropriate.  I've only been treasurer since late last fall.

Ah, Mr. Albrecht...About 10 years ago I, as a member of the Waterloo Region Food System Round Table,  was asked by the Region Public Health Dept. to provide a case study for a workshop on citizen organizing on  issues related to a public institution or policy.  I chose lobbying to keep chickens in back yards in Kitchener, which I was then working on.  The other case study was a group working to get support for suicide prevention.  They spent a lot of their time thanking Mr. Albrecht for the wonderful support he had given them.  The convenor then asked if we had a comment for the other group.  I mentioned that I had heard Mr. Albrecht loudly speaking in favour of abolishing the long gun registry because it would be so hard on rural people:  every farmer needed a gun to kill varmints.  On the same day I had read a statement by the director of psychiatric services of the Vancouver General Hospital making a plea to retain the registry because such a high percentage of rural suicides were committed with long guns.  What should your group do in such a dilemma?  I was roundly denounced by the organizer of the workshop as well as the mayor of Waterloo for being impolite.

- Thanks, Greg

________________________________
From: Susan Koswan <susankoswan at execulink.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 12:49 PM
To: Gregory C. Michalenko; John Jackson; Kevin Thomason
Cc: GREN Executive
Subject: Re: GREN financial status re. [GREN-Exec] request for some funding for election debates

The only reason I'm asking is because GREN is not doing an environmental election forum this year because 100 Debates on the Environment is. I'm hoping the other groups we had partnered with for the debates in the past will be stepping up and providing some financial support in the riding that is most suitable for them.

Harold Albrecht is the only federal conservative MP in the Region. Just saying'....

Susan K

On 8/27/2019 11:54 AM, Gregory C. Michalenko wrote:

Dear Exec Members:

GREN's credit union account balance on July 31 is $1.527.30.  The starting  balance on Jan. 1, 2019 was $2009.61.

We had income of $118.95 ($80.00 from 4 memberships @$20.00. and $38.95 from "donations to defray expenses" at the event at First United Church).

Our expenses were $604.26.  Banking costs were $3.00 per month. and a new booklet of blank cheques (enough to keep us going for a few years) was $39.27.  Our expenses for events we supported was $543.99.

I attempted twice to reach the person who was said to be managing our our website and email list, but never got a response from him.  I don't know what is owed to him or someone else.

Regarding Susan's request for support for the debate.  Susan, how much is the rental cost in this case? All of you, please let me know whether you wish GREN to contribute and how much you think is appropriate.  My suggestion is to make it conditional on there being a voluntary donation box like Laura had at both the Kitchener town hall and the First United event.  This brought in over $200 that was shared by the supporting organizations.  GREN's need is obviously not as great as that of some of the other supporters and we can opt out of accepting anything if we want.

In the future, in the interest of accountability, I think we should ask for a rough estimated budget from those seeking support for campaigns and events.  Then we could decide if the request is reasonable - and even if it's too modest, or we might have a suggestion for additional sources, whether financial or in-kind, that the worthy organization or group hadn't considered.

- Greg

ps Kevin dropped off a hundred alternative stickers for countering Ford's moronic program of forcing gas stations to put anti-carbon tax stickers on their pumps.  Get some for yourselves and for your friends now! You can pick some up from me (53 Menno St., Waterloo, phone 519 725-1059) or I could drop some off at your residence.  I checked with my cosmic medium and she/he/they/it assured me that this law is unique for the 3,687,934,702,594 civilizations in the universe that have gas pumps.

________________________________
From: Executive <executive-bounces at gren.ca><mailto:executive-bounces at gren.ca> on behalf of John Jackson <jjackson at web.ca><mailto:jjackson at web.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 6:25 AM
To: Kevin Thomason
Cc: GREN Executive
Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] request for some funding for election debates

Before deciding on how much to contribute, I need to see our financial status from Greg. Also I wish we knew what our financial needs are to update our website and to keep it and our e-mail list up to date.

John

------------------------------
John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener N2H 4R1
519-744-7503

On Aug 26, 2019, at 10:01 PM, Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>> wrote:

Hi Susan,

As I’d mentioned earlier I am very supportive of donating $150 to $200 for the event.  This is going to be a very important election.  As we have learned with Doug Ford - elections have consequences and we need to ensure informed, motivated voters are getting out to vote.

Cheers,
Kevin.

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

-----------------------------------------

On Aug 26, 2019, at 7:54 PM, Susan Koswan <susankoswan at execulink.com<mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>> wrote:

Hi, We have a meeting tomorrow afternoon (Tues) and I'd like to report back whether GREN can provide some money. They're good with $150 if we can swing it.

Thanks,

Susan K

On 8/24/2019 12:02 PM, Susan Koswan wrote:
Hi,

I forgot I was supposed to ask if GREN could provide some money to cover costs for the Kitchener Conestoga 100 Debates on the Environment? I'm working with the Nith Valley EcoBoosters who are taking a lead on organizing and we'll have to pay room rental. Can GREN contribute $100 to $200 towards that?

Thanks

Susan K

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