Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting  
February 27, 2003.

Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Room
Flint, MI

PRESENT

Garry Viele, Board, Chairman
Vahid Lotfi, Board Vice Chair
Pat Peterson, Board Secretary
Kay Schwartz, Board Treasurer
Larry Porn, Board
Lynnette Griffen, Board
Scott Gifford, Board
Jerry Preston, Board
Marilyn Sage, Board
Georgia Kitchen, Board

Also present:
Kenny Thomas, Staff

Absent:  Chad Cramer 

Call to order 5:15 pm. Meeting conducted by G. Viele.  

Officer Comments:

Treasurer

The Executive ad hoc committee met to discuss the budget.  There is a $12,000 shortage due to the increase in Merit modem fees and because GFN stopped collecting setup fees.  A 2003 budget was presented.  The Treasurer moved that the budget be accepted as presented and that there be a policy of charging $25.00 as a setup fee.  J. Preston supported.  Discussion followed.  The motion was amended that setup fees apply to all new accounts and accounts that are reactivated.  K. Schwartz made the motion, J. Preston supported.  The motion was passed unanimously.  The new policy will begin March 1, 2003. 

M. Sage will redo the brochure to reflect the policy change.  V. Lotfi, G. Viele and L. Griffin will look at the brochure.

K. Schwartz moved that the Treasurer be permitted to send and sign an engagement letter to DuPuis and Ryden engaging the company to review the 2002 GFN financial records and be paid $950.00 for the service.  V. Lotfi supported.  The motion passed unanimously.

J. Preston moved that the Treasurer’s report be received and filed.  S. Gifford supported.  The motion passed unanimously.

Vice Chair

Nothing to report.

Secretary

Nothing to report.

OLD BUSINESS 

Status of Tall Pine Council Request for Dynamic Database

K. Thomas reported the virtual machine and web site went live in February.  There are no reported problems.

New Plan Implementation Committee

K. Thomas, C. Cramer, and L. Porn met.  It is very close to being activated.  The database is functional and is being used in the office.

Marketing Committee

Nothing to report.

Web Site Committee

Statistics are ready for organizational accounts.  S. Johnson and D. Cavenaugh will be looking at the web site for updating.

Office Operations

Letters are being mailed to charter members over a year’s time informing them of the new plan.  S. Gifford made a motion that charter members who wish to upgrade now may do so, but keep the current date of expiration, which may result in some free time for some members.  G. Kitchen supported the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Technical Committee and System Administration:

Kenny reported:

The system is stable.  S. Gifford and K. Thomas will be studying Scott’s recommendation for possible web mail software, CaMail.  Wayne has made software upgrades.  The certification is not finished because the articles of incorporation is needed.

L. Porn made a motion that people who only want dial-in access and not e-mail can do so if they make a written request.

Educational Partnership

V. Lotfi reported that there is an office appointed trainer to work with P. Peterson to set up a schedule of classes.

NEW BUSINESS 

New Board Members Discussion:

L. Porn moved that Sol Johnson be appointed to the board.  K. Schwartz supported.  Motion passed unanimously.

L. Porn moved that Denny Cavenaugh be appointed to the board.  S. Gifford supported.  Motion passed unanimously.

Marketing Plan:

The Chair suggested that the whole board meet at 5:00 pm for fifteen minutes prior to the regular board meetings to discuss marketing.

Next Meeting:  March 27 at 5:15 pm at the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  The marketing plan will be discussed at 5:00 pm.

K. Schwartz moved that the meeting be adjourned.  G. Kitchen supported.  The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Pat Peterson, Secretary

Board of Directors