Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting January 27, 1998

---

PRESENT

  Ives Potrafka,  Les LeMieux,  Laura Austin,  Richard Emery , David Rilett,  Jerry Preston,  Valerie McNiff
  Tony Shepard,  Vahid Lotfi,  Karen Magidsohn,  Johanna Brown

ABSENT

James Whalen

EXCUSED

Mary Ann Chick Whiteside,  Mark Goldfarb,  Garry Viele

The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m.

Location: Visitors and Convention Bureau - Conference Room
               Mott Foundation Building, First Floor
               Flint, MI

REVIEW AGENDA

Potrafka:  Revise agenda to move elections forward.

Election of Officers: Chair, Ives Potrafka (Magidsohn moved and LeMieux seconded) -- elected
Vice-chair, Les LeMieux (Austin moved and Magidsohn seconded) -- elected
Treasurer, Jerry Preston (Magidsohn moved and Austin seconded) -- elected
Secretary, David Rilett (Austin moved and Preston seconded) -- elected

Public Comments: LeMieux: Check by-laws for terms (terms tabled)

Approve previous month's minutes: (November, no December meeting)
APPROVED: (Madgesohn moved and LeMieux seconded)

OFFICERS' REPORTS

Board Chair

Introduction of new members

Secretary

No report

Treasurer

Report accepted (Preston) (Magidsohn moved and Austin seconded)
Comments: Discussion of possible costs of systems management staff (LeMieux)
Laura Austin complimented the treasurer on the report.
 

Old Business

Finance Committee:  Proposed Budget for 1998
Comments:     Possible system administration cost were discussed as well as the possible future need
                      for an executive director.
Les agreed ideally, but practically urged system administration hiring first.

BUDGET APPROVED: (Magidsohn moved and Austin seconded)
 
          Potrafka suggested the following budget change for 1998:
          Increase staff budget to $10,000 for ten (10) months.
          (LeMieux moved and Magidsohn seconded) AMENDMENT APPROVED:
          Preston gave a few budgetary options but saw no problem with budget.
 
          Grant Proposal Department of Labor: TABLED
          COMMENTS: LeMieux will ask Sol to look into using grant to train
          systems help. Austin stated that one limitation was the current shared location at library.
 
 
 Marketing Committee:
      No Report (ad to Mott College publication suggested)
 
 Web Committee: Combined with Laura's report (see New Business)

Office Committee: No Report
 

New Business

     Send Mail Report (Laura Austin): New software was installed to block
     "spamming" or unauthorized use of the GFN's send mail. The report
     contains graphs showing peaks far above normal use for sendmail.
 
     Austin's report contained a plan to meet system administration staffing
     by giving contracts to specific individuals for work on project-by-project
     basis paid by the project. Possible future system administration projects
     and possible contractees were discussed.
     Preston: Technical Committee needs a contract form (letter of agreement?)
 
     AFFCN Membership
     APPROVED: $150 for membership (Potrafka moved and Preston seconded)
 
     Appointment of Committee Chairs TABLED:
 
     Public Comments:
          Tony Shepard from University Outreach (U of M) presented proposal
           to allow WWW access via GFN pool at The Oak Business Center.
           Laura calculated a cost of $300 per year for four (4) accounts during
           daytime business hours only.   The price does NOT include e-mail
           services at GFN.
 
          DISCUSSION: Potrafka: Concerned about continuous usage tying up pool.
          Not like library public access since it would use dial-up access.

          Rilett: What software? (Windows 95).Suggest .scp script, but GFN
          password should be well protected, preferably with a password.
          Ives: Need trial period to study usage reports because of possible
          access crowding.
          APPROVED: Oak Business Center may purchase access for six (6) month
          trial at cost ($150) and terms stated above (no e-mail, four accounts).
          (Brown moved and McNiff seconded)

Adjournment: 5:45 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:  David G. Rilett 27