Meherana

“Therese Williams, President of Meherana, is married to Paul Williams who is the chair of Meherana's Site Committee as well as owner of Paul Williams Home Improvement which sometimes provides handyman service to Meherana. In 2018, his business was paid $11,790 for services. Ralph Brown, Board Director, is married to Katherine Brown, Meherana's Treasurer”

“In September 2018 Meherana's Active Members voted to approve a re-stating of Meherana's entire bylaws. The re-stating was clarification of the existing bylaws which were created in 1994 with no substantial changes made to the corporation. The newly re-stated bylaws have been filed with the State of California.”

“Meherana has two classes of membership: 1) An Associate Member has a sincere interest in Avatar Meher Baba and makes a small monetary donation annually for membership to show support of Meherana's Mission Statement. For the fiscal year there were 202 Associate Members. 2) An Active Member also has a sincere interest in Avatar Meher Baba & shows effort to become and remain informed regarding Meherana's goals, activities, and history as well as contributes service work annually for Meherana. For the fiscal year there were 29 Active Members. Only Active Members may hold elective office or vote on official business. Both types of membership need to be applied for annually.”

“At Meherana's Annual General Meeting, active members elect the Board of Directors as well as the members of the Membership, Nominating, and Site Committees.”

“As part of Meherana's Annual General Meeting, active members vote on changes or updates, if any, to Meherana's Master Plan, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, or Official Policies.”

“Meherana's balance sheet and statement of activities are reviewed alongside the 990 and each question or item is gone over line by line. Balance Sheet and Statement of Activities are presented to each Board Member at the end of each fiscal year and quarterly throughout the fiscal year.”

“As Meherana is a small, tight-night group, the Active Members and Board of Directors consistently interact with each other being aware of potential ways a conflict of interest might happen.”

“Governing documents, financial statements, books of account, and tax returns are open to inspection by any Board Member at all reasonable times. All documents are open to inspection on the written request of any Active Member at any reasonable time. Requests for inspection by the general public are to be made in writing to the President or Secretary. The Conflict of Interest Policy is signed by all directors, officers, and those on elective committees annually and available to all Active Members. Current financial statements are passed out at each general business meeting of the Board and at the Annual General Meeting. Meherana's 990 is available on websites such as Charity Navigator and Guidestar.”

“In July 2017 (prior fiscal year) the Detwiler Fire swept over Meherana's property causing major destruction. Much effort has been put forth to restore the property and rebuild damaged infrastructure and destroyed buildings as well as replacing all needed tools and equipment that burnt. This effort started in 2017 through that fiscal year and continued throughout this fiscal year. The work has now all been completed.”

“Expenses for this service program were high this year due to having to replace all equipment for putting on the event. All event equipment was destroyed in the Detwiler Fire.”

“Expenses were high for this service program as the Detwiler Fire destroyed everything needed for putting on this event. The dollars of expense include the cost to replace items in order to have the event.”

“Expenses were high for the Study Course service program as the Detwiler Fire destroyed everything needed for putting on this event. The dollars of expense include the cost to replace items in order to have the event.”

“Program Service and Management expense is high for this year due to having to replace items destroyed in the Detwiler Fire as well as costs for infrastructure repair and restoration as well fire debris removal. Much of these costs were recouped by insurance funds received.”

“Expenses listed are the costs to put on program service events at Meherana”

“Rounding”