Hi dozy!
It
all seems a bit odd - the congregations are told to basically remit all
their donated funds to the Society other than essential minor "day to
day expenses" yet they are expected to stump up additional money to pay
for all of this video equipment.
No, it's more complicated than that - and the letter is not particularly well wriiten IMHO - hence the postings above
I gather from the letter that the equipment is being provided at 'no direct cost' but rather by 'indirect cost' via the congregation's pre-existing monthly resolution to the world wide work, which WT would hope could be increased a bit if the congregation benefits from the WT supplying the latest equipment - hence:
All previously supplied and any future video equipment obtained is covered from contributions toward Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide. Therefore, some bodies of elders have updated their monthly resolution for Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction worldwide as an expression of their appreciation.
Obviously they don't want every Kingdom Hall to start ordering brand new equipment, hence congregation's can't just order the stuff, but need some authorization
in requesting approval from the Local Design/Construction Department (LDC).
If the Kingdom Hall wishes to obtain equipment themselves outside this arrangement, they still need authorization (presumably to stop congregations just ordering new TVs when they want) - but because this needs to be paid for directly, a resolution would then be required.
If the bodies of elders receive approval from the LDC to purchase video equipment directly from a supplier, a resolution to pay for the cost of the equipment using congregation funds should be passed by all congregations using the Kingdom Hall.
I suspect that having the LDC in overall charge would enable them organize some kind of re-use of older equipement (ie smaller TVs?) in either smaller halls, or in classrooms, where previously there wasn't a TV.
That's happened before with chairs hasn't it? A kingdom hall has had new chairs, and the older chairs have been reused by another hall?
