[amsat-bb] Brief summary of the "unauthorized expenses" claim

[Bruce Perens]

I don't actually understand why we are discussing whether they were
authorized. That is, at most, of tertiary importance. Of primary importance
would be: was this a good decision, and a good use of the organization's
funds, wherever they came from?

I also don't consider it relevant whether the funds were membership dues,
donations, or a grant. Although most grants are earmarked for a purpose, so
that is less likely.

Let's just talk about "was this smart, was it responsible, is it the kind
of decision I'd like to see from the board in the future?"

Thanks

Bruce

On Mon, Jul 13, 2020, 6:24 PM Bruce Perens <bruce at perens.com> wrote:

> I don't actually understand why we are discussing whether they were
> authorized. That is, at most, of tertiary importance. Of primary importance
> would be: was this a good decision, and a good use of the organization's
> funds, wherever they came from?
>
> I also don't consider it relevant whether the funds were membership dues,
> donations, or a grant. Although most grants are earmarked for a purpose, so
> that is less likely.
>
> Let's just talk about "was this smart, was it responsible, is it the kind
> of decision I'd like to see from the board in the future?"
>
> Thanks
>
> Bruce
>
> On Mon, Jul 13, 2020, 6:17 PM Rich Gopstein via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
>> Let me clarify:
>>
>> I said "the board said the expenses were authorized."
>>
>> I didn't say "the board directly authorized the expenses"
>>
>> The implication is that the officers authorized the expenses and the board
>> was OK with that.  And since it's up to the board to decide what the
>> officers can or can't authorize, the fact that they said that the expenses
>> were authorized should be sufficient.
>>
>> Rich
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 13, 2020 at 5:46 PM Steve Kristoff via AMSAT-BB <
>> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > But even in your own evaluation there are contradictions.
>> >
>> > Quote from your email: "If an expense went to the board for approval, it
>> > would show up in the
>> >   minutes of that board meeting."
>> >
>> > Further down your email: "- In this case, the members of the AMSAT board
>> > at the time said that the
>> >   expenses were authorized."
>> >
>> >
>> > Then, by your own evaluation of the by-laws, if the members of the board
>> > authorized the expenditures (second quote), shouldn't that authorization
>> > show up in the minutes of the board meeting? (first quote)
>> >
>> > Steve AI9IN
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Rich Gopstein via AMSAT-BB (amsat-bb at amsat.org)
>> > Date: 07/13/20 15:25
>> > To: Amsat - BBs (AMSAT-BB at amsat.org)
>> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Brief summary of the "unauthorized expenses" claim
>> >
>> > First: I'm not a lawyer.  These are my observations only.
>> >
>> > This is what I learned over the past few days while researching the
>> claim
>> > that the AMSAT money spent on legal services related to the new
>> directors
>> > was "unauthorized".
>> >
>> >   - I read the AMSAT bylaws.  They are very readable, BTW - and not
>> long.
>> >   - The bylaws say that expenses can be authorized either by the board
>> >   itself or by the officers of AMSAT if the board delegates that
>> authority.
>> >   - If an expense went to the board for approval, it would show up in
>> the
>> >   minutes of that board meeting.
>> >   - If an expense were authorized by an officer, then it wouldn't show
>> up
>> >   in the minutes of a board meeting.
>> >   - The claim that the expenses were unauthorized was based on the
>> >   observation that there was no record in the board meeting minutes of
>> the
>> >   authorization.  However, as mentioned above, not everything has to go
>> to
>> >   the board for approval.  And that decision is up to the board itself.
>> >   - In this case, the members of the AMSAT board at the time said that
>> the
>> >   expenses were authorized.
>> >   - Since the board has the authority to authorize expenditures
>> (directly
>> >   or indirectly) and they say the expenses were authorized, that
>> indicates
>> > to
>> >   me that the expenses were authorized.
>> >
>> > Note: Michelle and Patrick were not members of the board when this
>> > happened.  They were analyzing this after the fact.
>> >
>> > Rich
>> > KD2CQ
>> > AMSAT Life Member
>> > _______________________________________________
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>> > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
>> Opinions
>> > expressed
>> > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
>> > AMSAT-NA.
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>> >
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
>> Opinions expressed
>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
>> AMSAT-NA.
>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>
>