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Bookkeeping Changeover

  • 1.  Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-13-2019 18:22
    @Jeff Schwenk - When do you think we'll be able to complete the changes to the signature cards at the bank? 

    The changeover to Quickbooks Online will occur when that is complete. Are we current with payments on invoices? 


    ------------------------------
    Jerry Norman
    CEO, SmartBridge Partners
    Smartbridge Partners
    Austin TX
    5124191444x112
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-13-2019 18:28
    I am likely the cog in wheel. I need to send them to Jeff... I have them and going to the notary/ups at 4:30 today.  I meant  to print them this weekend and forgot..  sorry team!!  I have them printed and ready to go.    I can overnight them and he will have them tomorrow or Friday

    Get Outlook for iOSo
     


    ------Original Message------

    @Jeff Schwenk - When do you think we'll be able to complete the changes to the signature cards at the bank? 

    The changeover to Quickbooks Online will occur when that is complete. Are we current with payments on invoices? 


    ------------------------------
    Jerry Norman
    CEO, SmartBridge Partners
    Smartbridge Partners
    Austin TX
    5124191444x112
    ------------------------------


  • 3.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-13-2019 18:44
    Jim - yes, please expedite these.

    ------------------------------
    Jerry Norman
    CEO, SmartBridge Partners
    Smartbridge Partners
    Austin TX
    5124191444x112
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-13-2019 18:49
    Will do

    Jim

    Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse any typos. 


    ------Original Message------

    Jim - yes, please expedite these.

    ------------------------------
    Jerry Norman
    CEO, SmartBridge Partners
    Smartbridge Partners
    Austin TX
    5124191444x112
    ------------------------------


  • 5.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-13-2019 22:27
    As Jim noted, I am waiting for his paperwork.  Once received, I will head back over the mountain to start the process.  Still waiting on documentation to finish the January transactions.  It has been nearly two weeks since the debit hit the bank.

    As a side note, I would like to see written procedures on how the next chapter is going to operate.  During the last board meeting, there were many questions but few answers as to how the process was actually going to work.  Is the new firm responsible for writing checks, maintaining the supporting voucher documentation, etc or simply doing book work after the fact?  Who is responsible for invoicing new members, invoicing renewals and affiliate sponsorships?   Who is going to reconcile MOTM and other conferences and provide revenue and expense analysis to the board?  Who is responsible for obtaining 1099 and other necessary documentation?  For the record, I was NOT consulted about any of the duties I performed as accountant for the past 7 years.  So you can imagine that I have great concerns about this hand off and how smooth the transition will be.

    ------------------------------
    Jeff Schwenk
    Bottomline Software, Inc.
    Waynesboro VA
    540-221-4444
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-13-2019 23:46
    Jeff, let's start with the written procedures you used, and we'll modify from there.

    ------------------------------
    Jerry Norman
    CEO, SmartBridge Partners
    Smartbridge Partners
    Austin TX
    5124191444x112
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-14-2019 22:44
    @Jeff Schwenk did you ever have your interview/review with Moira at the end of the year? That was part of the purpose of that was to document how we were doing our jobs as well as what we were doing. You can’t really complain that you weren’t consulted when you never showed up for your part.

    ---------------------------------
    Robert Wood
    Consultant
    90 Minds
    Ocala FL
    352-615-5898
    ---------------------------------





  • 8.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 13:27
    @Jeff Schwenk have you gotten the signature cards and gotten them to the bank? Are we handling the transfer of records at MotM?

    ---------------------------------
    Robert Wood
    Consultant
    90 Minds
    Ocala FL
    352-615-5898
    ---------------------------------





  • 9.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 13:56
    Paperwork arrived late on Friday.  Banks are closed today.  Will see how the process goes before discussing the final transition.

    ------------------------------
    Jeff Schwenk
    Bottomline Software, Inc.
    Waynesboro VA
    540-221-4444
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 15:04
    Jeff, please make this happen tomorrow. We need this transition to complete now. We've spent a month just passing the signatures around. I don't understand why you didn't sign the cards you first sent to me so that Moira could simply pass them to the BofA branch she'll use there. 

    Online access to the bank/debit account and the Quickbooks Online system greatly expands the transparency of things and simplifies payments P

    Please propose a checklist of the items you think need to happen in the rest of the transition, after we get the bank access resolved.

    ------------------------------
    Jerry Norman
    CEO, SmartBridge Partners
    Smartbridge Partners
    Austin TX
    5124191444x112
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 17:13
    @Jeff Schwenk, I’m a confused. Based on what you and I had discussed, it seems like the signature card would be the last thing holding you up. You were going to have the paper documents, electronic documents, year end completed, and Sage data ready to go by January 15. How is the bank signature cards holding you up? That should be, as far as I can figure it, a triviality.

    ---------------------------------
    Robert Wood
    Consultant
    90 Minds
    Ocala FL
    352-615-5898
    ---------------------------------





  • 12.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 17:21
    Who is signing checks and having access to the account once I transfer the records?  No one until the signature forms are accepted and processed?  Not a triviality in my book?

    ------------------------------
    Jeff Schwenk
    Bottomline Software, Inc.
    Waynesboro VA
    540-221-4444
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 17:25
    @Jeff Schwenk triviality was the wrong word. But if you have done what you committed to do, that should be the last step in the process.

    ---------------------------------
    Robert Wood
    Consultant
    90 Minds
    Ocala FL
    352-615-5898
    ---------------------------------





  • 14.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 18:17
    ​What is this Error that is appearing below each response? Is this only in this discussion or is in others?

    ------------------------------
    John Hoyt
    john.hoyt@formingsolutions.com
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-18-2019 18:18
    ​It looks like it is on every discussion.

    ------------------------------
    John Hoyt
    john.hoyt@formingsolutions.com
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-19-2019 14:46
    Edited by Jeff Schwenk 02-19-2019 14:50
    I just love this social media platform.  It can be a tool for good communication.  Or it can be used as a clothes line, just hanging your laundry out for all to see.

    @Jerry Norman - Regarding the timing of everything, the forms were sent to you on 1/23 prior to the Houston conference.  Why weren't the forms returned promptly instead of on 2/7 via two day FedEx?  On 2/8, I took the information to the bank and they wanted more documentation.  Request sent to Jim on 2/8.  Jim returned on 2/15.  Banks are closed on Saturday here and today for the holiday.  Hind sight is 20/20.  But why weren't you prodding others to do THEIR part?

    @Robert Wood - Regarding the YE review, no one followed up after I announced that I was turning it over to the bookkeeping folks.  Apparently, there was no need to find out what I did?  My phone line is always open.  To paraphrase the light bulb comedian, how many board members does it take to communicate with the treasurer?  Two or three or more?  Seems silly don't you think?  I think it is sad actually. Very sad!

    @Jerry Norman - I would get the bank rec caught up but there is a debit restaurant charge for 1/28 that I STILL don't have documentation for and numerous SWA ticket charges on the debit card earlier this month that there is no documentation for!!!!  If you are going to use the debit card for personal expenditures, then turn the paperwork in promptly!!!  Or use your credit card and turn it six months later.

    In the meantime, if you really want the books, you can have them anytime.  95% of the source documents are in PDF format, go for it!  Just be careful what you wish for.  To date, I have seen no procedures on who is doing the work or how it will be accomplished.  Jim expressed his concern at the last meeting.  How I do it now is NOT relevant to how it is done in the future.  THIS transition is not a trivial matter!!!!

    @Jerry Norman – I too am all for transparency and simplification.  I distribute a bus backup of the MAS_90M folder on a regular basis for all to see.  Only ONE person regularly downloaded the file.  NO one besides yourself has ever asked for additional information.  I fail to see how being on line will lead to better transparency and simplification.  To me, transparency is seeing a MOTM budget PRIOR to the event.  Being assured that there will be a surplus for Atlanta is NOT comforting.  Simplification is seeing and being aware of the MOTM agenda/course outline PRIOR to the event.

    @Jerry Norman – While we are speaking of transparency, who is on the nominating committee organized by the ED that was supposed to present a slate of board candidates EIGHT weeks ago?

    @Robert Wood – If you have ample time to be asking about a trivial matter of bank account access, why hasn't the Acumatica prospect been cleared for membership yet?  It HAS been two weeks now since he applied.  It is heartening to see your concern with my inability meet my deadline, but when can the membership expect to attend a webinar on the tips and tricks of the new platform?  It has been over a month now.  Inquiring minds are interested in being more proficient in its usage.  When is it going to happen?  If only there was an agenda……

    And finally, why am I the only one who has to communicate via the laundromat call Higher Logic?  I am sure both Jerry and Robert have discussions with the ED.  Why aren't they posted here for others to see?

    PTL!!!!  All the paperwork was accepted at the B of A some 30 minutes ago.   We can now move on to the new bookkeeping service.  I hope everyone is ready on Thursday!

    ------------------------------
    Jeff Schwenk
    Bottomline Software, Inc.
    Waynesboro VA
    540-221-4444
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: Bookkeeping Changeover

    Posted 02-21-2019 04:14
    Edited by Robert Wood 02-21-2019 04:22

    Jeff, I apologize if any of this embarrasses you or if any of it feels like I'm being mean. I know you don't like having these conversations out like this.

    For me, I'm actually glad this is in the open. It's tricky but healthy.

    "no one followed up after I announced that I was turning it over to the bookkeeping folks"

    "No one" includes you. You could have just as easily asked to have your interview or offered up what your procedures were.

    What I believe happened was that at one of the busiest times of the year in one of the busiest 90 Minds years of recent history, you made a decision to put everyone in panic mode and there was a lot of scrambling being done to work towards getting everything covered.

    "My phone line is always open."

    No it's not. There have been a handful of times (3 I think) over the years when you have chosen to ignore my calls. You were angry. I get that. But to say your phone is always open is a misrepresentation of how you operate.

    "I distribute a bus backup of the MAS_90M folder on a regular basis for all to see. Only ONE person regularly downloaded the file. NO one besides yourself has ever asked for additional information."

    I've downloaded every backup you've sent except for two or three over the years. We've had the conversation about why I don't ask for additional information. I don't like being yelled at. You've mostly stopped but the conditioning hasn't let up yet.

    I look through them but without the supporting records this doesn't promote transparency as much. Moira also looked at them. For some reason, she was having trouble getting the links to work and so I was transfering them to her.

    "I fail to see how being on line will lead to better transparency and simplification."

    During renewal time, it would make my job easier to have an aging weekly so I can see how far along we are in the renewal process. I can also double check myself. That's just one example. I'd have also liked to have been able to utilize the Sage 100 DB to better maintain a membership database possibly.

    Having someone other than the person writing and signing checks do the bank reconciliations would have been a better business practice than what we've done the last few years.

    "To me, transparency is seeing a MOTM budget PRIOR to the event. Being assured that there will be a surplus for Atlanta is NOT comforting."

    No question. I totally agree.

    A lot of what you've asked for in recent weeks is perfectly reasonable. A lot of the issue is in the timing and some in the way the questions are asked sometimes. Your amended resignation as bookkeeper was effective January 15.

    You're 5 weeks late handing over the books. You could have signed the signature cards when you shipped them off for Jerry & Moira to sign them and they could have executed them with the bank. It sucks having your judgement questioned, doesn't it?

    "Simplification is seeing and being aware of the MOTM agenda/course outline PRIOR to the event."

    Simplification is being able to look at what we need to without having to jump through hoops. What you are asking for here is no different than what anyone wanting easier access to the books is looking for.

    We are in a transition year. The board shouldn't have our fingers in everything that is happening. We are in the process of learning to let go and let the ED execute and finding the balance between oversight and too much oversight.

    There is a balance to be achieved between inquiry and inquisition and in understanding when one is happening vs. the other.

    "If you have ample time to be asking about a trivial matter of bank account access, why hasn't the Acumatica prospect been cleared for membership yet? It HAS been two weeks now since he applied."

    Great question! I just came up for air this past weekend after being buried for a few weeks on a project which began while we were working on getting Higher Logic rolled out. The Acumatica application is getting worked on now.

    We were developing the procedure for approving Acumatica only partners during that time as well.

    Said project was about 100 hours since January and I have spent over 100 hours working on the Higher Logic rollout since Decemember. It's been a hectic time. On top of that, I've had to be note passer between you and Moira. Please forgive me if a few things have fallen between the cracks.

    "It is heartening to see your concern with my inability meet my deadline, but when can the membership expect to attend a webinar on the tips and tricks of the new platform?"

    As soon as the rollout was completed, I had to dive deeper into the project I mentioned before. Moira has been reaching out to me and I've been ignoring her. The only reason I am concerned about your deadline is because I got chosen to be the go between between you and Moira and had delivered your promises and you hadn't kept them, making me look bad.

    "And finally, why am I the only one who has to communicate via the laundromat call Higher Logic?"

    Jeff, I don't know the specific reasons Moira won't speak with you directly. I have had conversations with you via email that have made me wish I didn't have to speak with you ever again. Others where I wanted to punch you. You're one of those people that I dread asking for anything because your responses are along the lines of "what do you need that for?" or "I'll get to it when I get to it." In the past, you've yelled at me for asking for stuff from you. After you and I had the conversation about you yelling at me, your tone changed with me but I still see what I don't like about the way you communicate in some correspondence with others.

    You may or may not mean to but you frequently come across as nasty. And that's not just the tone of your voice. It's the way you say or type things.

    All of that isn't to embarrass you but to say, I can easily imagine why Moira might not be willing to communicate with you without supervision.

    "PTL!!!! All the paperwork was accepted at the B of A some 30 minutes ago. We can now move on to the new bookkeeping service. I hope everyone is ready on Thursday!"

    Thank you, Jeff!

    That was difficult. I'd rather keep the conversation focused on what I'm doing wrong.



    ------------------------------
    Robert Wood
    Consultant
    90 Minds
    Ocala FL
    352-615-5898
    ------------------------------