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A business manager or accountant is needed to keep track of the monthly situation.
There are too many bank accounts; some need to be closed.
The accounting software is too complicated.

Some issues regarding the Domus Carmelitana were discussed.
A review of the Order’s investments were made.

Sessions # 5&6

The Commission recommends that the number of accounts be reduced substantially.
The Commission examined the financial reports from the provinces. It was noted that not all the provinces reported in the same way. Some provinces gave amounts only for the central administration, others included data from the houses. It was recommended that financial reporting be standardised and reports should include information about the whole province.
The Commission outlined its criteria for the revised percentages for provincial contributions to Curia expenses.

The bandwidth of change should be narrow up or down.
The actual economic reality of the provinces and the countries where they are located should be taken into account.
The support provinces give one another directly or in ways outside the Curia must be recognized.
The present percentages mean that 8 provinces pay for 75% of the order’s expenses. The percentages proposed by the previous general bursar would mean 9 provinces paying for 80% of the expenses.

The Commission divided into two groups to discuss the percentages in detail. After one hour they came together to agree on final recommendations to the Council which will be communicated to the Province’s by letter.

A draft copy of the minutes to date was circulated and corrections made.
It was decided to add a space on the Financial Report sheet for the number of members of the province, but otherwise to leave the format unchanged, until the Bursar General gets to know the provinces better.
It was decided to recommend the implementation of the proposed percentages coincide with the 2003 budget process so that the 2002 budgets would be left unchanged. It was noted that the percentages agreed at Bamberg in 1999 for the repayment of the CISA and Curia works were not affected.
The date of the next meeting will be from 16 to 20 September, 2002 in Rome. Items for the agenda include:

Reports on debts, investments and on meeting of bursars from the N. European Region.
2001 Financial reports from the provinces.
Curia, etc. Budgets for 2003

On the points specifically raised by the General Council:

Debt will be tracked monthly and discussed in September.
CISA budget to be presented in person by those responsible.
Non-traditional sources of income are only just coming on line.

Fr. Vincenzo Mosca presented a report on the economic performance of the Domus Carmelitana.

Session # 8

The commission met with the Prior General, Fr. Joseph Chalmers, who emphasised the importance of finding new ways for people to contribute to the work of the Order to relieve financial pressure on the provinces.
The Society of the Little Flower (UK) made its first mailing at the end of March and donations have begun to arrive.
Various suggestions were made regarding the finances of the order:
Miscellaneous details were discussed about various accounts and the need to update the signatures.
It was suggested that all communications be made by e-mail or fax between the Bursar General’s office and the provinces.
Proposed agenda for September Meeting:

Performance of Domus, especially change in debt situation.
Status of repayments under the Bamberg agreement.
Performance of investments up to June 2002.
Review of communications and systems.
Update on Curia expenses and new funding projects
Financial reports for 2001
Budgets for 2003.

Durante los dias 15 al 17 de abril, se ha celebrado en la Casa de la Curia en Roma la reunión de la nueva Comisión Económica Internacional de la Orden. Los miembros de dicha Comisión son: Eduard van Aalsum (Neer), Franciscus Sulistyo (Indo), Wilmar Santin (GermS-B), Gian Domenico Meloni (Ita), Antonio Monteiro (Lus), Daniel O’Neill (PCM) y James Des Lauriers (Ecónomo General).

Se trataron diferentes asuntos tales como las nuevas fuentes de financiación de la Orden, como, por ejemplo, la Sociedad de Santa Teresita en Inglaterra (Society of the Little Flower), en un momento de cambio, de nuevas exigencias y de variantes económicas. La Comisión analizó también la situación económica general de la Orden (deudas, Domus Carmelitana y CISA). Asimismo se estudiaron los porcentajes y las cuotas correspondientes a las diversas provincias.

El último día del encuentro, la Comisión se reunió con el Prior General, Joseph Chalmers, para tratar algunos asuntos presentados por el Consejo General.

Las sugerencias de la Comisión serán tratadas en el Consejo General durante el la Sesión Plenaria de Mayo, y la decisiones finales se comunicarán a todas las Provincias en Junio. La próxima reunión se celebrará en el mes de Septiembre de 2002.

Si è tenuta in Roma alla Casa Curia, nei giorni 15-19 aprile, la nuova Commissione Economica Internazionale dell’Ordine. I membri di detta Commissione sono: Eduard van Aalsum (Neer), Franciscus Sulistyo (Indo), Wilmar Santin (GermS-B), Gian Domenico Meloni (Ita), Antonio Monteiro (Lus), Daniel O’Neill (PCM) e James Des Lauriers (Economo Generale).

L’incontro ha trattato una vasta gamma di argomenti, quali, le nuove fonti di finanziamento dell’Ordine, come, ad esempio, la Società di Santa Teresita in Inghilterra (Society of Little Flower), in un momento di nuove esigenze e variazioni economiche. La Commissione ha anche analizzato la situazione economica dell'Ordine (debiti, Domus Carmelitana e CISA) e ha studiato le percentuali di partecipazione delle province.

L’ultimo giorno della riunione, la Commissione si è incontrata col Priore Generale, Joseph Chalmers, per trattare alcune questioni sollevate dal Consiglio Generale. I suggerimenti della Commissione saranno presentati al Consiglio Generale durante la Sessione Plenaria di maggio. Le decisioni finali saranno comunicate a tutte le Province in giugno. La prossima riunione della commissione si terrà nel mese di settembre 2002.