Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting January 27, 2000

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Genesee Freenet  Board of Directors Meeting
 Visitors and Convention Center
   Mott Foundation Building
   Flint, MI

Call To Order:  5:20 p.m.

PRESENT

Brown, Cramer, Lofti, Potrafka (via speaker phone), Preston, Shepherd, Schwartz, Stone, Swedorski, Whiteside

Also in Attendance: K. Thomas
 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no comments from the public.

OFFICERS' REPORTS

Board Chair:

No report.

Secretary:

No report.

Treasurer:

Preston distributed the financial report with balance of $86,970.40 as of 12/31/99, up from $30,777.57 on 1/1/99. He invested in another CD, giving the organization $63,570 in CDs and $23,400 in the checking account.  Dupuis & Ryan will do a review.
 

Finance Committee:

A proposed budget for 2000 calls for $75,000 in income and $68,190 in expenses. The plan is based on no growth and a 90 percent renewal rate. It also calls for part-time systems administration support, adding 20 modems and maintaining the current 80 modems, relatively little new software or hardware. It was noted that the budget may need to be changed pending the outcome of the strategic planning under way. Stone moved, Lofti seconded approval of the budget as recommended. Motion carried.
 

Marketing, Outreach, Training:

No reports.

Web Site Committee:

Swedowski reported that a design firm is donating time and resources to develop a new look for the online Genesee Free-Net in return for online credit. Cramer also reported he is working on a search engine and database for the local links.
 

Office Operations Committee:

Minutes of office committee January meeting electronically distributed. The board agreed that non-profit organizations should pay the provider fee rather than donating services or advertising. Any hardship cases can be appealed to the board.
 

System Administration Committee:

Thomas reported a busy signal phone company problem that was expected to be fixed by Saturday for Flint, Lapeer and Genesee County. The problem should be fixed in the rest of the area within 7 days.

Also reported an increase in the number of no-token messages for GFN users, jumping from 200 a day in November to 1,000 day in January. Part of this is because a "no port available" error is reported as a "no token available" error. GFN users are staying online same amount of time, but more unique users logging in. Up from 250 to 320 users.

Potrafka directed to email Merit about how long it takes to install new modems. Board to wait on installing scheduled 2000 modems.

Ongoing problem with web server clock reported. This affects some traffic
reports.
 

New Business:

Gear-Up Grant Program: Brown reported that Beecher and Mt. Morris Schools plan to seek $300,000 grant to help schools let community know what is happening. GFN Board asked Brown to continue to represent GFN and find possible partnerships. Ideas included promoting the low-cost accounts, sharing some training or mentoring.

Parent Training: Schwartz reported Flint Public Library received small grant to offer technology training to parents of middle school students. The training would focus on how to use Internet for research.

Strategic Planning: Board agreed to hold retreat on April 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Place to be determined. Brown, Lofti and Schwartz to check on availability of meeting places. Board members urged to finish surveys and turn it.

Officer Election: Bylaws require that three of four officers be replaced.  Elected: Preston, president; Whiteside, vice president; McNiff, secretary; Schwartz, treasurer. Committee chairs: Finance, Schwartz; Web Site, Swedorski; System Administration, Cramer; Office, LeMieux. It was decided to wait until after strategic plan adopted to determine other committees.

Meetings: The board will continue to meet on the fourth Thursday at 5:15
p.m.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Submitted by Mary Ann Chick Whiteside