Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting February 23, 1999

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Call to Order:  4:30 p.m.

PRESENT

Preston, LeMieux, Austin, Goldfarb, Brown, Stone, McNiff, Chick-Whiteside.

ABSENT

Potrafka,  Lotfi, Wascha, Shepherd, Viele.

Also Present: Chad Kramer and Kenny Thomas.  Austin introduced them and added that she was turning over more duties to them.
 
 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

MINUTES

The minutes of the January 26 Board Meeting were approved electronically.

OFFICERS' REPORTS

Board Chair:

As Potrafka was absent, LeMieux presided. An update was given on the status of the grant request to the Jennings Foundation. The grant, if approved, will provide ten more modems.

 

Secretary:

Nothing to add

Treasurer:

Preston presented the revised budget. Austin made a motion to accept the budget as presented. Brown supported the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Preston discussed the financial report and indicated that CD's were rolling over. Motion to accept the financial report as presented made by Austin. Motion supported by Stone. Motion carried unanimously.

 Finance Committee:

Nothing to report

Marketing and Outreach:

Goldfarb indicated that he will be meeting with Viele next week. Goldfarb has been contacted by a University of Michigan-Flint marketing student, Diane Savage, who wants to work with a community ISP. Goldfarb will follow through. Chick-Whiteside reported that the Flint Telecomm committee presentation has been re-scheduled for March 30 at City Hall. Goldfarb will also try to attend.

Web Site Committee:

Stone has not yet been able to gain access to the Web server. Austin indicated that there is a separate password and she will take care of it.

Office Committee:

LeMieux discussed the renewal report and added that while four organizations had not renewed it was because three were ineligible and the fourth no longer need the account. Discussion centered on the approval of new accounts. Austin made the motion that when new account registration is requested, the access difficulty and ordered modem installation will be explained. The individual may submit the completed registration form with a check both of which will be held until after the modems are installed and working. The new accounts will receive a bonus of one month and expire in thirteen months instead of twelve. The individual may request return of the check at any time prior to the installation of the new modems. Motion supported by Brown. Motion carried unanimously. Goldfarb will work on a Public Relations letter.

 Training Committee:

LeMieux indicated that due to very little interest in training, no new sessions had been scheduled. New members were taking advantage of classes at the FPL and GDL.

Non-Profit Committee:

LeMieux distributed the memo from Wascha that detailed the opinion from Peggy Jury regarding the corporate structure of the GFN for profit entity. A Mission statement is a good starting point and the Board will bring suggestions to the March meeting.

System Administrator:

Austin praised LeMieux for all of the additional work taken on. Richard Utley will be a welcome additional the Help Desk. Austin will be turning over more of the duties to Thomas and Kramer. Of great concern to Austin is the fact that over 300 no tokens messages per day are being received by GFN users during peak periods. Discussion. Austin will contact a Merit representative and request a personal appearance at the March GFN Board meeting. Other interested parties will be invited to attend. Austin will work with Lotfi on this issue.
 

Laura Austin Distinguished Service Award:

Based on a recommendation from Potrafka, LeMieux and Preston, the Laura Austin Distinguished Service Award was established with a motion made by all Board members present. The first participant will be the namesake, Laura Austin. All Board members present unanimously supported the motion. While each individual participant would receive an individual plaque to recognize them, the Laura Austin Distinguished Service Award will be a virtual plaque residing on the GFN web server. Austin pointed out a typo. Correction will be forthcoming!
 

Other:

Austin reported that the new GFN server should be operational by the end of next week.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 5:30p.m.
 

Val McNiff