Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting
April 24, 2008
Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
316 Water Street
PRESENT:
Dennis Cavanaugh, Chair
Larry Porn, Vice Chair
Solomon Johnson, Secretary
Janet Craig, Board
Scott Gifford, Board
ABSENT:
Beverly Duval, Board
Les LeMieux, Board
Jim Thomason, Board
Chad Cramer, Website
Kenny Thomas, Systems
Call to order at 5:20pm. Chair Dennis Cavanaugh presiding.
Chair Denny Cavanaugh reported that the certificate for doing business as (DBA) has been received and that the Genesee FreeNet is now officially GFN until 2015.
The new server is partially on line. Parts of the Web site, such as password change, are not accessible yet.
Plante & Moran has filed for an extension for filing GFN tax form 990 until August 15th. Income records are in the database on the server.
A treasurer's report was not discussed except that the pending payment of the new server has been processed through the ELGA account.
Larry Porn reported for the office that forty (40) member renewals become due on July 1st. The new Vista machine is in service in the office and a few files remain to be transferred from the XP machine. The office staff e-mail distribution list will be updated to include Richard Crang.
Denny Cavanaugh sent out a state wide roll out press release and received no response from newspapers. Denny found that there are several other Internet cooperatives in the state. He will put a write up on Internet cooperative clusters in the “Whats New” on the GFN Web page.
As to marketing, no ads were placed in the Norton Chorus brochure this year. Question was raised about placing ads the Flint and Grand Rapids and other rural newspapers such as in Tuscola county. Scott Gifford, Larry Porn and Denny Cavanaugh will initiate an e-mail conference on the question.
Should GFN sell its Portmasters on E-Bay? Richard Crang, Computer Docs and ATR Computers were mentioned as possible sources for help on how to sell on E-Bay. Richard Crang will be consulted about selling on E-Bay.
Can GFN renewals be processed with Visa card through ELGA or a Pay Pal account? Scott Gifford will check on setting up a Pay Pal account for processing member renewals. Denny Cavanaugh will check with ELGA on Visa usage by members for payment of renewal contributions.
System Administration reported that Kenny Thomas is setting up at least four (4) different virtual machines on the new server. Required DNS addresses have been sent to Telnet Worldwide.
Under things to do, Denny will contact Brian Ross intermittently until GFN tax forms are filed.
Under actions taken by the Board, Larry Porn moved and Scott Gifford supported a motion to authorize Denny Cavanaugh to spend GFN funds on classified advertising in county rural newspapers. The motion passed.
Adjournment: 6:22pm.
Next Board Meeting.
Thursday, May 22, 2008, 5:15pm, at the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 316 Water Street.
Respectfully Submitted,
Solomon T Johnson, Secretary
