Changes

Facilities Vision

566 bytes added, 17:46, 15 February 2015
new proposal
The location of a rented Headquarters is presently constrained by the location of the Consuls, who would naturally be unwilling to commute extended distances. Should a move be coincident with replacing the present Consuls (something they would not object to), the location could be moved to any suitable place.
 
However, given the substantial expenditure of time and labor (if not expense) of relocating, and that the Society cannot afford the loss of productivity that accompanies a move, even if it might afford the expense, short-term rentals are unlikely to be in the best long-term interest of the Society.
 
'''Proposal #2: The Society should adopt a policy that any lease or rental be guaranteed for a term of not less than five years with maximum rent defined, and that funds sufficient to secure the facility for said term be identified before a lease or rent is authorized.'''
Further advantages may be had from owning rather than renting, including:
*Avoidance of the need to relocate (except as the Society may feel the need)
'''Proposal #23: The Society must have a goal of obtaining (and retaining) a public Headquarters that is owned by the Society. To ensure that such a facility may be retained, we must create an [[Investment Fund]] sufficient that its revenue will cover both the initial capital cost of acquisition and modification to our purposes, and the ongoing costs of utilities, repairs, and taxes (if any).'''
The location of such a permanent Headquarters should not be constrained to the vicinity of the present Consuls. One would expect the use of the facility to long outlast their service, and Orlando may not be the best location in the long term. At some point, it will be appropriate to determine what considerations should be given to a permanent location, and a search for a nation, city, neighborhood, and parcel then be based on those considerations.
These two The goals above are not in conflict. The first is likely to be easier to obtain, and a portion of the investments dedicated to rent under the first may be diverted to purchase the facility in the secondthird. This is particularly true as $285,000 of the Investment Fund is the Balling bequest, which is restricted to capital purchases (by original intent, if not contract).
That said, a facility, or funds to purchase one, may appear as a gift or grant. In that case, it may be possible to leapfrog the first goal for the secondlast. While this will of course be tempting, the Society should seriously consider if the location offered is in the long-term best interests of the Society. Worst case, we might accept the gift or grant in a sub-optimal location, then sell it and move at a later date (perhaps after the death of the patron or expiration of the grant).
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