Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting
March 27, 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
Chris Hall, Office Staff
ABSENT:
Beverly Duval, Board
Les LeMieux, Board
Chad Cramer, Website
Kenny Thomas, Systems
Call to order at 5:20pm. Chair Dennis Cavanaugh presiding.
Before the meeting started, Jerry Preston stopped in and mentioned that the Genesee Wireless Initiative group had received a proposal from an India company and was waiting to receive and study the company's business plan. The company is a registered distributor of the Motorola Mesh wireless system.
Kenny Thomas had given Larry Porn new reverse DNS numbers for GFN to be passed on to TWW (Telnet Worldwide.) Denny Cavanaugh will relay the numbers to TWW contact Brian Spry.
Denny Cavanaugh reported on the financial status of GFN. Online Technologies Corporation (OTC) costs have increased about $100 more a month to $1097.80. The figure includes about $200 a month rent for office space. Telephone service costs about $700 a month plus another $2.50 a month for voice mail service through Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Telnet Worldwide service for 46 modems averages $690 a month. If GFN chooses to provide countrywide dial in service, Global POPs would cost an extra $19 a month per modem.
As of 3/27/2008, the ELGA Credit Union checking account held $5374.04. The savings account held $15,527.19 but $2700 withdrawn to pay for the new DELL server had not cleared the account. The investment account held $25,000 giving a grand total at ELGA of $45,901.23 (less $2700 outstanding for the DELL server.) Denny estimated GFN is losing about $12,000 a year through attrition. Denny also reported that Board member Beverly Duval had commented that GFN needs better financial reports.
Discussed was expanding GFN dial in reach outstate. Mentioned was offering, as a marketing initiative, a free GFN account to any member who signs up ten (10) outstate members.
Briefly mentioned was obtaining college students to help update the GFN Website.
Discussed was possible approaches to blocking Spam in GFN mail accounts. One plan would filter mail unless a member notified GFN to not block Spam. Another approach would be to mark messages that appear to be Spam and indicate to members that in the future such messages would be blocked unless GFN was told not to block. Scott Gifford will discuss with Kenny Thomas ways to manage Spam.
Spam in mail messages and complaints from members about messages to Comcast subscribers being blocked are the biggest office problems. A strong effort will be made to set up filtering to remove Spam from all GFN mail accounts. The office staff will recommend the Xterminator mail filtering program offered by artplus.hr which costs about $13.
By mid April, the necessary forms will have been filed to allow Genesee FreeNet to start doing business as (dba) GFN. Statewide roll out and statewide advertising will begin this Spring after the new server has been put in service.
GFN tax forms had not been completed and filed as of this Board meeting. Plante & Moran PLLC's Brian Ross has been busy with the Flint City audit. Denny will contact Plante & Moran about filing an extension for GFN tax reporting.
Adjournment: 6:17pm.
Next Board Meeting.
Thursday, April 24, 2008, 5:15pm, at the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 316 Water Street.
Respectfully Submitted,
Solomon T Johnson, Secretary
