NCSPP Treasurer's Report 2006

It's a running leap, becoming a new Treasurer. I think I started out with my feet on the ground for a few minutes. At this point, eight months into the adventure, I'd say I am just touching back down. And for the signposts on this thrilling ride, I'd like to thank past Treasurer Lara Guille for her warmth and extremely organized hand-over. There are many times in any given week that I thank Michele McGuinness for her support and help in orienting me to the finer points of NCSPP finances.

In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, we had an income of $216,481 and paid out $187,605 in expenses. In creating the 2006-2007 budget we achieved a new level of accuracy that should set us up very well for tracking our ongoing financial solvency and success. We decreased expenses in many areas to make room for real-world increases, such as reproduction, postage and mailing costs. I am earnestly indebted to the entire Board for their engagement in the budgeting process.

We elected to increase certain expenses, as well. We are making a concerted effort to financially support the expansion efforts of the Sacramento Valley Education Committee. With a strong belief that folks in the wider Sacramento Valley are hungry for analytic learning, the Sacramento Committee is busily and creatively working to offer more programs and increase membership in their area. The other important expense increase was an overdue raise for our treasured Administrator and bookkeeper, Michele McGuinness.

Finally, I met with our financial advisor at Smith Barney to review our portfolio and investment strategy. We are making some changes there, primarily adding an equity fund to our portfolio, which is currently just in cash and a bond fund. This is a more conservative approach that should actually offer us greater returns than our current positions. In the coming months, I will draft an Investment Policy Statement for NCSPP that can guide us in the future. As our reserves increase, we can begin to think about new projects