Joe  For me it boils down to a slight of hand.  Put in a cushion, a layer of collecting $$ from the suckers (woops I slipped) i.e. the members they are unlikely to remember in the future, as a special cushion.  Then later give it the soft pedal, whisper, or non-mentioned treatment in the future.  Thus, few would be the wiser.

Of course, you Joe are aware, as is Marty, of its purpose as a cushion.  But the "average joe" is unaware. I'd say most of the average guys are being dupped.  Even our former board guy John wasn't clearly remembering your recited details 

These are reasons why I have no doubts when Marty calls it a "slush fund", and advocates its demise (or phase out).

Tom