[Taxacom] Kickstarter for Taxonomy

[Doug Yanega]

Stuart Longhorn wrote:

>I suggest is important to know how the ICZN justify the 'trivial' 
>annual expense that 'now top $155,000'.
>Because to me at least, that doesn't sound trivial.
>
>Are the finances open for inspection, how and where have they been 
>audited/revised? Or re-optimised? Recently?Meetings for example. 
>What cost are incurred? Don't most in Western Academia have access 
>to online videoconferencing? -> essentially free.Please, somebody 
>tell me how ICZN spends $155,000 per year. [or min of $78,000 
>alleged by Prof Dixon and reported by Prof Page.]
>Before any backlash, I fully wish to say I support the ICZN and know 
>the important role played to arbitrate and support biodiversity 
>issues.
>But, simplistically to fix a deficit, either earn more money and/or 
>reduce/refocus spending. I wish them to first be clear about 
>spending.

Speaking as a Commissioner, I know that I neither receive any 
reimbursement for my time and effort, nor have I ever been offered 
money to attend any conferences. On the other hand, the ICZN is 
effectively run by a small staff housed in the NHM in London (the 
Secretariat; see http://iczn.org/secretariat), and it is my 
understanding (which may not be entirely correct) that at least a few 
of these people are employed full-time by the ITZN, others part-time, 
and a few volunteers. Frankly, if even 3 or 4 people are employed 
full-time, that *alone* would easily account for $155,000 - in fact, 
that would be a rather poor salary for anyone living in London. In 
that respect, $155,000 seems like an extremely small budget, and I 
have every expectation that it is all being well-spent.

Sincerely,
-- 

Doug Yanega        Dept. of Entomology         Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314        skype: dyanega
phone: (951) 827-4315 (standard disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
              http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html
   "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
         is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82