tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63061008746474196982024-03-13T10:23:24.749+11:00SteveJ's MiscellancyThoughts and discussions on items that don't fit elsewhere.steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-73819084975558914232022-07-06T23:11:00.006+10:002022-07-12T19:49:37.838+10:00Long Response to Climate Change Denier, Letter to Editor, 2009<title> Cardwell_Renate-Metzger_Response</title><p>There are three broad responses to the Letter:<br />
<br />
1. Assumptions & Omissions<br />
2. Incorrect or should've known<br />
3. Examining Claims. [ <a href="https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/07/response-to-climate-change-denier.html">Summary Response </a>]<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br />
Letter to the Editor to a regional newspaper, published in 2009.<br />
Included as a submission to 2012 Senate Inquiry "The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms". <br />
Text at:<br />
<a href="https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/06/climate-change-denier-letter-to-editor.html">https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/06/climate-change-denier-letter-to-editor.html</a><br />
<br />
</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><hr /><h2 style="text-align: left;">Assumptions</h2><p>
There are assumption in the letter that've been shown to be badly wrong as of 16-Jun-2022 with the AEMO declaration of "no market":<br />
<br />
- the price of fossil fuel is relatively non-volatile, in fact, very volatile, as was known in 1973 Oil Shock<br />
<br />
- Price of Natual Gas sets the Electricity Price because it's the "on-demand" fuel supplier for when the cheapest power is used<br />
- the Privatised Electricity Market, absent decent regulation, will be gamed by generators, will be unreliable, will be very high priced.<br />
<br />
- vs "when wind doesn't blow" buy storage, like we do when it doesn't rain. (Chris Bowen, 16-Jun-2022)<br />
<br />
- Price of Renewables, especially Domestic PV, is _solely_ the finance - fixed interest cost for term of funding<br />
- at end of financing, renewables are fully paid and their power source is still free. v. low variable costs and near zero fixed cost<br />
<br />
There's a massive Blind Side in the letter.<br />
<br />
Two related assumption that large, centralised Power Stations are The Natural Order.<br />
<br />
- Large 'must be kept running' power plants are assumed to be The Best Solution,<br />
built with a few, maximise sized generation Units, which are prone to breakdowns after 50yrs, and v. expensive to upgrade.<br />
This is 1950's thinking, driven by the technology of the time.<br />
It forces two things:<br />
- Massive Single Points of Failure, demonstrated in June 2022 with multiple failures and Callide unit explosion<br />
- Large Star-and-Spoke Distribution & reticulation systems, which cannot handle widely decentralised local renewables.<br />
Which are very expensive to build (the 'gold plating' problem with AEMO in 2010's) and carve big swathes through wild country, often sensitive environments.<br />
<br />
- GE multi-fuel Gas Turbines are 5-minute start and come in 'useful' sizes, 2MW-30MW, and attain efficiencies unobtainable by Steam.<br />
They're lower pollution and lower CO2 emissions. And don't rely on massive amounts of cooling water or evaporative cooling.<br />
It's very easy to match demand to load, perfectly and be able to respond to load variations in seconds, not hours and days.<br />
Maintenance is easier - don't need a week to cool down & another to warm up.<br />
Capacity can be bought, upgraded, swapped out and maintained in small, affordable increments without impacting production output.<br />
This is the reason Space-X is bolting 30+ Merlin rocket engines under its Super Heavy Booset.<br />
They didn't designed a Bigger, Better "F-1", five of which powered the Saturn V booster that lifted Apollo into orbit.<br />
Gas Turbines don't have to be clustered into one Big Plant, small groups can be spread around the country, matched to local demand.<br />
This minimises the investment in transmission and distribution networks, points of failure and terrorist targets, and reduces the need for land clearing for HV lines.<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">
Ommissions</h2>
<br />
One of the Big Omissions (is it a lie?) in his work:<br />
<br />
<i>There's absolutely nothing about transmission, distribution and network losses.</i><br />
<br />
One of the more tricky issues to talk about is "Power Factor" and Reactive power losses in the Network due to complex Impedance, not just line, switching and transformer losses.<br />
<br />
This is a benefit of 1MV DC transmission lines:<br />
NO "power factor", no frequency control problems, no synchronisation problems and no dynamic instability due to feedback effects of asymmetric loads & generators.<br />
<br />
Each new high-power inverter has a much smaller region it supplies - eliminates a swathe of problem with large Grids.<br />
<br />
We absolutely do not want, or need, the World's Largest Single Grid.<br />
The USA would be doing this if it were a Good Idea. The US has had multiple wide-scale blackouts due to Grid Instability & control issues.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/resources/technologies/grid">https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/resources/technologies/grid</a><br />
45,000 km of transmission grid<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.originenergy.com.au/blog/electricity-grid-how-electricity-gets-to-you/">https://www.originenergy.com.au/blog/electricity-grid-how-electricity-gets-to-you/</a><br />
The Australian electricity grid spans over 5,000 kilometres,<br />
It's one of the largest interconnected power systems in the world.<br />
<br />
Another of the Big Lies not discussed is Annual Energy demand.<br />
For all energy sources, it's measured / reported in Terra-Joules, TJ, or 1,000 GJ<br />
<br />
The letter discusses Peak Demand, average generation and Nameplate capacity,<br />
but doesn't mention about 'Capacity Factor' utilisation and Total energy.<br />
<br />
A large contributory factor to the June 2022 East Coast Power Shortage is the unreliability of Coal generators.<br />
25% of the Coal 'fleet' is off-line - tech-speak for "broken down".<br />
The Coal Power Plants left are old and tired - they break down frequently now.<br />
<br />
"Heat Rate" that is used without explanation (Heat Energy IN per Electrical Energy OUT).<br />
There are different measures of Heat Input: with or without the heat thrown away in the cooling water.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_plant_efficiency">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_plant_efficiency</a><br />
<br />
The figure used, with different units on either side, is the most confusing way to state the measure.<br />
<br />
If same units were used IN & OUT, the "10.000 BTU per 1 kW-hr" would be:<br />
<br />
11.72 MJ per 4 MJ - obviously not "96% efficient"<br />
<br />
Heat Rate is what it says:<br />
<br />
how much _heat energy_ is input,<br />
to generate 1kW-hr of electricity<br />
<br />
10,000 BTU is 10.5506 MJ, converting BTU to Mega Joules.<br />
<br />
1 kW-hr = 1kJ/sec x 3600 sec = 3.6 MJ<br />
<br />
So 10,000 BTU or 10.5506 MJ to create 3.6 MJ of electricity - which is around 1/3 of the heat input coming out as electricy<br />
<br />
10.5506 / 3.6 = 34.12% conversion rate from Heat to Electricity.<br />
<br />
A very far cry from "96% efficiency".<br />
<br />
Behind the tirade is the question:<br />
is the increase in atmospheric CO2 human caused?<br />
<br />
The problem with that proposition is,<br />
If not human activity, just what is the cause of the largest, fastest spike in CO2 levels in not just millenia, but millions of years?<br />
<br />
Another implied, but unaddressed issue, is the agreement of international political leaders that increased CO2 is a problem,<br />
and that global action is required, backed by signed & ratified agreements. Countries can't opt out, there is just one atmosphere, everyone has to work towards the same goal.<br />
This degree of agreement & co-operation between countries is exceedingly rare.<br />
<br />
Arguing that it's "ridiculous" and snide remarks about 'believers', in quotes, ignores the political & economic facts:<br />
<br />
If Australia refuses to reduce CO2 emissions, then the global community will levy our exports, including aviation,<br />
with a 'carbon tax'. We will pay for our carbon emissions one way or another.<br />
It's far better for us if the money stays in Australia and we control how its spent.<br />
<br />
Since 2019, Australian news has been filled with "unprecedented" and "record" events with fires, floods, droughts and the pandemic.<br />
The northern hemisphere has seen record heatwaves, bushfires in the Siberian tundra, the break-up of the Polar Vortex pushing super-cold air into large cities,<br />
the melting of the Arctic ice-cap in summer and the "North West passage" becoming ice-free and the "North East" passage China to Russia, becoming naviagable,<br />
and record heatwaves of 30C-45C at both poles.<br />
<br />
Of particular note in 2022 for us are the recent floods in Lismore - they weren't flooded just once while the long-standing flood height record was absolutely smashed.<br />
Australia has seen the price of bananas over $10/kg from a cyclone, but never paid $10 per lettuce before, caused by these flooding events.<br />
This is not "business as usual" - something fundamental has changed and is causing significant impact on lives and the economy.<br />
<br />
Something this former power station worker should understand well and be more acutely aware than anyone is "Thermal Inertia".<br />
Big Things take a long time to heat up and cool down. It takes a week to start or stop a coal fired power station and to heat or cool all the heavy equipment & furnaces.<br />
<br />
For the Earth, that delay is estimated to be 30 years. The recent "records" only reflect 1990 C02 levels, there's a lot more change coming that's "baked in" and cannot be avoided.<br />
<br />
Finally, the letter argues that because we contribute so little to global CO2 levels:<br />
"why bother? whatever we do is infinitesimal, we won't see a benefit, but have to wear the costs".<br />
<br />
There's two problems with this argument:<br />
<br />
Its advocating we bludge off the hard work of others, technically taking a "Free Ride", which won't fly well with other countries,<br />
and if we do nothing, then others will follow, using the same logic, and globally, we can never reduce emission.<br />
There's 195 countries that all breathe the same air: nobody can shirk their share.<br />
https://www.worldometers.info/geography/how-many-countries-are-there-in-the-world<br />
<br />
The consequences of a runaway Greenhouse effect are catastrophic for human survival, not just an economic inconvenience.<br />
We know what this looks like on Venus.<br />
<br />
Arguing that we should gamble the future of the humans & our society on hunches & assertions is wildly irresponsible and reckless with other people's lives.<br />
This is the importance of the 2°C upper limit - it's a "Tipping Point", after which we, literally, fall off a cliff and there's no way back.<br />
<br />
Individuals suggesting we gamble the whole of human existence on the off-chance the science is slightly wrong, so they can enjoy "more of the same",<br />
seem to not understand the problem or its consequences.<br />
<br />
There aren't enough fossil fuels to power us for the next 500 years and most likely not even 100 years at current rates.<br />
<br />
It's not a question of "if" we find other energy sources, but "when". Fossil Fuels are finite, they won't power our economy forever, even if the CO2 doesn't get us.<br />
Advocating for a delay of the inevitable - for very slim benefits - seems naive and foolish.<br />
<br />
<p></p><hr /><h2 style="text-align: left;">
Sources</h2><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://www.nuclear-power.com/nuclear-engineering/thermodynamics/laws-of-thermodynamics/second-law-of-thermodynamics/carnot-efficiency-efficiency-of-carnot-heat-engine/">
https://www.nuclear-power.com/nuclear-engineering/thermodynamics/laws-of-thermodynamics/second-law-of-thermodynamics/carnot-efficiency-efficiency-of-carnot-heat-engine/</a><br />
<br />
<i>Carnot Efficiency - Efficiency of Carnot Heat Engine</i><br />
<br />
Example: Carnot efficiency for coal-fired power plant<br />
<br />
In a modern coal-fired power plant,<br />
the temperature of high pressure steam (T-hot) would be about 400°C (673K)<br />
and T-cold, the cooling tower water temperature, would be about 20°C (293K).<br />
<br />
For this type of power plant the maximum (ideal) efficiency will be:<br />
<br />
= 1 - T-cold/T-hot = 1 - 293/673 = 56%<br />
<br />
It must be added, and this is an idealized efficiency.<br />
The Carnot efficiency is valid for reversible processes.<br />
These processes cannot be achieved in real cycles of power plants.<br />
The Carnot efficiency dictates that higher efficiencies can be attained by increasing the temperature of the steam.<br />
This feature is also valid for real thermodynamic cycles.<br />
But this requires an increase in pressures inside boilers or steam generators.<br />
<br />
However, metallurgical considerations place upper limits on such pressures.<br />
<br />
Sub-critical fossil fuel power plants which operate under critical pressure (i.e., lower than 22.1 MPa)<br />
can achieve 36% - 40% efficiency.<br />
Supercritical designs operated at supercritical pressure (i.e., greater than 22.1 MPa)<br />
have efficiencies of around 43%.<br />
<br />
Most efficient and complex coal-fired power plants operated at "ultra critical" pressures (i.e., around 30 MPa)<br />
and used multiple-stage reheat reach about 48% efficiency.<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://www.nuclear-power.com/nuclear-engineering/thermodynamics/thermodynamic-cycles/diesel-cycle-diesel-engine/thermal-efficiency-for-diesel-cycle/">
https://www.nuclear-power.com/nuclear-engineering/thermodynamics/thermodynamic-cycles/diesel-cycle-diesel-engine/thermal-efficiency-for-diesel-cycle/</a><br />
<br /><i>
Thermal Efficiency for Diesel Cycle</i><br />
<br />
Efficiency of Engines in Transportation<br />
<br />
* In the middle of the twentieth century, a typical steam locomotive had a thermal efficiency of about 6%.<br />
That means for every 100 MJ of coal burned, 6 MJ of mechanical power were produced.<br />
<br />
* A typical gasoline automotive engine operates at around 25% to 30% of thermal efficiency.<br />
About 70-75% is rejected as waste heat without being converted into useful work, i.e., work delivered to wheels.<br />
<br />
* A typical diesel automotive engine operates at around 30% to 35%.<br />
In general, engines using the Diesel cycle are usually more efficient.<br />
<br />
* In 2014, new regulations were introduced for Formula 1 cars.<br />
These motorsport regulations have pushed teams to develop highly efficient power units.<br />
According to Mercedes, their power unit is now achieving more than 45% and close to 50% thermal efficiency,<br />
i.e., 45 - 50% of the potential energy in the fuel is delivered to wheels.<br />
<br />
* The diesel engine has the highest thermal efficiency of any practical combustion engine.<br />
Low-speed diesel engines (as used in ships) can have a thermal efficiency that exceeds 50%.<br />
The largest diesel engine in the world peaks at 51.7%.<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/50768/which-jet-engines-have-the-highest-thermal-efficiency">
https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/50768/which-jet-engines-have-the-highest-thermal-efficiency</a><br />
<br /><i>
Which jet engines have the highest thermal efficiency?</i><br />
<br />
Land based gas turbines are more efficient than avaition gas turbines, for a number of reasons.<br />
According to this article, the most efficient land based gas turbines, where just under 60%, in 2010.<br />
[ http://www.decentralized-energy.com/articles/print/volume-11/issue-3/features/gas-turbines-breaking.html ]<br />
The most efficient installation was a Japanese company,<br />
with 59.1% verified on an M701G2 gas turbine at the 1500 MW Tokyo Electric Kawasaki power station in Japan.<br />
<br />
Since then GE claimed on the 28th of April 2016, a world record for thermal efficiency, with 62.22%, for a combined cycle plant, in France.<br />
[ https://www.gepower.com/about/insights/articles/2016/04/power-plant-efficiency-record ]<br />
GE state that it normally takes about a decade to gain 1% in efficiency.<br />
The high thermal efficiency is significantly due to operating at a very high temperature.<br />
GE state this plant runs at 2,800 deg. F [ 1,535 deg. C ],<br />
but the real number is probably proprietary. <br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://www.ge.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lm6000">
https://www.ge.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lm6000</a><br />
<br /><i>
LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine [Open Cycle Gas Turbine]</i><br />
<br />
over 40 million operating hours and more than 1,300 units shipped.<br />
<br />
53 MW net output<br />
Up to 41.4% net efficiency<br />
Over 99/98% reliability/availability<br />
5 min. start time<br />
50 MW/min. ramp rate<br />
<br />
Universal and modular packaging gives the LM6000 a smaller footprint and allows for faster installation and commissioning.<br />
in as little as 3 months for simple cycle and<br />
12 months for combined cycle configurations - the fastest installation time in our history.<br />
<br />
The LM6000 allows you to operate on a wide variety of fuels - including<br />
natural gas,<br />
LPG (propane and butane),<br />
isopentane,<br />
ethanol,<br />
diesel, and<br />
Coke Oven gas.<br />
This means you can quickly switch between fuels to save money, all without stopping, and without a reduction in power.<br />
<br />
</p><pre><br />
LM6000 PC LM6000 PG LM6000 PF LM6000 PF+<br />
Net output (MW) 46.6/51.1* 56/57.2* 44.7/50* 53.9/57.1*<br />
Net heat rate (Btu/kWh, LHV) 8533 8728 8248 8357<br />
Net heat rate (kJ/kWh, LHV) 9002 9208 8702 8817<br />
Net efficiency (%, LHV) 40% 39.1% 41.4% 40.8%<br />
Ramp rate (MW/minute) 50+ 50+ 50+ 50+<br />
<br />
Hot Section (hrs) 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000<br />
Overhaul (hrs) 50,000 50,000 50,000 5,0000<br />
<br />
*MW output without SPRINT/with SPRINT (water injection to increase mass flow & cool compressor air)<br />
<br />
</pre><p>
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://www.ge.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/tm2500">
https://www.ge.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/tm2500</a><br />
<br /><i>
TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine</i><br />
<br />
one of the world's most modular, reliable, and experienced mobile gas turbines.<br />
over 6 million hours of operating experience.<br />
<br />
32 MW performance at 30 °C<br />
Up to 37% efficiency<br />
11 days installation and commissioning time<br />
5 min. start time<br />
300+ units installed worldwide<br />
<br />
With more than 20 years of experience and over 300 units installed around the world,<br />
the TM2500 is a proven solution for providing a baseload bridge to permanent power installations<br />
or for generating backup power in the wake of<br />
natural disasters,<br />
plant shutdowns,<br />
grid instability or<br />
isolated locations. <br />
</p><pre><br />
<br />
Net output (MW) 34.6<br />
Net heat rate (Btu/kWh, LHV) 9,783<br />
Net heat rate (kJ/kWh, LHV) 10,321<br />
Net efficiency (%, LHV) 34.9%<br />
Ramp rate (MW/minute) 20<br />
Startup time (cold iron) (min.) 5<br />
Reliability 99.5%<br />
Availability 98.7%<br />
Start reliability 98.35%<br />
Fleet operation hours 77.9M<br />
Hot section hours 25,000<br />
Overhaul hours 50,000<br />
<br />
</pre><p>
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://reneweconomy.com.au/ge-wins-south-australia-tender-for-back-up-generators-19258/">
https://reneweconomy.com.au/ge-wins-south-australia-tender-for-back-up-generators-19258/</a><br />
<br /><i>
GE wins South Australia tender for back-up generators<br />
1 August 2017</i><br />
<br />
US energy giant GE has won a South Australia tender for more than 250MW of back-up generation,<br />
and says the trailer-mounted diesel-gas turbines will be in place in time for the demand peaks expected in the summer heatwave.<br />
<br />
GE is combining with US mobile energy specialist APR,<br />
which will install the technology and associated infrastructure,<br />
to deliver 9 of its aero-derivative TM2500 units,<br />
which it says are quick to install,<br />
can ramp up within minutes and together will provide 275MW of power.<br />
<br />
Koutsantonis said while the plants would operate on diesel,<br />
they would emit 25 per cent less emissions than the now closed Northern power station,<br />
and once operating on gas would be more efficient than the ageing Torrens Island power station.<br />
<br />
The gas units will only be switched on when needed.<br />
The government says it will not be a new player in the market,<br />
apart from when potential shortfalls emerge.<br />
<br />
GE said the TM2500 units offered significant flexibility compared with other base-load generation options currently available.<br />
Each TM2500 unit can generate more than 30MW of electricity and can be started progressively as demand increases,<br />
ensuring generation capacity can be efficiently delivered when required.<br />
<br />
TM2500 units also have the capability of generating electricity using gas and/or distillate liquid fuel,<br />
thereby maximising fuel availability and supply options.<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://www.fossilconsulting.com/2020/03/30/power-industry-economics/">
https://www.fossilconsulting.com/2020/03/30/power-industry-economics/</a><br />
<br /><i>
Economics of the Power Industry</i><br />
Nicolette Villanueva<br />
March 30, 2020<br />
Columbia, Maryland 21046, U.S.A.<br />
<br /><i>
Variable Costs</i><br />
<br />
Variable costs are the costs of day-to-day operations.<br />
Characteristics of costs that affect variable costs are:<br />
<br />
Fuel costs<br />
Labor Costs<br />
Maintenance Costs<br />
Start-up and Shutdown Costs<br />
No-Load Cost - the cost of the plant to operate before electricity hits the grid<br />
Ramp Rate - the rate of increase or decrease of power output<br />
Ramp Time - the time it takes for power to hit the grid after the generator is fired up<br />
Capacity - the power output<br />
Lower Operating Limit - the minimum amount of power produced once the generator is fired up<br />
Min Run Time - the minimum amount of time a plant can operate once it is turned on<br />
<br />
While fixed costs are lower for coal and higher for solar/wind,<br />
the reverse is typically true for operating costs. (5)</p><pre> Waste-to-Energy Biomass (50 MW) $105.50 per megawatt-hour<br />
Geothermal (50 MW) $93.91 per megawatt-hour<br />
Nuclear (2,236 MW) $90.79 per megawatt-hour<br />
Thermal Solar (100 MW) $64.00 per megawatt-hour<br />
Offshore Wind (400 MW) $53.33 per megawatt-hour<br />
Coal-Fired Rankine Cycle (650 MW) $40.22 per megawatt-hour<br />
Onshore Wind (100 MW) $28.07 per megawatt-hour<br />
Natural Gas CTG (85 MW) $21.68 per megawatt-hour<br />
Natural Gas Combined Cycle (540 MW) $17.82 per megawatt-hour<br />
Photovoltaic Solar (150 MW) $16.70 per megawatt-hour<br />
Hydro-electric (500 MW) $13.44 per megawatt-hour<br />
<br /></pre><p><i>
Fixed Costs</i><br />
<br />
Fixed costs come from capital and land costs.<br />
These will likely be different depending on location, as permits, approvals, and laws influence them.<br />
Different rules based on power production and region will create different timelines for construction. (1)<br />
<br />
The Capital Costs vary among the power resources.<br />
Natural Gas Combustion Turbine Generator (CTG) plants have the lowest capital cost<br />
at around $974 per Kilowatt,<br />
followed by Coal-Fired,<br />
Biomass,<br />
and Photovoltaic Solar.<br />
<br />
The most expensive Capital Cost for a power plant is Offshore Wind. (5)</p><pre> Natural Gas CTG (85 MW) $83 million $974 $/kW<br />
Natural Gas Combined Cycle (540 MW) $542 million $1,003 $/kW<br />
Onshore Wind (100 MW) $244 million $2,438 $/kW<br />
Hydro-electric (500 MW) $1.5 billion $3,076 $/kW<br />
Coal-Fired Rankine Cycle (650 MW) $2 billion $3,167 $/kW<br />
Waste-to-Energy Biomass (50 MW) $193 million $3,860 $/kW<br />
Thermal Solar (100 MW) $470 million $4,692 $/kW<br />
Photovoltaic Solar (150 MW) $716 million $4,775 $/kW<br />
Nuclear (2,236 MW) $12 billion $5,335 $/kW<br />
Geothermal (50 MW) $279 million $5,578 $/kW<br />
Offshore Wind (400 MW) $2.4 billion $5,975 $/kW<br />
</pre><p><i>
Profits</i><br />
<br />
Similar to fixed and variable costs, profits are also affecting by multiple factors.<br />
The most significant profit factors are typically the sale price of electricity and the price of fuel.<br />
The weather, season, and time of day affect these factors.<br />
Moreover, people might use their heat or air conditioning more or less often based on the time of year and the time of day,<br />
which has a significant effect on the price of natural gas and electricity rates.<br />
In addition, although unaffected by fuel costs,<br />
wind turbines and solar panels might produce less power if the sun is down or the wind is slow.<br />
<br /><i>
References:</i><br />
<br />
1: https://www.e-education.psu.edu/eme801/node/530<br />
2: https://www.epj-conferences.org/articles/epjconf/pdf/2015/17/epjconf_eps-sif_06001.pdf<br />
3: http://www.iaee.org/energyjournal/article/2775<br />
4: https://www.haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/csemwp168.pdf<br />
5: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2016/ph241/long1/docs/updatedplantcosts.pdf<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL34746.pdf">
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL34746.pdf</a><br />
<br /><i>
Report for Congress<br />
Power Plants: Characteristics and Costs</i><br />
November 13, 2008<br />
<br />
pg 23<br />
<br />
66 Coal and gas prices have increased due to<br />
national and global demand growth,<br />
limited excess production capacity,<br />
certain unusual circumstances (such as flooding that reduced Australian coal production and exports),<br />
increases in rail, barge, and ocean-going vessel rates for delivering coal to consumers, and<br />
the run-up in world oil prices.<br />
For a discussion of energy price trends, see EIA's Annual Energy Outlook for long-term projections and the Short-Term Energy Outlook for near-term forecasts.<br /> <a href="http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html">http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html</a><br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><i>
Thermal efficiency of coal-fired power plants: From theoretical to practical assessments</i> <br />
<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282824169_Thermal_efficiency_of_coal-fired_power_plants_From_theoretical_to_practical_assessments ">https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282824169_Thermal_efficiency_of_coal-fired_power_plants_From_theoretical_to_practical_assessments</a><br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><i>
Energy consumption</i><br />
<a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/data/energy-consumption">https://www.energy.gov.au/data/energy-consumption</a><br />
<br />
Australia's energy consumption fell by 2.9% in 2019-20 to 6,014 PJ.<br />
This compares with average growth of 0.7% a year in the prior decade (2009-10 to 2018-19).<br />
The drop in consumption in 2019-20 was 182 PJ.<br />
<br />
Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) accounted for 93% of Australia's primary energy mix in 2019-20.<br />
Oil accounted for the largest share of Australia's primary energy mix in 2019-20, at 37%,<br />
followed by coal (28%)<br />
and gas (27%).<br />
Renewable energy sources accounted for 7%.<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><i>
Australian Energy Update 2021</i><br />
<a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/publications/australian-energy-update-2021">https://www.energy.gov.au/publications/australian-energy-update-2021<br /></a>
<br />
The Australian Energy Statistics is the authoritative and official source of energy statistics for Australia to support decision making,<br />
and help understand how our energy supply and use is changing.<br />
It is updated each year and consists of detailed historical energy consumption, production and trade statistics and balances.<br />
This edition contains the latest data for 2019-20.<br />
<br />
Total electricity generation in Australia was steady in 2019-20 at 265 terawatt hours (955 petajoules). This figure includes industrial, rooftop solar PV and off-grid generation.<br />
About 16 per cent of Australia's electricity was generated outside the electricity sector by industry and households in 2019-20.<br />
<br />
Most of Australia's energy production is exported. Net exports (exports minus imports) were equal to 70 per cent of production in 2019-20.<br />
Energy exports grew by 2 per cent in 2019-20 to 16,290 petajoules.<br />
LNG exports grew by 6 per cent to 4,393 petajoules, as new capacity came online.<br />
Associated with the new capacity, exports of crude oil and condensate grew by 15 per cent and LPG by 48 per cent.<br />
Energy imports fell by 7 per cent to 2,244 petajoules in 2019-20.<br />
<br />
The main unit in the AES is the petajoule (PJ).<br />
One petajoule = 1 x 1015 joules. One petajoule, or 278 gigawatt hours,<br />
is the heat energy content of about 43,000 tonnes of black coal<br />
or 29 million litres of petrol.<br />
<br />
Coal remained the second largest fuel consumed in 2019-20,<br />
accounting for 28 per cent of energy consumption (Figure 2.2).<br />
Coal consumption fell by 5 per cent in 2019-20, double the average ten year rate of decline. <br />
<br />
The electricity supply sector accounted for 26 per cent of energy consumption in 2019-20 (Table 2.4).<br />
<br />
For example, if wind generation rises by 1,000 gigawatt hours, then energy consumption would rise by 3.6 petajoules,<br />
because the electricity generated is measured.<br />
If coal-fired generation rises by 1,000 gigawatt hours,<br />
then energy consumption would increase by the amount of coal consumed to generate the electricity,<br />
which would be around 10 petajoules (assuming an efficiency of 35 per cent).<br />
<br />
90 per cent of black coal energy production and 74 per cent of natural gas energy production were exported in 2019-20.<br />
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://aemo.com.au/-/media/files/electricity/%E2%80%8Cnem/%E2%80%8Cplanning_and_%E2%80%8Cforecasting/%E2%80%8Cinputs-assumptions-methodologies/%E2%80%8C2021/Aurecon-Cost-and-Technical-Parameters-Review-2020.pdf">
https://aemo.com.au/-/media/files/electricity/%E2%80%8Cnem/%E2%80%8Cplanning_and_%E2%80%8Cforecasting/%E2%80%8Cinputs-assumptions-methodologies/%E2%80%8C2021/Aurecon-Cost-and-Technical-Parameters-Review-2020.pdf</a><br />
<br /><i>
2020 Costs and Technical Parameter Review, Consultation Report<br />
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)</i><br />
Reference: 510177<br />
Revision: 3 2020-12-10<br />
<br /><i>
1.2 Scope of study</i><br />
<br />
The scope of this study was to prepare an updated set of costs and technical parameters for a concise list of new entrant generation (and storage) technologies, including the following:<br />
<br />
* Onshore wind<br />
* Offshore wind<br />
* Large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV)<br />
* Concentrated solar thermal (with 8 hours energy storage)<br />
* Reciprocating engines<br />
* Open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT)<br />
* Combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) (with and without carbon capture and storage (CCS))<br />
* Advanced Ultra Supercritical Pulverised Coal (with and without CCS)<br />
* Biomass<br />
* Electrolysers (PEM & Alkaline)<br />
* Fuel cells<br />
* Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with 1 to 8 hours storage<br />
<br />
The parameters to be updated or developed include the following:<br />
<br />
* Performance - such as output, efficiencies, and capacity factors<br />
* Timeframes - such as for development and operational life<br />
* Technical and operational parameters - such as configuration, ramp rates, and minimum generation<br />
* Costs - including for development, capital costs and O&M costs (both fixed and variable)<br />
<br />
The updated dataset is provided in the accompanying Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (see Appendix A), the template for which was developed by AEMO.<br />
This report provides supporting information for the dataset and an overview of the scope, methodology, assumptions, and definition of terms used in the dataset and its development.<br />
<br />
The intention is for the updated dataset to<br />
form a key input to the long-term capital cost curves in the 2020 GenCost publication<br />
to be prepared by CSIRO in conjunction with AEMO<br />
as well as other various AEMO forecasting publications such as the Integrated System Plan (ISP).<br />
<br /><i>
4.2 Onshore wind<br />
<br />
4.2.2 Typical options</i><br />
<br />
Currently deployed utility-scale wind turbine sizes range from 1 to 4 MW with hub heights of 50 to 150 m and rotor diameters of 60 m to 140 m.<br />
New models proposed for future projects are approaching 6 MW capacity with rotors over 160 m in diameter.<br />
<br />
Onshore wind developments are critically dependent on:<br />
<br />
* Access to land<br />
* Planning permissions / development consents<br />
* Nearby grid transmission capacity<br />
<br />
Depending on the above, modern onshore wind farms can range from 1 to over 150 turbines.<br />
Different OEMs and turbine models have slightly different power curves,<br />
with some more suited to a particular site wind resource than others.<br />
As such, selection of the optimal and lowest levelised cost of energy (LCOE) option is highly site-specific.<br />
<br /><i>
4.2.3 Recent trends</i><br />
<br />
The design wind range for wind turbines has changed over the last few decades.<br />
Early focus was on very windy sites for best economics<br />
e.g. Class I = 8.5m/s to 10m/s.<br />
Class I wind turbines now only represents a small fraction (10%) of total manufacturing worldwide.<br />
Currently large turbines are being used in medium (Class II) and low wind speed sites (Class III)<br />
to achieve net capacity factors that can exceed 40%.<br />
<br />
Wind farm sizes throughout Australia have historically been in the 50 to 150 MW capacity range.<br />
However, in recent years new wind farms - planned and under construction -<br />
are expanding to total capacities in the range of 200 to 1,000 MW.<br />
<br />
Typical capacity factors at the connection point range from 30% to 50%.<br />
The most recent wind turbine projects on the NEM have reported capacity factors of approximately 40%.<br />
<br />
<br /><i>
4.3 Offshore wind<br />
<br />
4.3.2 Typical options</i><br />
<br />
Existing offshore wind turbines range in nameplate capacity from 3 MW to 9.5 MW,<br />
with correspondingly large rotor diameters but hub-heights in similar or slightly larger ranges than onshore equivalents.<br />
<br /><i>
4.3.3 Recent trends</i><br /><br /> In Europe the cost of offshore wind has been falling dramatically since 2015,<br />
from €4,360 / kW down to €2,450 / kW in 2018.2<br />
This reduction has been attributed to the following factors:<br />
<br />
* Increased market efficiency through increased constructor competition and competitive auction processes for new projects<br />
* Development of current generation of large turbines (6 - 10 MW)<br />
* Increases in total installed capacity<br />
<br />
Further investment efficiency gains are expected to be realised in the European market with the announcement of even larger turbines<br />
(such as Siemens Gamesa 14 MW, 222 m rotor diameter platform due for serial production in 2024).<br />
<br /><i>
4.6 Reciprocating engines<br />
<br />
4.6.2 Typical options</i><br />
<br />
For power generation applications, there are two general classifications of reciprocating engine<br />
- medium-speed and high-speed.<br />
Medium-speed engines operate at 500 - 750 rpm and typically range in output from 4 to 18 MW.<br />
High-speed engines operate at 1,000 - 1,500 rpm with a typical output below 4 MW.<br />
<br />
Additionally, there are three general fuel classes for reciprocating engines.<br />
These are<br />
gaseous fuel,<br />
liquid fuel, and<br />
dual fuel.<br />
Gaseous fuel engines - also known as spark ignition engines -<br />
operate on the thermodynamic Otto cycle,<br />
and typically use natural gas as the fuel source.<br />
Liquid fuel engines operate based on the thermodynamic Diesel cycle,<br />
and typically use no. 2 diesel (or heavy fuel oil) as the fuel source.<br />
<br /><i>
4.6.3 Recent trends</i><br />
<br />
Traditionally multi-unit reciprocating engine installations on the NEM have consisted of<br />
high-speed spark-ignition engines, fuelled from coal seam methane or waste gas where the fuel gas is not suited to gas turbines.<br />
Installed capacities of these power stations are in the < 50 MW range.<br />
Historically, capacity factors have been dependant on fuel gas availability.<br />
<br />
Given the high degree of uncertainty around medium to long-term market conditions,<br />
large-scale medium-speed reciprocating engine power stations are increasing in popularity for firming applications.<br />
This is driven by their favourable fuel efficiency merits,<br />
and high degree of flexibility in start times and turn-down.<br />
This provides a strong business case for a wide range of capacity factors.<br />
<br />
AGL's Barker Inlet Power Station is<br />
currently the only large-scale medium-speed reciprocating engine power station in operation on the NEM<br />
which commenced commercial operation in 2019.<br />
<br /><i>
4.7 Open Cycle Gas Turbine<br />
<br />
4.7.1 Overview</i><br />
<br />
Gas turbines are one of the most widely-used power generation technologies today.<br />
The technology is well proven,<br />
and is used in both open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) and<br />
combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) configurations.<br />
Gas turbines are classified into two main categories<br />
- aero-derivatives and industrial turbines.<br />
Both of these find application in the power generation industry<br />
although for baseload applications, industrial gas turbines are preferred.<br />
Conversely, for peaking applications,<br />
the areo-derivative is more suitable primarily due to its faster start up time.<br />
Within the industrial turbines class, gas turbines are further classified as E - class, F - class and H (G/J) - class turbines.<br />
This classification depends on their development generation and the associated advancement in size and efficiencies.<br />
Gas turbines can operate on both natural gas and liquid fuel.<br />
<br />
Gas turbines utilise synchronous generators,<br />
which provide relatively high fault current contribution in comparison to other technologies and support the NEM network strength.<br />
<br />
Gas turbines currently provide high rotating inertia to the NEM.<br />
The rotating inertia is a valuable feature that increases the NEM frequency stability.<br />
<br /><i>
4.7.2 Typical options</i><br />
<br />
An OCGT plant consists of a gas turbine connected to an electrical generator via a shaft<br />
The number of gas turbines deployed in an OCGT plant will depend mainly on the output and redundancy levels required.<br />
OCGT plants are typically used to meet peak demand.<br />
<br /><i>
4.7.3 Recent trends</i><br />
<br />
The increased installation of renewables has created opportunities for capacity firming solutions,<br />
that are currently largely met by gas-fired power generation options.<br />
OCGT and reciprocating engines compete in this market.<br />
<br />
With the exception of the recent 250 MW emergency power generation plant in South Australia,<br />
which included deployment of nine TM2500 aero-derivative gas turbines last year,<br />
the most recent OCGT installation on the NEM was Mortlake Power Station in 2011.<br />
This included two 283 MW F-Class gas turbines supplied by Siemens.<br />
<br />
Overall, demand for gas turbines has been declining globally over the past few years,<br />
with a corresponding drop in prices.<br />
Gas turbine prices (supply only, ex-Works) for utility-scale power generation<br />
are expected to have declined by 20% in 2020-2021 relative to those seen in 2017-2018.<br />
<br /><i>
4.8 Combined-Cycle Gas Turbines<br />
<br />
4.8.1 Overview</i><br />
<br />
Over time, combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT) have become the technology of choice for gas-fired base load and intermediate load power generation.<br />
Typically, they consist of<br />
1 or more gas turbine generator sets (gas turbines plus the electric generator),<br />
dedicated heat recovery steam generators (HRSG),<br />
and a steam turbine generator set (steam turbine plus the electric generator).<br />
<br />
Advancements in gas turbine technology have led to significant increase in CCGT efficiencies,<br />
with some gas CCGT plants, namely those with H-class gas turbines,<br />
offering efficiencies of above 60%.<br />
<br /><i>
4.8.3 Recent trends</i><br />
<br />
The focus of all major gas turbine manufactures over the last couple of decades was to improve the thermal efficiency of the gas turbines.<br />
In recent years, OEMs have announced record high efficiencies in CCGT mode (over 60%).<br />
This quest for higher efficiencies, which is founded on the traditional operation of baseload power plants, is expected to continue.<br />
Although higher efficiencies are important,<br />
with the expansion of intermittent renewable energy in all major markets,<br />
the need for CCGT to be flexible and operate on a cyclic pattern is becoming equally important.<br />
As such, OEMs are now focusing on making improvements to<br />
CCGT plant start-up times and<br />
ability to ramp-up/down rapidly.<br />
<br />
Globally, the gas turbine market has declined in the last couple of years and is expected to continue that downward trend15.<br />
In addition, there are indications that operators are seeing less value in centralised CCGT plants.<br />
<br />
In Australia, there has not been a CCGT plant constructed in the NEM region since the commissioning of Tallawara in 2009.<br />
<br /><i>
4.9 Advanced Ultra Supercritical Pulverised Coal<br />
<br />
4.9.1 Overview</i><br />
<br />
Coal fired power plants are currently the dominant source of electricity generation in Australia,<br />
providing 68.4% of electricity generation for the NEM in 2019/2019.<br />
In the NEM there are approximately 48 coal fired units installed across 16 power stations in QLD, NSW and VIC.<br />
The unit sizes range from 280 MW to 750 MW<br />
and use a range of coal types<br />
from low grade brown coal<br />
through to export grade black coal.<br />
<br />
Coal fired (thermal) power plants operate by burning coal in a large industrial boiler to generate high pressure, high temperature steam.<br />
High pressure steam from the boiler is passed through the steam turbine generator where the steam is expanded to produce electricity.<br />
This process is based on the thermodynamic Rankine cycle.<br />
<br />
Coal fired power plants are typically classified as sub critical and super critical<br />
(more recently ultra-super critical and advanced ultra-supercritical)<br />
plants depending on the steam temperature and pressure.<br />
Over time advancements in the construction materials have permitted higher steam pressures and temperatures leading to increased plant efficiencies and overall unit sizes.<br />
<br /><i>
4.9.2 Typical options</i><br />
<br />
The coal fired power stations installed on the NEM<br />
utilise either subcritical or supercritical pulverised coal (PC) technology<br />
which is an established, well proven technology used for power generation throughout the world for many decades.<br />
<br />
The latest supercritical coal fired units installed in Australia<br />
can produce supercritical steam conditions in the order of 24 MPa and 566°C<br />
and typically used with unit sizes above 400 MW.<br />
Internationally, more recent coal fired units have been installed with ever increasing steam temperature and pressure conditions.<br />
Current OEMs are offering supercritical units in line with the following:<br />
<br />
* Ultra-supercritical, with main steam conditions in the order of 27 MPa and 600°C<br />
* Advanced ultra-supercritical, with main steam conditions in the order of 33 MPa and 660°C<br />
<br />
Ultra-supercritical coal fired units are typically installed with capacities of 1,000 MW each.<br />
An advanced ultra-supercritical power station with the above main steam conditions<br />
is yet to be constructed however are currently being offered by a number of OEMs.<br />
<br /><i>
4.9.3 Recent trends</i><br />
<br />
The latest coal fired power station to be installed in Australia<br />
was Kogan Creek Power Station in Queensland which was commissioned in 2007.<br />
Since then there has been limited focus on further coal fired development in Australia until necessitated by existing coal fired unit retirement.<br />
More recently, alternative technologies have become more prevalent<br />
with a focus on adopting non-coal technologies<br />
for replacing lost capacity due to coal fired plant closures.<br />
<br />
Internationally, particularly in Asia,<br />
there has been extensive development of new large coal fired power stations to provide for the growing demand for electricity.<br />
These plants are now commonly being installed utilising ultra-supercritical steam conditions which offer improved plant efficiencies and reduced whole of life costs.<br />
<br />
In Australia the only coal fired development in progress is understood to be the Collinsville coal fired power station proposed by Shine Energy.<br />
This project is in the early feasibility stage.</p><pre> Item Unit AUSC without CCS AUSC with CCS<br />
Thermal Efficiency at MCR %, HHV Net 42.5% 30.28%<br />
Heat rate at minimum operation (GJ/MWh) HHV Net 10.323 14.591<br />
Heat rate at maximum operation (GJ/MWh) HHV Net 8.470 11.887<br />
Effective annual capacity factor % 93% 93%<br />
Start-up time Minutes Cold: 444 Cold: 444 <br />
Warm: 264 Warm: 264 <br />
Hot: 60 Hot: 60
</pre><p>
<br /><i>
Summary Tables</i><br />
<br />
Technical parameters and operating costs for new technologies</p><pre><br />
Fixed Operating Cost ($/MW Net/year)<br />
Variable Op Cost ($/MWh Net)<br />
Advanced Ultra Supercritical PC - Black coal with CCS 77,800 8.0<br />
Advanced Ultra Supercritical PC - Black coal without CCS 53,200 4.2<br />
<br />
CCGT - With CCS 16,350 7.2<br />
CCGT - Without CCS 10,900 3.7<br />
OCGT - Without CCS, Large unit size 12,600 4.1<br />
OCGT - Without CCS, Small unit size 10,200 2.4<br />
Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines 24,100 7.6<br />
<br />
Electrolysers - Proton Exchange Membrane 97,500 -<br />
Electrolysers - Alkaline 69,900 -<br />
Fuel cells 350,000 -<br />
Solar PV - Single axis tracking 16,990 -<br />
Solar Thermal Central Receiver with storage (8hr) 142,500 -<br />
Wind - onshore 25,000 -<br />
Wind - offshore 157,680 -<br />
Biomass - Electricity only 131,600 8.4<br />
<br />
Battery storage: Charge efficiency 0.9<br />
Battery storage: Discharge efficiency 0.9<br />
Battery Storage: Allowable max State of Charge (%) 0%<br />
Battery Storage: Allowable min State of Charge (%) 100%<br />
Battery Storage: maximum number of Cycles 3,650.0<br />
Battery storage: Depth of Discharge (DoD) 1.0<br />
<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (1hr) 4,833 -<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (2hr) 9,717 -<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (4hr) 19,239 -<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (8hr) 39,314 -<br />
<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (1hr) for hybrid generation 4,833 -<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (2hr) for hybrid generation 9,717 -<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (4hr) for hybrid generation 19,239 -<br />
Large Scale Battery Storage (8hr) for hybrid generation 39,314 -<br />
</pre><p>
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><a href="https://www.aemo.com.au/energy-systems/electricity/national-electricity-market-nem/nem-forecasting-and-planning/forecasting-and-planning-data/generation-information">
https://www.aemo.com.au/energy-systems/electricity/national-electricity-market-nem/nem-forecasting-and-planning/forecasting-and-planning-data/generation-information</a><br />
<br />
<i>NEM Generation Information - June 2022<br /></i></p><pre> Fuel - Technology Category<br />
Capacity in MegaWatt <br />
<br />
Summary Status Coal CCGT OCGT Gas other Solar Wind Water Biomass Battery Storage Other Total<br />
Existing 22,701 2,985.066 6,844.993 2,013.501 5,896.5543 9,728.583 7,992.139 612.02 619.56 205.821 59,599.2373<br />
Announced Withdrawal 4,380 180 0 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,680<br />
Existing less Announced Withdrawal 18,321 2,805.066 6,844.993 1,893.501 5,896.5543 9,728.583 7,992.139 612.02 619.56 205.821 54,919.2373<br />
Upgrade / Expansion 90 0 165 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 255<br />
Committed 0 0 1,070 0 3,564.175 986.989 2,290 0 139.5 24 8,074.664<br />
Anticipated 0 0 123.2 0 850.4 1,080.9 0 0 1,026.8 0 3081.3<br />
Proposed 990 207 4,417.85 1,957.005 35,966.499 68,703.643 10627 342.2 27,294.31 226.8 150,732.307<br />
Withdrawn 500 0 361.2 153.143 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,014.343<br />
<br />
</pre><p>
<br />
</p><hr /><p>
<br /><i>
Australian Energy Flows 2019-2020 (PJ)</i><br />
<a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/sites/default/files/Australian%20Energy%20Flows%202019-20_0.pdf">https://www.energy.gov.au/sites/default/files/Australian%20Energy%20Flows%202019-20_0.pdf<br /></a>
<br /><i>
Thermal Power Stations</i><br />
- 1,156 PJ Coal<br />
- 588 PJ natural gas/ethane<br />
- 46 PJ refined product imports<br />
- 17 PJ Wood<br />
- 13 PJ Bagasse<br />
- 15 PJ biogas/biofuel<br />
= 1,835 PJ Total Thermal Power [Input?]<br />
<br /><i>
Electricity Output</i><br />
= 657 PJ Thermal Electricity<br />
-3 PJ to Refinery & Other transformation<br />
654 PJ Net Thermal to Electricity<br />
<br /><i>
Electricity Renewables<br /></i>
= 204 PJ<br />
<br /><i>
Total Electricity Supply<br /></i>
= 858 PJ <br />
<br /><i>
Thermal Power Own Use / Losses</i><br />
- 1,538 PJ conversion plants own fuel use & losses and transmission losses<br />
= 297 PJ Nett ??<br />
vs 657 PJ generated<br />
<br /><i>
Total Own Use / Losses, all sources<br /></i>
= 1,747 PL</p>
<pre>Primary Energy + Imports - Exports - Stocks Change & discrep = Primay Energy Supply - Own use & losses = Final energy consumption
20,055 PJ + 2,244 PJ - 16,290 PJ - 4 PJ = 6,014 PJ - 1,747 PJ = 4,267 PJ
</pre><p>
<br />
</p><hr /><p><br />
</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><span><!--more--></span>steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-74794332473119707222022-07-03T14:34:00.005+10:002022-07-06T23:15:16.891+10:00Summary Response to Climate Change Denier, Letter to Editor, 2009<h4 style="text-align: left;">Original Document</h4><p>
Letter to the Editor to a regional newspaper, published in 2009.<br />
</p><p>
Included as a submission to 2012 Senate Inquiry "The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms".</p><p>Text:<br /><a href="https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/06/climate-change-denier-letter-to-editor.html">
https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/06/climate-change-denier-letter-to-editor.html</a><br />
</p><p>Long Response: <a href="https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/07/long-response-to-climate-change-denier.html">Long Response</a></p>
<p>
</p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Summary response</h2>
<p>
What a hoot this letter is. Reminiscent of "Grampa" on the Simpsons, an angry old man shouting incoherently at the sky.<br />
<br />
The author confuses 'area' and 'volume', more than once, <br /></p>
<span><a name='more'></a></span>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>doesn't understand how "Power" and "Energy" are related and why that's important. Ask a truck driver.</li><li>confuses "Furnace Efficiency" with energy conversion efficiency of the whole Power Station, </li><li>quotes a "Heat Rate" (Energy IN to Energy OUT) in British Imperial units,<br />failing to understand it disproves his case (34.12% efficiency, not 96%),</li><li>then tangles with the maths in a complicated & convoluted example - while repeatedly dividing by irrelevant factors.</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p>
It's the Maths ability & understanding of Science and Engineering I'd expect of someone who left school at 15 to 'get a trade'.</p>
<p>
Which doesn't mean he's uneducated or isn't good at many jobs:<br /> he's passing off opinions as fact, not based in knowledge, logic or evidence.</p>
<p>
His letter is laced with attacks, snide remarks and put downs and short on evidence and logic.</p>
<p>
This implies two things:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>he's quite convinced he's right and everyone else wrong </li><li>and he's not even fully convinced by his own arguments.</li></ul><p></p>
<p>
If you provide compelling evidence and bulletproof logic, there's not need to attack & ridicule the other side: your arguments stand by themselves.</p>
<p>
Everything he talks about, all the numbers and examples cited, are from the 1960's.<br />His arguments made sense <i>only</i> in that era and his conclusions on economics & financial viability were correct <i>then</i>, for the technologies of that era, not nearly so now.</p>
<p>
He's seemingly not researched current generations of technology in any depth.</p>
<p>
Nor is he aware of the fundamentals of running Power Stations:</p>
<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>they don't sell their <i>potential</i> to deliver electricity (Power),</li><li>they earn money from <i>delivering</i> Energy.</li></ul><p></p>
<p>
Every truck driver understands, intimately, the difference between "Power" and "Energy".<br />A large semi might have a 500 HP motor ("Power" is measured in kilowatts or Horsepower) but what matters for drivers is how much fuel ("Energy") is consumed per a trip. <i>What it costs per task</i>.</p>
<p>
Bigger is not always "Better" when it comes to "Power Generation".<br />Every type of Power Station, especially Thermal Coal, has a minimum output level.<br />For Coal fired plants, this is often as high as 30%.<br />Larger power stations have to shutdown units much earlier than smaller.</p>
<p>
They either have to shutdown the unit, with all the inherent problems and non-billable costs, or deliberately waste the excess power waiting for demand to pick up.</p>
<p>
The NEM, AEMO and Dept of Energy (energy.gov.au) all report on Energy consumed, in a metric unit, PetaJoules (PJ).</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">
1PJ = 1,000,000 GigaJoule (GJ) = 1 billion Joules.</p></blockquote>
<p>
A MegaWatt for 1 hour, MW-hr, is 1MJ for 3600 seconds = 3.6GJ.<br />A kilogram of crude oil contains around 35MJ/kg of energy.<br />A kilo of Black Coal (thermal, not coking or 'metallurgical') is 24MJ/kg, slightly behind Ethanol (Alcohol) at 27MK/kg.</p>
<p>
Alternatively, a tonne of Coal, 1,000kg, contains 24GJ of energy.<br />40kg of Coal contains 1GJ, allowing price comparison with other fuels, such as Natural Gas. (1GJ = 1000 MJ / 24 MJ/kg = 41.66kg)</p>
<p>Are there any clues why the author would be concerned enough to write about his "frustration" at the public debate on Climate Change and Carbon Dioxide build-up?</p>
<p>
For the majority of his working life, he owned and ran a small business, "Terry's Marine Centre".</p>
<p>
The letters' closing comment on (reducing CO2 output & adopting renewables) claims it would</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">"Cripple and even closing some smaller business".</p></blockquote>
<p><i>Which is exactly wrong.</i></p>
<p>
Adding renewables to power generation will reduce power prices, to everyone, not just large companies.</p>
<p>
As of Jan 2022, there are around 3M households, 30% of houses, with Solar PV installed - all enjoying lower power prices, with a locked in price.<br /><a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/households/solar-pv-and-batteries">https://www.energy.gov.au/households/solar-pv-and-batteries</a></p>
<p>
The cheapest power available today is from Renewables, especially large wind farms and Rooftop Solar.</p>
<p>
Australian households have understood renewables on their own roof are cheaper than buying Grid power from Coal fired Power Stations and "Done the Maths" for themselves, regardless of their views on CO2 and Climate Change.</p>
<p>
As the whole world discovered in the first half of 2022, and yet again (after the first oil price shock, the 1973 OPEC crisis),<br />not being exposed to international Coal, Crude Oil and Natural Gas markets markedly improves National Energy Security,<br />and provides stable, predictable energy prices, removing Business Risks due to 'volatile' prices, uncertain & unpredictable fuel supply.<br />The Ukrainian war increased prices for Gas <i>and</i> Coal in Australia in 2022.</p>
<p>
Even in 2009, the benefits to all business and the national Economy of certainty in fuel and electricity prices was known and obvious. "Energy Security", along with Food & Water Security is basic to our Economy and underlies "National Security".</p>
<p>
Renewables are the only path to National Energy Security, as Europe is discovering to it cost after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.</p>
<p>
The March of new Technology, improving price-performance of transistors 10-fold every decade for 60 years, changing everything. This rate of improvement is replicated across many fields.</p>
<p>
New technologies build on previous work and, like cumulative interest on savings, grow exponentially.</p>
<p>
At some point, all technologies mature and the rate of increase slows to a crawl.</p>
<p>
In 1960, a single transistor sold for ~$10.<br />In 2022, I can buy a trillion (million million) transistors, as Flash Memory, for under $100 in shops, not wholesale.</p>
<p>
This "plateau" happened with Thermal/Steam Power Stations around 1950.<br />Improvements became slower to arrive, coming at the cost of increasing plant size, rapidly increasing project costs, complexity, lower service life and decreasing reliability.</p>
<p>
Ageing Thermal/Steam plants, built on the current leading edge of technology, wear out after 25-30 years and start to break-down frequently, even if "nursed" and not run at full power, like those in NSW.</p>
<p>
This is the fate of the ageing 'fleet' of Australian coal fired power stations, they die slowly.<br />Aged & unreliable machinery is the reason in June 2022, 25% of their nominal capacity failed due to break downs for an extended period.</p>
<p>
Renewable technologies, even since 2009 when the letter was penned, continue to dramatically improve - both from higher manufacturing volumes and by improvement / invention.</p>
<p>
The price per installed watt of PV Solar has been halving around 3-4 years for some time and large Lithium-ion batteries are halving in price around every 5-6 years.</p>
<p>
There is a strong argument that could've been made in 2009 for a fossil-fuel technology:</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Gas Turbines (jet engines).</p></blockquote>
<p>
They are small & cheap compared to the billions for large Thermal power units, come in many sizes, can run on many fuels and are comparatively quick to install. GE even offer a truck based unit, that can be up and running in hours, not years.</p>
<p>
The economics of Gas Turbines are far better with the lower per-unit cost & fast returns greatly lowering the business risk and providing cash-flow much more quickly than a decade long Coal fired project.</p>
<p>
Gas turbines are also up to twice as efficient as the 1960's power station used as a reference in the letter.</p>
<p><i>
For the same amount of heat put in, twice the electrical power comes out.</i> That's a very convincing argument for me.</p>
<p>Gas Turbines have many operational advantages, not just financial & efficiency, over massive coal-fired power stations:</p>
<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>losing one turbine isn't a disaster, they're cheap enough to buy a spare or two,</li><li>multiple units can be clustered in one place allowing output to match demand very well,</li><li>they can be started, from cold, in 5 minutes or 20-30 seconds if 'hot',</li><li>and shut down quickly and easily when not needed.</li></ul><p></p>
<p>
Australia has large reserves of Natural Gas, 'conventional' (deep fields, on-shore and off-) and 'unconventional' (coal-seam gas), which costs about $1/GJ to get out of the ground.</p>
<p>
In WA, gas is delivered to Industrial customers at $5.50/GJ, despite being piped thousands of kilometres from the North-West Shelf.</p>
<p>
In 2009, the absolute winner for cheap, reliable and accessible power was Gas Turbines, fuelled with natural gas. This was before foreign companies starting exporting most of our East Coast gas.</p>
<p>Gas Turbines are currently the technology of choice for "Peaking" power generation - making up the shortfall in electricity production for short periods of time and available for longer-term use in Emergencies, such as June 2022.</p>
<p>
Natural Gas on the East Coast was cheap and plentiful in 2009.</p>
<p>
The Curtis Island (Gladstone) Liquified Natural Gas export terminals started exporting in 2014, changing the economics of the Australian Gas Market forever.<br /><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2014-12-23/lng-milestone/5985532">https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2014-12-23/lng-milestone/5985532</a></p>
<p>
The Federal Government failed to follow the WA Government, who in 2005 had insisted that exporters "reserve" 15% of production for domestic use. There is no "domestic reservation" of Australian gas on the East Coast.</p>
<p>
In June 2022, due to a cold snap and multiple thermal power station break-downs, pushed natural gas prices to $40/GJ and peaked at $800/GJ - while WA prices stayed at $5.50/GJ.<br /><a href="https://asiatimes.com/2022/06/why-gas-prices-went-from-10-to-800-a-gigajoule/">https://asiatimes.com/2022/06/why-gas-prices-went-from-10-to-800-a-gigajoule/</a></p>
<p>
There were also multiple record floods on the East Coast in early 2022, flooding coal mines and interrupting fuel for Thermal power stations.</p>
<p>
All of these complications and problems were well known and predictable in late 2009 as the author penned his letter.</p>
<p>
He refused to believe "the rubbish being put forth about carbon dioxide emissions" by experts, scientists and economists.<br />Arguing his nearly 20-years of experience in the 1960's & 70's made him better informed & more knowledgable than practising experts in multiple specialities.</p>
<p>Recent events in 2022 should convince all but the most biased "deniers" and self-styled "sceptics" that, even if Climate Change is not yet 'settled' in their eyes, there are very sound and pressing economic reasons to move away for fossil fuels, especially imports, and rapidly invest in Renewables.</p><p>What price "Energy Security" for Australia?<br />Our daily lives and national economy depend on supply of fuel & power, at predictable prices.</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Steve Jenkin, Wed 29 Jun 2022.</p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; 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<p>
</p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Addressing Specific Claims</h4>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">008 Carbon Dioxide emissions and what it is supposedly doing to our planet.</span></p>
<p>'supposedly' - this is not "sceptical", this is "denial" pure & simple<br />There are huge amount of very high quality weather & other data covering most of the planet.<br />
Real science cannot pick and choose which data to use & what to ignore.<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">015 First coal fired power stations do NOT send 60 to 70% of the energy up the chimney. The boilers of<br />016 modern power station are 96% efficient and the exhaust heat is captured by the economisers and</span></p>
<p>
Advanced Ultra-supercritical Coal 42.5%<br />
vs Combined Cycle Gas Turbine 60% </p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">021 Coal fired Power Stations are highly efficient with very little heat loss and can generate massive<br />022 amount of energy for our needs. They can generate power at efficiency of less than 10,000 b.t.u. per<br />023 kilowatt and cost wise that is very low.</span></p>
<p>
Note: confusing Power [kW] and Energy [kW-hr or MJ]<br />
10,000 BTU per kilowatt-hour = 34.12% efficiency<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">024 The percentage cost of mining and freight is very low. The total cost of fuel is 8% of total generation<br />025 cost and does NOT constitute a major production cost.</span></p>
<p>Australian Thermal Coal Power Stations are built with conveyor belts to a local mine - too costly by truck or rail<br />no data on this, not even in AEMO reference study</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">038 The maximum size wind generator is 3 Megawatts, which can rarely be attained on a continuous basis<br />041 for 45%-65% of the time, mostly well below maximum capacity. They cannot be relied for a 'base<br />042 load' because they are too variable. And they certainly could not be used for load control.</span></p>
<p>
Capacity Factor of Wind estimated at 40% by AEMO.<br />Considerably larger wind turbines are available in 2022.<br />
4MW Wind Turbines for on-shore use<br />
9.5MW wind turbines for off-shore</p><p><span style="color: #990000;">043 The peak load demand for electricity in Australia is approximately 50,000 Megawatts and only small</span></p>
<p>
Ignores total energy (PJ) generated: this is what people pay for, not the size of the generator.<br /><br />
NEM Generation, 2022:<br />59,599MW existing, 4,680MW announced withdrawal<br />
from 1,835 PJ Total Thermal Power Input<br /><br />
Electricity Output:<br />
654 PJ Net Thermal to Electricity<br /><br />
Electricity Renewables:<br />
204 PJ<br /><br />
Total Electricity Supply:<br />
858 PJ<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">050 Based on a average generating output of 1.5 megawatts (of unreliable power) you would require over 33,300 wind generators.</span></p>
<p>
To generate 50MW (Power) from Wind. Ignores total energy (PJ) of generation<br />
Nobody has suggested we'd run Australia solely on Wind power, but a mix of Renewables & Storage<br />
AEMO analysis has multiple generating & storage technologies, including PV, Batteries & Hydrogen</p><p>An 'straw man' argument, hence invalid<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">055 Any clean, cheap energy is obviously welcomed but they would NEVER have the capability of<br />056 replacing Thermal power generation. So get your heads out of the clouds, do some basic mathematics<br />057 and look at the facts not going off with the fairies (or some would say the extreme greenies.)</span></p>
<p>
Assertion, not fact, no references. Snark & sarcasm undermines his arguments, emotional attack.<br />Large, centralised power stations of any sort create "single points of failure" and massive reliability problems, especially as they age they also require very large, expensive transmission networks to distribute the power</p>
<p>
Last Coal fired power station built in Australia was in 2007.<br />Not considered 'economic' by <i>investors</i> for a very long time</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Gas turbines, liquid or gas fuel, are fast-start, moderate capacity, high efficiency and quick to install</li><li>using multiple turbines allows good load matching and redundancy gives reliability</li><li>Turbines can be distributed throughout the network, close to demand</li><li>Battery Hydrogen Storage or Pumped Hydro can be distributed throughout the Network,</li><li>lowering transmission costs and improving reliability / redundancy</li></ul><p></p><p>June 2022 Grid problems due to 25% of Coal generators failing & going "off-line"</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">061 Here are some facts that will show how ridiculous this financial madness the government is following.<br />062 Do the simple maths and see for yourselves.</span></p>
<p>
Investors have "done the maths" for themselves & stayed away. No Coal fired power stations built for 15yrs. They're uneconomic.<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">063 According to the 'believers' the CO2 in air has risen from .034% to .038% in air over the last 50 years.</span></p>
<p>
snide & sneering use of "believers" - personal attack & deriding without purpose<br />
shows the intent of the piece is to attack, not explain nor inform. Completely biased.<br />
</p>
<p>
1980 = 340PPM, 2004 = 380 PPM.<br />See <a href="https://www.co2levels.org">https://www.co2levels.org</a><br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">065 If you had a room 12 ft x 12 ft x 7 ft or 3.7 mtrs x 3.7 mtrs x 2.1 mtrs, the area carbon dioxide would<br />066 occupy in that room would be .25m x .25m x .17m or the size of a large packet of cereal.</span></p>
<p>
An irrelevant & unclear example<br />
Confuses 'area' and 'volume' - elementary concept apparently not grasped<br />None of the units or size is a common unit of measure or ordinarily in use.</p>
<p>
12ft x 12ft x 7ft = 1008 cu ft<br /> 0.82ft x 0.82ft x 0.557ft = 0.373 cu ft<br /> 250mm = 10in, 170mm = 6.67 in<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">071 Assuming this is correct, the world CO2 has increased in 50 years by .004 percent.<br />072 Per year that is .004 divided by 50 = .00008 percent. (Getting confusing - but stay with me).<br />073 Of that because we only contribute 1% our emissions would cause CO2 to rise .00008 divided by 100 = .0000008 percent. </span> </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This is complex and confusing. The numbers quoted are also incorrect.</li><li>24 years, not 50 years</li><li>Doesn't matter what Australia contributes - everyone on the planet shares the same air</li><li>Arguing for doing nothing isn't doing our Fair Share - it's bludging off others, taking a Free Ride</li></ul>
<p></p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">075 Of that 1%, we supposedly emit, the governments wants to reduce it by 20% which is 1/5th of<br />076 .0000008 = .00000016 percent effect per year they would have on the world CO2 emissions based on<br />077 their own figures.<br />078 That would equate to a area in the same room, as the size of a small pin.!!! </span> </p><p>
again, doesn't understand 'area' and 'volume'.<br />
still pursuing the line of argument "it's almost nothing",<br />implying, "therefore we don't have to do anything"<br />
</p>
<p>
Carbon Dioxide is measured in PPM because its such a powerful absorber of heat<br />
Expert Scientists & Engineers use PPM because its accurately reflects the effect of CO2.<br /></p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">079 For that they have gone crazy with the ridiculous trading schemes, Solar and roofing installations,<br />080 Clean coal technology. Renewable energy, etc, etc.</span></p><p>
Why are the schemes "crazy" or "ridiculous"? Attack based on Denial, not on any facts, evidence or logic.<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">081 How ridiculous it that.</span></p>
<p>
More snark, sneering and attack.<br />
If he'd thought he'd presented a powerful & convincing argument, he wouldn't resort to vilifying & name calling.<br />
</p>
<p><span style="color: #990000;">082 The cost to the general public and industry will be enormous. Cripple and even closing some smaller business. </span> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>
Assertion, no evidence or logical argument provided. </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>The presumption is "Nothing is Cheaper than Coal", which the NEM production figures show is false.</p><p>
Renewables are the cheapest source of power when on-line, not coal.</p></blockquote>
<p>
The 80-fold increase in gas & electricity prices in June 2022 underlines the incorrect assumption made.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">
"The price of fossil fuels is steady & predictable".</p></blockquote><p>
Ever since the 1973 OPEC Oil Price shock, fossil fuel prices have varied wildly & unpredictably, creating savage inflation at times, lasting decades.<br />
</p>
<p>
Something omitted from the letter is the on-going, rapid reduction in the cost of renewable power.</p>
<p>
Renewables & Storage are constantly being improved and new discoveries made: thermal power hasn't changed much in 100 years, static since 1960.<br />
</p><p>
Coal fired power is only getting more expensive, meanwhile renewables are getting cheaper, faster.<br />
</p><p>
Jurisdictions using more renewables are seeing their power prices drop, unlike Coal and other fossil fuels.<br />
</p>
<p>
The last sentence gives away his real concerns: <i>Moving to renewables might affect his business.</i></p><p>
I wonder if his arguments are persuasive after the record 2019 fires and 2022 floods, followed by the June 2022 explosion in whole gas & electricity prices and rolling blackouts, then AEMO 'intervention'.</p><p>
Paying a little extra for power to avoid weather disasters sounds like good insurance.<br />
But what is really going to happen is electricity prices will fall as we convert to renewables, not rise as presumed.<br />
</p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Other Issues</h4>
<p>
There are three problems with how the Letter is written:</p>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>The absence of References, explanation of technical terms ('Heat Rate') and "fact free" assertions linked by sloppy logic or confusing, misleading argument.<br /><br /></li>
<li>The absolute confidence of the author, providing many assertions made without evidence.<br /><br /></li>
<li>Obscure & misleading arguments & text. There's no clear and concise examples. The letter does not Inform or Educate, but Confuses & Bamboozles.<br /><br /></li>
</ol>
<p>
There's also confusing use & mixing of units and unclear, even incorrect examples.</p>
<p>
The "Heat Rate" quoted is a simple concept:</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">"Energy IN, Energy Out" or "Heat IN per Electricity OUT"</p></blockquote><p></p>
<p>but is not explained in the letter, nor presented in consistent units.</p>
<p>
Quoting Heat Rate as "10,000 BTU per kilowatt-hour" might be common within operations, but not presenting it in consistent and common units</p>
<p>
appears to only have two causes:</p>
<p>a lack of understanding,<br />or a desire to confuse, mislead, or overwhelm the reader.</p>
<p>
This mixed unit formulation is as confusing as saying, for distance:</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">
Furlongs vs KPH-minutes</p></blockquote>
<p>
BTU, British Thermal Units, are an archaic imperial unit.</p>
<p>
10,000 BTU is 10.55 MegaJoules, MJ.</p>
<p>
Every householder who gets a power bill is used to seeing "kilowatt hour".</p>
<p>
A kilowatt is 1,000 Joules / second<br />making a "kilowatt hour" = 1,000 Joules / second x 3600 seconds = 3,600,000 Joules = 3.6 MJ</p>
<p>
If the Heat Rate wasn't stated as "10,000 BTU per kilowatt-hour"<br />but with common units, such as Mega Joules (MJ), the letter author would write:</p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">
"10.55 MJ input per 3.6MJ output"</p></blockquote>
<p>Two things would be immediately obvious:</p>
<p>
- the power station conversion of heat into electricity is <i>nothing</i> like "96% efficient",<br /> only 34% of input heat energy makes it to the output (so where's the rest?)</p>
<p>
- the author is either attempting to disguise facts or is ignorant of what they're writing.</p>
<p>
There's also a very long-winded & complex discussion of atmospheric CO2 concentrations, not presented in standard form, PPM (parts per million), but as percentages.</p>
<p>
The website <a href="https://www.co2levels.org">https://www.co2levels.org</a> is readily accessible and shows historical values and the (alarming) overall trend - exponentially increasing CO2 levels.</p>
<p>
In 1980 we hit 340PPM, 24 years later in 2004, not 50 as claimed, we hit 380 PPM.</p>
<p>
A simple straight-line says (380 - 340) PPM = 40 PPM change in 24 years = 1.5 PPM / year.</p>
<p><i>
Which is wrong.</i></p>
<p>
A glance at the CO2 measurements show change is accelerating - it's now increasing much faster than the average rate and getting worse, faster.</p>
<p>
We went over 410 PPM in under a decade from 2009, when the letter was published.</p>
<p>
The letter then goes on to claim Australian CO2 emissions are only 1% of global - which is strange as we're 2% of the global economy and the largest sea borne exporter of Coal and first or second largest of Natural Gas.</p>
<p>
The argument is that we contribute only 1% of 40 PPM, or 0.4 PPM, then somehow divide that by 50 years and it's effectively nothing - an argument that we don't have to do anything, while other people are working hard.</p>
<p>
There's an implication that "percentage" is the correct unit of measure for CO2, not the standard PPM.</p>
<p>
PPM is used specifically because CO2 is such a powerful absorber of heat. Tiny increases in CO2 create very large increases in captured heat, the "greenhouse effect".</p>
<p>
Not only are the figures quoted incorrect, the year range almost twice that of the real data and the arithmetic highly suspect & misleading.</p>
<p>There's no questioning of why science and politicians count CO2 in PPM, or justification for using percentages.</p>
<p>Everyone who takes medication understands the potency of chemicals in very small amounts - milligrams (1/000th of a gram) - can be deadly in a human weighing 50kg - 100kg.</p>
<p>
"Percentage" isn't a universal & applicable Unit of Measure.</p>
<p>
</p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Links</h4>
<p><b>NEM Generation Information - June 2022</b><br /><a href="https://www.aemo.com.au/energy-systems/electricity/national-electricity-market-nem/nem-forecasting-and-planning/forecasting-and-planning-data/generation-information">https://www.aemo.com.au/energy-systems/electricity/national-electricity-market-nem/nem-forecasting-and-planning/forecasting-and-planning-data/generation-information</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Fuel - Technology Category</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Capacity in MegaWatt</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Summary Status Coal CCGT OCGT Gas other Solar Wind Water Biomass Battery Storage Other Total</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Existing 22,701 2,985.066 6,844.993 2,013.501 5,896.5543 9,728.583 7,992.139 612.02 619.56 205.821 59,599.2373</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Announced Withdrawal 4,380 180 0 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,680</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Existing less Announced Withdrawal 18,321 2,805.066 6,844.993 1,893.501 5,896.5543 9,728.583 7,992.139 612.02 619.56 205.821 54,919.2373</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Upgrade / Expansion 90 0 165 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 255</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Committed 0 0 1,070 0 3,564.175 986.989 2,290 0 139.5 24 8,074.664</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Anticipated 0 0 123.2 0 850.4 1,080.9 0 0 1,026.8 0 3081.3</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Proposed 990 207 4,417.85 1,957.005 35,966.499 68,703.643 10627 342.2 27,294.31 226.8 150,732.307</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Withdrawn 500 0 361.2 153.143 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,014.343</span></p>
<p></p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<p><b>
Australian Energy Flows 2019-2020 (PJ)</b><br /><a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/sites/default/files/Australian%20Energy%20Flows%202019-20_0.pdf">https://www.energy.gov.au/sites/default/files/Australian%20Energy%20Flows%202019-20_0.pdf</a></p>
<p><b>
Thermal Power Stations</b><br />- 1,156 PJ Coal<br /> - 588 PJ natural gas/ethane<br /> - 46 PJ refined product imports<br />- 17 PJ Wood<br /> - 13 PJ Bagasse<br /> - 15 PJ biogas/biofuel<br /> = <b>1,835 PJ Total Thermal Power</b> [Input]</p>
<p><b>
Electricity Output</b><br />= 657 PJ Thermal Electricity<br /> -3 PJ to Refinery & Other transformation<br /> 654 PJ Net Thermal to Electricity</p>
<p><b>
Electricity Renewables</b><br />= 204 PJ</p>
<p><b>
Total Electricity Supply</b><br /> = 858 PJ</p>
<p><b>
Thermal Power Own Use / Losses</b><br /> - 1,538 PJ conversion plants own fuel use & losses and transmission losses<br /> = 297 PJ Net<br />vs 657 PJ generated</p>
<p><b>Total Own Use / Losses, all sources</b><br />= 1,747 PL</p>
<p>Primary Energy + Imports - Exports - Stocks Change & discrep <br />= Primary Energy Supply - Own use & losses<br />= Final energy consumption</p>
<p>
20,055 PJ + 2,244 PJ - 16,290 PJ - 4 PJ<br />
= 6,014 PJ - 1,747 PJ<br />
= 4,267 PJ</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-37779656812381493142022-06-20T07:27:00.006+10:002022-07-06T23:13:22.906+10:00Climate Change Denier, Letter to the Editor in 2009. "Coal fired power stations are 96% efficient"<p>Below is the text of a Letter to the Editor to a small regional newspaper, published in 2009.</p><p>It was attachment 9 of a submission to 2012 Senate Inquiry "The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms”. </p><p>Part 2: <a href="https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/07/response-to-climate-change-denier.html">Summary Response</a> </p><p>Part 3: <a href="https://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com/2022/07/long-response-to-climate-change-denier.html">Long Response</a></p><div><br /></div>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<p>The context is during the "Kevin '07" Labor Government.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>They had to catch up on 11 years of inaction & neglect by the Howard Liberal Govt.<p></p><p>They avoided a post-GFC recession by investing in useful programs - such as Home Insulation and School Infrastructure.</p><p>Also created a Carbon Trading Scheme (ETS), plus an economy wide emmissions monitoring & recording system to back it.</p><p>Cardwell is a "Climate Sceptic", a misleading & deceptive self-characterisation.</p><p>This group aren't "sceptical", there is NO evidence that can or will convince them. If anyone comes close to providing the evidence demanded, they change the goal posts, arbitrarily creating impossible standards of evidence for others to meet, while themselves providing no factual data.</p><p>While their own arguments aren't rigorous or evidence based, rather, they 'cherry pick' data they like and ignore "inconvenient" data, or attack, ridicule and denigrate people & institutions that challenge them.</p><p>Cardwell and his peers are "Climate Change Deniers", pure and simple.</p><p>The purpose of the Letter to the Editor is to push that agenda, not to inform, educate or argue.</p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Intro to attachment 9 by Renate Metzger in 2012, 2-3 years after letter was published.</h4>
<p> Date: 2011 or 2012</p><p>Subject: FW: Coal Driven Power Stations and Carbon Dioxide. (interesting read)</p><p>Read on ....... FWIW</p><p>This article appeared in the Rockhampton morning Bulletin on 22.12.09. Although I have never ever met the author I was, after some difficulty, able to contact him by phone.</p><p>This is an excellent piece for my friends to send to their politicians or to anybody who needs to be educated about Australia's Coal driven power houses.</p><p>Terry is now retired and is in excellent health at age 69. Nobody paid him to write the article which was, (to their credit), published by the local press.</p><p>Terry told me I could distribute his article as I saw fit.</p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Copy of text, provided by Renate Metzger to Senate Committee.</h4><p></p>
<blockquote>
<p>
Date: November/December 2009
</p><p> Written By Terence Cardwel <br />
The Editor <br />
<br />
The Morning Bulletin.<br />
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
001 I have sat by for a number of years frustrated at the rubbish being put forth about carbon dioxide<br />
002 emissions, thermal coal fired power stations and renewable energy and the ridiculous Emissions<br />
003 Trading Scheme.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
004 Frustration at the lies told (particularly during the election) about global pollution. Using Power<br />
005 Station cooling towers for an example. The condensation coming from those cooling towers is as pure<br />
006 as that that comes out of any kettle.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
007 Frustration about the so called incorrectly named man made ‘carbon emissions’ which of course is<br />
008 Carbon Dioxide emissions and what it is supposedly doing to our planet.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
009 Frustration about the lies told about renewable energy and the deliberate distortion of renewable<br />
010 energy and its ability to replace fossil fuel energy generation. And frustration at the ridiculous carbon<br />
011 credit programme which is beyond comprehension.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
012 And further frustration at some members of the public who have not got a clue about thermal Power<br />
013 Stations or Renewable Energy. Quoting ridiculous figures about something they clearly have little or<br />
014 no knowledge of.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
015 First coal fired power stations do NOT send 60 to 70% of the energy up the chimney. The boilers of<br />
016 modern power station are 96% efficient and the exhaust heat is captured by the economisers and<br />
017 reheaters and heat the air and water before entering the boilers.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
018 The very slight amount exiting the stack is moist as in condensation and CO2. There is virtually no fly<br />
019 ash because this is removed by the precipitators or bagging plant that are 99.98% efficient. The 4%<br />
020 lost is heat through boiler wall convection.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
021 Coal fired Power Stations are highly efficient with very little heat loss and can generate massive<br />
022 amount of energy for our needs. They can generate power at efficiency of less than 10,000 b.t.u. per<br />
023 kilowatt and cost wise that is very low.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
024 The percentage cost of mining and freight is very low. The total cost of fuel is 8% of total generation<br />
025 cost and does NOT constitute a major production cost.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
026 As for being laughed out of the country, China is building multitudes of coal fired power stations<br />
027 because they are the most efficient for bulk power generation.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
028 We have, like, the USA, coal fired power stations because we HAVE the raw materials and are VERY<br />
029 fortunate to have them. Believe me no one is laughing at Australia - exactly the reverse, they are very<br />
030 envious of our raw materials and independence.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
031 The major percentage of power in Europe and U.K. is nuclear because they don't have the coal supply<br />
032 for the future.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
033 Yes it would be very nice to have clean, quiet, cheap energy in bulk supply. Everyone agrees that it<br />
034 would be ideal. You don't have to be a genius to work that out. But there is only one problem -- It<br />
035 doesn't exist.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
036 Yes - there are wind and solar generators being built all over the world but they only add a small<br />
037 amount to the overall power demand.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
038 The maximum size wind generator is 3 Megawatts, which can rarely be attained on a continuous basis |<br />
039 because it requires substantial forces of wind. And for the same reason only generate when there is<br />
040 sufficient wind to drive them. This of course depends where they are located but usually they only run<br />
041 for 45%-65% of the time, mostly well below maximum capacity. They cannot be relied for a ‘base<br />
042 load' because they are too variable. And they certainly could not be used for load control.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
043 The peak load demand for electricity in Australia is approximately 50,000 Megawatts and only small<br />
044 part of this comes from the Snowy Hydro Electric System (The ultimate power Generation) because it<br />
045 is only available when water is there from snow melt or rain. And yes they can pump it back but it<br />
046 cost to do that. (Long Story).<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
047 Tasmania is very fortunate in that they have mostly hydro electric generation because of their high<br />
048 amounts of snow and rainfall. They also have wind generators (located in the roaring forties) but that<br />
049 is only a small amount of total power generated.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
050 Based on a average generating output of 1.5 megawatts (of unreliable power) you would require over<br />
051 33,300 wind generators.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
052 As for solar power generation much research has been done over the decades and there are two types.<br />
053 Solar thermal generation and Solar Electric generation but in each case they cannot generate large<br />
054 amounts of electricity.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
055 Any clean, cheap energy is obviously welcomed but they would NEVER have the capability of<br />
056 replacing Thermal power generation. So get your heads out of the clouds, do some basic mathematics<br />
057 and look at the facts not going off with the fairies (or some would say the extreme greenies.)<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
058 We are all greenies in one form or another and care very much about our planet. The difference is<br />
059 most of us are realistic. Not in some idyllic utopia where everything can be made perfect by standing<br />
060 around holding a banner and being a general pain in the backside.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
061 Here are some facts that will show how ridiculous this financial madness the government is following.<br />
062 Do the simple maths and see for yourselves.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
063 According to the 'believers' the CO2 in air has risen from .034% to .038% in air over the last 50 years.<br /><br />
[ 1980 = 340PPM, 2004 = 380 PPM. https://www.co2levels.org ]
<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
064 To put the percentage of Carbon Dioxide in air in a clearer perspective;<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
065 If you had a room 12 ft x 12 ft x 7 ft or 3.7 mtrs x 3.7 mtrs x 2.1 mtrs, the area carbon dioxide would<br />
066 occupy in that room would be .25m x .25m x .17m or the size of a large packet of cereal.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
067 Australia emits 1 percent of the world's total carbon Dioxide and the government wants to reduce this<br />
068 by twenty percent or reduce emissions by .2 percent of the world's total CO2 emissions.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
069 What effect will this have on existing CO2 levels?<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
070 By their own figures they state the CO2 in air has risen from .034% to .038% in 50 years.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
071 Assuming this is correct, the world CO2 has increased in 50 years by .004 percent.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
072 Per year that is .004 divided by 50 = .00008 percent. (Getting confusing - but stay with me).<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
073 Of that because we only contribute 1% our emissions would cause CO2 to rise .00008 divided by 100<br />
074 = .0000008 percent.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
075 Of that 1%, we supposedly emit, the governments wants to reduce it by 20% which is 1/Sth of<br />
076 .0000008 = .00000016 percent effect per year they would have on the world CO2 emissions based on<br />
077 their own figures.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
078 That would equate to a area in the same room, as the size of a small pin.!!!<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
079 For that they have gone crazy with the ridiculous trading schemes, Solar and roofing installations,<br />
080 Clean coal technology. Renewable energy, etc, etc.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
081 How ridiculous it that.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
082 The cost to the general public and industry will be enormous. Cripple and even closing some smaller<br />
083 business.<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
084 T.L. Cardwell<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">
085 To the Editor: thought I should clarify. I spent 25 years in the Electricity Commission of NSW<br />
086 working, commissioning and operating the various power units. My last was the 4 X 350 MW.<br />
087 Munmorah Power Station near Newcastle. I would be pleased to supply you any information you<br />
088 may require.</span><br />
</p>
<p></p></blockquote>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">LinkedIn page, Terry Cardwell</h4><p> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terence-cardwell-a1615839/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/terence-cardwell-a1615839/</a></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>worked from 1959 to 1978 with NSW Electricity Commission at Munmorah Power Station:</li><ul><li>22 years, not 25 or 26 years as he claimed</li></ul><li>moved to Rockhampton in 1978</li><li>Ran “Terry's Marine Centre” for 27 years</li><li>probably retired in 2005/2006</li><li>has written some books</li></ul><p></p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Terry Cardwell, other public info.</h4><p>listed as a 2019 “Founding Member” of “The Saltbush Club”: Jo Nova, Ian Plimer and other “Climate Sceptics”</p><p>"Tapping a deep vein of public concern about the Paris climate agreement”.</p><p> <a href="https://saltbushclub.com/about/">https://saltbushclub.com/about/</a></p><p>Stood for QLD Senate in 2013 for "Climate Sceptics", beside Alan Rutland.</p><p> <a href="https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Results_of_the_2013_Australian_federal_election_(Senate)">https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Results_of_the_2013_Australian_federal_election_(Senate)</a></p><p>Wrote Chapter 17 for George Christensen’s 2021 “Unchain Australia”</p><p> <a href="https://www.georgechristensen.com.au/news/free-book-unchain-australia">https://www.georgechristensen.com.au/news/free-book-unchain-australia</a></p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Munmorah Power Station </h4><p> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munmorah_Power_Station">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munmorah_Power_Station</a></p><p> Units operational: 350 MW<br /> Nameplate capacity: 1400 MW<br /> Commission date: 1967<br /> Decommission date: 2012</p><p> Steam was supplied at a pressure of 2,500 psi [ 17.24 MPa ]and a temperature of 460 °C.<br /> [ At 17.24 MPa, this was "sub-critical", with 36%-40% maximum efficiency ]</p><p> One unit was completed in 1967,<br /> another in 1968,<br /> and the remaining two in 1969. </p><p> Units 3 and 4 had fabric filters fitted in the 1980s,<br /> and this reduced load to 320 MW each.<br /> Units 1 and 2 were relegated to emergency use from 1992.</p><p> Munmorah drew salt water from Lake Munmorah, part of the Tuggerah Lakes, for condenser cooling.<br /> The coal for Munmorah came from two underground mines,<br /> Munmorah State mine and Newvale No.2 Colliery,<br /> and also from Vales Point coal storage<br /> via a series of conveyor belts.</p><p> Delta Electricity announced on 3 July 2012 the closure of Munmorah power station after 45 years of operation due to decreasing energy demand.</p><p> Parts of the boilers and turbines needed to be replaced which would have cost about $AUD 400 million.<br /> Units 3 and 4 had been maintained on standby but had not been in production since August 2010.<br /> Munmorah was disconnected from the grid in May 2014 and completely de-commissioned.<br /> Plans were made to demolish the station and its out-buildings and sell off the 500 acres of surrounding land for housing and sporting venues.</p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Heat Rate</h4>
<p> “10,000 BTU per kilowatt” - the Heat Rate - isn’t 96% efficient, it’s 34.12%. Out by a factor of three.</p><p> <a href="https://www.powermag.com/understanding-coal-power-plant-heat-rate-and-efficiency/">https://www.powermag.com/understanding-coal-power-plant-heat-rate-and-efficiency/</a></p><p> Because approximately 3,412 Btu/hr equals 1 kW, we can easily determine the thermodynamic efficiency of a power plant by dividing 3,412 by the heat rate. </p><p> For example, a coal power plant with a heat rate of 10,000 Btu/kWh <br /> has a thermal efficiency of 3,412 / 10,000, <br /> or 0.3412 (34.12%).</p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Source</h4>
<p>The scanned-only copy of the letter to the editor, provided above, is “Attachment 9” in submission '838' by Renate Metzger, a resident of Smeaton, VIC, <br />to the 2012 Senate Inquiry <i>"The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms”</i>. </p><p><a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/impactruralwindfarms/index">https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/impactruralwindfarms/index</a></p><p><i>List of Submissions</i> <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/impactruralwindfarms/submissions">https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2010-13/impactruralwindfarms/submissions</a></p><p><i>Sub 838 Mrs Renate Metzger </i>(PDF 10KB) Attachment 1(PDF 162KB) Attachment 2(PDF 111KB) Attachment 3(PDF 191KB) Attachment 4(PDF 545KB) Attachment 5(PDF 191KB) Attachment 6(PDF 179KB) Attachment 7(PDF 10003KB) Attachment 8(PDF 2376KB) Attachment 9(PDF 1342KB) Attachment 10(PDF 1839KB) Attachment 11(PDF 1075KB) </p><p> <i>Submission 9 by Renate Metzger: scan of letter to editor</i></p><p> <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=8c9ca0b7-63a7-4bb6-8114-d82ec8deb34c">https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=8c9ca0b7-63a7-4bb6-8114-d82ec8deb34c</a></p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Source of information on relative costs of Capital investment and Operations & Maintenance.</h4><p><i>Report for Congress<br />Power Plants: Characteristics and Costs</i><br />November 13, 2008</p><p><a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL34746.pdf">https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL34746.pdf</a></p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Thermal efficiency of coal-fired power plants: From theoretical to practical assessments </h4><p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282824169_Thermal_efficiency_of_coal-fired_power_plants_From_theoretical_to_practical_assessments">https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282824169_Thermal_efficiency_of_coal-fired_power_plants_From_theoretical_to_practical_assessments</a> </p>
<hr style="text-align: left;" />steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-18386447930781082172017-01-02T15:20:00.003+11:002017-01-04T13:03:31.689+11:00Creating effective Multi-Person Volunteer Groups<b>Creating effective Multi-Person Volunteer Groups as Unincorporated groups, Incorporated Associations or "Not For Profit" entities (Trust, Company, ...)</b><br />
<br />
Comments derived from my experiences of NonProfits & Volunteer groups, using my research on Australian Skeptics Inc as a small case study.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<hr />
<i>Background</i><br />
<br />
I've been involved in many ways, directly & indirectly, with a raft of different Volunteer groups, Associations and Not For Profit's over 5 decades.<br />
<br />
Nobody escaped a childhood in the 1950's/60's without being exposed to Churches, Boy Scouts and the many 'look alike' groups for young people.<br />
<br />
I've stood in the rain at a polling booth handing out "how to vote" cards, been part of the first protest at 'New' Parliament House to form a human chain around it, and have been active in many Professional Associations, including from cradle-to-grave of AUUG, helped run ACS in Canberra and co-founded & ran SAGE-AU in Canberra for years.<br />
For two decades I've been a passive member of 'PCUG' and an active contributor to the "non-association" CLUG and many more.<br />
Having owned a Home Unit in Sydney and lived in many units, flats and houses, I've negotiated the shoals & politics of Body Corporates and neighbourhood groups.<br />
<br />
I also created and led the most successful non-Corporate Fund Raiser & resulting named 'Chair' at Uni of NSW in memory of John Lions, the creator of AUUG.<br />
<br />
Those lifelong experiences with Managing within, and the Management of, small to large Enterprises, including "Not for Profits", led me to ask "is this as good as it gets", leading to active study of the field.<br />
My professional experience with poor Team Leadership, ineffective Team Project Management and poor take-up and implementation of Systems led to a study of "Change Agents".<br />
<br />
What struck me forcefully, was the consistency with which otherwise smart & informed people took on new roles and assumed "I can do this with no training, mentoring or advice".<br />
What compounds problems in especially small groups & Associations, is this "no learning required" attitude becomes normalised and accepted, with an absence of good management & follow-up, no formal job descriptions, task guidelines and allocation and good governance, transparency, accountability and behavioural guidelines.<br />
<br />
There were no Briefings & Job handovers between old and new committee, nor any sense that 'key people' contingency plans and succession planning were critical to growth, even survival.<br />
Corporate Memory and the value of high-performing Teams are routinely ignored or devalued.<br />
<br />
These functions were mostly catered for in two ways:<br />
<ul>
<li>'permanent' committee members, especially Secretary & Treasurer, who perform the these roles for years on end.</li>
<li>paid permanent staff</li>
</ul>
The worst omissions in "good management & effective operations" were the ignorance about running efficient & effective Meetings and the need to separate formal meetings, 'Ideas & Brain-Storming' and socialisation. That this is a common area of weakness in all Organisations I've worked with or for, suggests the cause.<br />
<br />
What I saw repeated many times is "Nature Abhors a Vacuum".<br />
In the absence of good Leadership by the elected Committee, the paid staff took over as the Power Players, which I got to observe and confirm firsthand from inside one.<br />
Very seldom did the Committee even understand, let alone contest, this usurping of their roles.<br />
Paid staff don't have to impede & stonewall for long to win any contest for power - Committees come and go, the only constant are the Staff.<br />
<br />
Nobody talks about this reality of Power & Control being ceded to the paid staff, often a single individual, and subtly over years.<br />
Even with the best of intentions, 'the' administrator will assume effective control of the Association.<br />
I've seen Professional Managers running Body Corporates assume Control identically, consuming 75+% of fees.<br />
<br />
In smaller groups, the 'administrator' who assumes control is either unpaid or part-time.<br />
<br />
In the "Complete Guide" by Smith, Bucklin Inc - the people who invented the "Association Management" business in the 1930's - there's a detailed description of the evolution of Volunteer & NonProfits, the predictable challenges of evolution, growth and change.<br />
<br />
<i>Growth and change are linked.</i><br />
If any organisation wants, or needs, to grow, it <i>will</i> have change thrust on it and it's customers/base, people, management, staff and processes have to accomodate the new reality.<br />
Change Resistance and Denial/Avoidance, especially "this is how we've always done it", will inexorably lead to organisational paralysis, customer or 'base' frustration & disenchantment then inevitable collapse and dissolution.<br />
<br />
Unless a group can let go of its past and embrace new structures, processes <i>and</i> people, it will be remain 'stuck', no matter how important, useful, relevant or good its message.<br />
What nobody discusses is the reverse path, once an organisation has peaked and is de-evolving, winding back the organisation and downsizing, especially laying off paid-staff, is very difficult.<br />
<br />
Change Management, and effective leadership of it, has been researched and written about for over a century.<br />
It's a very well researched field with well documented results, but largely ignored in Management, especially so in Volunteer Groups and Associations.<br />
<br />
One of the most important Theoretical books on Social & Community Change Management came late in the 20th Century, 1998, from a couple of French consultants / practitioners:<br />
"Managing Sensitive Projects".<br />
<br />
Any Special Interest Group that wishes to influence Public Policy or public attitudes and concerns, to be effective in their work needs to understand this framework.<br />
<br />
The flip-side of this discussion is that very often the people who seek power within Associations or Special Interest Groups aren't interested in being Efficient or Effective.<br />
People can have multiple simultaneously motivations & desires, even conflicting. They can start with 'pure intentions' as non-political results-focussed players and change over time.<br />
<br />
The organisational test is "Are there precisely articulated and achievable goals which are actively progressed?".<br />
Broadly, committee members can be classified as 'talkers' or 'doers'. Unfortunately, there are many 'doers' who are there for their own good, no other.<br />
<br />
People's motivations for joining groups and seeking 'position' can be many and varied, including:<br />
<ul>
<li>leveraging their volunteer position for their business and attempting to co-opt the Organisation to serve their business, including looting the groups' funds.</li>
<li>creating a career path well beyond that available in their workplace, e.g. a mid-level practitioner followed this path to become a Senior Industry Figure & given a Professorship.</li>
<li>ambitious but low-talent individuals unable to meet their "Power and Control" needs at work, serve on Committees to fill this deficit need, not further the aims & goals of the group.</li>
<li>leveraging an Interest or Hobby into a social support group and 'relevance multiplier'.</li>
<ul>
<li>This can be any person 'seeking an outside challenge', from the unemployed, underemployed or 'trust fund babies'.</li>
<li>A particular subgroup is Middle Class "supported" wives who are looking to 'add meaning' and 'express themselves' by filling their days with 'activity'.</li>
<li>None of these subgroups have 'efficient and effective' as a primary purpose. "Busy Work" becomes normalised - being very 'active' without accomplishing much.</li>
</ul>
<li> People who define themselves by what they're "against" are drawn to protest or pro-Status Quo groups (left or right), to assert the 'Rightness' of their views and gain 'Vindication'.</li>
<ul>
<li>They define themselves by polarity, "For Us or Against Us", and are unable to form lasting consensus or settlements.</li>
<li>For both the 'Left' and 'Right' versions, "the struggle" is everything. They have no 'Ultimate Goal' and if they can find their matched opposite, will struggle mightily for years.</li>
<li>Special Interest Groups dominated by these people are Ideologically driven but its fluid, without strong, clear principles. Logic & Facts don't apply, only Judgement and Emotion.</li>
<li>They are highly susceptible to internal dissent and power-plays with many self-destructing or spawning warring factions, as do many extremist Religious Sects.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<hr />
<i>Some references:</i><br />
<br />
"The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Management"<br />
by Smith, Bucklin & Associates, Inc.<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Nonprofit-Management/dp/0471380628">https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Nonprofit-Management/dp/0471380628</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This highly popular how-to book identifies and addresses the unique concerns of nonprofit organisations.<br />
Cutting through the morass of mere theory, the experts at Smith, Bucklin & Associates, Inc., a leading nonprofit management firm,<br />
get right to actual practice with dozens of real-world examples and case studies,<br />
and up-to-date, vital, "combat-tested" strategies and techniques for dealing with virtually every nonprofit business management issue.<br />
First four chapters:<br />
<ul>
<li>Role of the Board</li>
<li>Strategic Planning</li>
<li>Working with volunteers & employees</li>
<li>Marketing.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<br />
"Principles of Scientific Management", Taylor, 1911.<br />
<a href="http://melbecon.unimelb.edu.au/het/taylor/sciman.htm">http://melbecon.unimelb.edu.au/het/taylor/sciman.htm</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
One of the first tracts on successfully implementing radical change in the workplace.<br />
Start small, show it works, ask for volunteers, never impose from above, wait for the change 'tipping point', some people will never change.</blockquote>
<br />
"Managing Sensitive Projects: A Lateral Approach", 1998.<br />
<a href="http://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9780333734414">http://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9780333734414</a><br />
<a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Managing_Sensitive_Projects.html?id=0SNlapIIHeUC&redir_esc=y">https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Managing_Sensitive_Projects.html?id=0SNlapIIHeUC&redir_esc=y</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Every day, managers must adapt to rapidly changing markets and situations.<br />
This book deals with sensitive or difficult projects.</blockquote>
Stakeholder sensitive projects: a new approach to engagement [dead link, my apologies]<br />
<a href="http://www.pi3.co.za/papers-and-articles/stakeholder-sensitive-projects-new-approach-engagement">http://www.pi3.co.za/papers-and-articles/stakeholder-sensitive-projects-new-approach-engagement</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Sensitive Projects framework explained, including the key diagram, copy below.</blockquote>
<hr />
<i>On Movements, Associations and anti-groups like "Skeptics"</i><br />
<hr />
<br />
You’ll also see a lot of these characteristics with small businesses, especially ones that ‘plateau’ where the principal is ‘comfortable’.<br />
<br />
You’ve both seen how hard it is to get both ‘good people’ and with ‘a passionate interest’ in doing something.<br />
<br />
The primary difference between unpaid and paid organisations is<br />
<ol>
<li>the owner can fire ineffective people and</li>
<li>highly-effective people can ‘fire’ the owner by either never applying or moving on when they are stifled etc.</li>
</ol>
When a movement starts, it’s often <i>one</i> person who’s passion attracts others, giving The Person the status of "The Leader" early on.<br />
<br />
Because they’ve been 'fighting the battle’ longer than anyone, for the first 5 or more years, they <i>will</i> always know more about the issues, know & be known by all the key players and may have a media presence.<br />
<br />
They've also had the chance to practice their arguments in multiple arenas, so can beat anyone in a debate, especially on organisational change and 'repositioning' or changing goals.<br />
<br />
To any newcomer, "The Leader" appears <i>unusually</i> knowledgeable, competent and connected - so much so that ‘hero worship’ becomes a real issue in the organisation.<br />
If there are challengers, real or imagined, for Top Dog, what are their motives?<br />
Are they just power-seeking or something more?<br />
Either way, "The Leader" can impugn their motives and rely on their personal charisma and unquestioning loyalty of key members to support the demotion or ejection of the 'rival'.<br />
<br />
The Leader will soon become practiced at making a case for why they, and they alone, are the best, even only, person for the role of “The Leader”.<br />
They may also become very good at spotting and eliminating ‘potential threats’ to their leadership.<br />
<br />
Some of these ‘threats’ will be real from 'players' seeking a vehicle to address their "power & control" needs or just to pilfer the coffers.<br />
Donald Trump's take over of the Republican Party is the best recent example of power-players seeking self-aggrandisement.<br />
<br />
Other perceived 'rivals' will be good people who ask questions and suggest new ideas.<br />
This stirs things up for the "The Leader" and their "Power Elite", who’ve come to believe that they are "Natural Born Leaders” and “We Know Best”.<br />
<br />
If its their first time being "The Leader", the powerful ego boost/rewards from constant praise from "The Loyal Acolytes" will be very seductive, providing another reason for them to turn their honed fighting/debating skills on anyone they feel isn’t “supporting” them enough.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<i>Summary</i>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Questions Are Bad" especially within “The Inner Circle”.<br />
"Unquestioning Loyalty" of "The Leader" is often demanded as proof of "Real Commitment to The Cause".<br />
[c.f. “You are For Us or Against Us”]</blockquote>
Every group starts with just one person, which grows to a few, which then needs 'the person out front' who becomes 'the spokesperson' and then 'The Leader'.<br />
As the organisation grows, its cash-flow and assets grow, requiring someone 'good with figures' to keep the group / organisation afloat.<br />
As the group grows, the administrative load grows, until there is a clear need to "outsource" some functions or hire a paid administrator.<br />
Further growth requires a larger paid staff and more committees and committee members.<br />
Larger Associations require a full-time commitment from the volunteer leader - posing a conundrum:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Do they get paid compensation for giving up their job for 1-2 years?</blockquote>
Surprisingly, few 'presidents' are paid and all are paid less than the top Administrator (CEO), demonstrating who is actually in control.<br />
<br />
It’s very sensible in those first years to ‘put your best people at the Front’, which means “The Lone Person” first becomes “The Leader” then "The Great Leader” (TGL), unchallenged and revered.<br />
They are surrounded by an “Inner Circle”, a series of Acolytes and High Priests who’ve learned to work <i>under</i> TGL over time.<br />
<br />
We know from Australian Skeptics that when serious money is thrown in, that greed/avarice can upset the balance, providing an upstart a means to destabilise the Inner Circle.<br />
<br />
Barry Williams and Harry Edwards were an effective team while Barry was Top Dog (Editor/President) and Harry "The Doer”.<br />
Almost everyone but Barry & Harry came and went on the Committee with Barry’s special friends, his GP and barrister, usually there tool.<br />
This arrangement will be common place amongst Special Interest Groups.<br />
<br />
When they came into money, Harry was put in charge of managing it, given his good personal investments and Barry's poor finances, shown by needing to live in his kids house.<br />
Harry didn’t object to Barry becoming the full-time paid Editor, moving on from mere President to paid permanent CEO. Allowing Barry to boast "I'm the only Professional Skeptic in Australia".<br />
<br />
Before he started, Adam Joseph’s attempt at Good Governance in 1999 was doomed to failure.<br />
Bringing Openness, Transparency, Accountability to the organisation - and making good on a promise to rotate the Presidency and committee - wasn’t going to happen.<br />
The NSW Skeptics has assumed for themselves the mantle of <i>the</i> Australian Skeptics and Barry wasn't about to let go of the power or pay-packet.<br />
<br />
With the $1.4M Bequest from Whaley (a non-member) an opportunist, self-styled International Tax Expert & whizz Accountant - Richard Lead - was able to drive a wedge between the very successful power-couple, simply by appealing to the greed of Barry, The Great Leader. In 2016, Richard Lead became a footnote in a High Court judgement on a long-running Tax Fraud case. So much for the 'high powered accountant', Lead turns out to have been out of his depth and an errand boy selling schemes he didn't understand.<br />
<br />
Harry didn’t see it coming and was gone so quickly, his head spun.<br />
This was documented in 2000, 630 wds: <a href="http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/SkepticsSkepticalOfSkeptics.htm">http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/SkepticsSkepticalOfSkeptics.htm</a><br />
<br />
You don’t know what people are really like until there’s serious money on the table.<br />
If you've ever been involved in a "Feeding Frenzy" after a death, you can relate.<br />
<br />
Williams was, in my opinion, a ne’er do well always ‘on the make’, actively seeking Easy Money and The Big Win.<br />
Think the “Arthur Daley” character of ‘The Minder’ TV series.<br />
<br />
In countless Special Interest Groups, especially Single Issue/Single Person Political parties, this progression and the pitfalls are well known and documented.<br />
While The Founder (Bob Brown, Clive Palmer, Pauline Hansen) may do a lot of good work over years, they can be seduced by the ego-rush of being “The Great Leader".<br />
Forming a set of Loyal Acolytes around them over time.<br />
<br />
Are they "Yes Men" or something more?<br />
We know from "Managing Sensitive Projects" that "Allies" who support you but are willing to ask question & differ on important points, are far preferable to "Zealots", who's blind obedience and unquestioning 'loyalty' seriously distort the picture for The Leader. This will eventually cause the collapse of the organisation, as its internal view becomes more out of synch with Reality.<br />
<br />
A culture of “Us vs Them” grows up, valuing unquestioning ‘loyalty’ over anything else.<br />
‘Loyalty’ is code for “Unquestioning Agreement”. Something that I've ran foul of Professionally many times - showing this is not confined to Volunteer & NonProfit groups.<br />
<br />
I have a friend who's worked for 40 years in nursing and raised two boys as a single mum. In her involvement with many 'craft' groups, she comments on “supported women” - Middle-class wives who don't work.<br />
They can afford to be dilettantes and indulge their interests - they have time on their hands and the money to do what the want. Some of these groups become quite wealthy, worth in the millions.<br />
<br />
When they form groups, not only are they inexperienced in Effective Leadership and High-Performing work, they prefer to spend a <i>lot</i> of time on doing things, they don’t seek to be efficient, fast or improve. Be clear, I am <i>not</i> suggesting this is a female trait, but common amongst those who can afford not to work and look to unpaid activity to define themselves and find meaning and relevance in their lives.<br />
<br />
My cynical view about this is best summed up by an anti-poster I've seen many times in workplaces:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Meetings, The Practical Alternative to Work”.</blockquote>
This is saying the main purpose of Meetings is consuming time unproductively, not Getting Things Done or creating intended outcomes.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<i>Prior notes on the topic: </i>Email to SAGE-AU, 19-Nov-2004<br />
<hr />
<br />
Suggestions for moving the System Administrators Guild of Australia forward, embracing the best results of other Computer Societies and avoiding their pitfalls & mistakes<br />
<br />
Association (or 'Not for Profit') Management is a specialist area.<br />
How many of the Board and (state) office holders have any training in it??<br />
<br />
To break through the current 'ceiling' will require specifically addressing this - get some training for everyone, get a book written. Maybe pay some consultants for advice...<br />
<br />
Mostly - research the area! It is not as simple as it may look.<br />
<br />
If SAGE-AU is targeting 5,000 members, it'd be hoping for about $1M turnover:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Who on the board has any experience in running a <b>business</b> that size, let alone an association with volunteers and paid staff?</blockquote>
Notes on useful resources included below.<br />
<br />
Some specific observations/ideas:<br />
<ul>
<li>From the UNSW 'Associations Day' in the Computer Science and Engineering Faculty, where SAGE-Au was one of the Societies invited,<br />
it was very obvious that Lee, the admin staff, could answer all questions about process and money.<br />
BUT members were needed to answer member/professional questions and they dominated.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Marketing is firstly about <b>measuring</b> it's effect.<br />
The first thing needed when planning any marketing activity is planning how to measure it's effect...<br />
Have to know if initiatives pay off.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Goals are important.<br />
The ACS [Australian Computer Society] is a great example of what NOT to do.<br />
They've been around since ~1969 and have stagnated at ~15,000 members.<br />
That's an impressive $5M+ turnover, but in 10 years I've seen the fees DOUBLE.<br />
That's not good management, especially as they've not improved their profile, increased 'member benefits', paid for more advertising or put more money into community projects.<br />
The money has gone to pay wages of any increasing bureaucracy, to no good end.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The ACS doesn't recognise the massive decline in 'market share' [estimated 210,000 people work in IT in Oz now] as problem...<br />
There's a whole lot more, but for here...<br />
The ACS fails to thrive because it's lost its way and doesn't serve the needs of the majority of its members...<br />
<br />
SAGE-AU needs to learn from others mistakes and put positive programs in place to avoid them...<br />
<br />
Associations need paid staff and active marketing.<br />
To expand members, each state has to have some coherent MARKETING activity - and from the UNSW insight - it has to be done by members...</li>
</ul>
<i>Specific Proposal:</i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
With the IT downturn, there are a number of well respected & capable members who are 'under-employed' or would make themselves available to go and 'knock on doors'.<br />
[see below for about Kate Behan and donating half time]<br />
I'd like to see SAGE-AU actively market itself to those that employ Admins, like CIO's...<br />
That means putting together a list of places that employ admins, who employs them and then going and talking to them : face-to-face is the most effective selling/marketing technique and the most expensive.</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>An outstanding role model.<br />
The ACS is led by it's Victorian branch.<br />
Kate Behan is responsible for the culture, energy and vision of this branch.<br />
They (the office) has a very clear focus on "Member Benefits".<br />
They are not there for a cushy life or just running the office.<br />
<br />
Kate was a lecturer at RMIT and a sole parent to two.<br />
She quit to work full time in the ACS-VIC office.<br />
She also DONATED half her time to the society.<br />
As both the paid admin-staff and a member, she was able to answer all enquiries...<br />
She was also able to formulate marketing plans and member events that were relevant & interesting to members.<br />
<br />
Importantly, Kate instilled a culture and provided a succession plan.<br />
When she had built the office up [3 or 5 people] and moved on, it didn't fall apart or wander aimlessly...<br />
[Check the Smith Bucklin book - this transition from 'initiator' to organisation is very difficult usually]<br />
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<hr />
<i>Reference 1. Australian NonProfit Management firm</i><br />
<hr />
<br />
<a href="http://www.enterprisecare.com.au/">http://www.enterprisecare.com.au</a><br />
<a href="http://www.enterprisecare.com.au/noprofit.htm">http://www.enterprisecare.com.au/noprofit.htm</a><br />
<a href="http://www.enterprisecare.com.au/sample.htm">http://www.enterprisecare.com.au/sample.htm</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Enterprise Care is Australia's largest Not for Profit management consultancy exclusively providing specialist services to Not for Profit Boards, organisations and management.<br />
Our team, comprising some of Australia's most experienced Not for Profit specialists, has an outstanding record of:<br />
<ul>
<li>undertaking organisational reviews and reporting with recommendations and options;</li>
<li>devising and developing policies and practices relating to the improved governance of Not for Profit organisations;</li>
<li>conducting customised training and facilitation workshops covering governance, organisational and services issues;</li>
<li>facilitating the establishment of the strategic performance framework;</li>
<li>developing and implementing business and funding plans;</li>
<li>recruitment of key personnel; and</li>
<li>development of Board and management publications centred around best practice governance and management for Not for Profits.</li>
</ul>
By combining a profound understanding of Not for Profit fundamentals with specific insights and problem solving skills,<br />
Enterprise Care has taken its place as the pre-eminent adviser and service provider to the Not for Profit sector.</blockquote>
<hr />
<i>Reference 2. Definitive Reference on NonProfit Management</i><br />
<hr />
<br />
"The Complete Guide to Non-Profit Management"<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0471380628/qid=1100823252/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/104-0831265-8511156?v=glance&s=books">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0471380628/qid=1100823252/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/104-0831265-8511156?v=glance&s=books</a><br />
<a href="http://www.smithbucklin.com/">http://www.smithbucklin.com/</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
First four chapters:<br />
<ul>
<li>Role of the Board</li>
<li>Strategic Planning</li>
<li>Working with volunteers & employees</li>
<li>Marketing.</li>
</ul>
The Complete Nuts-and-Bolts Guide to Managing Todays Bottom-Line Oriented Nonprofit Organisations<br />
<br />
This significantly revised and expanded Second Edition of the highly popular how-to book identifies and addresses the unique concerns of nonprofit organisations.<br />
Cutting through the morass of mere theory, the experts at Smith, Bucklin & Associates, Inc., a leading nonprofit management firm,<br />
get right to actual practice with dozens of real-world examples and case studies, and up-to-date, vital,<br />
"combat-tested" strategies and techniques for dealing with virtually every nonprofit business management issue, including:<br />
<ul>
<li>The daily role of boards of directors</li>
<li>Fund development and marketing</li>
<li>Public and government relations</li>
<li>Educational programs and certification</li>
<li>Information services</li>
<li>Human resources management</li>
<li>Using the Internet</li>
</ul>
In addition, featured here is a refocused strategic planning chapter that presents an ongoing, organic form of planning,<br />
as well as updated discussions of the importance of mission statements,<br />
planning publicity campaigns and coordinating special conventions,<br />
developing and marketing education programs, and much more.</blockquote>
<hr />
<i>Reference 3. Diagrams from "Managing Sensitive Projects"</i><br />
<hr />
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<br />steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-15469425554833356612017-01-02T14:22:00.000+11:002018-04-26T14:40:05.802+10:00Another puzzle piece: Richard Lead 'international tax expert' as Footnote in High Court caseSeems Richard was a phantom director for one of Vanda Gould's fraudulent off-shore Tax shelters.<br />
<br />
Lead stuffed up in 2001, with unsigned Tax Returns naming Gould as the beneficial owner of the company (HWBB). Gould is claimed in newspaper pieces to be rather unforgiving of perceived slights - making sense of Lead's sudden disappearance from Aust. Skeptic magazine, but not the ASIC registered Foundation. [<a href="http://www.hcourt.gov.au/assets/cases/s135-2016/HuaWangBank_App.pdf">High Court Document, 2016,</a> Lead's affidavit, 2012, and <b style="text-align: -webkit-center;">Hua Wang Bank Berhad v Commissioner of Taxation <a class="autolink_findcases" href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCA/2014/1392.html" title="View Case">[2014] FCA 1392</a></b>]<br />
<br />
There was also a <a href="http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/AATA/2004/1173.html">2004 tax case in the Admin Appeals Tribunal Australia (AATA)</a> where Lead had to give testimony. The Judge deliberately mentioned his reluctance in giving evidence. Most names were disguised, including the beneficial owner, Gould. Which newspaper reports later unpicked.<br />
<br />
This was the year Lead dropped from view. The judgement refers to him as 'independent accountant and tax consultant'. We might infer from that, that Lead was no longer in Gould's employ.<br />
<br />
I once contacted the firm, CCS Partners, 154 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, Lead had used to audit the ASIC Foundation returns until 2004/5. They knew of Lead, years later, but referred me to him if I wanted a comment on his employment there.<br />
<br />
In a webpage on Bougainville Copper Project, Lead's wife is noted as returning to her maiden name.<br />
His address on formal documents changed as well.<br />
<br />
Riverbend<br />
<a href="http://www.riverbendnelligen.com/bougainvillelocation.html">http://www.riverbendnelligen.com/bougainvillelocation.html</a><br />
<br />
Lead and others, <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IYoJZrXas9ciVa4MVkpILfDX0dGcmT7tJaolH9C1T-8/edit?usp=sharing">ASIC Company Director Info</a> for ACN-088-875-772.<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1GLdfqdwpNQOG9BUGxnbV9Ka2c">ASIC search purchased</a> for ACN-088-875-772.<br />
<br />steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-85648113945031938432014-07-09T14:43:00.004+10:002014-07-16T17:39:18.580+10:00Another part of the puzzle: Why the 'new editor' left in 2009.I'd previously not found this on the web. It provides a good reason for why the new editor who replaced Barry Williams left. That the subsequent and current editor, Tim Mendham had been a long-term member of the inner-circle, including being the Editor before handing over to Barry W. It was noted in the Magazine that Tim M "was wearing 5 hats": Editor, Public Officer, Archivist, Treasurer and ???.<br />
<br />
The timing, especially in relation to being Deregistered, would be interesting to know. Stollznow seems to have a history of questionable behaviour.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://newsstore.theage.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=SMH0906301ABBJ7UPAOB">Sceptics fight defies belief</a>, SMH 'The Diary", 30-June-2009. Reformatted for readability.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Bent spoons have been flying in the offices of the Australian Skeptics after the editor of its national magazine The Skeptic, Karen Stollznow, left Australia to return to the US, leaving accusations of sexism in her wake and declaring the organisation "a gentleman's club for curmudgeons”.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Inspired by the American debunker of the paranormal, James Randi, the group is best known for its annual Bent Spoon Award, bestowed for the worst "paranormal or pseudoscientific piffle". But the group is being forced to defend itself against Stollznow's charge that "scepticism in Australia is still for cantankerous bearded bespectacled old men”.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stollznow, an Australian who is a research associate at the University of California, Berkeley, was appointed executive officer, which encompasses the editor's job, in the middle of last year.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But after arriving in Sydney in January, she resigned in April.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stollznow told the Diary she was unhappy at not being given a contract or an office and that "meetings and correspondence were rife with inappropriate and sexist comments about women”.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>She also says the group has withheld pay.</b><i> [emphasis added]</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The president of Australian Skeptics, Eran Segev, denied the organisation was sexist and said the dispute was the result of "a gap of expectations”.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This included the start date, which he said had led to the pay dispute.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We think she did a wonderful job with the magazine," he said.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stollznow says she "will do whatever I have to do" to recover the money she believes is owed.</blockquote>
<b>2013/4 Update</b><br />
<br />
It seems a bad idea to mix business with pleasure, but in the world of Professional Skeptics, it seems especially dangerous. In late 2013 Karen Stollznow took out a sexual harassment case against an ex-partner she worked with.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://benrlegal.info/">Ben Radford sexual harassment case.</a> Proof of falsified documents, a measured, rational and detailed response to the allegations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://autismfriendsnetwork.biz/showthread.php?tid=988">Please donate to Ben Radford's legal fund.</a> [KS had reportedly collected $20,000 in donations.]<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.centerforinquiry.net/speakers/radford_benjamin/">Benjamin Radford, Center for Inquiry — Albuquerque, NM</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Stollznow">Karen Stollznow</a>, pix, plus married to a Matthew Baxter Bryan & Baxter, Denver, CO.steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-81931919788997807622012-05-21T18:19:00.000+10:002014-07-14T10:24:26.515+10:00In Their Own Words: What the magazine says.There are 81 full issues of <i><a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/publications/magazine/">the Skeptic</a></i> on-line, from 1990 #1 until 2011 #1.<br />
The remaining 2011/2012 issues are only published in-part on-line following a website policy of only publishing in-full after 12 months.<br />
<br />
These 81 issues comprise 5294 pages total [~65pp/issue average] with 5230 text pages in total and around 3.5M words of text.<br />
<br />
I've carefully searched this public record for answers to the questions underpinning "Who are the <i>Australian Skeptics? </i>On the Public Record, what is the phrase<i> "Australian Skeptics"</i> intended to mean?<i>"</i>:<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The phrase "Australian Skeptics" is used on 908 pages and in every issue. "Australian Skeptics Inc" is used on 195 pages, leaving 713 pages of 5230 (14%) using the term.<br />
It is a major and important concept in the magazine.<br />
<ul>
<li>The structure and interrelationships of the Incorporated and unincorporated Bodies.</li>
<li>The roles and responsibilities and reporting obligations of the various Bodies and their office bearers.</li>
<li>Lists of Office Bearers of all Bodies, National and (State) Branches.</li>
<li>The entrance requirements and processes for membership. </li>
<li>Reports of AGM's and Office Bearer Elections their results.</li>
<li>Reporting of membership numbers in total and by Branch and/or circulation numbers of the magazine.</li>
<li>Any on-going pr consistent confusions or ambiguity in the language used to describe these other questions.</li>
</ul>
The Australian Computer Society, to whom a number of Office Bearers and Committee members of Y0133609<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span>belong, provides a good model for structure and running a multi-tiered National+State Body. Ignorance of alternatives cannot be used to justify any departure from Good Practice.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first, and perhaps most telling, questions are:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Why do I have to search for basic information at all?</i><i>Why do I need to forensically examine 20+ years of written material in an attempt to uncover or infer what is openly disclosed by well governed Associations?</i></blockquote>
<div>
In light of the questions of Governance and Transparency of Y0133609 first raised by Victorians Steve Roberts and Adam Joseph 15+ years ago, that I cannot find any of this basic information openly published gives cause for serious concern.</div>
steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-79209514232415646132012-05-21T17:10:00.003+10:002014-07-14T10:26:42.195+10:00In Their Own Words: What the website says.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i>Subscribers</i><i><b> are still not </b></i></span><i style="font-weight: bold;">Members </i><i style="font-weight: bold;"><b>after 15 years.</b></i><br />
<div>
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<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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Short form:<br />
<ul>
<li>The three webpages, "<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/how-to-join/">How to Join</a>", "<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/contact/">Contacts</a>" and "<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/us/">Who we Are</a>" pages need to be read together to ascertain their meaning.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The "<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/us/">Who we are</a>" page is internally inconsistent:</li>
<ul>
<li>the term "Australian Skeptics" is used in contradictory and exclusionary ways, without being clarified, to mean both "the collective of Sceptics in Australia" and only the members of Y0133609.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>There are 1000-1500 potential members in NSW who have been denied membership, which <i>prime face </i>suggests an investigation is warranted, or must be treated as the General Public purchasing the magazine, which might constitute carrying on a Commercial Activity, contrary to the Objects of the Act.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The confusion can be quickly and trivially fixed in multiple ways, but after ~15 years the confusion remains.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The Office Bearers, Committee and Editors/Executive Officers of Y0133609 have collectively and knowingly allowed this confusion to remain for ~15 years. I can't see any any legitimate purpose this might serve. Claiming they were ignorant of the confusion or they've been indolent, negligent, careless or worse is to claim they were derelict in their duties.<a name='more'></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
Long form:<br />
<br />
Adam Joseph, prior to 2000, made a very important point: <a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/reasons-to-be-skeptical-subscribers-are.html">Members are not subscribers</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
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I checked with a friend who is a long-time "Skeptic", and he still claims that "to become a member, subscribe to the magazine". Later I discovered he'd been an early Secretary of the NSW Association and he gave me some reasons they "did not have open membership".</div>
</div>
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The Association returns for Y0133609 lodged in 2010 and 2011 declare 15 and 16 members respectively. Somewhat at odds with the "4,000" <i>members</i>, not subscribers, claimed on the public website and the 25-35% you'd expect to be members of the New South Wales Association.</div>
</div>
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The central technique relied upon by Barry Williams as President and Editor for 20+ years, and the Committee of Y0133609, is maintaining the confusion of meaning between the terms:</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>"Australian Skeptics", either the collection of people in Australia who self-identify as Skeptics, or the Unincorporated Entity which is the "loose confederation of groups" and might once have been headed by "The National Committee", and</li>
<li>"Australian Skeptics Inc", NSW registered Association Y0133609.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i>Nomenclature</i>: I will use "AS" to mean the Unincorporated Entity or collection of people in Australia, and "AS-Inc" to mean the NSW Association.</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
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The confusion remans and appears very deliberate and intentional, my reasons follow.</div>
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<br /></div>
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That the confusion could be very quickly & easily resolved, <i>and</i> that those in NSW know, is shown by their use of the (bogus) Association name: "NSW Skeptics Inc" in 1996 and twice in 2009.</div>
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There are two obvious benefits arising from maintaining this on-going confusion:</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Control of the NSW Association, which owns the cash-generating Magazine, website and associated Intellectual Property, which resides with the current small group to do with as they please, and</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Control of the ~$1.5M Whalley bequest at the heart of the ASSEF, "THE AUSTRALIAN SKEPTICS SCIENCE AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION LIMITED" ACN: 088 875 772, a Company Limited by Guarantee [that started out as a Trust].</li>
</ul>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Following advertisements, at least in "the Skeptic", addition bequests were made to the ASSEF, as noted by the Editoral (pg 5) of "the Skeptic" <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2007/3.pdf">2007, Issue #3</a>. The total value of the fund is unknown.</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Stephen Robjohns lived near Adelaide and Stephen Rasmussen lived in Melbourne; both had been subscribers for more than 15 years, and neither had ever attended any of our functions.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Sadly, both of them died within the past year and both of them left substantial bequests to the Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation in their wills.</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The only financial report for the ASSEF I could find in "the Skeptic" was<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1996/4.pdf"> 1996 Issue #4</a>, pg 63, authored by Harry Edwards. That these reports disappeared seems odd, given that Whalley was a Queenslander and the bequest was intended to the "Australian Skeptics", not solely a very small, unrepresentative NSW Association.</div>
</div>
</div>
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Barry Williams for his ~20 years as President/Editor then paid Editor/Executive Officer studiously referred to people as "subscribers", not members - as seen above when referring to the two new bequests. He, and the other small group of members of Y0133609 have never clarified this situation.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The Australian Computer Society, to whom Office Bearers and Committee members belong, provides a good model for the information a multi-tiered National+State Body should present for reasonable Openness and Transparency:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Accurate and complete lists of Office Bearers of all Bodies, National and (State) Branches.</li>
<li>A clear picture of the structure and interrelationships of the Bodies and responsibilities/reporting obligations of each office bearer.</li>
<li>Single, clear membership association [one fee, plus 'what branch do I belong to?'] and public entrance requirements and a common assessment process. </li>
<li>Public and transparent AGM's, Financial reporting, Office Bearer Elections and prompt, public publishing of results. "One Vote, One Value".</li>
<li>Reporting of membership numbers in Total and by Branch, circulation numbers of publications.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b>Does the current website perpetuate this fiction?</b></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
How would an <i>Ordinary Reasonable Reader</i> interpret <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/how-to-join/">the "How to Join" page</a>?:</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>How to Join</b></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To join Australian Skeptics, subscribe to our quarterly magazine <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/publications/magazine/"><i>the Skeptic</i></a> or <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/contact/">contact</a> one of the many active Skeptics groups and activities around the country.</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
My friend still suggests this means "subscribers are members", which I think is exactly the how an "ordinary reasonable reader" (ORR) would interpret this and how, I contend, it is <i>meant</i> to be read.</div>
</div>
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The term "Australian Skeptics", especially with the payment of a subscription fee, would be taken to mean by the ORR that they've joined the group who run the website, publish the magazine and organise national events, like the conference and "TAM". The group that self-identifies in common parlance as "Australian Skeptics", not the precise, registered name of Y0133609, "Australian Skeptics Inc".</div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Which of the two meanings applies in the "How to Join" page, AS or AS-Inc?</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>A generous interpretation is just the Collection of people was meant and that AS-Inc was not meant or implied.</li>
<li>A harsh interpretation is the "Inc" was deliberately left off to perpetuate the current illusion and keep people from realising they may not be members of <i>any</i> Association if they did not actively and separately join.</li>
<ul>
<li>Since 2000 when Adam Joseph went public with his claim, the Committee of Y0133609 and Barry Williams as Editor/Executive Officer, have <i>known</i> there was a confusion of terms and that ordinary <i>subscribers</i> were unaware they were not <i>members of AS-Inc.</i></li>
<li>The 2009 publication of "NSW Skeptics Inc" signals that both the Editor and Committee are very aware that a different name <i>could</i> be used.</li>
<li>More of the intent of the NSW Committee is revealed in the 2nd link, the "Contact" page.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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There is a very big question relating to intent that arises about the wording, given that the Committee of Y0133609 have provably <i>known</i> for a decade or more that there is widespread, perhaps universal confusion amongst <i>subscribers</i>, that "subscribers are members".</div>
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Why haven't they brought confusion this to the attention of subscribers in either the "How to Join" or "Contacts" page?</div>
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<li>Is the lack of a sentence to that effect evidence of negligence, oversight, sloppiness or carelessness, or</li>
<li><i>Is this a deliberate action? </i></li>
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Neither set of choices, given the extent of the misunderstanding and the time that's passed since it was made public, is acceptable performance.</div>
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The website "<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/contact/">Contact Page" </a>reads:</div>
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... Australian Skeptics also have very active groups across the country. The groups are affiliated but independent. ...</div>
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<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/contact/nsw/">New South Wales</a>The NSW group is known as Australian Skeptics, Inc. Australian Skeptics, Inc publishes this website and a quarterly magazine,<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/publications/magazine"><i> the Skeptic</i></a>. … <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/contact/nsw/">Group details</a> »</div>
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This very clearly tells us three things:</div>
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<li>The website owners/creators (the Committee of Y0133609) can be very precise in their use of language (AS-Inc not AS)</li>
<li>they understand the distinction between AS and AS-Inc and when they want or need, can and will distinguish between them.</li>
<li>they explicitly link the website and publication of the magazine to the Y0133609, <i>not</i> anyone/anything else.</li>
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Following the clear instructions on the "How to Join" page would lead an "ordinary reasonable reader" who lives in Sydney, NSW, to believe they only need to subscribe to become a member of Y0133609. Would they also realise they need to explicitly apply to become a member and use the details on the contacts page, which on the face of it, is identical in form and content to all the other groups' pages?</div>
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Yet the NSW Association "Contacts" page does not contain a caveat or notice that<i> membership is not open</i>.<i> If the Committee of Y0133609 has known for 10+ years of this confusion [subscribers are not members] why have they not added the few words needed on the "How to Join" and "Contacts" page?</i></div>
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We know from the Association Returns that Y0133609 maintains a very small membership (15-16).</div>
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We know from Adam Joseph's 2000 piece that he and others attempted to become members, <i>and were refused.</i> There is no published process on becoming a member, not a mere magazine subscriber, of Y0133609 There are announcements of "Honorary Life Members" made in "the Skeptic'. A collected list is <a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/australian-skeptics-inc-2012-update.html">included at the end of the 2012 update</a>.</div>
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There was only one amendment to the Model Association Rules by the NSW Association in 1987, to allow more than 3 ordinary members to be co-opted to the Committee without election.</div>
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But the Model Rules from 1987 and the current Model Constitution only have one class of membership: there are no provisions for "Life Members". If Life Members can be appointed, how does this happen and if they can ever be expelled are undefined. Does this ambiguity or omission mean they are not members of good standing?</div>
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In spite of this lack and the on-going confusion, "subscribers are not members", nothing is written in this relevant place to alert potential members of the impediments if they wish to become <i>members</i>.</div>
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Over the last decade, it is inconceivable to me that <i>nobody</i> has attempted to gain formal membership of the NSW Association. The people that self-identify as <i>Sceptics</i>, are detailed oriented and self-describe as "Critical Thinkers" who question everything.</div>
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Again the question, <i>how the can this be interpreted and can anything be deduced about the intents of the authors?</i></div>
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<ul>
<li>Is there a generous interpretation that isn't negligence or worse? or</li>
<li>Are we very close to only have a harsh interpretation?</li>
<ul>
<li><i>That the omissions are deliberate and intentionally misleading and/or deceptive?</i></li>
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Finally the<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/us/"> "Who we Are" page</a>. The term "Australian Skeptics" or its contraction, "Skeptics", appears 9 times. The page is edited for clarity to highlight their use and numbered for disambiguation:</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ol>
<li>Australian Skeptics is a loose confederation of groups across Australia that ...</li>
<li>If you’ve never heard of the Australian Skeptics before then you should also take time to read our aims.</li>
<li>There are Skeptics groups across Australia. See the contact page for more information.</li>
<li>The Australian Skeptics are supported by donations and subscriptions from more than 4000 members, consisting of people drawn from a vast variety of age groups, cultures and professions.</li>
<li>Many state and regional groups of the Australian Skeptics have their own local newsletters and often ... and other recreational activities.</li>
<li>You’ll occasionally find the Skeptics in newspapers, on television, or on the radio analysing or debunking some mysterious claim.</li>
<li>If you’re interested in joining the Australian Skeptics or just contacting us for any reason, please see our How To Join page or the contact page.</li>
<li>The Australian Skeptics publish a quarterly magazine named the Skeptic. Since 1981, the Skeptic has reported and reviewed issues ...</li>
<li>The Skeptics host an annual national convention which ...</li>
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The meaning of items 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 9 are either unequivocally "the collection of people" or without distinction between AS/AS-Inc.</div>
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Terms 4 and 7 have critically different meanings depending the two terms, AS and AS-Inc.</div>
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Term 8 is unequivocally AS-Inc, both to those "in the know" and as very precisely stated on "Contacts" page, AS-Inc and only AS-Inc (Y0133609) publishes the magazine.</div>
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Term 9, the running of a national convention, hasn't been disambiguated elsewhere in the site. Y0133609 make no claims about ownership of this event, so the general AS interpretation is reasonable.</div>
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Do the authors intend a single meaning of "Australian Skeptic" within the page, <i>or do they swap meanings of the term, without indication, through the page?:</i></div>
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<ul>
<li>The conflict between the two terms where the meanings are unequivocal, Term 1 and Term 8, says that the page was either negligently, even accidentally, constructed to be confusing, or was deliberately designed that way.</li>
<li>The direction in Term 7 to the other pages, "How to Join" and "Contacts"<i> says the three sets of pages are constructed as a set.</i> That is, all three pages should be read together, either by an "ordinary reasonable reader" or a forensic reader.</li>
<li>Term 7 can reasonably be read as "any of the Skeptic groups" and while AS-Inc would be extremely misleading, examining it doesn't progress this line of argument [7 now ignored].</li>
<li>Term 4, the claim of "4,000 <i>members</i>" can be construed as "the collection of people" not AS-Inc, but that throws the focus onto "members" not the very carefully chosen "subscribers" used consistently throughout all issues of the magazine, "the Skeptic".</li>
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This leads to another task, interpreting the meaning in Term 4 of "members", <i>is it closer to "subscribers" or the technically precise "registered member of a group or Association"?</i></div>
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A simplification is to just consider people from New South Wales. Whilst this doesn't capture the people from other states who believe the "How to Join" page that subscribing leads to membership, it does identify a meaningful group.</div>
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In the main, Y0133609 is Sydney based, with two much smaller localities: Hunter Region and "Victoria Borderline". Elsewhere I've estimated 25-35% the 4,000 subscriber-members (1,000-1,500) claimed in Term 4 will be from New South Wales. But with the closed membership of Y0133609, there is no local group or Association for them to join, should they wish to do so.</div>
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The question for the Regulators is: <i>what status do the orphaned 1,000-1,500 NSW subscriber non-members have?</i></div>
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<ul>
<li>They clearly self-identify as (Australian) "Sceptics".</li>
<li>They have a reasonable expectation from the "How to join" page, that their subscription and fee grants them membership to <i>something</i>.</li>
<li>In a real sense, as subscribers they are members of the "collection of Sceptics within Australia", but so are a rather larger set of non-subscribers.</li>
<li>They are not <i>members</i>, de facto or formal, of any group or Association, nor can they all become members of Y0133609. It has 15 or 16 formal <i>members</i>. <i>Whither the remaining ~1,000?</i></li>
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<i>Are these orphaned subscriber-members merely members of the General Public?</i> They certainly have no standing with the registered Association, nor even as an informal group.</div>
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The NSW Associations Incorporation Act has as in its objects:</div>
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to establish a scheme for the registration of associations that are constituted for the purpose of engaging in small-scale, non-profit and non-commercial activities ...</div>
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Selling at least 1,000 subscriptions to members of the General Public, even those who self-identify as sympathisers, at $40,000+/year seems to me to be a Commercial activity, not minor or incidental activity.</div>
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In light of this, selling Magazine subscriptions appears to me to be one of, if not the, prime activities of "Australian Skeptics Inc". This is borne out by the proportion of its operations revenue derived from the Magazine and that its sole paid employee and largest single expense, is the Editor/Executive Officer.</div>
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<i>Taking this as the motivation and business model of Y0133609, then</i><i> questions of intent and the various meanings of the term "Australian Skeptic" spread across the website are clear:</i></div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>the confusion of the two names, <i>"Australian Skeptic"</i> and <i>"Australian Skeptic Inc"</i> is deliberate and intentional, it doesn't alert subscribers they are not members.</li>
<li>it is necessary to preserve the Status Quo of the last 25 years with Office Bearers and the Committee being elected by a small, well-know group of formal <i>members</i>,</li>
<li>the "<i>subscribers are not members</i>" meme must be preserved and kept secret for the current 16 members to maintain control of Y0133609, and</li>
<li>keeping up the appearance of "subscribers are members" avoids the embarrassment and legal inconveniences of being declared a Commercial undertaking.</li>
</ul>
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Without reconciling the Magazine subscriber list with membership records of all of the "loosely confederated groups", it is impossible to ascertain the exact proportion of non-member subscribers.</div>
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As this would require co-operation of the regulators across many jurisdictions, it is very likely to ever happen.</div>
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BUT, the <i>General Public</i> subscriber non-members of NSW are easy to identify and its trivial to remove the 15/16 members of AS-Inc. This can be ordered by a single Regulator, the NSW Registrar of Associations.</div>
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If the NSW Association was a legitimate non-commercial operation, the steps needed to clean-up the current confused state are simple and obvious:</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li>Rename the NSW Association to "NSW Skeptics Inc" (as they've already used)</li>
<li>Take all existing NSW subscribers as the initial Association membership,</li>
<li>hold a Special General Meeting of the new membership to elect new Office Bearers, and</li>
<li>across the three linked pages on the website, replace all relevant instances of "Australian Skeptics" with "NSW Skeptics Inc".</li>
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and creates a nightmare for physical assembly, as required by AGM's.</div>
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-15734480434305849472012-05-19T18:43:00.000+10:002014-07-14T10:28:03.297+10:00By Sate percentages subscribers to The Skeptic, 1996.This 1996 article appears to indicate the then relative number of subscribers per State to <i>the Skeptic</i>.<br />
<br />
Vol 16, No 4 the skeptic p 63 [1996]<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<i>Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation Report</i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Per capita grants have been made to Australian Skeptics groups as follows:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">NSW Skeptics Inc. (Including Hunter) $12,175.</span>VIC Skeptics Inc. $10,950<br />
QLD Skeptics. $3,575<br />
ACT Skeptics. $6,725<br />
SA Skeptics. $6,375<br />
WA Skeptics. $1,375<br />
TAS Skeptics. $725<br />
Total: $41,900</blockquote>
Which suggests the percentages of subscribers are:<br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
NSW<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>29%<br />
VIC<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>26%<br />
QLD<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>8%<br />
ACT<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>16%<br />
SA<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>15%<br />
WA<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3.25%<br />
TAS<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1.75%</blockquote>
<br />
<hr />
<br />
If the "capitation amount" was $25 per subscriber,<br />
there would have been 1676 total, 438 in NSW and 29 in TAS.<br />
<br />
QLD's 143, WA's 55 and ACT's 269 are anomalous: they don't reflect population size.<br />
<br />
It was later noted that QLD had a large increase in membership.<br />
By population, you'd expect between SA and VIC, and WA at least the size of SA.</div>
steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-40095570279340300722012-05-12T15:19:00.001+10:002014-07-14T10:28:34.914+10:00Questions for Y0133609, Australian Skeptics Inc.Arising <a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/financial-reports-as-filed-for-nsw.html">from their Financial Reports</a>, there are a number of serious questions the Office Bearers and 16 members of NSW Association Y0133609, "Australian Skeptics Inc" need to answer:<br />
<ul>
<li>The Primary <i>Activity</i> of Y0133609 has been to publish the magazine, <i>The Skeptic.</i></li>
<li>The Primary <i>Purpose</i> of Y0133609 has been the activities and finances related to the magazine.</li>
<li>Y0133609 has been carrying on a significant <i>Commercial activity</i> in selling the magazine to the Public.</li>
<li>The Office Bearers of Y0133609 have been seriously remiss and derelict in their duties:</li>
<ul>
<li>The failure to lodge returns from 1996-1999. Once is an accident, more is not.</li>
<li>The minimalist account data provided in the 1996-1999 returns, if presented to members, would not allow them to create a full and informed view of the Association activities or operations as can be shown by earlier and later accounts. If fuller accounts were presented to members, why would they not be filed?</li>
<li>The failure to lodge returns for the <i>following</i> 10 years. This is negligence, incompetence or deliberate - any and all of which should be enough to dismiss the Committee and appoint an Administrator.</li>
<li>The failure to lodge returns for the years GST was paid, 2001, 2002 and accounts must have been prepared for ATO filings.</li>
<li>Failure to notify a change of Public Officer for 5 years.</li>
<li>Trading using the Association name, bank accounts and credit card for the ~10mths De-Registered period, 25-May-2009 to 06-Apr-2010.</li>
</ul>
<li>The structure and name do not reflect the Association Activities.<a name='more'></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>
The Primary Activity of Y0133609 has been to publish the magazine, <i>The Skeptic.</i></h3>
The percentage of operating revenue directly attributed to Magazine Subscriptions was ~55% pre-1997, after which a full-time Editor/Executive Officer was appointed. It was then clearly their major financial activity and focus at the time, potentially their primary Activity.<br />
<br />
The announcement of the appointment of a full-time paid Editor in <i>The Skeptic</i>, 1996 #4, very precisely outlines the reasons and expected outcomes, demonstrating precisely the Associations attitude to the Magazine: it was their primary activity. It also clearly annunciates that this publication is seen as a <i>magazine of general interest, </i>not a simple internal newsletter.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(p5) As indicated in the previous issue, changes are happening both to the Skeptic and in the organisation of Australian Skeptics. Partially as a result of the higher profile Australian Skeptics has achieved through its support of the Eureka Prizes, the Mt Stromlo Science Exploratory and other public activities encouraging critical and scientific thinking, and partly as the result of targeted advertising in New Scientist and other publications, we have achieved an increase in subscribers of almost 30% in the past four months.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I joined the newly formed Australian Skeptics in 1980. When the first magazine emerged as a four-page broadsheet, we had a few score of subscribers<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This has been by far the largest increase we have achieved in our 17 years of existence, and it affords us a great deal of satisfaction.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> It became apparent that, if the organisation was to continue to grow, then it was necessary for the Skeptics to employ a full-time executive officer and editor.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At a meeting on November 16, the committee of Australian Skeptics Inc considered and approved a proposition that a person be employed to carry out the administrative, public relations and editorial functions of Australian Skeptics. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Included in the job description are:<br />
<ul>
<li>requirements to increase the frequency of the Skeptic (from the beginning of 1998) to six issues per year; </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>to increase our subscriber base to such an extent that the magazine can, in the future, be sold through newsagents;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>to act as a resource for the various state and regional committees; and</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>to be available to provide information to the media and the public in furtherance of our aims.</li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The committee further agreed that the position should be offered to me and that I be employed as a full time officer of Australian Skeptics from January 1, 1997. Any rumours that I held the committee at gunpoint until they agreed to offer me the position should be greeted with grave scepticism (it was the Semtex I strapped to their legs that did the job).<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As a result of my acceptance of this office, the presidency of Australian Skeptics Inc became vacant and, in an election, Dr Richard Gordon was elected unopposed.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The number of subscribers continued to grow slowly and, by the end of 1990, was approaching 800.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 1990, personal circumstances forced Tim to give up editing the magazine and he asked me to take over. I agreed, just for one issue, but something happened and this issue is my 26th.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Since 1990, the magazine has grown to a regular 68 pages and subscriptions have increased to almost 2000, with the increase this year being the largest in our history.<br />
I am proud of the fact that the Skeptic is now one of the three largest Skeptical publications in the world, and is widely regarded as one of the best. Our renewal rate of better than 85%, is comparable with the best for any magazine.</blockquote>
<br />
In 2003/2004, well into the full-time Editor era, subscriptions were around 75% of revenue, rising to near 80% in 200/2010, despite income from a State events, National Conference, Eureka Prizes, "TAM", DVD sales and other merchandise.<br />
The 2011 figures are around 40%. Is this an aberration of a long-overdue correction? We can't know yet.<br />
[The 92% of 2005 has to be regarded as an anomaly]<br />
<br />
The appointment of the same individual to Editor and Executive Officer does not necessarily conflate the two, nor imply that the publication is the <i>Principal Activity</i>.<br />
<br />
We can see the mind and intent of the Editor/Executive Officer and those who appointed him, and to whom he reported as an employee, in both the financial results over the years (the increasing percentage of operating revenues) and the emphasis and focus on the magazine, not other activities, in the 1996 announcement.<br />
<br />
This same emphasis on the magazine and the number of subscribers, to the near exclusion of all other activities, is followed in all Editorials until the end of 2008 when the inaugural paid Editor left.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Primary Purpose of Y0133609 has been the magazine and the activities and finances related to it.</h3>
This is an argument about a <i>Primary</i>, not <i>Sole</i>, purpose. After 25 years of publishing, there should be a good deal of evidence, in the form of words and actions, to demonstrate what they <i>do</i>, not just say they do or intended to do as stated in their Aims and Objects.<br />
<br />
What is the difference between <i>Activity</i> and <i>Purpose</i>?<br />
From the New Oxford American Dictionary:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Their purposes</i>: intention, aim, object,objective, goal, end, plan, scheme, target; ambition, aspiration.<br />
<i>Activity</i>: a thing that a person or group does or has done.</blockquote>
Is there anything on the public record that gives us a good indication?<br />
Yes. the official publication of Y0133609, <i>the Skeptic</i>, which since 2009 self-describes as the "Quarterly Organ of Australian Skeptics Inc" qualifies. There are currently 81 full copies on-line (1990-2010 + 2011 #1)<br />
<br />
There are six areas to examine :<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Capability</i>: Just what can an Association of 16 volunteers, with one full-time employee <i>do</i>? <i>Purpose</i> is suggested by where they choose to bring their limited effort and resources to bear. A largish quarterly magazine with good production values by itself would tax their resources.</li>
<li><i>Nomenclature</i>: Very particular language is used to describe those paying a fee to Y0133609, whom might ordinarily think they are part of a general membership: 'subscribers' not 'members', 'sceptics' (individuals not Sceptics, the Collective), 'fellow sceptics' or 'critical thinkers', 'comrades' or 'compatriots'.</li>
<li><i>Financial activity</i>: Whilst there are some projects like "TAM", the (rotating) national conference and a couple of "World Congresses", most of Y0133609's revenue is spent on its Primary Activity: the magazine. The flip side of this is that local groups charge their own membership fees. The accounts show only sparodic, variable "grants" to the local groups - indicating that subscription fees to <i>the Skeptic</i> constitute nothing more than a fee for the magazine.</li>
<li><i>Editorial Content</i>: There was a lot of content, often around renewal time, dedicated to drumming up more subscriptions and renewals. For a time they were pushing half-price "Gift Subscriptions". Subscription matters has been a consistent focus of editorials.</li>
<li><i>Editorial Space</i>: I found one of 81 editorial focussing on activities that regional groups could undertake to keep themselves going and invigorated.</li>
<li><i>Space allocated elsewhere</i>: What other activities of Y0133609 or the other groups were reported? For a time there were regular "Branch News" reports, but <i>never</i> a NSW report. There were reports on large projects as well, like "TAM" or the "World Congress". What seemed to be the most advertised and reported non-publishing activity of Y0133609 was the "NSW Dinners". But I saw exceedingly little space dedicated to other activities apart from the occasional large project run by Y0133609 or not. Projects not run by Y0133609 cannot be considered part of their activities and hence are not their purpose.</li>
<li><i>Promoting membership of the related groups</i>: This is almost non-existent.</li>
</ul>
The most surprising thing are the omissions, the sorts of things you'd expect in a magazine meant for the members of an Association, especially a national body implicit in the name "Australian Skeptics Inc", rather than what you'd expect for a general circulation niche publication:<br />
<ul>
<li>The "From the President" column was discontinued in 1995 after 4 years when the Editor became the full-time Editor/Executive Officer and issued "Editorials" instead. The only pieces from Office Bearers had nothing to do with Association matters or members interests.</li>
<li>A column published entitled "Getting Involved" was published <i>once</i>. A national body with local groups trying to build and sustain <i>an active membership</i>, not a subscriber base for a magazine, would have this as a regular feature.</li>
<li>The absence of Association procedural items, like notices of AGM's and Elections, mandated reports (President, Secretary, Treasurer) and lists of Office Bearers. These may have been included as separate inserts, but this whilst some inserts are mentioned, these never are.</li>
</ul>
Contrast this with the amount of editorial comment on subscriptions, increasing the subscriber base and renewal rates. All these are prime interests of a public magazine, and merely important to an Association members-only publication.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Subscribers, not Members.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
You have to remember that Y0133609 declares <i>16 members</i>, versus the website claim of "Australian Skeptics" [<i>not</i> Y0133609] having "4000 members". Whereas in the magazine, I could only find one reference to the general membership as "members", otherwise they've been consistently called "subscribers". The phrase "committee member" or "member(s) of the committee" is also consistently used, indicating there is no confusion between the meaning of the two words.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2ndcoming/editorials.pdf">1990 #3</a>, the editor writes: "I wish to thank all those <i>members of the Skeptics </i>[italics added] who have been so kind with their condolences.", which is the only reference to potentially the general membership, not just committees, which didn't use the term "subscribers".<br />
<br />
That this term has been used by the editors so consistently for so long, with only one early slip, suggests a very clear world view: the people who read <i>the Skeptic</i>, for whom it is produced and are its target audience, are <i>subscribers</i> in the true publishing sense and have always been so in the minds of the editors and publishers.<br />
<br />
The use of the term <i>subscribers</i> is so pervasive that it shows up in Letters to self-describe correspondents whom would be calling themselves members of other Associations.<br />
<br />
There is also the curiously low turnover of Office Bearers, highlighted by "<i>all four individuals who have presided over NSW Skeptics in its 25 years".</i> Many Associations, especially for National Committees, have strictly limited terms for Office Bearers to prevent individuals or groups 'capturing' the organisation.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
1994 # 1: "A Statement of Purpose", Editorial.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It is, of course, the right of any Skeptic to be concerned about these issues and the magazine provides a forum for the airing of these concerns.<br />
As both the president of the national committee and as the editor of the Skeptic, I feel it is important to make it clear how I see the role of the organisation and the publishing policy of the Skeptic.<br />
Australian Skeptics is an organisation which chooses, as the Aims make clear, “to investigate paranormal, pseudoscientific and similarly anomalous phenomena from a responsible, scientific point of view”.<br />
Included in this definition is the right to challenge the use of genuine science to draw unwarranted conclusions.<br />
However, while Australian Skeptics approaches these issues using the tools of science and critical enquiry, it is not a learned scientific society with a narrow focus on any particular scientific area.<br />
It is an organisation whose audience comprises those sections of the professional and lay public who are interested in scientific matters and who question claims or assertions which rely on dogmatic explanations.<br />
While scepticism is an essential tool for the scientist, a comprehensive knowledge of science is not essential for a sceptic.<br />
The organisation does not involve itself in political, social, religious or other issues, unless they exhibit a paranormal or pseudoscientific dimension.<br />
Australian Skeptics has no dogma; it is not politically correct; nor does it prescribe moral stances, for such attitudes are the very antithesis of scepticism.<br />
It does not take positions on issues, it only asks that any position that is taken be supported by evidence.<br />
Australian Skeptics is an organisation for sceptics, not for ideologues.</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
1994 #3: "A Brief History of the Australian Skeptics"</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Editorship passed to Janet de Silva in 1983, followed by Anne Tuohy in 1985 and moved to Sydney under the pen of Tim Mendham in November 1986. At this time, Mark Plummer went to the USA to become CSICOP’s Executive Director, and the New South Wales branch committee became the National Committee with Barry Williams at the helm. By late 1987, Tim, who was wearing five hats - editor, secretary, archivist, treasurer and shouldering the responsibility for back issues, wilted under the strain.</blockquote>
<br />
1996 #3: "New Subscribers"<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I can tell you that Barry Williams [our redoubtable editor and NSW president] and Kathy Butler [Victorian president] are just about bursting with joy at the number of new subscriptions that have been arriving via the Internet. At least 28 individual email requests to join the Australian Skeptics have arrived, and Barry informs me that many more have been arriving from people who have used their own PC to print the subscription form directly from the Web page.<br />
With this many new subscribers, the Internet domain has almost paid for itself.</blockquote>
<br />
1996 # 4: "Time for a Change", Editorial.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I am proud of the fact that the Skeptic is now one of the three largest Skeptical publications in the world, and is widely regarded as one of the best. Our renewal rate of better than 85%, is comparable with the best for any magazine. In my new role, it is my aim to continue the improv ments in both the quality and the appearance of the magazine, and, with your continuing support, I expect to succeed.</blockquote>
<br />
2006 #1: "NSW Skeptics Dinner Meetings"<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The occasion, incidentally, was one at which <i>all four individuals who have presided over NSW Skeptics in its 25 years</i>, were present. The photo of this curious conjunction, above, given the expressions on the faces of Messrs (L to R) Gordon, Hadley, Saunders and Williams, possibly has something to say about the burdens of incumbency compared with the relief that comes from retirement.</blockquote>
<br />
"A Statment of Purpose" [sic], Editorial 1994 #1<br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1994/1.pdf">http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1994/1.pdf</a><br />
<br />
"A Brief History of the Australian Skeptics" 1994 # 3, by Harry
Edwards, Life Member, now ex-communicated.<br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1994/3.pdf">http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1994/3.pdf</a><br />
<br />
"Time for a Change", Editoral 1996 #4. p5<br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1996/4.pdf">http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/1996/4.pdf</a><br />
<br />
"To be a Skeptic", Editorial 2007 #1. Outlines their position<br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2007/1.pdf">http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2007/1.pdf</a><br />
<br />
And the top/tail Editorials of the editorial change-over: the departure of the 20+
year President/Editor/Executive Officer ("the only Professional
Skeptic in Australia." ie. paid) <br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2008/1.pdf">http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2008/1.pdf</a><br />
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2008/4.pdf">http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2008/4.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<br />
In summary, the term 'subscriber' not 'member' is used consistently in the magazine produced as the main activity of Y0133609 quite intentionally, and it appears, correctly. The 99+% of non-member subscribers were just paying for a magazine, nothing more, despite the small, random 'grants' to other groups. The small membership of Y0133609, and the even smaller cohort who've been Office Bearers, do not have the resources, time or staff to undertake any other major activity besides producing the magazine. The on-going content and Editorial statements reinforces this view.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Y0133609 has been carrying on a significant Commercial activity in selling the magazine to the Public.</h3>
From the 2010 and 2011 returns (15 and 16 members declared), we now <i>know</i> that the assertion made in <a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/index-to-reasons-to-be-skeptical-inside.html">Reasons to be Skeptical</a>, <i>Subscribers are not Members</i>, is true.<br />
<br />
From <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/us/">the current website</a>, they are "a loose confederation of groups across Australia", not a federated group of Associations with a system of representatives reporting to a notional National Body, like <a href="http://www.abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?abn=53156305487">the Australian Computer Society Inc.</a> (ABN: 53 156 305 487) who since the late 1960's have operated as a set of related Associations, not under ASIC as a Company Limited by Guarantee (as does the ACS's related Foundation).<br />
<br />
The A.C.S. is an important comparison for two reasons: the length of time they've operated as a set of State Branches with a National body, and that a number of Y0133609's Office Bearers, including Presidents, were members and/or Office Bearers of the A.C.S.<br />
Y0133609 had a perfect model for Branches+National Body+representative processes that was very well understood by their Office Bearers, yet they chose not to implement it.<br />
<br />
If Y0133609 claims "all members of sister groups/associations are notional members of our Association", they need to explain both their website "loose confederation" statement and the lack of registration and administrative structures similar to the A.C.S., hence selling to Y0133609 and members of 'sister bodies' could be construed as providing a magazine to only members, and as such, is not a Commercial activity.<br />
But how do they explain for 25-years years not allowing those other members any representation Nationally? Would such a public statement allow the notional branches to sue for lack of access?<br />
<br />
If Y0133609 claims "there is no branch structure" and they have no suits to answer, then they can only claim their members (16 of 4000 subscribers) as non-Commercial subscribers. Or 99.6% of subscriptions are <i>sold</i> to non-members, who under the Act are the General Public.<br />
A clear Commercial Activity and directly against the Objects of the Act.<br />
<br />
If the NSW Associations Registrar grants that Y0133609 notionally represents all members of Sceptics groups around Australia, then they still have a real problem:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
To what group do non-member subscribers in New South Wales belong? We know from the filings that Y0133609 only has 15-16 <i>members,</i> yet 4000 subscribers are claimed now, and is consistent with numbers released over 20 years in <i>The Skeptic</i>.</blockquote>
Under the Act and the default model Rules and now Constitution that apply to Y0133609, there is no provision for "non-member subscribers", they can only be counted as members of the General Public. The point of allowing Associations to Incorporate is that individuals have to <i>explicitly</i> <i>join</i>, they are not, and cannot be, automatically included because they self-identify as sympathisers or groups that can be identified as sharing characteristics. <i>Formal membership,</i> not sympathisers, is enshrined in the legislation in many ways (elections and voting rights, AGM attendance, member register, rights to examine records/registers, standing as Office Bearers, admittance and disciplinary/expulsion processes, ...).<br />
<br />
Without access to the members register of Y0133609 and <i>The Skeptic's</i> subscriber list, we cannot <i>know</i> the precise count of non-member subscribers in New South Wales. This group of members of the General Public will not naturally join any of the other Associations (maybe one of the two informal groups in the Hunter or NSW-VIC border regions).<br />
<br />
Extrapolating from ABS population data, you'd expect around 40% of National subscribers to be from New South Wales. If there were "network effects" present, they may be over-represented as a group because of the major events held in Sydney over the years would attract more locals who'd bring in their families, friends and acquaintances.<br />
<br />
A reasonable estimate is 25-35% of the 4000 subscribers to<i> The Skeptic</i> are residents of New South Wales who could reasonably expect to be members of Y0133609, but are not, and are not members of any of the other registered Associations. [<a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/by-sate-percentages-subscribers-to.html">1996 base of ~30%</a> +/- 5%]<br />
<br />
Intentionally selling 25-35% (1,000-1,500) of the magazine subscriptions to members of the General Public <i>must</i> constitute a Commercial Activity. It was both deliberate and large-scale, not incidental or, like selling to libraries or 'gift subscriptions', incidental.<br />
<br />
Even more so when coupled with the public statements in support of a full-time paid Editor in <i>The Skeptic</i>, 1996 #4 of increasing to 6 issues a year and selling through Newsagents.<br />
<br />
This was a clearly articulated strategy, presumably backed by a business plan and continuing reporting to the Committee of Y0133609.<br />
This is irrefutable and unambiguous evidence that the Committee, Office Bearers and paid Editor/Executive Officer all concurred and all considered the magazine to be on sale to the General Public and its was at least revenue-neutral, if not a profit-centre : i.e. it was a Commercial Activity.<br />
<br />
The magazine advertised the sale of merchandise and events by Y0133609 as well as accepted advertisements for goods and services by third parties, in the style of fully commercial magazines, not mere member publications.<br />
<br />
Taken together, these three arguments (no State Branches, NSW subscribers, sell through Newsagents) make a powerful case for the deliberate, long-term running of a significant Commercial Activity, the promotion and publishing/sale of <i>The Skeptic</i> to non-members, in direct contravention of the objects of the NSW Associations Incorporation Act (1984 and 2009).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Office Bearers of Y0133609 have been seriously remiss and derelict in their duties.</h3>
<div>
There is a very clear and disturbing pattern of behaviour beginning in 1996, a very cavalier approach to their duties and jobs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The duties of the Public Officer and Office Bearers towards the NSW Associations Registrar have not been fulfilled. The failure to lodge any documents for 10 years should seen as an egregious act and outrageous behaviour.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Y0133609 has only had two Public Officers:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>start to 21-July-1997: Timothy Mendham</li>
<li>21-July-1997 to 10-Dec-2009: Richard Lead</li>
<li>10-Dec-2009 to current: Timothy Mendham</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
The only problem is that Mr Lead was prominent in <i>The Skeptic,</i> even being described as 'Treasurer and a Treasure' until the end of 2003, then is never mentioned again. Like other ejectees before him that we know were formally expelled expelled (Harry Edwards), we know nothing of Mr Lead after 2003, expect that he failed to perform his duties as Public Officer.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Trading for the better part of a year whilst the Association <i>did not exist</i>, seems like systematic misrepresentation at best or at worst fraud to me. From the financial records of those two years, we see no mention of two sets of accounts or <i>bank accounts/credit card facilities</i>, as would be necessary if the Association did cease to trade and other arrangements were made.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We know that the Editors and Office Bearers/Committee were complicit and involved in these actions because of two things on public record:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>There is no mention of these rather dire organisational events within <i>The Skeptic</i>, rather the reverse, the Association name, ABN and address are still used to formally identify the publisher and for payments.</li>
<li>An act of commission, not omission: For two issues, the (bogus) association name, "NSW Skeptics Inc", was used to identify the group to contact if in New South Wales. This term, still bogus, was only used once previously, in issue #4 of 1996 , in reporting grants from the ASS&EF Foundation to the various bodies.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
This is negligence, incompetence or deliberate malfeasance - any and all of which should be cause for the NSW Association Registrar to at least dismiss the Committee and appoint an Administrator.</div>
<ul>
<li>The failure to lodge returns from 1996-1999. Once is an accident, more is not.</li>
<li>The minimalist account data provided in the 1996-1999 returns, if presented to members, would not allow them to create a full and informed view of the Association activities or operations as can be shown by earlier and later accounts. If fuller accounts were presented to members, why would they not filed? That inadequate accounts were presented to members and the Committee is supported by the <a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/reasons-to-be-skeptical-appendix-dr.html">1995 statement of Steve Roberts</a> questioning the competence of the Treasurer and labelling the accounts presented as "a farce". </li>
<li>The failure to lodge returns for the <i>following</i> 10 years. This can't have been accident.</li>
<li>The failure to lodge returns for the years GST was paid, 2001, 2002 and accounts must have been prepared for ATO filings.</li>
<li>Failure to notify a change of Public Officer for 5 years.</li>
<li>Trading using the Association name, bank accounts and credit card for the ~10mths De-Registered period, 25-May-2009 to 06-Apr-2010.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The structure and name do not reflect the Association Activities.</h3>
Restating and expanding the arguments from the section above, "carrying on a significant Commercial activity".<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
From the 2010 and 2011 returns (15 and 16 members declared), we now <i>know</i> that the assertion made in <a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/index-to-reasons-to-be-skeptical-inside.html">Reasons to be Skeptical</a>, <i>Subscribers are not Members</i>, is true. Since 2002, this has been generally published on the Internet and not refuted or challenged by Y0133609, its Office Bearers or any of the individuals involved.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Doubly strange because of the very strongly worded email response to the editor of the <i>Australian Rationalist</i>, and the law suit(s) that were undertaken within the group.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Was not pursuing the matter at all, let alone vigorously as promised an oversight, a tacit admission of fact or a loss of interest? Does this lack of action reflect on the thinking and intentions of Y0133609, its Office Bearers, Committee and employees? That's a question for others to consider.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
From <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/us/">the current website</a>, they are "a loose confederation of groups across Australia", not a federated group of Associations with a system of representatives reporting to a notional National Body, like <a href="http://www.abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?abn=53156305487">the Australian Computer Society Inc.</a> (ABN: 53 156 305 487) who since the late 1960's have operated as a set of related Associations, not under ASIC as a Company Limited by Guarantee (as does the ACS's related Foundation).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The A.C.S. is an important comparison for Y0133609 for two reasons:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>the length of time they've operated as a set of State Branches with a National body, and</li>
<li> that a number of Y0133609's Office Bearers, including Presidents, were members and/or Office Bearers of the A.C.S. </li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Y0133609 had a perfect model to follow in the A.C.S. for Branches + National Body + "representative processes" that was very well understood by their Office Bearers, yet they chose not to implement it. They cannot claim ignorance, especially with the number of highly qualified legal experts in the controlling group, explicitly or as known associates.<br />
<br />
Further evidence of not just poor co-operation, but potentially mutual ambivalence and/or antagonism is the lack of sub-domains on the website/DNS name.<br />
Since the website started, circa 1996, with the first webmaster/content creator from Victoria, they have setup the natural state-based sub-domains (e.g. qld.skeptics.com.au, vic.skeptics.com.au, ...). A sub-domain costs nothing extra and commits them to running nothing on their webserver. For the small groups with no website, the sub-domain could point to a free hosting service, even Google.<br />
<br />
Of the 10 groups listed on the contacts page, these are the websites noted on their individual pages:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Victoria: <a href="http://vicskeptics.wordpress.com/">vicskeptics.wordpress.com</a></li>
<li>South Australia: <a href="http://www.skepticssa.org.au/">www.skepticssa.org.au</a></li>
<li>Canberra: <a href="http://www.canberraskeptics.org.au/">www.canberraskeptics.org.au</a></li>
<li>Western Australia: <a href="http://www.undeceivingourselves.org/">www.undeceivingourselves.org</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
If Y0133609 claims "all members of sister groups/associations are notional members of our Association", they need to explain both their website "loose confederation" statement and the lack of registration and administrative structures similar to the A.C.S.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
How do they explain that for 25-years years they have not allowed members of notionally related Association any representation Nationally, as you'd expect from an organisation named "Australian Skeptics Inc", not "NSW Sketpics Inc"?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We have as evidence from about 1995, <a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/reasons-to-be-skeptical-appendix-dr.html">in the Steve Roberts questions</a>, two items:</div>
<ul>
<li>"National committee is confused with NSW committee" and</li>
<li>a seeming quote of: "declining to send me the full membership list (which had at least two Victorian members with wrong postcodes) <i>on the grounds that I hold another post in another Society</i>." [<i>italics added</i>]</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
If Y0133609 claims "there is no branch structure" then they have to explain why their name, "Australian Skeptics Inc" should not reflect its actual membership and operations, "NSW Skeptics Inc", especially as this was how they publicly referred to themselves in <i>The Skeptic</i> in 1996 and in two issues in 2009, whilst de-registered.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
If the NSW Associations Registrar grants that Y0133609 notionally represents all members of Sceptics groups around Australia, then they still have a real problem:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
To what group do non-member subscribers in New South Wales belong? We know from the filings that Y0133609 only has 15-16 <i>members,</i> yet 4000 subscribers are claimed now, and is consistent with numbers released over 20 years in <i>The Skeptic</i>.</blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Under the Act and the default model Rules and now Constitution that apply to Y0133609, there is no provision for "non-member subscribers", they can only be counted as members of the General Public. The point of allowing Associations to Incorporate is that individuals have to <i>explicitly</i> <i>join</i>, they are not, and cannot be, automatically included because they self-identify as sympathisers or groups that can be identified as sharing characteristics. <i>Formal membership,</i> not sympathisers, is enshrined in the legislation in many ways (elections and voting rights, AGM attendance, member register, rights to examine records/registers, standing as Office Bearers, admittance and disciplinary/expulsion processes, ...).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If residents of New South Wales follow the "<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/how-to-join/">How to Join</a>" instructions on the website ("subscribe to <i>The Skeptic</i>" or contact ... one of the groups), <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/contact/">the link, with full contact details </a>and Office Bearers/Committee members listed, asserts it is the Association based in New South Wales, by implication, the natural Association for those residents to join:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The NSW group is known as Australian Skeptics, Inc. Australian Skeptics, Inc publishes this website and a quarterly magazine ...</blockquote>
<br />
An <i>Ordinary Reasonable Reader</i>, without being advised of the closed membership or history, would presume that by subscribing to <i>The Skeptic</i>, or perhaps explicitly contacting the group using the listed details, they had joined Y0133609, not just subscribed to the magazine as a someone from the General Public.<br />
<br />
The 16 declared members vs 1,000-1,500 NSW subscribers without representation and the decade old, uncontested disclosure "<a href="http://stevej-on-misc.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/reasons-to-be-skeptical-subscribers-are.html">subscribers are not members</a>", the lack of any representative process of the same-interest Associations that you'd expect would be "Branches", sustain the argument that both the structure and name of Y0133609 are not that of a national body, "Australian Skeptics", but a very small group in New South Wales dedicated to publishing a magazine and website and are more aptly named as they have self-described at times: "NSW Skeptics Inc".</div>
steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-10774833891557492162012-05-11T15:36:00.000+10:002014-07-14T10:29:27.757+10:00Financial Reports as filed for NSW Assoc Y0133609: Australian Skeptics Inc, aka NSW Skeptics<div>
These are data extract from the Financial Reports as formally filed by the Association, with subscriber numbers as reported in the magazine, <i>The Skeptic</i>.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The subscription rates may not be precisely accurate.</div>
<div>
The half-price Gift Subscription rate is ignored in calculations.</div>
<div>
The lower rates for Digital subscriptions are ignored as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Key:<br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Year: The year filed</li>
<li>1yr-Fee: Cost of a Single Year subscription.</li>
<li>3yr-Fee: Cost of a Three Year subscription.</li>
<li>Digi-Fees: The single year and three year subscription rates for Digital [PDF] delivery</li>
<li>Subs-Nr: Number of subscribers </li>
<li>Date-lodged: The lodgement Date with the NSW Association Registry.</li>
<li>Tot-Inc: Total Income as declared, with capital inflows counted as income.</li>
<li>Tot-Exp: Total Expenses as declared.</li>
<li>Assets: Assets as declared.</li>
<li>Liabilities: Liabilities declared.</li>
<li>Corr-Inc: Corrected Total Income - capital inflow from the ASSEF (Foundation) removed.</li>
<li>Cost-of-Sales: direct Cost of Sales, excludes wages etc.</li>
<li>Gross-Profit: Corrected Total Income less Cost of Sales</li>
<li>GP-decl: Gross Profit as declared.</li>
<li>Op-Profit: Operating Profit as declared, or duplicate of Gross Profit.</li>
<li>Net-Profit: Net Profit as declared, or duplicate of Gross Profit.</li>
<li>Foundn: Capital transferred from the ASSEF (Foundation).</li>
<li>Other-grants: Expense: grants to other bodies (unnamed)</li>
<li>State-grants: Expence: grants to related Associations in other States. eg. Victoria and Queensland.</li>
<li>1-off-Inc: One-off Income amounts. Remove from Total Income to reveal normal Operating Income.</li>
<li>Other-Inc: Other Income, not from Magazine Subscriptions</li>
<li>Subs-Inc: Income from Subscriptions.</li>
<li>Subs-Calc: Single-year subscriber Equivalent. Divide Subscription Income by 1yr-Fee.</li>
<li>Exec-Off: Wages, including Superannuation, paid to Executive Officer.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Notes:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Only a selected set of returns were purchased from the NSW Associations Registry.</li>
<li>The End of Financial Year was 31-March until 2005, moving to 30-June in that year. No adjustments have been made for the 15 month recording period.</li>
<li>The Foundation was only setup in 1996 and its effects will only be seen in the 1997 accounts onwards.</li>
<li>In 2011, there were two "one-off" income amounts. $20,000 of "Misc (event?) Float" and $19,760 refund from the ATO.</li>
<li>The accounts for the years 1996-1999 contain minimal detail. Subscription amounts, Foundation capital transfers, all Grants and Executive Officer wages are missing.</li>
<li>No returns and hence accounts were filed for the 3 years, 2000, 2001, 2002.</li>
<li>Several very different accounts formats and Charts of Accounts were used. When figures were aggregated, an attempt was made to create comparable data. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
The data was in a single table, but was split to be readable in this format.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Significant events which have occurred:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>A full-time paid Editor/Executive Officer was appointed on 1-Jan-1997.</li>
<li>He retired at the end of 2008, announcing this and his successor in Issue 1 (March) of <i>The Skeptic</i> that year. </li>
<li>The replacement only produced Issue #1 in 2009, Issue #2 was produced by an interim Editor. Nothing is declared about the periods served and wages paid. The 2009 accounts show roughly similar wages.</li>
<li>The current Editor/Executive Officer was appointed around August/September and was involved in Issue #3 and produced Issue #4, and all since.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
Please add a comment if transcription errors are found, the text is unreadable or you can contribute more detailed data.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table>
<thead>
<tr><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Year</span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1yr-Fee</span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3yr-Fee</span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Digi-Fees</span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Subs-Nr</span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Date-lodged</span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1985</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">?</span></td><td></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">400</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1990</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$18</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">~800</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1991</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$18</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">~800</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1992</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$18</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1000 [sept]</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1993</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$25</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1200</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1994</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$25</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1300+</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">31/05/1994</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1995</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$25</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1500</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">05/07/1995</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1996</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$30</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$80</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"incr 30%/400: 1700-1900"</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/07/1999</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1997</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$30</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$80</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2200-2500</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/07/1999</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1998</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$30</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$80</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/07/1999</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1999</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$40</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$110</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/07/1999</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2000</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$42</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a ~2500</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">missing</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2001</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">missing</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2002</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">missing</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2003</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">static</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/03/2010</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2004</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">static</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/03/2010</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2005</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">static</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/03/2010</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2006</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">static</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/03/2010</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2007</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">incr</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/03/2010</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2008</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/03/2010</span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2009</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26/03/2010</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2010</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">n/a</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">22/09/2010</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2011</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$44</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$120</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$22/$60</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4000</span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">07/10/2011</span></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div>
<table><thead>
<tr><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Year</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th></th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tot-Inc</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Tot-Exp</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Assets</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Liabilities</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Corr-Inc</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Cost-of-Sales</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Gross-Profit</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">GP-decl</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Op-Profit</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Net-Profit</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1981</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1985</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1990</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1991</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1992</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1993</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">46891</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">35679</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">46907</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">20374</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">46891</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">16187</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">30704</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">30704</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">11212</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">11212</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1994</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">56028</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">38066</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">50705</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">31050</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">56028</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">16723</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">39305</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">39305</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">17961</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">17961</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1995</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1996</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">50505</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">50440</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">142592</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">80000</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">50505</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">21626</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">28879</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">28814</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">21691</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">65</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1997</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1998</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1999</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">143859</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">126243</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">55972</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">9505</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">143859</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">56281</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">87578</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">87578</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">17617</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">17617</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2000</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2001</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2002</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2003</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">142869</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">169272</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">12667</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1800</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">92869</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">52634</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">40235</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">90235</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-26403</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-26403</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2004</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">195775</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">187824</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">18700</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-118.39</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">100775</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">60492</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">40283</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">135283</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">7951</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">7951</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2005</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">213740</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">171496</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">28624</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1300</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">113740</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">66522</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">47218</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">147218</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">42244</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">42328</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2006</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2007</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2008</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2009</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">219120</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">193100</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">108732</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">46101</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">94120</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">58541</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">35579</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">35579</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-33938</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26020</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2010</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">161670</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">187798</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">25038</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">44539</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">110220</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">61582</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">48638</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">100089</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-26128</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-26128</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2011</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">177488</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">177037</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">10000</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">39913</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">172703</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">50814</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">121889</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">126673</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">451</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">451</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table><thead>
<tr><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Year</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></th><th></th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><br /></th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Foundn</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Other-grants</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">State-grants</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1-off-Inc</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Other-Inc</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Subs-Inc</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Subs-Calc</span></div>
</th><th><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Exec-Off</span></div>
</th></tr>
</thead><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1981</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1985</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1990</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1991</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1992</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1993</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2816</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">20458</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26433</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1057.32</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1994</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3705</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">25053</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">30975</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1239.00</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1995</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1996</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">?</span></div>
</td><td></td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">?</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1997</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1998</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1999</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">?</span></div>
</td><td></td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">?</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">?</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2000</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2001</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2002</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2003</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">50000</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">23655.54</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">69213.46</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1573.03</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">61602.50</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2004</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">95000</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">0</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">26464.84</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">74310.16</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1688.87</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">59950</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2005</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">100000</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">12500</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">8680</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">105060</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2387.73</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">59950</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2006</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2007</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2008</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2009</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">125000</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">45000</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">15790</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">19501</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">74619</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1695.89</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">47893</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2010</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">51450</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">12615</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">29773</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">80447</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1828.34</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">60801</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">2011</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</td><td></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</td><td></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">4785</span></div>
</td><td></td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">3830</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">39435</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">65933</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">67335</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1530.34</span></div>
</td><td><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">60058</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-5905477672838206042012-05-10T18:06:00.000+10:002014-07-14T10:29:50.963+10:00Editor of "The Skeptic": summary response to AR Editor questions.This email conversation was supplied on condition it be published with this preamble:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">At the end of 1999, the <i>Australian Rationalist</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"> received
a draft of an article by Victorian Skeptic Adam Joseph, raising some
issues regarding the operations of the national body, the Australian
Skeptics. Around about the same time former AS committee member Steve
Roberts posted a set of criticisms of the Skeptics on the internet. The
AR Editor, Ian Robinson, worked with Joseph to produce a final version
of the article in April, 2000. Before publishing the article, Robinson
emailed Skeptics CEO Barry Williams itemizing the criticisms and invited
his response. Williams provided a detailed response to the criticisms.
Subsequently, the <i>Australian Rationalist</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"> Editorial Board decided not to publish the Adam Joseph article in the journal. Williams’ reply to </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">Robinson’s email</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"> is
reproduced below, together with the points in Robinson's email that he
was replying to, without which his comments are meaningless . </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The green-coloured text is Robinson’s email, quoted in full</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">the blue text is Williams reply or a synopsis of it</span>, interspersed at the appropriate points.<br />
<a name='more'></a></blockquote>
[<i>Commentary in italics.]</i><br />
<br />
[<i>This piece published with the permission of the recipient. As the sender had a very precise knowledge of the applicable law and actively chose to not restrict distribution and use of the communication, <a href="http://stevej-on-it.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/e-mail-privacy-can-i-send-copy-without.html"> it was deemed that he had a reasonable expectation that it would <b>not</b> be kept confidential.</a> </i>]
<br />
<br />
[<i>Copyright permission of the sender was not sought: to avoid issues of copyright on the words written by the Editor of "The Skeptic", only small snippets will be quoted verbatim where the form of words is important, the rest is summarised.</i>]
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Subject: Your article<br />
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 11:15:11 +1000<br />
From: Barry Williams <skeptics@....com.au></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">To: Ian Robinson</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Dear Barry<br />
<br />
I postponed Adam's article till the next edition of the AR and have therefore only just got around to working on it, which is why the delay in getting back to you. With Adam's OK, it is now more chronological in structure, more factual in approach, and less combatative in tone. But I still believe the Skeptics have a serious case to answer so I am publishing Adam's piece in the next issue, together with a precis of Steve Roberts set of criticisms, which were published on the internet, as a "Sidebar". The main thrust of the criticism leveled at the current Skeptics is as follows:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Dear Ian<br /><br />
He hasn't seen the article, doesn't ask for a copy, can't comment "in detail". Describes the questions as 'a precis', which they aren't, insists the comments aren't factual and suggests publishing would pose "serious risk".</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Right here, an "ordinary reasonable reader" would expect the email to end with: </i>"I can't meaningfully comment without reading the article, would you please send me a "without prejudice" copy at your earliest convenience?"<i>.</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>Did you notice the first threat? "</i>serious risks" <i>of publishing</i>]<br />
[<i>And the first conflation: "</i>The precis below<i>". No, this is a series of questions about perceived issues.</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>There's an interesting sub-text going on here: How can Mr Williams be so specific and detailed in responding to criticisms/questions</i> he's never read (<i>and you'd think, never been told). This either gives the lie to "I've not seen it" or he knows only too well just what they are doing that could be considered "suspect".]</i><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(1) The organisation is not democratic - interested members of the public cannot simply join it, no elections are held, there is no clear criteria for membership, and for the past ten years or so control of the organisation and its finances has been in the hands of a small self-appointed and self-perpetuating group of Sydney based Skeptics led by yourself.</span>
<br />
<br />
[<i>This is a wonderful response: it doesn't answer the question and adds many distractions. The association deliberately does not have "an open membership", notionally to protect against hostile takeovers, and the committee had figured out how to obey the letter of the law, but not the spirit by controlling the member admission process.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams states the association operates "within the legal requirements" of the NSW Acts and Regulations. He notes there are 7 other associations and two informal groups - all independent with own rules etc. [So why do they grandly call themselves "Australian Skeptics Inc" if they don't broadly represent everyone?] Continues with all groups having "similar aims and objectives" and they co-operate. Says that they hold annual elections and presumes other groups do as well<br />
<br />
He specifically has to say that, despite the name, "Australian Skeptics Inc" only represents NSW, is "the NSW body". He offers the suggestion that details of the other groups are available, although the piece is specifically about only the NSW Association and throws in a gratuitous insult about the author, whom he's published multiple times in "The Skeptic".</span><br />
<br />
[<i>The 2010 & 2011 Returns state AS-Inc has 15 and 16 members respectively, whilst the website claims "4000 members" (ie. non-voting subscribers). Office Bearers, elections and AGM's are not routinely reported in "The Skeptic", nor are the Associations financial reports published.]</i><br />
<br />
<i>[Did you notice WIlliams hasn't defined "Democratic" nor addressed "openness and transparency", two of the key principles underlying Democratic organisations, along with "equal representation".]</i><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams makes a very particular distinction between <i>members</i>, <i>subscribers</i> and <i>contributors</i> - which is odd, given that Associations cannot carry on Commercial activities, ie. selling to the general public. He says: "we have<i> a large number of</i> <i>subscribers</i> and <i>contributors"</i> to the magazine they publish ("The Skeptic") and that another association [Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc] publishes web site, www.skeptics.com.au and the informal group, Gold Coast Skeptics, publishes "No Answers in Genesis". He claims they have many other supporters as well, but there is this underlying confusion between the perceived group of "Australian Sceptics" and the very small NSW Association "Australian Skeptics Inc". Just <i>who</i> are these other people supporting when the two terms are conflated and overlain?</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Under the Associations Incorporation Act, what do you call a </i>non-voting subscriber<i> who is not a </i>member<i>? </i>A member of the General Public<i>. Selling the vast majority (99.5%) of magazine subscriptions, the primary source of income for AS-Inc, to the General Public should fail the </i>"non-Commercial activity"<i> test for Incorporation.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He describes this structure as "all pretty standard stuff for associations" and many operate similarly - meaning the multiple association structure, not the undisclosed <i>closed membership</i>" model, of AS-Inc.<br />
He goes on to make specious arguments unrelated to democratic issues of openness, transparency and representation. Ending with the <i>reductio ad absurdum</i> argument, are you telling us how to run our organisation?</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Not since the Federal Corporations Act in the early 1990's (administered by ASIC), introduced "Companies limited by Guarantee", it isn't. This is exactly the structure used for the ASSEF when re-incarnated in 1999. It's not that they, AS-Inc, don't know about it, they are very happy with things just as they are.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(2) Even if an argument for the above non-democratic structure could be sustained, it seems clear that the organisation has performed poorly in the following ways:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams rejects the statement, but oddly as "this <i>allegation</i> is false". He denies <i>evidence</i> that their structure is undemocratic - a very peculiar statement. It is creating a very fine (legal) distinction between the facts and evidence for them, which seems completely unnecessary unless there is a lot more going on than we might be aware of. He launches into more abuse, insult and personal attack and makes the unsupported claim the author has "an axe to grind", finally declaring it to be a "foolish statement", without offering any contrary supporting statement, thought these are supposed to be trivial to find.</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Allegation? No evidence of being undemocratic? what??? Forget the presenting any factual response about AS-Inc's performance, just deny and attack with: "</i>... to be a foolish statement"<i>. </i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(a) Its custodianship of the monies left to it has been irresponsible. Instead of investing the money and operating on the income, it has rapidly eaten into the capital and now has less than half of the original amount.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He claims this statement is "pure invention" and that despite a major grant to Ian Plimer ($200,000) most of the money remains. Curiously he claims this is all "well documented" though both the Trust and "Australian Skeptics Inc" do not report their financial statements in "The Skeptic", the website nor seemingly any public forum.</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Really? There is just one report from the ASSEF in the "The Skepic" circa 1996. Not "well documented" in my estimation.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Members of the committee/board or whatever it is now called have voted themselves money for overseas and interstate trips and you yourself have been paid a substantial annual sum for work you used to do voluntarily. By comparison the most anybody gets from the Rationalists by way of an honorarium is about $14,000 pa for virtually a full-time job.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He says some members, not just of AS-Inc get full or partial reimbursements, and this is normal practice and, surprisingly, one for which the <i>Foundation</i> vs AS-Inc was created. He goes on to discuss "members of the Skeptics bodies" putting in their own time, money and energy "in support of the <i>cause</i>", again a curious use of a word. How is being Sceptical of and questioning received wisdom <i>a cause</i> and not an activity, hobby or interest?<br />
<br />
Williams then says that he's a (mere) employee, pulling a Uriah Heep by being 'ever so humble', that he gave up a much better paying job to work longer hours and that despite being the long-term President previously cannot be "the great dictator" (curiously a term he introduces and he alone uses), that the reports as "fantasies" and his is "the only member of the Skeptics who can legitimately be ordered around". Again conflating terms by not using ASI as he's done consistently to refer to "Australian Skeptics Inc", but introducing a new, undefined and somewhat vague term, "the Skeptics". Who does he mean by this term when he's been so very exact in his wording previously in drawing very fine distinctions? Can this be an oversight, a deliberate tactic of argument or a Freudian slip showing he believes "Australian Skeptics Inc", especially via their publication(s) and website, is perceived as representative of all Sceptics in Australia and that non-member <i>subscribers</i> believe they are represented by AS-Inc? That his previous statement that AS-Inc only represents NSW and its very small group of <i>members</i> is a fiction.</span><br />
<br />
["All proper procedures...<i>". The 5 or 10 members of AS-Inc presumably said, "sure, whatever you want. We'll vote you 60-80% of the Association's Gross Profit as a wage." And that "higher paying job"? If you scan all issue of "The Skeptic", you never learn what it was.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(b) The Skeptics have lost credibility as a rigourous organisation applying a scientific standard to claims of the paranormal. You have failed to attracted many leading scientists and researchers to your cause (as CSICOP has in the US) and have not been doing a good job in promoting the cause of scepticism in Australia. Very few substantial scientific investigations have been carried out.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He labels this claim absurd and ludicrous, claiming it trivially refuting. Interestingly his words include "worthy of retailing" rather than "retelling". Nothing is being sold by the questioner nor the article writer, only by Williams and AS-Inc: the magazine, the financial engine-room paying his full-time wage. He names some high-profile supporters and claims many more.</span><br />
<br />
[snip lots of self-assessement]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He then goes onto to claim that AS-Inc (spelt in full, not using his previous contractions) and the other likeminded groups (identified as "sister bodies") to be the most recognised free-though group in Australia, by an unsubstantiated, unverifiable and undefinable "orders of magnitude". Sounds good, but it is meaningless. It is also irrelevant to the question: well-known is not credible. Ask a serial killer or notorious criminal.</span><br />
<br />
[<i>That "ordinary reasonable reader" might be asking at this time: Why didn't he just say, "</i>we feel we we're quite credible. Can you give us examples of other, more credible, 'sceptical' groups or what benchmarks you'd like to compare us against?"]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(c) The Australian Skeptic magazine has lost credibility as a high standard critical magazine, and has published a lot of low standard and even irrelevant material.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He opens with: "By whose standards and lost credibility with whom?" and again labels the statement untrue, ludicrous and already dealt with. He then raises the magazines' high resubscription rate (85%), an internal metric of reader appeal and satisfaction, as evidence of the externalities of credibility and content standards - another irrelevancy. He closes with "Have you ever read the Skeptic?" and we can only guess what that's meant to convey: a rhetorical question or supporting a genuine belief in <i>his</i> handiwork of 13 years at the time. Williams as long-term, and now sole, editor and chief contributor to the magazine can hardly be unbiased about it, yet he doesn't acknowledge or seem to recognise that fact. Nor that internal measures (reader appeal) do not and cannot be used as proxies for external measures (credibility, standards)</span><br />
<br />
[<i>At last our "ordinary reasonable reader" hears a good question asked. But without knowing what is being said in the piece, why does he continue past the first sentence?</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>Williams also misses, or conflates, the essential nature of credibility versus "appeal" (entertainment value): other people, not you and your avid readers, </i>grant<i> an opinion. Got a great resubscribe rate? That's nothing to do with </i>credibility<i>, but </i>reader<i> </i>appeal<i>. This is very well known to tabloid papers, glossy magazines and Larry Flint/Hugh Hefner. Does Williams </i>think<i> he's presented a convincing fact here, in which case he's very confused, or is he simply disingenuous?]</i><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(d) Despite the influx of money, membership has not risen substantially and may have fallen - figures are hard to come by - and nor has the profile of the organisation risen.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Again, Williams opens with with an off-hand remark about invention, and discloses no facts. He does rightly say there is no evidence to support the supposition, because no figures are available on the public record: either in the magazine "The Skeptic" or form the rather scant figures for the returns 1996-1999 lodged all together and none at all for 2000-2002. He claims a 50-60% increase in subscribers over the previous 5 years, pointedly ignoring that this multi-part question is all about the impact of the Whalley bequest, the Foundation and Mr Williams becoming a full-time paid employee (Editor), not the President, Editor and chief contributor. Williams suggests the author of the piece hasn't been "involved" for 5 years, ignoring that a well researched article will include recent interviews with significant, knowledgeable actors, not rely on outdated knowledge or hearsay. The hosting in Sydney of the World Skeptics Convention is raised as having the <i>potential</i> to increase subscriber numbers - as if that is an achieved outcome and related to the question. Reading the published piece, this is a very pointed question: Internal records cited show Williams pitch to be a paid employee included many grand plans and specific, testable claims of performance, including <i>doubling</i> the subscriber base by 1998, 6 issues a year (not 4) and selling through newsagents - none of which was accomplished nor acknowledged in the answer here.<br />
<br />
Williams then says something astounding: "The figures are by no means hard to come by; a simple phone call is all that it requires." and , citing privacy concerns, "we do not publish the details of our subscribers to just anyone", then throws a jibe at the AR Editor.<br />
<br />
He continues in this vein claiming they are going from strength to strength and expect that to continue.</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Hasn't read the piece, yet he calls the authors claims 'vapid'. As a minimum, that's a gratuitous insult, or does it show he knows exactly what he's responding to, and that it really riled him?</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>Numbers are still hard to come by. The set of 4 returns lodged in 1999 do not expose any financial information that allows estimation of subscriber numbers or the Executive Officer wage and other benefits. There were never any returns lodged for 2000, 2001, 2002. The 1994 & 1995 returns and those from 2003 on, whilst not consistently presented, do allow some analysis</i>.]<br />
<br />
["This (subscriber numbers) is documented". <i>Really? Not in any publicly lodged document, not in the "The Skeptic" and not in the 1996-1999 Association returns, lodged as a group in 1999, they contain the barest of information.</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>Saying "call us and we'll give you all the data you want" isn't credible. With the aggressive, combative, unhelpful stance shown here, why would he tell the Rationalists anything? What is "not just anybody"? What is their test or policy on releasing confidential financial data</i>?]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(3) The combining of the positions of President, Executive Officer and Editor has left too much power in two few hands.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams open his response with a Furphy and denigrating the author: "Your correspondent has always had this seeming obsession with "power", as any of the targets of his long winded harangues will attest"</span> [snip. too many insults for me]<br />
<br />
[<i>This would now be called "A lack of oversight and a failing of Good Governance". And the response: </i>"this other guy wants my job"<i>.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(4) There is no ACCOUNTABILITY of the Skeptics to anyone, not even the free thought community in general, and this has led to excesses.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams responds in kind with multiple ALLCAPS shouting, reiterating they obey the relevant laws. He strangely volunteers "The Skeptics" (again, who does this mean?) are accountable to members, as you'd expect, but also to non-voting subscribers who have <i>no</i> standing within an Association. He doesn't offer a reason or mechanism for this oddity. He calls AS-Inc a "responsible organisation" and that they as far as practical (my term) "<i>publish the truth</i>". Finishing up with another attempt at a jibe towards the AR Editor and his group. Williams seems to not understand the principles of Accountability or, if he does, to be deliberately misdirecting the argument.</span><br />
<br />
[snip more insults]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">He then suggests that the AR Editor has not verified <i>any</i> of the authors claims [remember Williams claims he hasn't seen the piece and isn't aware of its contents. Is he trying to infer the contents from the questions or does he know the contents?] The closing is another threat along the lines of 'get your facts straight' or you'll be in trouble.</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Well, the Office Bearers of AS-Inc weren't accountable to the 99.5% of </i>subscribers<i> who </i>weren't<i> allowed a vote nor all those loosely associated other groups.</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>Love the way he SHOUTS, insults and attacks, doesn't rationally debate nor offer facts. It's almost like he's had a raw nerve hit.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">In fact the problems with the Skeptics as listed above seem to be very current indeed.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams responds: "As I have shown, not only are they not current, they are palpably rubbish."</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Shown?!?! No, asserted and harangued.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I guess there are two possible courses of action for you: <br />
(i) You could wait until the article comes out, then reply in the next issue. <br />
OR <br />
(ii) You could write a response to the above points which I could print alongside Adam's article.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams responds with a threat, another alternative:<br /><br />
"(iii) We could wait until you have published this series of allegations, and then we could test the truth of the matters raised in the courts."</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Now we start on the serious threats. In 2002, the piece was published in full, with another 1,500 wds preamble. Despite Mr Williams being aware of, and responding to it, neither he nor AS-Inc ever initiated Defamation proceedings. He can't launch a complaint now, even the longest window under current legislation, 3 years, has expired.</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>Why do I call these statements about potential litigation "Threats", nothing more? Because they were never acted upon when the article was published in full. If Mr Williams wasn't full of bluster and mere puffery here, and had been convinced of the outcome, why didn't he engage one of the lawyer or barrister members, not mere </i>subscribers<i>, to pursue the matter? As well, by this time AS-Inc members controlled the ASSEF and had used it to fund part of Ian Plimer legal fees. AS-Inc had </i>no<i> financial concerns about pursuing a defamation suit. Which leads to the central question: Why did all the apparent outrage and implied intent-to-forcefully-pursue the matter lead to nothing?</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I don't like criticising a fellow freethought organisation, as we are basically all on the same side, but I feel in this case you guys have been letting the side down, and need to pull up your socks.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams responds that the AR Editor hasn't, or even tried to, check the allegations in the piece [that he's not read, nor knows the contents of] and that some of the allegations, unspecified, are highly defamatory towards "Australian Skeptics" (again, an undefined term, not the full name nor the ASI contraction) and some unnamed individuals. These are vague, generic claims where a specific, detailed response is called for (he's shown he's happy to get very specific, naming names, dates and volunteering exact figures when it suits). Williams then uses the phrase "allegations of corruption against others", a term not mentioned by anybody else here nor in the published piece <i>except for</i> in writ served by Williams on the Chair of the Trust, his long-term friend and collaborator.</span><br />
<br />
[snip threats, "free character assessments", abuse, insults, etc]<br />
<br />
[<i>But that's the thing. They </i>did<i> check the facts, quote source documents, interview participants, look for confirmation and avoid speculation - and this whole conversation shows that they were willing to allows Williams and AS-Inc to give their side of the story. Actual "Fair and Balanced Reporting". So why the outlandish, persistent attack strewn with threats?</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams says: "Let me make it perfectly clear. I DO NOT give you permission to publish my comments as a response to any article ...". He goes on to say the piece is defamatory and can be demonstrated to be untrue, that (again) it contains allegations of corruption, financial mis-dealings and other things. He closes with a very specific threat of action against all parties: the author, the editor and the "publication" (not possible. presumably he meant the organisation publishing it. Another lapse.)</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Why not construct the response so that it </i>could<i> be published in response to the so-called defamatory piece? That was the whole point of the approach from the Rationalists, why blow it? Perhaps Mr Williams predicted that his "debating style" would only pass muster within his own adoring community and outsiders would not be impressed. What he was thinking? That's unknowable and not useful.</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>Yeah, yeah. More empty threats you never followed up on. Remind us again why that didn't happen? Oh, right, you were having more internecine wars leading to the sudden expulsion of the Public Officer/Treasurer at the end of 2003 and held the regulators in such scant regard that no returns or accounts were lodged until 16 months </i>after<i> you departed (26-Mar-2010), and only then because AS-Inc had its registration cancelled summarily on 25-May-2009. Which story was never mentioned to "subscribers" by the new crew or yourself.</i>]<br />
<br />
[<i>What permission does Mr Williams deny or allow? This annotated set is </i>not<i> forbidden, Mr Williams comments aren't being published as a response to the article. They are being examined in their own right.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Williams continues with his abuse: "Regarding your condescendingly gratuitous advice, might I suggest that you leave pontificating to the Pope" yaddah, yaddah, yaddah. His accuses the AR Editor of having a "cavalier approach" (by doing what?? as shown by ???) and it is the AR Editor who's "let the side down", not him.</span><br />
<br />
[<i>These irrelevant closing insults underline two things: We know that he didn't make good on any of his threats to litigate but he's actively pursuing his strategy of FUD [Fear-Uncertainty-Doubt] to the end. Is this mere </i>projection<i>? Is this actually a very good description of exactly his own behaviour and statements? It seems so to me, but others will have their own opinion.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I look forward to hearing from you.<br />
<br />
Ian Robinson <br />
Editor<br />
Australian Rationalist</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">As do I from you.<br />
<br />
Barry Williams<br />
Editor<br />
the Skeptic</span><br />
<br />
[<i>Still punching, right to the end... Gotta love it.</i>]steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-15398245723048573562012-05-09T21:42:00.001+10:002014-07-14T10:30:07.380+10:00Editor of "The Skeptic": Didn't take the piece well... Full-textThis email conversation was supplied on condition it be published with this preamble:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;">At the end of 1999, the <i>Australian Rationalist</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"> received a draft of an article by Victorian Skeptic Adam Joseph, raising some issues regarding the operations of the national body, the Australian Skeptics. Around about the same time former AS committee member Steve Roberts posted a set of criticisms of the Skeptics on the internet. The AR Editor, Ian Robinson, worked with Joseph to produce a final version of the article in April, 2000. Before publishing the article, Robinson emailed Skeptics CEO Barry Williams itemizing the criticisms and invited his response. Williams provided a detailed response to the criticisms. Subsequently, the <i>Australian Rationalist</i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"> Editorial Board decided not to publish the Adam Joseph article in the journal. Williams’ reply to </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">Robinson’s email</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;"> is reproduced below, together with the points in Robinson's email that he was replying to, without which his comments are meaningless . </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The green-coloured text is Robinson’s email, quoted in full</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">the blue text is Williams reply or a synopsis of it</span>, interspersed at the appropriate points.<br />
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[<i>Commentary in italics.]</i></div>
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[<i>This piece published with the permission of the recipient. As the sender had a very precise knowledge of the applicable law and actively chose to not restrict distribution and use of the communication, <a href="http://stevej-on-it.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/e-mail-privacy-can-i-send-copy-without.html">it was deemed that he had a reasonable expectation that it would <b>not</b> be kept confidential.</a> </i>]</div>
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[<i>Copyright permission of the sender was not sought. </i><i>Annotations and editing intended to comply with the "fair-dealing" provisions of the copyright act.</i>]</div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Subject: Your article </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 11:15:11 +1000 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">From: Barry Williams <skeptics@....com.au> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">To: Ian Robinson</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Dear Barry </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I postponed Adam's article till the next edition of the AR and have therefore only just got around to working on it, which is why the delay in getting back to you. With Adam's OK, it is now more chronological in structure, more factual in approach, and less combatative in tone. But I still believe the Skeptics have a serious case to answer so I am publishing Adam's piece in the next issue, together with a precis of Steve Roberts set of criticisms, which were published on the internet, as a "Sidebar". The main thrust of the criticism leveled at the current Skeptics is as follows:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Dear Ian</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">As you have not done me the courtesy of showing me the article I cannot comment on it in detail. However, if the precis below is even slightly accurate, then you are gravely in error in stating that it is "more factual in approach" and you would be running serious risks if you decided to publish it.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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[<i>Right here, an "ordinary reasonable reader" would expect the email to end with: </i>"I can't meaningfully comment without reading the article, would you please send me a "without prejudice" copy at your earliest convenience?"<i>.</i>]</div>
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<br /></div>
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[<i>Did you notice the first threat? "</i>serious risks if you decided to publish<i>"</i>]</div>
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[<i>And the first conflation: "</i>The precis below<i>". No, this is a series of questions about perceived issues.</i>]</div>
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<br /></div>
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[<i>There's an interesting sub-text going on here: How can Mr Williams be so specific and detailed in responding to criticisms/questions</i> he's never read (<i>and you'd think, never been told). This either gives the lie to "I've not seen it" or he knows only too well just what they are doing that could be considered "suspect".]</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(1) The organisation is not democratic - interested members of the public cannot simply join it, no elections are held, there is no clear criteria for membership, and for the past ten years or so control of the organisation and its finances has been in the hands of a small self-appointed and self-perpetuating group of Sydney based Skeptics led by yourself.</span><br />
<br />
[<i>This is a wonderful response: it doesn't answer the question and adds many distractions. The association deliberately does not have "an open membership", notionally to protect against hostile takeovers, and the committee had figured out how to obey the letter of the law, but not the spirit by controlling the member admission process.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Australian Skeptics Inc (ASI) is an incorporated association which operates within the legal requirements of our state regulations covering associations. There are seven other, fully autonomous, state or territory based bodies and two semi-autonomous bodies, all operating within the laws pertaining in their states or territories and all with their own internal rules. All of these organisations have similar aims and objectives and we act in cooperation to carry them out. As far as I am aware, all of these bodies hold elections annually for office bearers, and certainly this is the case with ASI, the NSW body. It is not difficult to find out about the other bodies, but as they are not answerable either to me, nor to ASI, I don't have details at hand. So much for your correspondent's investigatory skills.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">[<i>The 2010 & 2011 Returns state AS-Inc has 15 and 16 members respectively, whilst the website claims "4000 members" (ie. non-voting subscribers). Office Bearers, elections and AGM's are not routinely reported in "The Skeptic", nor are the Associations financial reports published there.]</i></span></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>[Did you notice WIlliams hasn't defined "Democratic" nor addressed "openness and transparency", two of the key principles underlying Democratic organisations, along with "equal representation".]</i></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In addition to the members, we have<i> a large number of</i> <i>subscribers</i> and <i>contributors</i> to our journal, the Skeptic (a publication of ASI), and users of and contributors to the Skeptics web sites www.skeptics.com.au (a publication of Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc) and No Answers in Genesis (a publication of the Gold Coast Skeptics) and many supporters in many fields.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
[<i>Under the Associations Incorporation Act, what do you call a </i>non-voting subscriber<i> who is not a </i>member<i>? </i>As they aren't mentioned in the Act, they are members of the General Public<i>. Selling the vast majority (99.5%) of magazine subscriptions, the primary source of income for AS-Inc, to the General Public should fail the </i>"non-Commercial activity"<i> test for Incorporation.</i>]<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">This is all pretty standard stuff for associations, and we would be one of very many that operate in a similar way. Are you suggestion that it is improper for a group of like-minded individuals to set up an association, with its own rules, that comply with all the relevant laws? Are you suggesting there is something improper in like-minded groups acting cooperatively to achieve common ends? Are you presuming to tell bodies with which you have no connection how they should run their affairs?</span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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[<i>Not since the Federal Corporations Act in the early 1990's (administered by ASIC), introduced "Companies limited by Guarantee", it isn't. This is exactly the structure used for the ASSEF when re-incarnated in 1999. It's not that they, AS-Inc, don't know about it, they are very happy with things just as they are.</i>]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(2) Even if an argument for the above non-democratic structure could be sustained, it seems clear that the organisation has performed poorly in the following ways:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">As there is no evidence of any of the structures being undemocratic, this allegation is false. Far from being clear, the claim that we have performed poorly is simply the ill-informed opinion of one individual with an axe to grind. It can easily be demonstrated to be a foolish statement.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Allegation? No evidence of being undemocratic? what??? Forget the presenting any factual response about AS-Inc's performance, just deny and attack with: "</i>... to be a foolish statement"<i>. </i>]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(a) Its custodianship of the monies left to it has been irresponsible. Instead of investing the money and operating on the income, it has rapidly eaten into the capital and now has less than half of the original amount.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">This is pure invention</span>. [snip of details on spending]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> the residue of our bequest was invested and remains very near to the original sum. This is, of course, well documented</span>.<br />
<br />
[<i>Really? There is just one report from the ASSEF in the "The Skepic" circa 1996. Doesn't qualify "well documented" in my estimation.</i>]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Members of the committee/board or whatever it is now called have voted themselves money for overseas and interstate trips and you yourself have been paid a substantial annual sum for work you used to do voluntarily. By comparison the most anybody gets from the Rationalists by way of an honorarium is about $14,000 pa for virtually a full-time job.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Members of various of the Skeptics bodies have received full or partial compensation for unusual out-of-pocket expenses, including, but not confined to, some travel expenses, incurred while carrying out activities on behalf of the Skeptics movement. This is a perfectly normal arrangement for most organisations such as ours and it is one of the activities for which the Foundation was specifically authorised to make payments. Nonetheless, members of the Skeptics bodies also expend considerable time, energy and money in support of the cause without any compensation, again a perfectly normal practice in a voluntary association.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">In my case, I am a full-time employee of ASI, appointed to the position after all proper procedures were carried out, and am paid a salary (not an honorarium), just like any other employee. I might add that I gave up a considerably higher paying job to take this one, and I certainly now work much longer hours. Far from being the great dictator of your correspondent's fantasies, I am in fact the only member of the Skeptics who can legitimately be ordered around. I'm not complaining.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
["All proper procedures...<i>". The 5 or 10 members of AS-Inc presumably said, "sure, whatever you want. We'll vote you 60-80% of the Association's Gross Profit as a wage." And that "higher paying job"? If you scan all issue of "The Skeptic", you never learn what it was. One of the main criticisms in the article was the failure of the new Executive Officer to meet his publicly made commitments. Evidence of which turns up clearly in the subsequent Financial Reports.</i>]</div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(b) The Skeptics have lost credibility as a rigourous organisation applying a scientific standard to claims of the paranormal. You have failed to attracted many leading scientists and researchers to your cause (as CSICOP has in the US) and have not been doing a good job in promoting the cause of scepticism in Australia. Very few substantial scientific investigations have been carried out.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">This claim is so patently ludicrous and so easily dispelled that I'm astonished that you would consider it worthy of retailing. [</span>snip names] <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">These and many other prominent people in many fields are publicly identified supporters of the Skeptics in Australia. I could go on at length with further names, but I think these are sufficient to nail that absurd claim.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
[snip many lines of self-assessement]<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">It would not be an idle boast to say that Australian Skeptics Inc and its sister bodies are, by orders of magnitude, the most widely recognised "free thought" group in the country and also among the best known associations of any kind.</span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>That "ordinary reasonable reader" might be asking at this time: Why didn't he just say, "</i>we feel we we're quite credible. Can you give us examples of other, more credible, 'sceptical' groups or what benchmarks you'd like to compare us against?"]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(c) The Australian Skeptic magazine has lost credibility as a high standard critical magazine, and has published a lot of low standard and even irrelevant material.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">By whose standards and lost credibility with whom? This claim is equally ludicrous and plainly untrue (see above). The regular resubscription rate of better than 85% that we have maintained over the years would seem to support my thesis that our subscribers are also happy with what we do. Have you ever read the Skeptic?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>At last our "ordinary reasonable reader" hears a good question asked. But without knowing what is being said in the piece, why does he continue past the first sentence?</i>]</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Williams also misses, or conflates, the essential nature of credibility versus "appeal" (entertainment value): other people, not you and your avid readers, </i>grant<i> an opinion. Got a great resubscribe rate? That's nothing to do with </i>credibility<i>, but </i>reader<i> </i>appeal<i>. This is very well known to tabloid papers, glossy magazines and Larry Flint/Hugh Hefner. Does Williams </i>think<i> he's presented a convincing fact here, in which case he's very confused, or is he simply disingenuous?]</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(d) Despite the influx of money, membership has not risen substantially and may have fallen - figures are hard to come by - and nor has the profile of the organisation risen.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Another pure invention, and unsupportable by any evidence. Subscriptions have risen by between 50% and 60% in the five years since your correspondent was involved. This is documented, naturally. Further, we confidently expect a larger than normal increase this year given the publicity associated with our hosting the World Skeptics Convention in November and in fact we are already seeing evidence of this in a considerably increased number of new subscribers already this year.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The figures are by no means hard to come by; a simple phone call is all that it requires. Naturally, in protection of their privacy, we do not publish the details of our subscribers to just anyone. Does the Australian Rationalist?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">As shown in the previous answers, and in contradistinction to Mr Joseph's vapid assertions, the profile of our organisation has risen considerably in recent years, and we have every reason to suppose it will continue to do so.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">[<i>Hasn't read the piece, yet he calls it 'vapid'. As a minimum, that's a gratuitous insult, or does it show he knows exactly what he's responding to, and that it really riled him?</i>]</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Numbers are still hard to come by. The set of 4 returns lodged in 1999 do not expose any financial information that allows estimation of subscriber numbers or the Executive Officer wage and other benefits. There were never any returns lodged for 2000, 2001, 2002. The 1994 & 1995 returns and those from 2003 on, whilst not consistently presented, do provide enough information to allow some analysis</i>.]</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
["This (subscriber numbers) is documented". <i>Really? Not in any publicly lodged document, not in the "The Skeptic" and not in the 1996-1999 Association returns, lodged as a group in 1999, they contain the barest of information.</i>]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Saying "call us and we'll give you all the data you want" isn't credible. With the aggressive, combative, unhelpful stance shown here, why would he tell the Rationalists anything? What is "not just anybody"? What is their test or policy on releasing confidential financial data? Today, these statements would comprehensively fail the tests/requirements of the Privacy Act.</i>]</div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(3) The combining of the positions of President, Executive Officer and Editor has left too much power in two few hands.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Your correspondent has always had this seeming obsession with "power", as any of the targets of his long winded harangues will attest.</span> [snip what appear to be gratuitous insults]<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>This would now be called "A lack of oversight and a failing of Good Governance". And the response: </i>"this other guy wants my job"<i>, a possibly unfounded, but definitely unsupported assertion.</i>]</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(4) There is no ACCOUNTABILITY of the Skeptics to anyone, not even the free thought community in general, and this has led to excesses.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Skeptics are ACCOUNTABLE to their members, their subscribers, and to the laws of the land - just like any other responsible organisation. To precisely whom else do you think we should be ACCOUNTABLE? We also have a RESPONSIBILITY, wherever possible, to publish the truth as far as it can reasonably be ascertained. I would have thought, hitherto, that the Australian Rationalist shared this commitment, but I'm now having some serious doubts.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
[snip what appear to be insults]<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">It seems to me that as you have taken no steps to verify any of his claims, you have no basis on which to make that statement. Might I suggest that, in your own interests, you should do so?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Well, the Office Bearers of AS-Inc weren't accountable to the 99.5% of </i>subscribers<i> who </i>weren't<i> allowed a vote nor all those loosely associated other groups.</i>]</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Love the way he SHOUTS, insults and attacks, doesn't rationally debate nor offer facts. It's almost like he's had a raw nerve hit.</i>]</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">In fact the problems with the Skeptics as listed above seem to be very current indeed.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">As I have shown, not only are they not current, they are palpably rubbish.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<div style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">[<i>Shown?!?! No, I'd say, asserted and harangued.</i>]</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I guess there are two possible courses of action for you: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(i) You could wait until the article comes out, then reply in the next issue. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">OR </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(ii) You could write a response to the above points which I could print alongside Adam's article.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">I can think of a very obvious third alternative.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">(iii) We could wait until you have published this series of allegations, and then we could test the truth of the matters raised in the courts.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">[<i>Now we start on the serious threats. In 2002, the piece was published in full, with another 1,500 wds preamble. Despite Mr Williams being aware of, and responding to it, neither he nor AS-Inc ever initiated Defamation proceedings. He can't launch a complaint now, even the longest window under current legislation, 3 years, has expired.</i>]</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Why do I call these statements about potential litigation "Threats", nothing more? Because they were never acted upon when the article was published in full. If Mr Williams wasn't full of bluster and mere puffery here, and had been convinced of the outcome, why didn't he engage one of the lawyer or barrister members, not mere </i>subscribers<i>, to pursue the matter? As well, by this time AS-Inc members controlled the ASSEF and had used it to fund part of Ian Plimer legal fees. AS-Inc had </i>no<i> financial concerns about pursuing a defamation suit. Which leads to the central question: Why did all the apparent outrage and implied intent-to-forcefully-pursue the matter lead to nothing?</i>]</div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I don't like criticising a fellow freethought organisation, as we are basically all on the same side, but I feel in this case you guys have been letting the side down, and need to pull up your socks.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Equally, I don't like having to say this to a fellow editor, but as far as I can ascertain you have made no attempt to check the accuracy of Mr Joseph's allegations, despite the fact that several of them are highly defamatory not only of Australian Skeptics but also of individuals. I would have thought that, as a responsible editor, your first duty to your organisation would be to carry out some sort of investigation into allegations of corruption against others (as some of the above clearly are) before committing them to print.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
[snip threats, "free character assessments", insults, etc]<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>But that's the thing. AR and the author </i>did<i> check the facts, quote source documents, interview participants, look for confirmation and avoid speculation - and this whole conversation shows that they were willing to allow Williams and AS-Inc to give their side of the story. Your actual "Fair and Balanced Reporting". So why the outlandish, persistent attack strewn with threats?</i>]</div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Let me make it perfectly clear. I DO NOT give you permission to publish my comments as a response to any article by Mr Joseph. If you decide to go ahead and publish his defamatory (and demonstrably untrue) allegations against us of corruption, financial impropriety or any other actionable matters, then you will leave us no alternative but to seek legal redress against you, your publication, and the author.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">[<i>Why not construct the response so that it </i>could<i> be published in response to the so-called defamatory piece? That was the whole point of the approach from the Rationalists, why throw it away? Perhaps Mr Williams predicted that his "debating style" would only pass muster within his own (adoring?) community and outsiders would not be impressed. What he was thinking? That's unknowable and not useful to this discussion.</i>]</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">[<i>Yeah, yeah. More empty threats you never followed up on. Remind us again why that didn't happen? Oh, right, you were having more internecine wars leading to the sudden expulsion of the Public Officer/Treasurer at the end of 2003 and held the regulators and governing legislation in such scant regard that no returns or accounts were lodged until 16 months </i>after<i> you departed (26-Mar-2010), and only then because AS-Inc had </i></span><i>its registration cancelled </i><i>summarily on 25-May-2009. Which story was never mentioned to "subscribers" by the new crew or yourself.</i>]</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">[<i>What permission does Mr Williams deny or allow? This annotated set is </i>not<i> forbidden, Mr Williams comments aren't being published as a response to the article. They are being examined in their own right.</i>]</span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Regarding your condescendingly gratuitous advice, might I suggest that you leave pontificating to the Pope; that's what he gets paid to do, and it sounds more than a little strange coming from a Rationalist. In light of your rather cavalier approach to seeking the truth of any of these matters, might I further suggest that if "letting down the side" is under consideration, then the sock is very clearly on the other foot.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>I left these irrelevant closing insults intact to underline two things: We know that he didn't make good on any of his threats to litigate but still actively pursued his FUD (Fear-Uncertainty-Doubt] strategy to the end. Is this mere </i>projection<i>? Or is this actually a very good description of exactly his own behaviour and statements? That seems so to me, but how could I look inside his mind?</i>]</div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I look forward to hearing from you. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Ian Robinson </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Editor </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Australian Rationalist</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">As do I from you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Barry Williams </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Editor </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">the Skeptic</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
[<i>Still punching, right to the end... Gotta love it, an entirely consistent world-view, forcefully presented.</i>]</div>
steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-42781458953750520132012-05-07T18:48:00.001+10:002014-07-14T10:30:29.557+10:00Pitch to ABC's Background Briefing: There's Trouble at Mill.Sent to <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/">ABC Radio National's Background Briefing</a>, Mon 07-may-2012 via their contact page.<br />
Some editing [and comments].<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
It isn't on the breath taking scale of the HSU drama, but here's a documented tale of 20 years of rorting the system.<br />
You absolutely know that if there's <i>one,</i> then there's more... [But how can we find those?]<br />
<br />
You'd think a largish organisation who's Patrons were Dick Smith and Phillip Adams would have a high degree of integrity, but the opposite is the case...<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Their website proudly proclaims "<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/us/">We have 4000 members</a>", yet their 2011 Association Return says 16 (sixteen).<br />
Ask one of the rank-and-file and you'll hear "you become a member by subscribing to the magazine", only you don't...<br />
<br />
Why is this so?? Apparently that's not a question Sceptics ask...<br />
<br />
There wouldn't appear to be much money at stake, barely $150,000/year, but "Wait, there's more".<br />
The "inner circle" control a Foundation that started at ~$1.5M in 1996 and has had further bequests added since.<br />
<br />
Then you have the internecine wars, the trusty sidekick who not only gets shafted but sued.<br />
The Treasurer who's 'a Treasure' but who suddenly is not there, but stays on for another 6 years as Public Officer.<br />
<br />
How could they get away without submitted Annual Returns for 10 years?<br />
Especially just after they had been flagged as being tardy (3 years late).<br />
<br />
Clearly the NSW Associations Registrar stopped doing their job in all aspects after 2000 - the Act stipulates that any Association that doesn't file returns are deregistered after 3 years... Not the 10 years that was allowed. [<i>Note</i>: I found the Registry hard-working, informed and efficient. Governments traditionally strip 'resources' from these minor agencies. The <i>story</i> should be about why the Registry was eviscerated, not anything else.]<br />
<br />
The Registry [who administer the Act and know it rules inside-out. The <i>Story</i> is about problems with the Act, not the people in the office] sees no problem with not having a means for people to apply for membership,<br />
nor do they consider selling the majority of magazine subscriptions to non-members to be "Commercial Activity", nor do they think that publishing a misleading and deceptive webpage for the last 10 years [<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/about/how-to-join/">How to Join?</a> just subscribe] is wrong.<br />
<br />
When the Association registration was cancelled and not re-instated for the better part of a year, what did they [the notional Association] do?<br />
Kept trading without a word to subscribers in the magazine.<br />
<br />
I've yet to find out what the ATO thinks of people quoting and possibly using an ABN for a non-existent entity. [<i>Update</i>: have checked with ATO. Deregistered Companies and Associations can maintain active ABN's. As long as Name+ABN are correct and GST is remitted, "it's all good" for them. Fair Trading and ASIC may have a different position...]<br />
<br />
They still fielded Credit Card payments, which implies Bank Accounts, and they still paid their sole employee his $60,000 that year...<br />
<br />
Is this fraud? I've no idea... [but am checking into it]<br />
<br />
But the Registry are (very) nice, helpful people working very hard to respond to their constant workload.<br />
There's a failure up the management chain that has allowed this on-going bad behaviour.<br />
<br />
But what the heck.<br />
We started as a Convict Settlement, it's to be expected that a little gaming the system would happen and if it doesn't hurt anyone, why try to prevent it, let alone catch it?steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-61020444568133500922012-05-06T21:07:00.000+10:002014-07-14T10:30:49.502+10:00Australian Skeptics Inc: 2012 UpdateThis is an update on the Association and players. [I expect feedback to correct and expand this.]<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<hr />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<i>Mark Plummer</i>, a founder of the Skeptics movement in Australia, is deceased: <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/latest/news/skeptics-co-founder-mark-plummer-dies/">16-June-2011</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>Harry Edwards</i> wrote <a href="http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/SkepticsSkepticalOfSkeptics.htm">his account of the events in 2000</a> including some relevant questions, plus in 1995,<a href="http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/SkepticsHistory40.htm"> a Brief History</a>.<br />
<br />
<i>Barry Williams</i> stood down as Editor and paid Executive of AS-Inc at the end of 2008. His last editorial <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2008/4.pdf">was in #4, Summer 2008</a>. Karen Stollznow was listed as "Associate Editor" for 2008 issues #1, #2 and #4, being named "Editor Elect" in issue #3 of 2008.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
Williams appointed successor in both roles,<i> Dr Karen Stollznow PhD</i>, produced one issue of "The Skeptic",<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2009/1.pdf"> #1, 2009</a> (March).<br />
This transfer had been announced by Barry Williams in the Editorial of "The Skeptic"in <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2008/1.pdf">#1, 2008</a>, pg 5.<br />
<br />
The masthead description was changed in 2009 from<br />
"A Journal of Fact and Opinion"<br />
to<br />
"Skepticism . Science . Society", and still remains so.<br />
<br />
(Dr?) <i>Steve Roberts</i> produced one issue of "The Skeptic",<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2009/2.pdf"> #2, 2009</a>, before handing the jobs of Editor and possibly paid Executive Officer over to <i>Tim Mendham</i> for <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2009/3.pdf">#3, 2009</a>. Mendham had suddenly stood down as editor in 1987 ("while wearing 5 hats"), causing Barry Williams to assume the editorship for ~19 years. Tim Mendham's position, Executive Officer, is a specific line-item in the P&L statement in the Association returns. He received ~$60,000 in both financial years, 2010 and 2011. From this, do we deduce a start date close to 1-July-2009?<br />
<br />
<i>Richard Lead</i>, Treasurer, evaporated without mention between "The Skeptic" <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2003/4.pdf">2003 Issue #4</a> (December) and <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/theskeptic/2004/1.pdf">2004 Issue #1</a> (March).<br />
<br />
From p 37 of 2003 #4, [37 - The Lead Balloon: Seminar Hucksters — Richard Lead]<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Richard Lead, as well as being Treasurer of NSW Skeptics, is a treasure in his own right, though his detractors complain that he has not been buried yet.</blockquote>
There is no reference to any person as Treasurer until 2009 issue #2 (June), pg 9:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Following the Leader</i>
Congratulations to<i> Eran Segev</i> upon being elected President of Australian Skeptics NSW, replacing the scourge of the quacks,<i> Peter Bowditch</i>. Eran is joined by new Vice President <i>Dr Rachael Dunlop</i> and continuing Vice President <i>Richard Saunders</i>. The ever level-headed <i>Martin Hadley</i> is Treasurer with J<i>ohn Sweatman</i> Secretary. Readers will be pleased to know that Barry Williams has returned from Russia and has joined the committee.</blockquote>
<i>Martin Hadley</i> is first mentioned after 2003 in 2004 issue #2 (June) pg 60:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Martin Hadley, Secretary of the NSW Skeptics, was admitted to the Bar once and has been thrown out of them on numberless occasions.</blockquote>
<div>
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Accounts and Association Returns:</i></div>
<div>
From the document extract below of 4th May, 2012, the questions arise:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The Association did not file on-time returns for the 4 years, 1996-1999. They were filed as a group in 1999, presumably with Richard Lead as Treasurer.</li>
<li>The then current Act, as now, allows for the automatic cancellation of the Registration of an Association when returns are not filed for 3 consecutive years. The inference being that the Association Registry wrote to "Australian Skeptics" in 1999 advising of an impending cancelation of their registration.</li>
<ul>
<li>The NSW Registry of Associations could've acted as early as 2003.</li>
</ul>
<li>The Association filed NO returns until 26-March-2010.</li>
<li>No returns have been lodged for the three years, 2000, 2001, 2002.</li>
<li>Returns for 2010 and 2011 have been lodged on-time.</li>
</ul>
Richard Lead is an important actor in these events, being the registered Public Officer of the Association in NSW from 21-July-1997 until 10-December-2009.<br />
<br />
His sudden disappearance around New Year 2004 should've caused the committee to select a new Public Officer and register the change. Under the NSW Act, Associations, it is very important for every Association to both have a current Public Officer and that their details be kept current.<br />
<br />
The lack of any published historical record of Office Bearers and Committee Members of "Australian Skeptics Inc" makes the tracking of persons responsible difficult.<br />
<div>
<br />
<hr />
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"></i><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i><br />
In Issue #1 of 2009, the groups contact list was entitled "Skeptics Around Australia" and (curiously) omitted the name of the incorporated entity, "Australian Skeptics Inc", that had been included in all 2008 issues at least:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
New South Wales<br />
PO Box 438<br />
Collaroy Beach NSW 2097<br />
Tel: 0432 713 195<br />
Fax: (02) 8088 4735<br />
editor@skeptics.com.au</blockquote>
<div>
In only two Issues #2 (March) and #3 (June) 2009 of "The Skeptic", included in the Groups Index is the line (instead of the usual line, resumed in #4 (December), 2009, "Australian Skeptics Inc – Eran Segev":<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
NSW Skeptics Inc – Eran Segev </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
PO Box 262, Roseville, NSW 2069 Tel: 0432 713 195 Fax: (02) 8088 4735 president@skeptics.com.au</blockquote>
With the search tools I have available, there has never been such an Association ever registered in any Australian State. Under the NSW Associations Incorporation Act of 2009, and its predecessor, no person or entity who is not a registered Association may use "Inc" in its name.<br />
<br />
Adjacent to the "Editorial" column is the publisher and contact information, which for 2009 issues #2, #3, #4 (June - December) and for 2010 issue #1 (March) reads:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Skeptic<br />
ISSN 0726-9897<br />
Quarterly Organ of Australian Skeptics Inc.<br />
(ABN 90 613 095 379 )</blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
All correspondence to:<br />
Australian Skeptics Inc<br />
PO Box 262<br />
Roseville NSW 2069<br />
Australia</blockquote>
<div>
Payment and Address:<br />
For 2009 issues #2 (June), #3 (September) and #4 (December) of 2009 and<br />
2010 issues #1 (March) and #2 (June), there is a Credit Card<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Send to:<br />
The Skeptic Ph: 0432 713 195<br />
PO Box 262 Fax: (02) 8088 4735<br />
Roseville NSW 2069 email: orders@skeptics.com.au </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Or subscribe online: www.skeptics.com.au/shop [only in issue #1 2010]</blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Cancellation of Association Registration:</i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div>
The NSW Registrar of Associations cancelled registration of "Australian Sketpics Inc" (Y0133609), the publisher of "The Skeptic", owner of the"skeptics.com.au" DNS registration and <a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/">operator of the 'skeptics.com.au' website</a>, for almost a full year from 26-March-2009 until 01-April-2010. 7 years returns were filed on 26-March-2010, presumably by the new Public Officer, Tim Mendham.<br />
<br />
The National Conference in November 2009 was organised by, and monies handled by, the QLD Skeptics Inc, not the unregistered "Australian Skeptics Inc". This seems to show that the committee understood that the Incorporated Entity could not trade as it did not exist.</div>
<br />
<b><i>Trading while Unregistered.</i></b><br />
<br />
All these actions may be quite problematic for the individuals involved with the Association during the period of Registration Cancellation:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>There is no reference in "The Skeptic" to any of these occurrences.</li>
<li>Although unregistered, the full Association name and ABN are recited in "The Skeptic", despite the legislation being clear that "Inc" can only be used by registered, incorporated bodies.</li>
<li>For two issues, a potentially bogus name, "NSW Skeptics Inc" is published as the NSW contact, while the non-existent "Australian Skeptics Inc" is still claimed to be the publisher.</li>
<li>It's unclear if the ABN was valid at the time because there was no entity to be registered. Using and quoting such an ABN may be an offence under Acts administered by the ATO. GST was payable and 'input costs' deductible, but misquoting ABN's for GST is a serious offence.</li>
<li>The exact departure date of Karen Stollznow in unknown, as are her reasons, but she was Editor for "The Skeptic" 2009, Issue #1, published in March. It is probable she was the incumbent when the notice of Cancellation was served on or about 26-March-2009.</li>
<ul>
<li>Did she leave the organisation because of this, or</li>
<li>did the putative committee fire her as it could no longer legally operate bank accounts?</li>
</ul>
<li>Tim Mendham assumed Editorship and probably paid Executive Officer for 2009, Issue #3 (September), but was not registered as Public Officer until 10-December-2009.</li>
<li>The Credit Card field listed on the renewal/subscription form informs us that some Credit Card facilities were being used. There is no advice given that another entity would be collecting the monies.</li>
<li>Were the Association bank accounts and assets frozen?</li>
<ul>
<li>If so, how could costs for the magazine, "The Skeptic" and the website, still be paid?</li>
<li>How were monies for subscriptions collected?</li>
<li>How were monies received and spent during this "year off" deal with in the Accounts filed with the NSW Association Registry? The entity did not exist, could not trade and could not maintain any bank accounts or Credit Card facilities.</li>
</ul>
<li>Does this deliberate mis-representation of the individuals masquerading as "Australian Skeptics Inc" whilst it was Unincorporated and Unregistered, constitute an offence?</li>
<li>The protections of the "Corporate Veil" afforded individuals by Associations do not apply for the "year off". The <i>individuals</i> passing themselves off as the Association during this time are personally liable to any civil and criminal actions.</li>
<li>If monies were transferred from the Foundation during this time, was this an illegal act?</li>
<ul>
<li>If so, whom is responsible and culpable?</li>
<li>With the cross-over of Foundation Directors and the Associations' Board, there is a potential ASIC matter to be answered if any money was transferred.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Many of these questions could be answered through the bank records an Tax filings of the two entities.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<hr />
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;">May 2010 Association Records Extract</span></div>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"></i><i style="font-weight: bold;"></i><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Association Extract - New South Wales<br />Printed on 4 May 2012 11:00<br />Association Name: AUSTRALIAN SKEPTICS INC<br />Name Started: 27 October 1986<br />Incorporation No: Y0133609<br />Status: REGISTERED<br />Date of Incorporation: 27 October 1986<br />Principal Activity: SCIENTIFIC<br />Last Balance Date: 30 June 2011<br />Public Officer (current):<br />Name: MENDHAM, TIMOTHY<br />Address: -------------- BEECROFT NSW 2119<br />Start Date: 10 December 2009<br />Public Officer(s) (previous):<br />Name: LEAD, RICHARD<br />Start Date: 21 July 1997<br />Cease Date: 10 December 2009<br />Name: MENDHAM, TIMOTHY<br />Start Date: Unknown<br />Cease Date: 21 July 1997<br />Documents Lodged:<br /><br /><br />Document Document Type Received Lodged<br />N0482147 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 1994 31-May-1994 31-May-1994<br />N0723884 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 1995 05-Jul-1995 05-Jul-1995</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">N1683479 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 1999 26-Jul-1999 26-Jul-1999<br />N1683484 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 1998 26-Jul-1999 26-Jul-1999<br />N1683489 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 1997 26-Jul-1999 26-Jul-1999<br />N1683480 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 1996 26-Jul-1999 26-Jul-1999</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">N1683485 CHANGE OF PARTICULARS - ASSOC 26-Jul-1999 26-Jul-1999<br />N4217259 CHANGE OF PARTICULARS - ASSOC 23-Mar-2010 06-Apr-2010</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">N3902941 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2003 26-Mar-2010 07-May-2010<br />N3902942 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2004 26-Mar-2010 07-May-2010<br />N3902943 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2005 26-Mar-2010 07-May-2010<br />N3902944 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2006 26-Mar-2010 07-May-2010<br />N3902945 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2007 26-Mar-2010 07-May-2010<br />N3902946 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2008 26-Mar-2010 07-May-2010<br />N3902947 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2009 26-Mar-2010 07-May-2010</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">N3902940 REINSTATEMENT OF CANCELLED ASSOCIATION 01-Apr-2010 06-Apr-2010</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">N4314943 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2010 22-Sep-2010 30-Sep-2010<br />N4545679 ANNUAL STATEMENT - ASSOC 2011 07-Oct-2011 17-Oct-2011</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">N3848601 SECTION 54 - CANCELLATION OF INCORPORATION -- 25-May-2009</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<hr />
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
</div>
<br />
<b>DNS Registration details:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<pre wrap="">Date: Fri, 04 May 2012 17:46:54 +1000
GeekTools Whois Proxy v5.0.5 Ready.
Checking access for 121.45.204.152... ok.
Checking server [whois-generic.ausregistry.net.au]
Results:
Domain Name: skeptics.com.au
Last Modified: 08-Sep-2011 02:48:17 UTC
Registrar ID: Melbourne IT
Registrar Name: Melbourne IT
Status: ok
Registrant: Australian Skeptics Inc
Registrant ID: OTHER 007 111 531
Eligibility Type: Other
Registrant Contact ID: Z131543641130234
Registrant Contact Name: Eran Segev
Registrant Contact Email: Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web
based WhoIs
Tech Contact ID: Z131543641130234
Tech Contact Name: Eran Segev
Tech Contact Email: Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web
based WhoIs
Name Server: ns1-alpha.aussiehq.net.au
Name Server IP: 203.88.123.2
Name Server IP: 2405:5000:2:17:0:0:0:2
Name Server: ns2-alpha.aussiehq.net.au
Name Server IP: 2001:470:1f0f:60f:0:0:0:1
Name Server IP: 208.71.170.223
Name Server: ns3-alpha.aussiehq.net.au
Name Server IP: 203.88.123.3
Name Server IP: 2405:5000:2:17:0:0:0:3
Results brought to you by the GeekTools WHOIS Proxy
Server results may be copyrighted and are used with permission.</pre>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<hr />
</div>
<br />
<br />
Common boilerplate, post-2008, on the subscription/payment page of "The Skeptic":<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Are you skeptical?</i>
<br />
Skeptics think critically where there is doubt.<br />
The Skeptic promotes skepticism, reason, science, education, critical thinking and common sense.
<br />
<br />
<i>Skeptics analyse claims.</i>
<br />
The Skeptic investigates paranormal and pseudoscience beliefs and practices from a rational and scientific perspective.
<br />
<br />
<i>Skeptics are open-minded.</i>
<br />
But not so open that our brains fall out! An open mind is not an empty head.
<br />
<br />
<i>Skeptics seek the evidence.</i>
<br />
The Skeptic publishes findings that are sometimes humorous, often sobering and always fascinating.<br />
An informative and factual resource for the public and media.</blockquote>
<br />
<hr />
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 800;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
List of “Honorary Life Members” publicly announced in the Skeptic:<br />
(Count of Active members: 16)<br />
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Martin Bridgstock<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dr, PhD 1990, QLD branch,</li>
<li>Bob Bruce<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2003, QLD, </li>
<li>Ian Bryce<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2003, NSW</li>
<li>Irene Case<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2000, NSW, organiser of World Conference</li>
<li>Prof Richard Champion 1999, NSW branch, long time treasurer <b>(deceased)</b></li>
<li>Laurie Eddie<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2005, SA</li>
<li>Harry Edwards<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1998?, NSW, secretary, chief investigator <b>(notionally expelled)</b></li>
<li>James Gerrand<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1990, VIC branch, Inaugural Secretary AS.</li>
<li>Prof Colin Groves<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2006, Canberra Skeptics' first Honorary Life Member <b>(deceased)</b></li>
<li>Peter Hogan<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1994?, VIC</li>
<li>Prof Colin Keay<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2005, Newcastle. founder Hunter Skeptics, AS 1983</li>
<li>Tim Mendham<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1990, NSW, Inaugural Secretary and Treasurer NSW branch</li>
<li>Mark Plummer<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1990, VIC branch, foundation member and inaugural president <b>(deceased)</b></li>
<li>Prof Ian Plimer<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1997, VIC/SA.</li>
<li>Alex Ritchie<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1995?, Dr, PhD, NSW. Retired 1995.</li>
<li>Steve Roberts<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2002, VIC</li>
<li>Richard Saunders<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2001, NSW.</li>
<li>Ken Smith<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dr, PhD, 1990, QLD branch, UQ, Dept Mathematics</li>
<li>John Stear<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2005, QLD (Gold Coast), retired public servant, "No Answers in Genesis" website</li>
<li>Fred Thornett<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2005, TAS <b>(deceased)</b></li>
<li>Barry Williams<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2002, NSW</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.skeptics.com.au/contact/nsw/">Current New South Wales Committee [13]:</a><br />
<br />
<i>Life Members</i> [4]<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Barry Williams<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>[emeritus committee member]</li>
<li>Ian Bryce</li>
<li>Richard Saunders</li>
<li>Tim Mendham</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<i>Others</i> [9]:</div>
<div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Joanne Benhamu</li>
<li>Peter Bowditch</li>
<li>Dr Rachael Dunlop</li>
<li>Martin Hadley</li>
<li>Karen Player</li>
<li>Peter Rodgers<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>[emeritus committee member]</li>
<li>Eran Segev</li>
<li>Jessica Singer</li>
<li>John Sweatman<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>[emeritus committee member]</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
2011 declared membership: 16</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
7 active Non-Life Member Committee Members + 16 Active Life Members = 23.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<div>
<hr />
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><b>Definition of an "ordinary reasonable reader"</b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWSC/1998/4.html">Amalgamated Television Services v Marsden</a></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> Matter No 40005/97 [1998] NSWSC 4 (4 February 1998)</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">also 43 NSWLR 158 at pp 164-167.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">ordinary reasonable reader (or listener or viewer)</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> is a person of fair average intelligence,[27]</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> who is neither perverse,[28]</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> nor morbid or suspicious of mind,[29]</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> nor avid for scandal.[30]</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">That person does not live in an ivory tower but can and does read </span>between the lines in the light of that person's general knowledge and experience of worldly affairs.[31]</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
The mode or manner of publication is a material matter in determining what imputation is capable of being conveyed.[32]<br />
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[27] Slatyer v Daily Telegraph Newspaper Co Ltd [1908] HCA 22; (1908) 6 </span>CLR 1 at 7.</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[28] Ibid (at 7).</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[7] Saunders v Jones (1877) LR 7 Ch D 435 at 451; Rex v Associated</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Northern Collieries [1910] HCA 61; (1910) 11 CLR 738 at 740; Dare v</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Pulham [1982] HCA 70; (1982) 148 CLR 658 at 664. Other authorities for</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">this proposition are collected in Sims v Wran [1984] 1 NSWLR 317 at 321-322.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[29] Keogh v Incorporated Dental Hospital of Ireland [1910] 2 Ir R 57</span>7 at 586.</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[30] Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd (at 260).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[31] Lewis v Daily Telegraph Ltd (at 277); Morgan v Odhams Press Ltd</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[1971] 1 WLR 1239 at 1245; Lang v Australian Consolidated Press Ltd</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[1970] 2 NSWR 408 at 412; Middle East Airlines Airliban SAL v Sungravure</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Pty Ltd [1974] 1 NSWLR 323 at 340.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">[32] Capital and Counties Bank Ltd v George Henty & Sons (at 744, 771);</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">English and Scottish Co-operative Properties Mortgage and Investment</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Society Ltd v Odhams Press Ltd [1940] 1 KB 440 at 452-453</span>.</div>
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-35609034532798273412012-05-06T15:21:00.000+10:002014-07-15T15:36:12.726+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: Joe Needham response to Adam Joseph in Forum comments<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<br />
<a href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/skeptics-forum/message/4995">Re: [Skeptics Forum] A Liar or a fool? Maybe both.</a><br />
<br />
At 02:29 AM 04/05/2002, Adam Joseph wrote:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Barry Williams now belongs to this group and responds to mail. What a turnaround!! That means Needham doesn't have to be the go-between any longer. Sorry about that Joe. And may I commend you on your language this time round. You do recall the filth that streamed out of your keyboard before don't you? Had some therapy recommended by Carlson or the others? Good boy.</blockquote>
Sorry to disappoint you but the Cox News Service has been cross posting and that is how Barry Williams message ended up here. Barry Williams is not a member of the Skeptics-Forum.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In Barry Williams post, (at the end of this) he mentioned I walked out of the Australian Skeptics because I wanted his job. Most people around that time were very aware that I believed in a good rotation of committee people and so on. So that's lie number one.</blockquote>
Doesn't Barry Williams hold a paid position with the Australian Skeptics? His job is not one that normally rotates but he serves at the pleasure of those who rotate on and off of administrative posts.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He also said I put out a multi-page screed to the media and others. True.</blockquote>
AH-HA Guilty as charged!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And this had no effect, eliciting only "Who is this idiot?" Given that what I released to the media was a background briefing on the Australian Skeptics and most things people should know, it most certainly did the trick. The media rarely goes near the Skeptics these days. And that was the purpose of the exercise. Simply, they are seen as having little credibility left. Years back, a fortnight would not go by when some publicity involving skeptics would surface. On the rare occasion close to Christmas they would put Santa look-alike Barry Williams on for a minute to say one shouldn't believe in psychics. Wow! I somehow think people got that message years back.</blockquote>
You must be a sorry piece of crap to try to discredit a whole organization because you don't like one person.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I see he is now denying he related information in his biography to the Rationalists International claiming 'an engineering background', which to my mind suggests he could be an engineer. I believe that to be another untruth.</blockquote>
Do you know what Barry Williams background has been?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
So why should I even bother mentioning any of this on this particular forum? Because it promotes itself as a sceptical forum that's why. And if people like Williams turn up,or are mentioned, then you have a right to know that even some Skeptics groups around the world have very odd and somewhat dishonest people involved. I have merely exposed people within the Australian Skeptics who have lost the whole group credibility galore.</blockquote>
You are the only one who has mentioned Barry Williams. It's not like his name just keeps turning up. You were surprised to learn that some of us Yanks actually know Barry. Our knowledge of Barry Williams rained on your little parade.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
There was the case of Harry Edwards a couple of years back. Stalwart and secretary with the Australian Skeptics for 17 years. He had a falling out with Barry Williams and suddenly found himself thrown out on allegations of so-called corruption. When the trumped-up matter came to court, it was thrown out. Williams and a couple of his cronies then threatened to go to the supreme court. People within the freethought movement in Australia are still waiting.</blockquote>
Totally unfamiliar with the case. Got any on-line news stories about it?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Anyone who dared ask for evidence of Harry Edwards guilt,including state committees, were told and shown nothing. May be Williams would like to post the 'evidence' on this forum. 'Evidence' that is supportable of course, not Williams renowned bullshit.</blockquote>
Australia must be a strange place. In the US an individual cannot refuse to turn over evidence in a crime or,if they do, they have time to think about that decision in jail.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
So for those who need more on the trials and tribs of the somewhat discredited Australian Skeptics, what Australian skeptics regard as a small but definitive history really, 'cept Williams of course, the continue reading below.</blockquote>
I'm surprised the entire continent hasn't sunk into the ocean in disgrace.<br />
<br />
{Short attention span caused me to delete the rest of your message in my reply.}<br />
<br />
Regards,<br />
<br />
Joe Needham AIM: JoeNeedham | YM: jneedham | ICQ: 1674329<br />
http://forums.delphiforums.com/skepticsclub/ | www.internet-skeptics.org<br />
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skeptics-forum/<br />
Do NOT let them deceive you with the legitimization of their myth!™<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-15729968669423501232012-05-06T14:11:00.003+10:002014-07-15T15:24:43.012+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: Barry Williams response e-mail<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<br />
From: "Barry Williams" <skeptics@...><br />
<br />
Reluctant as I am to give any credence to astrologers and other necromancers, can it be simply a coincidence that in the very month that five planets will line up in the sky, Adam Joseph should once again emerge from his self-pitying swamp to tell the world just how much he dislikes me?<br />
<br />
For those readers lucky enough not hitherto to have been the recipient of one of Joseph's turgid diatribes, here is an encapsulated history. In the early 1990s, Mr Joseph was president of one of the<br />
state bodies that makes up Australian Skeptics. In about 1995, he decided that I had too much power, and further decided that he should have that power. In the event, no one else agreed with him, so he<br />
departed in a huff (he might have departed in a Toyota, but I believe it was a Huff). In Oz parlance, this is known as "spitting the dummy".<br />
<br />
Ever since then, every couple of years or so, he has assaulted everyone he can think of with barely coherent rants, in which he enumerates all my faults -- most of which are simply figments of his<br />
febrile imagination (he has also misssed out on quite a few -- so much for his research). Just before the 2000 World Skeptics Convention in Sydney, he targetted all manner of prominent Skeptics and the media with a multi-page screed (17 or 18 pages from memory), which had precisely no effect on the success of the Convention, eliciting from the recipients only the question "Who is this idiot?"<br />
<br />
As for his specific (insofar as anything he says is specific) rant this time, I cannot imagine just how I would "[go] around inferring in many quarters" that I am an engineer. I suppose that, had I suffered from a serious bout of amnesia, and then discovered that my house was full of engineering texts, I might possibly "infer" that I was an engineer, but that hasn't happened, so I don't know what he is drivelling about this time. Furthermore, I haven't even "implied" that I am an engineer in any quarters, far less claimed it.<br />
<br />
His bile directed against Joe Needham is even less rational, as he has never met Joe, and clearly knows nothing about him. It seems to stem from the fact that Joe once read one of his peurile raves, and pointed out to him that he was talking through his fundament. Still, Joe can now be satisfied that he belongs to a longish list of distinguished Skeptics against whom Adam Joseph has vented his spleen. It's doesn't quite have the cachet of being described as a "tool of Satan" by a creationist, but it has never done anyone's reputation any harm.<br />
<br />
For the past year or so, Joseph has been quiescent, which is what causes me to wonder about manifestations of his outbreaks of bile and planetary alignments. There's definitely a research project in there for someone who is looking for a topic.<br />
<br />
Barry Williams -- Editor -- the Skeptic<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-74457079582652317262012-05-06T14:11:00.000+10:002014-07-15T15:23:17.610+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: Appendix: Dr Steve Roberts list of questions.<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<hr />
<br />
'He's a man you must believe ‘ Dr Robert[s]'<br />
John Lennon & Paul McCartney<br />
<br />
In 1995 Victorian committee member Dr Steve Roberts communicated the following (edited) criticisms of the 'national' committee to Adam Joseph.<br />
He subsequently withdrew them and was later appointed as the only interstate member of the 'national' committee in Sydney. He has since been dumped but remains active within the Victorian Skeptics branch.<br />
<br />
<i>1. Competence of the National Treasurer</i><br />
<br />
Anyone can see that the national committee's accounts are a farce - as bad as its minutes - and it is obvious that the treasurer is not able to make the simplest statements about how much money we have, or the simplest forecasts of future obligations such as magazine printing. [S]omeone else should take over the Treasurer's job ASAP. If Sydney start to bleat that nobody else wants the job, Victoria can offer one of the several people here that could do it, and do it better. It is supposed to be a national committee, after all.<br />
<br />
<i>2a. National committee has lost its sense of identity and direction</i><br />
<br />
Effectively the national committee is two people, who sometimes can't even talk to one another on important topics such as where conventions ought to be held. There is no guidance or leadership as to where the Skeptics are supposed to be heading. Tasks often get put off for long periods, resulting in increased costs. When I volunteered to be a member of the national committee last year this was accepted, but I have heard nothing since. It is quite possible to run a committee across several cities, using only the postal system with perhaps the occasional fax.<br />
<br />
<i>2b. National committee is confused with NSW committee</i><br />
<br />
These are one and the same body, which has led to national funds being squandered on local NSW projects. In the past this has not mattered much, but these days more is happening in Melbourne than anywhere else and I believe that we should have the use of some of the lavish Skeptics equipment that is lying relatively idle in Sydney.<br />
<br />
<i>3. Use for funds, including the inheritance</i><br />
<br />
We (Australian Skeptics) have no idea what to do with sums of money that come our way. It does not matter if a gift is $500 or $500,000 - we ought to have ambitions and draw up plans which could be executed if money came in. The CSF, for example, do exactly this. When I put this to Barry [Williams], he seemed to refuse to think about it. Projects attract funding - look at the US$2M centre that CSICOP/CODESH put up in 1993 (already being extended, with further appeals for money being sent out). The point is that there is money out there just waiting for a use to be offered for it.<br />
<br />
<i>4. Work load falling on too few individuals</i><br />
<br />
A common gripe in all amateur societies. Blame me too - with increasing family and work commitments I keep finding I have to back away from doing things. The situation seems to be much worse in Sydney where I would estimate 80% of the load falls on Barry, 19% on Harry [Edwards] and 1% on anyone else. A body like the Skeptics needs a diverse set of enthusiastic people as well as being to get a crowd together.<br />
<br />
<i>5. Skeptics have drifted away from "investigation" towards "critical thinking"</i><br />
<br />
However the general public knows what we are all about. I am not sure if we should change our charter, since to do so would be interpreted by our enemies as "Ha! They don't dare investigate because they know they will come across the REAL TRUTH about (ufo's, creation, crystals, etc.)". Also the common meaning of the word "critical" is now something like "abusive". Strictly "to criticise" means more like "to discuss the good and bad aspects of", but only pedants like myself care about that. Maybe the Skeptics should "encourage a questioning attitude" ??<br />
<br />
<i>6. Two big jobs (National President and Editor) held by same person</i><br />
<br />
Maybe because of a lack of volunteers. I doubt if many people can afford he time that either of these posts must require. I don't think that we need a National President at all, Barry can be NSW President with equal effect in NSW, thus freeing you and others to hold more independent-sounding posts in Victoria. The Press in Melbourne doesn't like to quote Sydney people, and I'm sure vice versa.<br />
<br />
<i>7. Barry is acting autocratically</i><br />
<br />
Stories of what Barry [Williams] has said continue to shock me, especially as he holds two powerful posts. Barry can be identified with Australian Skeptics, but not to the extent that Mark Plummer (and Paul Kurtz in CSICOP) wanted to be. We should NOT have a personality cult around the President, cuddly though he may be. The sort of arrogance I object to includes:<br />
<ul>
<li>insisting on a disastrous venue for the 1994 convention;</li>
<li>mismanaging the assignment of the 1995 convention;</li>
<li>refusing to debate Harry [Edwards]' motion about magazine size;</li>
<li>refusing control over editorial content of the magazine, and my favourite perennial one</li>
<li>declining to send me the full membership list (which had at least two Victorian members with wrong postcodes) on the grounds that I hold another post in another Society.</li>
</ul>
Well, so does Harry Edwards.<br />
<br />
<i>8. Presentation of the magazine</i><br />
<br />
This is low on my list of concerns because I am aware that the presentation has improved since Barry took it over. Also, the magazine is (or should be) renowned for its content, not its cover. I can easily believe that hard-paper, coloured covers are within reach, as are alternative ways of wrapping it for mailing. But overall I like the format and layout generally. It is unrealistic to try to sell it through newsagents (we would need to print many more copies for that to be worthwhile; Dick Smith would advise, or better still, I can ask my mate Lyle Rumble of Southern Sky astronomy magazine, who has recently done this).<br />
<br />
<i>9. Content of the magazine</i><br />
<br />
Again low on my list because I think its not too bad. There are a lot of good articles but there have been some shonky ones, which ought to have been weeded out by an editorial committee, had one existed.<br />
<br />
There are still too many typos and misprints (although nowhere near as bad as when Tim Mendham was editor) to allow me to show off articles with pride as something the Skeptics are doing.<br />
<br />
ENDs<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-55197362413996489672012-05-06T14:09:00.000+10:002014-07-15T15:19:07.424+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<hr />
<br />
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?<br />
<br />
When a group chooses to call itself <i>Australian Skeptics Inc</i> and purports to promote critical thinking via a journal and public literature to schools and libraries and the media, to expose charlatans who feed society misinformation and to scientifically investigate the paranormal, its own affairs and operations need not only to be seen to be beyond reproach, but actually need to be so.<br />
<br />
There is an urgent need for the following steps to be taken:<br />
<ol>
<li>An independent auditor needs to be called in to audit the books of the Australian Skeptics Inc and the Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation, at least since 1996 when the Whalley bequest was made, and the results of this audit should be made public. There is no evidence we can find that the accounts of either group were ever independently audited.</li>
<li>Steps must be taken to set up a truly national organisation which any interested sceptical Australian can join, and via which they can exercise influence on Skeptics policy and activity. Responsibility for running this national body could rotate every three to five years between state organisations, so that no one group can retain control.</li>
<li>The necessity for the appointment of a full-time officer needs to be reviewed, and if it is found to be viable and an effective use of available funds, then the position should be declared vacant and widely advertised in free thought circles, with the best person for the job as selected by an independent panel being appointed.</li>
<li>The membership of the Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation needs to be revised so that it includes one or more members nominated by each state organisation, perhaps for a set term (five-ten years?) instead of for life.</li>
<li>An effective editorial committee needs to be established for The Skeptic, which could provide a pool of peer reviewers and upgrade the reputation of the journal.</li>
</ol>
Leading Australian potential supporters of the organisation need to be drawn into some kind of formal association with the movement, perhaps through becoming 'fellows', as the parent organisation CSICOP provides. Fellows of CSICOP in the US include four Nobel prize winners, at least 15 professors, many high-profile public intellectuals (e.g. Stephen Jay Gould, Douglas Hofstadter, Susan Blackmore, W. V. Quine, Martin Gardner, Richard Dawkins, Francis Crick), prominent media personalities (e.g. Steve Allen, L. Sprague de Camp, Marilyn vos Savant) and many other leading thinkers from the US and around the world. In Australia, while a few people of this stature have given talks for the Skeptics, none are formally aligned, and it is unlikely any will commit themselves until the organisation gets its act together.<br />
<br />
Even the Skeptics' founders, Dick Smith, Phillip Adams and Richard Carleton, are not formally connected to the group, although Dick Smith is a fellow of CSICOP.<br />
<br />
* Mark Plummer, the Australian Skeptics founding first president, has since been de-listed as a ‘fellow’ of CSICOP, according to chief executive Barry Karr.<br />
<br />
The small group of individuals who now control the Australian Skeptics Inc. no doubt began with honest intentions, and always believed they were acting in the best interests of the Skeptics movement, but it must be clear even to them that their actions have exposed the group to accusations of dubious practices and handicapped its ability to perform its functions as effectively as it might. At the same time they have disenfranchised many hundreds of genuine sceptics Australia wide who would be only too willing to contribute time, expertise, energy and money to the cause of scepticism but who feel unable to find a valid and respected place in the movement.<br />
<br />
If Stanley Whalley knew of the goings-on that his last will and testament would play a part in, he probably would have used as much caution writing his will as he spent on carefully studying stock trends.<br />
<br />
Anyone with nominations for the new millennium's first 'Bent Spoon Award'?<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-36592872199032415832012-05-06T14:08:00.000+10:002014-07-15T15:17:18.926+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: LIFE MEMBER EXPELLED<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<hr />
<br />
LIFE MEMBER EXPELLED<br />
<br />
The latest bombshell to hit the Skeptics is the expulsion of life member Harry Edwards, long-time secretary and investigator of the NSW Skeptics and original chairman of the group's $1.2 million trust fund, the Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation, on allegations of 'corruption' and 'misappropriation' of funds. Edwards was served a writ in September 1999, outlining the charges and demanding restoration of almost $50,000.<br />
<br />
When the matter came before the courts on December 3, it was permanently stayed as it had been lodged in the wrong court. Costs were awarded against the Skeptics and have been set by the Supreme Court at over $6000. Edwards had prepared a defense, which claimed, among other things, that any monies advanced to him were approved by all trustees, and if he is guilty of breaching the trust, so are the other trustees. He has never been officially charged with either corruption nor breaching the trust in any way. The NSW Fraud Squad has not been notified, nor has the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). In correspondence to Edwards, Skeptics treasurer Richard Lead stated that 'Australian Skeptics Inc will seek the penalties prescribed under Part 1VA of the Crimes Act 1900. And don’t expect any mercy'.<br />
<br />
Edwards claims the matter is just a personal vendetta undertaken by a disgruntled committee member after a personality clash. Embarrassingly, the group sought a legal opinion from John Garnsey QC, only to be told that in addition to Edwards, all trust members were culpable in a number of breaches. Edwards believes this could be the reason no further action has been taken.<br />
<br />
It is believed Garnsey also found that the original Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation set up with Harry Edwards as chairperson was incorrectly constituted. In 1999 a new Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation was registered with the ASIC, with Richard Lead, Richard Gordon, Trevor Case and Alynda Brown listed as Directors, all current members of the NSW committee. Victorian Steve Roberts was dumped as the interstate representative. No other members are listed in documents submitted to ASIC in January this year (2000) so it is assumed that these are the only members. (Former chairman Harry Edwards' name is conspicuous by its absence.) According to the Foundation's constitution, the only way membership of the Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation lapses is "upon the member's death" (Clause 2.3.(a)). Readers may be amused by the name of the law firm which prepared this constitution - "Church and Grace".<br />
<br />
As the story unfolded, the ‘national committee’ and its supporters dismissed Edwards as ‘a sad case of mental decline’, ‘a liar’, and more desperately, ‘a piece of shit which the English language is manifestly incapable of describing properly’, amongst panic-stricken comments. Clearly the executive was appearing a little unnerved, and concerned at obvious leaks from some of their own state committees, which, surprisingly, still continue.<br />
<br />
When news leaked that this article was initially being prepared at the request of the editor of another free-thought group, the Australian Rationalists, calls came in from Skeptics Inc committee executives threatening to sue, even though most of the information has already appeared in various forums on the internet. Following initial threats of legal action came accusations of 'disloyalty to mates', and finally more name-calling, 'who would believe someone bitter and twisted?'<br />
<br />
The Australian Rationalist magazine was described by Williams as 'a boring political polemic and is even less interesting to read than jam tin labels'.<br />
<br />
After some concerned discussions within the Australian Rationalists committee, the article is still being considered for a future issue, according to editor Ian Robinson, obviously feeling pressured by colleagues.<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-13902078033087153842012-05-06T14:07:00.002+10:002014-07-15T15:16:01.509+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: QUESTIONS OF FINANCIAL POLICY<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<hr />
<br />
QUESTIONS OF FINANCIAL POLICY<br />
<br />
In 1998 the chairman of the Australian Skeptics Science and Education Foundation Harry Edwards in a memo to Barry Williams raised concerns over the financial status of Foundation. According to Edwards, the total amount invested on behalf of the Foundation, principally in first mortgage security over real estate, as of 1 March 1998 was $966,987. This was generating an income of about $79,000 p.a. or about 8.2%, but subsequent falls in interest rates probably reduced this amount, at least in the short term. Ongoing commitments listed by Edwards, including honoraria, scholarships, prizes, convention subsidies and a grant of $100,000 to the Mt Stromlo Observatory ($10,000 p.a. over ten years) amounted to over $25,000 p.a., leaving the Foundation's disposable income at little more than $50,000 p.a., which was available to state groups and individuals applying for grants. (In 1995/6, the first year of the bequest, $35,000 was shown as distributed to state groups, but it is not clear whether this largesse continued because later financial statements are not available.). The policy of the Foundation under Edwards' chairmanship was "to ensure the financial viability of all Australian Skeptics groups in perpetuity. It was agreed that "the capital would be maintained at a predetermined level" and that the expenses and disbursements should be "limited to an amount not exceeding income".<br />
<br />
Edwards was concerned at pressures on the trustees to eat into capital in order to fund the increasing Skeptics salary bill and the activities of the committee. Figures submitted to the NSW Department of Fair Trading by treasurer Richard Lead show that in 1996/7 and 1997/8 the Australian Skeptics Inc made losses of $27,214.25 and $42,526.87 respectively.<br />
<br />
However, it seemed to be the policy of at least some members of the Skeptics to simply keep spending the money until it ran out. Treasurer Richard Lead, who joined the group after Whalley’s money was received, explained to the author: 'Personally, I hope we do run out of money, but in about 10 years.<br />
<br />
What is the point of not using it for the purposes for which it was donated?<br />
<br />
We are not a religious organisation'. Dr Steve Roberts, the only Victorian on the 'national' body has expressed similar sentiments to the Australian Rationalists magazine editor, Ian Robinson.<br />
<br />
Edwards proposed sending a letter to all members of the Australian Skeptics Inc committee outlining his concerns. In the draft letter Edwards explains that the Australian Skeptics Inc income for 1998/9 would only be approximately $48,000, and as projected expenditure (mainly journal printing costs and the Editor/CEO's salary and expenses) was nearly $110, 000, there would be a $60,000 shortfall. According to Edwards, Williams refused to allow him to send this letter to the Committee on the grounds that it may panic the members.<br />
<br />
In the event, according to figures submitted to the NSW Department of Fair Trading by treasurer Richard Lead, the 1998/9 expenditure turned out to be $126,243, only $16,000 more than Edwards' estimate, but the income is listed as $143, 859, nearly $100,000 more. It is not clear whether this extra<br />
income came substantially from the Foundation or not, as Barry Williams denied a request from the Australian Rationalist magazine to provide current information about the Skeptics' finances, nor if so whether this was at the expense of reducing the Foundation's capital, as Lead has argued for.<br />
<br />
Edwards is no longer in a position to answer this question, as the result of the events described below.<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-32814007770044859592012-05-06T14:05:00.005+10:002014-07-15T15:14:41.759+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: FROM CRITICISM TO COMPLIANCE<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<br />
FROM CRITICISM TO COMPLIANCE<br />
<br />
While a number of members have left the scene disillusioned, others have turned a blind eye to these developments for the sake of harmony. Victorian Committee member Dr Steve Roberts wrote a lengthy statement about the NSW committee [See Addional supplement at end of article). Roberts later withdrew the four closely-typed pages of scathing criticisms and was appointed the only non-NSW member of the Trust fund. Harry Edwards claims this was to appease the Victorian committee - NSW reasoned that one interstate member with four NSW members was not going to make any difference.<br />
<br />
After further bickering between pro and anti Ian Plimer supporters throughout state branches, and letters and public statements on radio about his treatment, the Skeptics Foundation finally gave way and granted Plimer $177,000. The cashed-up Victorian committee contributed a further $19,000.<br />
<br />
With a total legal bill in excess of $400,000, Plimer was forced to sell most of his property and still verges on bankruptcy after the out-of-court settlement recently concluded the defamation suit against him. Many believed that, considering the Whalley bequest came about on the understanding that its main purpose was to fight Creationism, there was a moral obligation to support Plimer to the fullest extent. That one skeptic should suffer so much while other skeptics enjoy subsidised overseas and interstate trips must be a bitter pill to swallow.<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-57754488740434551342012-05-06T14:05:00.002+10:002014-07-15T15:13:18.872+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: INTERSTATE ANGER<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<br />
INTERSTATE ANGER<br />
<br />
The Victorian committee expressed anger in 1995 when minutes from the 'national' committee showed they were to purchase new computer equipment and fax machines only 2 years after previously buying such equipment. A motion was also passed to pay for airfares for any of the 'national committee' who wished to attend the forthcoming 1995 Melbourne convention, unheard of previously. All queries regarding expenditure were met with disdain and a closed door from Sydney.<br />
<br />
The South Australian Skeptics put in for a grant to purchase a computer and were met with refusal. Victoria was allowed a fax machine and some small items to appease their anger. Professor Ian Plimer, growing in concern about his legal expenses, was encouraged to apply for a grant on the basis that his legal battles related directly to fighting creationism and flying the Skeptics banner. A lengthy letter outlining his costs and a plea to the Skeptics Trust to assist met with a refusal that his application did not meet the criteria set down.<br />
<br />
Amidst mounting criticism of Williams’s autocratic editorial style and allegations of abusing his position, accusations of lack of accountability of subscribers funds and of the bequest, cries of mismanagement, the 'national committee' suspended itself and immediately reinstated themselves as the 'NSW committee', but with no changes to matters relating to finances, policy, or the magazine. They advised that the organisational structure of the Skeptics is such that only the members of the NSW committee can vote themselves, or the editor, out, contrary to what was declared in the 1986 issue of the group's journal regarding national interests.<br />
<br />
Victoria complained that as the Whalley bequest was left to a national body called "The Australian Sceptics [sic] Incorporated", and not the NSW committee, the trust should include interstate representation. While NSW sought legal opinion, the Victorians considered a variety of options, including a suggestion of contesting the will, which led to some splitting of ranks and fears of a wider national split.<br />
<br />
Eventually and begrudgingly the states backed off, realising that NSW now had the money and any further disharmony would aggravate future hand-outs. Barry Williams successfully put in his application to become the full-time paid editor and CEO, and others began receiving honorariums of varying amounts for previously voluntary positions, for example to Harry Edwards $5000 p.a. as chairman of the Foundation and a further $3000 p.a. as secretary of the NSW committee, and $3000 p.a. to Peter Rodgers who was the treasurer at the time. Two loans of $8000 each were also approved for Edwards to publish two books promoting scepticism. This money was being progressively paid back through book sales by the Skeptics up to the time of Edwards' departure (see below).<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-27932054059408426022012-05-06T14:04:00.003+10:002014-07-15T15:11:59.182+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: PRESIDENT BECOMES FULL-TIME PAID EXECUTIVE OFFICER<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<br />
PRESIDENT BECOMES FULL-TIME PAID EXECUTIVE OFFICER<br />
<br />
At the committee meeting on November 18, 1996, the then honorary president Barry Williams proposed the appointment of a full-time Editor/Executive Office, with a remuneration of $45,000 per annum (plus expenses), which was accepted unanimously by the committee. Williams' friend Harry Edwards immediately moved that he, Williams, should be appointed to this position.<br />
<br />
This was also accepted unanimously by the committee. Williams then resigned as president and nominated Richard Gordon to the position. Gordon was elected unopposed. In 1997 Williams took up his new appointment.<br />
<br />
Despite the fact that other sceptics had previously expressed interest in such a position should the opportunity ever arise, the position was never advertised, even within the various Skeptics organisations, and as far as we can ascertain, no other candidates for the position were considered.<br />
<br />
Williams has little if any formal scientific or philosophical training. His previous job seems to have been organising trade promotions and exhibitions by American companies for the US High Commission in Sydney. His main qualification for the Skeptics job seems to have been that he happened to be the President of the small NSW committee when national responsibility for the Skeptics was transferred for the time being to that state in 1986 and, due in the main to the undemocratic structure of the sceptical movement, he managed to hold on to that position for ten years. Although during that time he had performed his presidential role and that of magazine editor to the best of his ability, his performance in both was not without critics, and no-one could claim that Williams did such an outstanding job that he stood out as the only possible person in Australia who could fill the position. Williams may or may not have been the best person for the job, but this was never tested by wide advertisement for the position and competitive application by possible alternative candidates.<br />
<br />
By his own criteria, Williams' tenure in the job has not wholly met expectations. In a proposal submitted to his NSW committee in late 1996, Williams clearly stated how he would justify the job and associated salary and expenses. Many of his undertakings do not seem to have been achieved.<br />
<br />
Williams undertook to:<br />
<ol>
<li type="a">'upgrade appearance, quality and format of magazine'. A close investigation of recent issues shows only the print size and font style have changed.</li>
<li type="a">'produce within three years (i.e. by 1999) a bi-monthly magazine that is sold through newsagents'. Subscribers and the public at large would be aware this has not eventuated.</li>
<li type="a">'Compile and publish second volume (1986-88) of composite issues', and</li>
<li type="a">'Compile and publish third volume (1989-1991)' These tasks refer to compilations of 'Best of' journal stories in published form (one was released in 1992). Williams has been unable to achieve this, even though the contents were provided to him on disk some five years ago.</li>
<li type="a">'Produce and publish position papers on various topics (Astrology, numerology etc)'. The content for these are currently being compiled by individuals of the Queensland, Victorian and NSW committees, based on a series of brochures released by the Victorian Skeptics in 1993.</li>
<li type="a">'To double (at least) the subscriber base by the end of 1997'. When Williams commenced as a full-time employee at the beginning of 1997, there were approximately 2000 subscribers. In the ensuing three years, $150,000 was spent on the CEO/editor’s salary and expenses, and another $20,000 on advertising and new computers. By 2000, the membership figures were still much the same, but exact figures were hard to ascertain due to the inclusion in reported figures of non-financial members and 'give-aways' to media and others. Former Skeptics trust chairman, Harry Edwards, claims he has documentation from a 1997 meeting revealing nearly 450 non-financial subscribers were included in overall subscriber numbers.</li>
<li type="a">'To organise regular public meetings'. An area sadly neglected and a concern to many on the NSW committee. It is well known that Williams had a stand-up row in 1998 with current NSW president Dr. Richard Gordon over the matter, witnessed by most committee members.</li>
<li type="a">'To write articles'. Williams has certainly achieved this promise. As a full-time employee, he is the only writer in the journal who gets paid. Articles sent in by other contributors as 'opinion pieces' are unpaid. </li>
</ol>
Williams aside, others on the committee have benefited from honoraria amounts ranging from $1,000 to $8,000, for attending to basically the same tasks as they did as volunteers. Interstate and overseas trips by committee members are funded on the basis of 'Skeptics business', and have increased in frequency recently and have included visits to such places as the US, Germany, and Britain. Williams himself has only recently returned from a 2-month 'Skeptics business' trip, mainly to Britain. Treasurer Richard Lead has verified this was subsidised by the Foundation but would not say by how much.<br />
<br />
Many subscribers are now asking why many thousands of dollars are now being spent by the NSW-based organisation without any commensurate increase in Skeptics activities and with membership, still around 2000 nationally, approximately the same as in 1996. Some people have also questioned whether journal subscribers are getting value for money. The subscription price of The Skeptic has risen from $25 to $45 (an 80% increase) in three years, much greater than the inflation rate. While there has been a marginal increase in printing and paper costs, the bulk of the increased income has effectively gone towards paying the Editor/Executive Officer's salary and expenses.<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306100874647419698.post-35227063904215549982012-05-06T14:03:00.005+10:002014-07-15T15:10:36.313+10:00Reasons to be Skeptical: SUBSCRIBERS ARE NOT MEMBERS<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
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<hr />
<br />
SUBSCRIBERS ARE NOT MEMBERS<br />
<br />
It is important to note that, unlike most non-profit associations, the Australian Skeptics Inc does not have a general membership as such, apart from the small self-appointed group in Sydney that took control in 1986 - all that other interested members of the public can do is subscribe to a magazine called <i>The Skeptic</i>. This is not spelt out clearly and new subscribers are encouraged to gain the touchy-feely impression that they are members of an elite group.<br />
<br />
In actual fact the only other people that could be truly called members are those on the various state committees, and even they have no say what occurs at the so called 'national' committee' which is incorporated in NSW, with specific names listed. Williams and the self-appointed NSW group are therefore in effect the owners of "Australian Skeptics Inc" (Y0133609). In turn, the self appointed Foundation controlling the Whalley money, although legally a separate entity, effectively belongs to this NSW committee, because of the duplication of members. Therefore, only the NSW committee can decide on each others' fate. State committee members and subscribers can only protest by ceasing their subscription to the journal.<br />
<br />
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steve jenkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064724730975745470noreply@blogger.com0