RE: AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals

[Jill Bonino <aistreas@earthlink.net>]

Hi All,

I went to the original proposals from Gary from Miss Guo and Mr. Meerow...

Project #1--Miss Guo 
   
The two-year costs for this project are $2,280.  This is well within the Scientific Restricted Funds of $4597.  

Project #2--Mr. Meerow

The first year cost is $4,840
The second year cost is $4,125

I agree with Brad that we should not just approve year #1 for a project and then not be able to fund years 2 or subsequent.  We may have done this in the past but it may not have been the best decision.  

As of now, we could afford to take the excess funds needed out of the General Fund to take care of all of Miss Guo's project and year #1 of Mr. Meerow's but not year two of Mr. Meerow's project.  

I am concerned that we will get the AIS Budget over committed and then something happens like a surprise insurance bill for next year (which has happened in the past) that wipes out our "cushion".  

John is correct that only $3000 of his $8,000 proposed expenses for revamping the AIS website are budgeted to come out of the General Fund which gives us less "cushion" than I originally thought.  

My thoughts so far....Jill

PS Technically no one has seconded Gary's original motion for funding both year's of the two grant proposals, so there isn't an active motion out there to discuss...JB   

-----Original Message-----
>From: Brad <zebrairis1@aol.com>
>Sent: Aug 3, 2008 1:29 PM
>To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>
>Hi Will,
>
>I don't believe there is any confusion on my part.  Since at least 2 members
>of the Advisory Scientific Committee are also voting members of the Board
>AND they submitted the Scientific Committee's recommendation in the form of
>a motion, it is no longer just a recommendation.
>
>Some of our Advisory Committees have restricted funds available with the
>approval of the Board, but the motion assumes that General Fund moneys can
>be spent without the necessary Budget authority to spend them. Not only does
>it require 2008 General funds, but it assumes that General funds will also
>be granted next year to fund the second year of these grants. I trust that
>the Scientific Committee wouldn't be foolishly recommending only funding the
>first year of two-year grants without expecting the Board to also fund the
>second year. Additionally, I also believe that "sound accounting principles"
>are legally required of all groups including non-profits. I also believe
>that the AIS board is required to formally appropriate General funds prior
>to considering a motion to spend them.
>
>Jill, you are the expert here and I'm counting on you to "straighten me out"
>if I'm wrong on any of this. I truly don't wish to foolishly inject any
>incorrect thoughts over this because I'm in favor of both grants once the
>money has been properly authorized.
>
>I'm sorry if this is causing a lot of problems for the folks on the
>Scientific Committee because I know this motion was submitted with total
>integrity and I consider all of you as my friends or friendly acquaintances.
>
>Cheers! Brad Kasperek
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org [mailto:owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org]
>On Behalf Of William Plotner
>Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 11:22 PM
>To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>
>I think that ther is some confusion....The Scientific Committee is an 
>advisory committee and do not make the financial decisions.  The Board of 
>directors make those decisions.  The Scientific Committee only suggests that
>
>they are worthy.
>
>All My Best
>
>Will
>A member of the Scientific Committee and not a member of the Board of 
>directors.
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Brad" <zebrairis1@aol.com>
>To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>
>Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 2:08 PM
>Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>
>
>> Thankz! again Jill,
>>
>> As I suspected the scientific committee doesn't have budget authority to
>> issue BOTH grants at this time in spite of Bob's argument that they should
>> have this authority because they gave up some of their budget to the
>> electronic committee.
>>
>> The scientific committee should have submitted a motion to increase their
>> TWO-year budget authority to cover the total cost of both grants at least 
>> a
>> month before submitting a motion to approve these grants.  If they had 
>> they
>> would know whether-or-not the Board was willing to fund BOTH grants. 
>> Because
>> they didn't the Board is now being put in the untenable position of
>> violating sound accounting principles if we approve BOTH grants before the
>> deadline of September.
>>
>> Since I support both grants if we can find and approve the money to fund
>> them, I would like to offer my option for working this situation.
>>
>> 1.) Since there is no way the Board can approve the current motion without
>> violating sound accounting principles, it should be withdrawn posthaste 
>> and
>> be replaced with one to approve Jinyan Guo's two-year grant(it is unfair 
>> to
>> the grantee and a waste of our money to only fund the first-year of a
>> two-year grant)since the Restricted Scientific Fund currently contains the
>> funds to pay for both years. (I hope we could limit the discussion period 
>> to
>> only 7 days to keep things moving.)
>>
>> 2.) Next that the scientific committee be allowed to submit a second 
>> motion
>> requesting Budget approval to also fund Alan Meerow's grant as soon as the
>> their first motion goes to AISVote.  Alan Meerow should be contacted and
>> asked if he would still be interested in approval of his grant even if it 
>> is
>> delayed by a few weeks.  At this time there is no way to know if the 
>> funding
>> will be available unless someone or a group of folks on AISdiscus wish to
>> donate the necessary funds to the Restricted Scientific Fund.
>>
>> 3.) Regardless of whether-or-not the funding motion is approved, the
>> scientific committee be allowed to submit a motion to approve the Alan
>> Meerow grant when their budget motion goes to vote.  This motion can be
>> withdrawn if the budget approval motion fails, but the discussion can be
>> started.
>>
>> Finally, that the Board members and Past-Presidents start an informal
>> discussion on asiconfer about whether-or-not there is a realistic hope of
>> approving the necessary budget funds for Alan Meerow's grant. I real do 
>> hope
>> we can find the funds to approve his grant.
>>
>> If anyone has other options on how to solve this funding and time dilemma,
>> I'm sure everyone on the Board would like to consider them so please put
>> them of aisdiscuss.
>>
>> All the best,
>> Brad Kasperek
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org [mailto:owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org]
>> On Behalf Of Jill Bonino
>> Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 12:30 AM
>> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>> Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>>
>> Currently, the Restricted Scientific Fund holds $4597 that can be used for
>> Grants.  This is short of the current request of $6160 by $1563.  As Bob
>> mentioned, the amount budgeted for the website update of $8000 (of which
>> only $5000 comes out of the General Fund) has not been used to date.
>>
>> So far this year, Bulletin expenses (which is the AIS's largest expense) 
>> is
>> well within budget.  Income has also been close to what we estimated.
>>
>> I would recommend approving the Scientific grants for 2008 only at this
>> point.  We can discuss the 2009 outlay in November when we discuss the
>> budget.   Between now and the fiscal year end 9-30-08, our budget can 
>> afford
>> the overage of $1563 to approve the 2008 grant amounts.
>>
>> This might involve an edit of Gary's motion to specify that the approval 
>> is
>> for 2008 only....
>>
>> Jill
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>>From: Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>
>>>Sent: Aug 1, 2008 3:02 PM
>>>To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>>Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>>>
>>>I was at the fall meeting when the budget was created. At that time we
>> allocated $5000 to the scientific fund to be added to $5000 that was 
>> already
>> in the fund. We also had $2000 for Advertising. At that point the budget 
>> was
>> balanced. But just before adjournment it was proposed that $9000 was 
>> needed
>> to redo the website. In order to balance the budget My committee forfeited
>> the $2000 and the scientific committee forfeited the $5000 to compensate 
>> for
>> the change. To my knowledge there have been no proposals for the use of 
>> the
>> $9000 this year so I would assume we are presently that far ahead in our
>> budget and it seems likely that the proposals for its allocation will not 
>> be
>> realized until the next budget. Therefore I would suggest that the money
>> should be available for the science committee in this calender year if we 
>> so
>> choose.--Bob
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Brad" <zebrairis1@aol.com>
>>>To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>>Sent: Friday, August 1, 2008 4:56:19 PM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
>>>Subject: RE: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>>>
>>>Hi All,
>>>
>>>I believe this motion commits more money than the current budget 
>>>recognizes
>>>for research. Is this motion appropriate for changing our current budget?
>> Or
>>>should a budget increase be approved prior to agreeing to spend more than
>> is
>>>currently allotted?
>>>
>>>What appreciate Jill and Roy's opinion on this.
>>>
>>>All the best,
>>>Brad Kasperek
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org [mailto:owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org]
>>>On Behalf Of Robert Pries
>>>Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 10:40 AM
>>>To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>>Cc: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>>Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>>>
>>>I second the motion in the message below.
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "gary white" <in2iris@yahoo.com>
>>>To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
>>>Sent: Friday, August 1, 2008 11:58:18 AM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
>>>Subject: [AISdiscuss] AIS- Scientific Grant Proposals
>>>
>>>The Scientific Advisory Committee received two research grant proposals.
>> The
>>>first proposal is by Miss Jinyan Guo, titled "Phylogenetic and
>> developmental
>>>study of Iris subgenus Limniris section Lophiris and related species".
>> The
>>>second proposal is by Dr. Allan Meerow, and titled "Heterogeneity,
>>>ecological
>>>specialization and introgression in a large population of Iris
>>>savannarum".   Both of these proposals were reviewed by the committee
>>>and recommended for funding by the American Iris Society.   The total 
>>>first
>>>year cost is $6160.   Both are two-year studies.  The total second year
>> cost
>>>is $6405.   Payments to researchers can be made in increments throughout
>> the
>>>two-year period.
>>>
>>>I move that the AIS fund both Miss Guo's research grant request and Dr.
>>>Meerow's research grant request.
>>>
>>>Gary White,
>>>AIS Director
>>>Chair of Scientific Advisory Committee
>>>
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