Note
Sadly, due to being a little sun stroke-y after the long course today, I missed the first half of today's Board meeting. And that included an information item on the Rogaine Committee and discussion about babysitting at A meets. Clare delivered the main message from the Rogaine Comm, which is that we will be proposing that USOF become an IRF member. So that is fine. The babysitting topic I was sad to miss, because I think there is pressure to NOT push babysitting at A meets, and I disagree with this strongly. We can't stop doing things out of fear of liability - if we did that, then we would end up doing nothing at all. We need to support families, including young parents who orienteer. We need to provide a community for the youngest amongst us. Friendships between kids lead to families staying in orienteering.
OK, so the Board is now discussing the audit, which is the first real audit USOF has had.
One issue seems to earmarking of funds, which the auditors don't like very much. Apparently if these funds carry over year to year, then it's a problem. Apparently there are some old, non-functioning "funds", and ahving them separate contributes to "the continuing decline of the Organization's operating (general unrestricted) net assets".
Another recommendation was to change the way we are currently dealing with funds. Right now, each fund has its own budget and operating policies. Auditor recommends we create a unified fund. The US endowment fund would remain separate; it answers to a different board of directors.
Things are getting a little confusing in discussing donor funds that are designated for a specific purpose. Presumably the Board will do the right thing: money donated to, and raised by, the Junior Team (for example) should be available *above and beyond* the amount budgeted by USOF. The Board will have more flexibility about what to do with money not spent at the end of the year, or with additional requests for money.
There is an idea being floated of USOF matching money raised by the Teams.
Another idea: if you reach a goal that you've set for your team, then you get some additional financial compensation.