[6490] in APO Printshop
Re: how should we fund the chapter? - do more printing?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Leonard H Tower Jr.)
Fri Feb 3 12:24:29 2012
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 12:24:23 -0500 (EST)
From: "Leonard H Tower Jr." <tower@alum.mit.edu>
To: apo-discuss@mit.edu
cc: apo-printshop@mit.edu
In-Reply-To: <alpine.DEB.2.00.1201192313480.7614@buzzword-bingo.mit.edu>
Hi brothers and press ops,
The discussions about using either the silkscreen room or the press
shop to help raise funds for AX, seems to have a consensus that either
would raise too little money for too much effort.
Even so, someone might want to look at what's involved in man hours,
as well as estimated costs versus possible income.
(Such planning and budgeting is a form of leadership development.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Since before AX took custody of the core of the Press Shop from the
Student Art Association (who assumed custody of it from the Hobby
Shop), the Chapter has had a standing policy on the Press.
(Of course, the actives can change that policy, after due
deliberation.)
I've appended a copy from /mit/apo.
Two parts of it concern "How we fund the Chapter":
* Printing for the Chapter (but neither the rest of APO, nor for
individual brothers) is subsidized. This can include service
projects. Details are in the Policy appended.
So the Press is already contributing, in a small way, to AX's budget.
* Accounting for the Press is kept in a separate Press Fund, like the
National Convention Layaway Fund (NCLF). It's not used for purposes
other then the Press, just like the NCLF is only used to help
brothers attend Conventions. Details are in the Policy appended.
The effect of this is that the money currently in the Press Fund
should only be used for the Press.
If the Chapter wants to take a share of the income from each job
printed for other uses, the Press Standing Policy should be
updated.
Further commentary:
The Press Fund was set up, so the Press would be self-sufficient,
and not be a burden on the rest of the Chapter's programs.
For the four plus decades, the press ops and the Chapter has set the
Shop's fees above costs to build a cushion to pay for new rollers
(~$500.00 every few years), replace supplies, repair the Presses and
the Shop, replace type as it wore out, etc.
This cushion has gotten low. What the Shop is charging is no longer
covering the cost of supplies. Both are why the Press Shop Manager
and the Journeymen have been discussing raising the fees.
For the first decade, there were times when the Press Fund had a
negative balance. In effect, borrowing money from the Chapter. Not
enough of a cushion existed then. This was understood, and the
Press Fund has had a positive balance since then.
The Press Fund balance is under a $1,000 right now. The Press Fund
and the NCLF are part of the available funds AX has on hand, Joshua
mentioned in an earlier email. 10-20% of it?
The Press Fund has brought all of the paper inventory of the shop,
which is why a transfer to the Press Fund is made, when Shop paper
is used for other parts of the Chapter's program.
Several alumni (including myself) and their families, have donated
significant equipment to the shop (mostly type), in the hope that
Letterpress Printing would continue at MIT. I estimate well over
$20,000 over the four decades.
yiLFS -len
======================================================================
from:
/mit/apo/Bylaws/standing_policies.tex
Letterpress Shop Policies
=========================
Letterpress Self-Sufficiency
----------------------------
The Letterpress Shop shall be financially self-sufficient and not use
other funds of the Chapter. Except as noted elsewhere in this policy,
assets from the Letterpress Shop will not be used to finance other
activities. The Treasurer is directed to account for the monies of
the Letterpress Shop separately from other funds of the Chapter, so
that at any time the exact amount of money the Letterpress Shop has is
known.
Printing for Alpha Chi
----------------------
Jobs printed for the Alpha Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega will not be
charged for use of the press, numbering machines, ink, or solvents
on-hand. Funds from the appropriate chapter account (membership,
fellowship, service, etc.) will be transferred to the Letterpress Shop
for other items, including any paper or card stock used, and anything
(including ink and cuts) specially ordered for the job.
Payment
-------
Only cash, check, TechCASH, MIT internal account transfer, or a
Chapter Request for Payment is an acceptable form of payment for jobs
printed in the Letterpress Shop; other forms of payment are not
acceptable. No jobs shall leave the Letterpress Shop until
payment-in-full is received. In the case of MIT internal account
transfer, this requires that a document must be received authorizing
the transfer and signed by an authorized representative of the
purchasing group before the job leaves the Letterpress shop.
2008-02-17
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