Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting
August 23, 2007
Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
316 Water Street
PRESENT:
Dennis Cavanaugh, Chair
Larry Porn, Vice Chair
Solomon Johnson, Secretary
Charles Wright, Board
Kenny Thomas, Systems
Janet Ginny, Visitor
ABSENT:
Janet Craig, Board
Beverly Duval, Board
Scott Gifford, Board
Les LeMieux, Board
Chad Cramer, Website
Call to order at 5:22pm. Chair Dennis Cavanaugh presiding.
Preparation for Annual Meeting.
The large meeting room at The Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has been reserved for the Genesee Free-Net Annual Meeting to be held Thursday, October 25, 2007 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.
Change of By-Laws.
Chair Dennis Cavanaugh has been advised that a change in the Genesee Free-Net By-Laws to make the Free-Net an Internet Co-Operative would not endanger IRS Section 501(c)(3) designation. The Chair will recommend a change in the By-Laws to state that GFN is an Internet service co-operative. The intent is to extend possible GFN membership to the entire area covered by our telephone calling plan.
Media Package.
After discussion, Charles Wright moved that $500 be paid to Jill Blondin to develop a media package for the Genesee Free-Net. The motion was seconded by Solomon Johnson. The motion carried.
Flea Market Booths.
Dennis Cavanaugh reported that for $10 a weekend GFN could rent a booth at the Farmers Market between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm. Available during the summer months only. Item tabled for the September Board meeting.
TV and Radio Talk Shows.
Dennis Cavanaugh acting as a one man Marketing Committee (Beverly Duval potentially may be an additional committee member) is working to find stations for making public service announcements and details of their requirements. Using the upcoming annual meeting as a local event, announcements will attempt to be made under the banner of the Marketing Committee.
Office Committee.
Office Chair Larry Porn reported that Ronald Crang had resigned as a helper after more than two years of service. Cited was inability to help members in the wake of many recent problems experienced with server or modem connections. Speculation as to the cause of the problems ranged from server overload to member lack of having adequate firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware protection. Suggested was consulting Naples Free-Net for available firewall, spyware, and anti-virus applications and filters for Spam.
The office is experiencing difficulty processing renewal notices with current equipment.
Systems Committee.
System consultant Kenny Thomas arrived at 6:07pm and discussed his findings about connection problems. Kenny has been unable to reproduce the problems. It appears modem pool modems are staying connected to the Internet and that the disconnects experienced by members appear as normal terminations of their Internet sessions. Kenny stated that GFN equipment has nothing to do with the problems. Kenny then talked about the “Storm Worm Virus” recently being transferred in e-cards and enticements to log into a Website with a new approved membership user/password. The “worm” mutates fast and bypasses firewalls and circumvents anti-virus software detection. Once active, the “worm” loads down the SMTP server. Recommendation is not to open e-card attachments unless the source is known by the recipient and not to respond to unknown Website subscription offers. The hard drive(s) of “worm” infected computers have to be wiped and system software re-installed.
Web Site Committee.
After the Board meeting, Webmaster Chad Cramer reported in e-mail that he did get the Web Content Management Software (CMS) installed on the Web server and is working on installing some additional plug ins. The CMS application should be ready for demonstration very soon.
Organization Accounts.
No Organization Accounts are due for renewal in October. Six (6) Organization Accounts are due for renewal in November. Saint John Vianney, with twenty (20) e-mail accounts, recently renewed for $160. The Board realizes that GFN Organization Accounts are too expensive for what is offered and that the pricing structure needs to change. A suggestion was made to upgrade the Organization Account to allow five (5) e-mail accounts for a contribution of $75. The Naples Free-Net Website will be consulted for examples of appropriate pricing.
Family Accounts.
Test Family Accounts Louie, Dewy, Hewy, Daisy and Donald Duck were created on the server. Scott Gifford is working on the program that will limit access to only one of the sub-accounts of the family account at a time. Kenny Thomas explained how to get the Family Accounts listed in the database. GFN is good to go on offering the accounts and they will be offered under the Custom Account structure.
Matters Arising.
Larry Porn will talk with Ronald Crang about the dropped connections he is experiencing. Systems will continue to investigate the “400 series” mail server error.
Adjournment: 6:55pm.
Next Board Meeting.
Thursday, September 27, 2007, 5:15pm at the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 316 Water Street.
Respectfully Submitted,
Solomon T Johnson, Secretary
