Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting
Annual Meeting
October 25, 2007

Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
316 Water Street
Flint MI 48503

Present:
Dennis Cavanaugh, Board Chairman
Larry Porn, Board Vice Chairman
Solomon Johnson, Board Secretary
Janet Craig, Board Member
Beverly Duval, Board Member
Scott Gifford, Board Member
Charles Wright, Board Member

Also Present:
Gareth Cumper
Jerry Preston

Call to order 7:02pm. Board Chairman Dennis Cavanaugh presiding.

Chair Report, Dennis Cavanaugh:

Challenges:
Montrose service problem not as bad as in the past. Telnet Worldwide working on network problems. Service is guaranteed. No fee if service down five minutes during a twenty-four hour period.
Continue to lose members to Broad-band service.
Increasing operating costs for Insurance, Accounting Audit, office telephone services and equipment.
Technology costs reduced through managed modems ($345 a month whereas PRI lines were $390 a month.)
Membership “churning” and revenue loss. Average membership loss of 12 to 14 members a month. Attempt to stem by special offers of no setup fee for college student/professor accounts and former GM/AOL account subscribers.

Opportunities:
Can still gain members by offering statewide service, including to rural areas, and access to people of limited means.
Have found a way to provide service to the Montrose area. Local wireless implementation appears stalled.
Stress people-to-people connection to develop sense of belonging to an Internet community.
Press release packet announcing implementation of statewide service has been developed. Will seek help from Jerry Preston in setting up an Internet press conference.

Finances:
Estimate GFN will be out of money in 45 months with current operating expenses. Can last longer if successful in increasing memberships. GFN ELGA accounts hold about $47,882 down about $12,000 from a year ago. The financial report was made and contained figures for income and disbursement. It was suggested that wage and salary statements be changed to expenses for contract services. It was moved by Larry Porn and seconded by Solomon Johnson that the financial condition of the Genesee FreeNet had been reported with figures for income and disbursement. The motion carried.

Bylaws Revision.
Vice Chairman Larry Porn reported on bylaws changes to be suggested to the membership. Presented were changes about the purpose of the Genesee FreeNet, the number and selection of members of the Board of Directors, the term of office of Directors, vote requirements for removing Directors from the Board and filling of vacancies, the section on Board officers and their duties and power of the Board of Directors to make, alter, and repeal the bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. Jerry Preston advised to be sure any changes made be consistent across statements filed with the State of Michigan and the 501(c)(3) designation with the IRS. Larry Porn moved to recommend the changes to the membership. Scott Gifford seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Vice Chair Report, Larry Porn:

Board Terms 2007 Election

Name                                                                 Expiration Date                                                      Current Eligibility

Chad Cramer ?                                                  12/31/07                                                                 Finished Two Terms
Georgia Kitchen                                                  12/31/07                                                                 Finished Two Terms - Resigned
Jim Thomason                                                    12/31/10                                                                 Two Three Year Terms – Nomination Received with Resume'
Janet Craig ?                                                      12/31/10                                                                 Two Three Year Terms
Charles Wright                                                    12/31/10                                                                 One Three Year Term – Not Continuing

Larry Porn                                                         12/31/08                                                                 One Year Term
Scott Gifford                                                         12/31/08                                                                One Year Term
Opening                                                             12/31/08                                                                 One Year Remain + 3 year Term
Opening                                                             12/31/08                                                                 One Year Remain + 3 year Term
Opening                                                             12/31/08                                                                  One Year Remain + 3 year Term

Sol Johnson                                                       12/31/09                                                                 Three Year Term
Dennis Cavanaugh                                            12/31/09                                                                 Three Year Term
Beverly Duval                                                    12/31/09                                                                 Two Three Year Terms
Les LeMieux                                                       12/31/09                                                                 Two Three Year Terms
Debra Miller                                                        12/31/09                                                                 Two Three Year Terms - Resigned

2007 Election Nominations:

Nominating Committee

The Chair of the Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee composed of five members including the Vice Chair, who shall serve as chair of the Committee, and only one other director. The Nominating Committee shall recommend at least one candidate for each vacant seat on the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting in October. The Nominating Committee must place on the ballot any nominee submitted and supported by 25 or more members providing the proposal is received at least 24 hours prior to the annual meeting.

Members:

Board Vice Chairman -            Larry Porn
Second Board Member -         Sol Johnson

Three Non-Board Members - Chris Hall
                                                Robin Rabidue
                                                Ron Crang

The term of a director shall be three years except that the first Board of Directors elected under these bylaws shall consist of five (5) serving for one (1) year, five (5) serving for two (2) years and five (5) serving for three (3) years. Thereafter, each newly elected director shall serve for three years unless elected to a vacancy, in which case the term of office shall be for the unexpired term. No director shall serve more than two consecutive three year terms.

Nominations Received:

        Jim Thomason                         Three Year
                                                        Three Year
                                                        Three Year
        Janet Craig?                            Three Year
        Chad Cramer?                        Three Year

Vacancies

Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors maintaining the broad representation of the Genesee County area community. Should the Board appoint a director to fill a vacancy with a term of one (1) year or more, the appointed director shall serve only until the next Annual Meeting at which time a director shall be elected to fill the unexpired term.


Annual Office Report:

Personnel

Current Office Staff:
      Denny Cavanaugh
      Ron Crang 
      Beverly Duval
      Janet Craig                Office Manager/Renewal Letters
      Sol Johnson              Secretary / Organization Accounts
      Larry Porn                 Chairman
      Robin Rabidue
      Bernie Taylor