Theos-Talk Archives (September 2010 Message tt00114)

Traditionally, most spiritual organizations are very secretive about
financial information. Even when audited financial statements are published,
you will not be able to know some of the important and sensitive
information.

Congress, watching the non-transparency of the tax exempt organizations, now
has required them to disclose lots of information in the Form 990 filed
annually and require them easily provide copies to the public on request. In
addition, they are now available in cyberspace, free of charge, thanks to
Internet.

I looked up the Form 990 of TSA for the year ending March 31, 2009 and some
of the info is interesting.

Firstly,  while only $73,222 was spent on Information technology, which I
presume includes in-house computers etc as well as Internet, $128,200 was
paid as Fees for Accounting Services to non-employees (which I think is for
outside companies and independent contractors).

The amount spent on National Fieldwork/Training is paltry $20,819.

In addition, the highest salaried employee is the person dealing with
accounts and finance.

One wonders what is going on.

Now TSA has added one more layer of bureaucracy with the appointment of
Chief of Staff.

As far back as 1998, when I requested the then President for a copy of the
Form 990 (which is a public document), he passed it on to the finance
manager for response. He responded questioning me for what purpose I need
the info.

It makes me wonder if there was some sensitive salary and compensation
information in it that TSA did not want members to know of. It could be the
compensation of the employees as well as possibly that of some elected
officials.

Just wanted to share with you all.

MKR

There is no religion higher than Truth


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