PRESENT:
Dennis Cavanaugh, Chair
Larry Porn, Vice Chair
Solomon Johnson, Secretary
Harvey Sherman, Treasurer

Chad Cramer, Board
Scott Gifford, Board
Les LeMieux, Board
Garry Viele, Board
Charles Wright, Board

Call to order at 5:16pm. Chair Dennis Cavanaugh presiding.

Agenda Items:
1-Disposition of Merit Modems.
    â~W~O How many will we have? We talked about the number of modems we were considering at 40, but also that number could be reduced to perhaps half that number if we get the modems at GenTech up                   and running and the transition to the new number runs smoothly. The number we are to have until June is still 100. The desire was that we would have a better feel for just how many we would need by the           end of May.
    â~W~O Was billing problem resolved? Garry Viele reported that Merit will bill GFN for the current number of lines for April through June only. In July Merit will begin billing GFN for whatever number of lines GFN               has adjusted to. From that point on Merit will bill GFN quarterly, but GFN will still have to commit to a full year for the lines adjusted to.
    â~W~O Has test for new lines worked? The lines are not in yet.

2-â~@~]Brandingâ~@~] of GFN.
    â~W~O Blue, Orange and White Our Colors. For brochures and the Website.
    â~W~O New Stationary with logo and colors. Denny Cavanaugh mentioned getting new stationary and business cards in color with the new GFN logo. Also Black Dog (company) T-shirts and mugs with the new               logo. Chad Cramer will look up information for CafePress as a company providing virtual products online.

The meeting was halted at 5:26pm when former board chair and longtime board member Vahid Lotfi arrived to be presented with a service award from the board for his service to GFN. Les LeMieux presented the award while Denny Cavanaugh took pictures. Vahid thanked the board and expressed enjoyment of his time on the board. The board meeting resumed around 5:30pm.

3-Expanding Member Participation.
    â~W~O Fairs. GFN has participated in Five Star computer shows in the past. The table fee is believed to be $40 and shows occur the fourth Sunday of the month.
    â~W~O Civic Events. Denny Cavanaugh mentioned presentations made to the East Side Business Group and the Flushing Senior Citizens. A Flushing Senior Citizen became a GFN member as a result of the                   presentation. A GFN community meeting or hot dog roast was mentioned as possible ways to interact with members and promote GFN. Garry Viele questioned why we would do these things. Denny                   Cavanaugh commented that GFN is a community organization rather than just an ISP. Garry suggested doing things for non-members who may become members.

Discussion shifted to having a CGI script on the Web site to solicit input from members. Should GFN go broadband? Go WiFi? Have an open house? Put pictures of community events of nonprofits on the Website. Frequently update the GFN What's New page. Scott Gifford will look into getting a CGI script to survey the membership. Denny Cavanaugh talked about additions to his personal Web page so that anybody could use to make a presentation about the Genesee Free-Net.

4-Plotting the Future?
    â~W~O V92 Modems. Allows one telephone line to be used for both voice and modem communication simultaneously.
    â~W~O Positioning for Wireless. Possibilities at GenTech. Eventually have 20 modems at Merit and increase GenTech modems. The telephone lines are in at GenTech but not hooked up yet. Scott Gifford had                   gotten the telephone numbers and passed to Larry Porn who will arrange in a table and send to the board.

Officers' Comments:

Chair Denny Cavanaugh.
No further comments.

Vice Chair Larry Porn.
Has been working with Dave Curran of GenTech to get modems up and working. The office committee has been considering what the office will do to assist members during the switchover. Presented example of the Notice of Dial-in Change to be posted on the GFN Website. Question arose about doing a press release. Perhaps former board member Mary Ann Whiteside could be consulted.

Secretary Solomon Johnson.
Prior meeting minutes were corrected by the board electronically and submitted for post to the GFN Website.

Treasurer Harvey Sherman.
Board glad to have back. Credit union meeting is set for transferring GFN account. Appears no signature card will be used, only copies of driver's licenses, social security numbers and telephone numbers of signers are required by the credit union.

Marketing.
Denny Cavanaugh reported on the Flushing Seniors presentation done March 23^rd and a school presentation coming up in April. Larry Porn cautioned not to overlook service organizations. Other media possibilities mentioned was interview with Karen Gatlin and Channel 25 about changeover to GenTech.

Website.
Chad Cramer reported that the special board meeting minutes had been posted on the Website. Emphasized reducing Merit commitment and cost. Has found some old board minutes and transferred them to the Website. The Community Resources and Submit a Link Web options now work.

Suggestions for the Website included putting the newest board minutes at the top of the page. Update the schedule of board meetings. Improve functioning of the local search engine. Provide a marketing link.

Office Operations.
Larry Porn reported the office is preparing to execute the switchover to GenTech. Volunteer telephone helpers will be asked to provided feedback on help given which will become part of the daily office report. Announced that Brian Shank of Computer Doc, Inc. (810-605-5000) has agreed to provide telephone help to the GFN membership. A stipend will be required for home or site visit.

Systems.
Kenny Thomas was absent. The mail server has been booted three times this month and nobody could explain why. The committee expressed need for Kenny to get involved with the GenTech setup. Larry Porn will send e-mail to Kenny indicating the dial-in numbers are available but not yet active.

Adjournment: 6:13pm.

Next Meeting:
Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 5:15 pm at the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Respectfully Submitted,

Solomon T Johnson, Secretary