At 09:05 AM 1/21/05 -0600, Dorie Rae Gallagher wrote:
>How many of the Commissioners have started a business from the ground up?
I have had a two restaurant businesses and I have helped or been part of starting up several non-profits and in the 70's was one who helped start many of the food cooperatives in the Midwest. I also was the founder and project coordinator for the now internationally acclaimed Green Institute.� I also have my own Consulting business for small business consulting and to handle honorarium and such for speeches and presentations I make. And I have been a project manager several times where I have had to balance my project's budget. And in non-profits when the money runs out - it runs out and that is that.
>How many have been self employed?
I have gone back and forth several times in this category.� And I might add keeping track of receipts and use of the home office and all the things they want you to pay anyway is not easy in this category.
>How many have done the books of a business
other than their own households? I don't like being a treasurer or doing bookkepping so I try to be a good Board member by being informed or serving as a secretary or a President when on Boards. But I have been fortunate over the years to have good bookkeepers or accountants who have been patient and tauaght me a lot about reading financial statements, balances sheets, audits and such.
I am one, who like Dorie wonders sometimes as to who of our Electeds have balanced their own books because especially at the state and federal level and our own city about 10 years ago - it was often a question - how can they get so in debt to the tune of millions and trillions of dollars - don't they know about balancing the checkbook.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul gets old after awhile.
Good questions but I think a Board should be balanced between all kinds of skills needed from legal to financial, to communicators and listeners.� And usually there is a common bond or thread that brings them all together.� The mission and the goals of the organization.
For the Park Board may I remind us all of the Mission...
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, on behalf of all the current and future citizens of the City of Minneapolis, shall strive to permanently preserve, protect, maintain, improve and enhance the City's parkland and recreational opportunities.
Thanks for asking. Annie Young citywide Park Commissioner
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