chomp ($YAMLbase64 = encode_base64 $YAMLoutput->write_string);

  return $YAMLbase64;

}

sub COUNTER {

  $sharedsecret = shift||"none";

  return "FUCK OFF" unless ($sharedsecret ~~ @sharedsecrets);

  _OPEN_DATABASE();

    foreach $member (@members) {

        $memberstatus = $member->findnodes('./status');

        $votingright  = $member->findnodes('./stemmrecht');   

        $votingrights++     if int $votingright; 

        $regularmember++    if ($memberstatus  =~ /^Regular$/i);

        $studentmember++    if ($memberstatus  =~ /^Student$/i);

        $supportmember++    if ($memberstatus  =~ /^Supporter/i);

        $starvingmember++   if ($memberstatus  =~ /^Starving$/i);

    }