money questions

[lauradi rcn com]

    Various locations in North America are organizing together to have two 
people from Taylors come over to do maintenance and repairs in the 
belltowers. The idea is to pool together to pay the transportation and 
living expenses to get them here and while they are touring around, plus 
the labor and parts costs relevant to each tower.  A very rough estimate 
is that it will run $1000 or more for each ring of eight, depending on 
local needs.  Greg has sent out feelers to the Advent to see if they will 
pay any/all of that.  Old North had thought in the past of paying for 
ropes as part of their annual budget. Ricky is trying to follow up on 
that.  My guess is that they would be shocked at the idea of $1000 out of 
the blue, but we haven't asked. Ricky and I are willing to make donations 
toward the cost at Old North if necessary, but it shouldn't be required.  
The Boston Bellringers bank account has way more than enough to pay in 
total for this work. I do understand the underlying worry about future 
unexpected expenditures.  At a business meeting in the past, people agreed 
in principle to have the Taylors people come before we knew what it would 
cost.  Now we sort of know.  
    It's almost time to renew the paper Ringing World.  That will be 
$196.00 (at today's conversion rate - it's 154 pounds) for a year.  
Opinions?
    Our major expenses of the past year have been RW related, both the 
subscription and for quarter peal donations.  Little things like hand goop 
have come out of petty cash, which is where donations go when we 
(occasionally) get some. Postage has recently gone up, so the holiday card 
expenses will too.  It's very warm to be thinking of December, but it will 
probably come.

Laura Dickerson