February 26, 2021
Building Rentals
iTrip booked rentals in Spring Street Center for both January and February. Income from those rentals is being held in escrow as we work out repairs needed due to water leakage in our building. (see below for details.) iTrip is currently working on rental forecasts which will be included in our draft 2021 budget to be presented at the next committee meeting.
Donations
Donations through February were down from similar months in 2020. Last year member contributions picked up starting in March. It is hoped that this will be possible this year as well. Our donations plus iTrip income against our expenses for 2021 have resulted in a shortfall of $1186. This shortfall was covered using our current savings. The committee is hopeful that as rentals and donations will pick up and we’ll again be in the black soon.
January and February Expenses
Our heating expenses were up in January and February which are particularly cold and damp months. However, we believe that we can lower these costs further, if members who use the building do not leave the thermostat in the women’s hall on Permanent Hold. We have placed a sign on the thermostat to request member help with this.
Budget for 2021
Your committee is in the process of creating our budget for 2021. A draft budget will be presented at the March committee meeting. Once the committee feels it is ready, we will present soon after at a general meeting for your approval.
Future Expenses
Your committee continues to monitor and keep our costs as low as possible. Our winter heating bills will continue to be high, due to the cold temperatures and damp weather we’ve been having.
Due to the extensive wet weather in the last 3 months, we have had water leaking through both window sills in bedrooms 2 & 3 and our small deck on the 2nd floor. iTrip has been helpful coordinating contractor estimates to repair this damage. (We do have an old building). We are having the deck repaired first to keep water from leaking into the downstairs bathroom. It is hoped that this work will be able to happen in the first two weeks of March, weather depending. The window sill work is still being explored. iTrips has developed a work-around for the sill issue, while still being able to rent those rooms. I am currently estimating $9,790 for both jobs. Some of these costs can be cover through current rental income.
If You Haven’t Donated, Now Is The Time
Your committee appreciates everyone’s financial support of our center. Our goal for 2021 is to get everyone to contribute something toward the upkeep of our center. When you give a little bit each month, you become a part of the membership dedicated to preserving our building for the future. If you have not yet donated this year, please do so! Thank you!
Important! New name for donation checks to Subud Greater Seattle
Use only “Subud PNW – Seattle Center” on any future donations to our center. Bank rules, recently changed, are delaying deposits. Please be sure to change the “Pay To The Order Of” section of your handwritten or automatic withdrawn check from your account and use this name. If you intend to make your donation to the Region, please earmark your check Subud PNW.
Thanks for those who have setup monthly donations
Thanks to all our monthly donators who have a recurring donation sent from their bank. You save on envelopes and stamps. And, you don’t have to remind yourselves to write a check. These regular checks really help us meet our monthly commitments to the region and pay for our use of our facilities.
If you’d like to know how to setup a recurring donation to our group through your bank, please contact me.
Submitted by Oswald Norton