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TREASURERS REPORT 07 04 08

 

2007, as you will see from your copy of the accounts, was very successful financially, our total income amounting to 32,398ytl.  Wednesday Coffee mornings continue to provide a steady income and Friday sales excelled themselves, raising over 3000ytl more than in 2006. Donations have been exceptional – Over 5,000ytl for special needs, 2,000ytl from Thomas Cook and Neshe has raised 2,860ytl from Turkish lessons and other events.

Our expenditure was more than our income, but this was not unexpected – I mentioned in the 2006 report that although we had 11,000ytl in hand as at December 31^st, a lot of that had already been allocated as we had plans for nursery class refurbishment and increased bursaries.  You will see a large amount was spent on school extras this year; extras include classroom furniture, uniforms and shoes; this year, shoes have been one of our most requested items.  The report from the Chair has already covered our Special Needs Appeal which has been one of our most emotional achievements.  Although it looks as if we have not utilised all our special needs donations, this difference will be spent on the children it was raised for.  One of the children has ongoing medical needs, and individual trips to Izmir Hospital cost approx 300ytl per visit, so anyone who donated to this appeal need not worry that the money is not going where they expected it to!

This would normally be the conclusion of my report as you have the figures before you, and I see no point in enumerating the individual amounts any further. Extraordinarily however, I will go into more detail about this year as 2008 is proving very different to preceding years.

In December 2007 we unexpectedly lost our Sales and Book Exchange room at very short notice and there was actually no income for the last 3 weeks of the year. This loss of income continued into January 2008 until new premises were found, equipped and we were up and running again.  Our income is down by approximately 1,000ytl due to the move and for the first time ever we have had to spend a substantial amount of money on ourselves, removals and furnishing our new room cost approx 1,400ytl, these two costs total 2,400ytl. In addition we have rent to find every month, a further 3,600ytl per annum.  In 2006 we spent 6.0% of our income on Charity expenses, and in 2007 we spent only 5.25%.  In 2008 FIG entered the real world and the percentage we have to spend on expenses will be higher but our strength lies in our long-term commitment. We do have one-off events, but we work every week of the year, continually raising money and if we had a slogan, it could almost be “We never close”.

My conclusion therefore is, yes, we can congratulate ourselves on our 2007 achievement, BUT 2008 is the year in which FIG supporters must prove them-selves equal to the challenge ahead and I personally have the utmost faith in all of you. I know that at the end of 2008 I will again be saying “Well done but lets raise even more in 2009”

Jill Erdoğan Treasurer

fethiye international group