Dec 13

Written by: reh
12/13/2007

Thursday, December 13, 2007

6:30AM Drove to Teguci with Fernando and Jessica to meet with Sigfredo.
9:00AM Met with Sigfredo, Fernando, Jessica in a quiet corner of the hotel lobby. I introduced Fernando as our new General Manager and explained that he will be responsible for receiving, disbursing, and recording all money transactions in Honduras for the L4L program. I explained that I understand that Sigfredo started by reviewing ’06 books and he still has some concerns about them. I explained that we understand these concerns but we have what we have. The Exec. Committee closed out the ’06 books and submitted the necessary federal reporting forms. I explained that I am authorizing Sigfredo to file the ’06 accounting material without further comment and turn his attention to the ’07 records.
I explained that the US office knows exactly how many dollars were delivered to the Honduras office. The numbers are as listed on the report Fernando is now submitting. I am verifying that these numbers are correct and if Sigfredo wants a statement to that effect for his records I will provide one. I explained that I am well aware that some of the money was never deposited and some of the money was taken out in large chunks and used to pay for things in cash; but, at the end of the day the dollars in are as listed.
I explained that we want Sigfredo to make a tally of ’07 dollars in/out starting for the entire year and deliver his report as early in January as possible. I explained that he can use any qualifiers (such as; there are more receipts for goods signed by the manager-Roxana than should be found in prudent accounting procedures, etc.) he thinks are necessary. At the end of the day, we want a report signed by him stating that dollars in equal dollars out plus the amount carried into ’08. With that statement, L4L can close out ’07 and start with accurate and uncluttered books in ’08. With very little discussion, Sigfredo understood the task at hand. I left Fernando and Sigfredo to sort out the details instructing Sigfredo to make a list of items he needs to complete his job so Fernando can deliver them within the week. I signed in at the front desk while Fernando and Sigfredo compared and traded notes and records. By the time I returned, they had sorted through things and were down to small talk.
10:30AM Fernando, Jessica, and I went over some final details before Jessica left and we were left with my Spanish.
11:30AM Fernando and I had lunch at a local Italian restaurant.
12:30PM Fernando headed for Teguci. while I settled in to work on trip records.
10:00AM Back at the front desk sign in: The Christmas season starts December 1 and is a huge travel, reunion, party (in the gentler sense of the term) time in Central America. People, especially people from the country, come in the join relatives and party. They fill all the hotels and reserve all the conference rooms. There were no rooms in this three-hotel complex except one suite on 10th floor for $240 per night! With my record of stays, I was able to get the receptionist down to $170 per night. This is not how we should be spending L4L money and I know that but I’m not ready to stay in the Hotel California either. Sorry, I’ll plan better next time.

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