PRESENT:
Larry Porn, Chair
Scott Gifford, Vice Chair
Solomon Johnson, Secretary
Janet Craig, Board
Chris Hall, Board
Chad Cramer, Website
Richard Crang, Technical Volunteer
Mike Marr and Wife, Visitors

ABSENT:
Dennis Cavanaugh, Treasurer
Nicolette Hodge, Board
Kenny Thomas, Systems

Call to order at 5pm. Chair Larry Porn presiding. This was the combined November and December meetings for 2009.

Financial Report.
None.

Secretary Comments.
Thanks to Chad for posting the GFN Annual minutes to the Website. It was noted that the calendar on the GFN Website needs to be updated.

Office Report.
The office router and modem has been a problem but is somewhat under control. Larry reinstalled the VPN setup to better recover DSL IP on day to day office computer startup. It has been a little cool in the office space. Office Manager Janet Craig brought in a ceramic heater to supplement heat output from the church's heating system. When the heater is used it should be run on the low setting.

Systems Report.
Chad and Scott have relocated some system files to the DELL server. The RADIUS server was moved to the DELL and is running FREE RADIUS. The SectorLink modems are running RADIUS on the IP address 208.20.225.101. As of December 10, RADIUS was still not able to send mail.

Other files that only Kenny knows about will have to be moved. Expressed was the need to get the IP address range assigned for use from both Telnet Worldwide and 123.net.

On the Web server, Drupal site development continues. The SJV and MBEA sites are in use and Chad is working with a Saint John Vianney teacher on a color scheme for SJV. Tom Knight was recovering from eye surgery and development of the MBEA site will proceed when he returns to work. Larry needs more familiarity with Drupal before proceeding with Lions Club Website development.

Other Old Business.
Broadcast notification to members to vote for continuing GFN Board.

New Business.
No report of hours worked by system consultant had been received.

The remainder of the meeting was taken up working on the Michigan NOW! 2009-2010 Organizational Assessment form for a Technical Assistance Grant initiated by GFN Vice Chair Scott Gifford. Some members of the GFN Board are scheduled to meet with Jenni Dones, MNA representative, at 2pm on December 11, 2009.

Adjournment: 7pm.

Next Meeting.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Thursday, January 28, 2010, 5:00pm, at Bristolwood Community of Christ Church, 1158 West Bristol Road, Flint MI, 48507-5518.

Respectfully Submitted,

Solomon T Johnson, Secretary

ADDENDUM:
At 2pm on December 11, 2009 Board members Scott Gifford, Larry Porn, Chris Hall and Sol Johnson met with MNA representative Jenni Dones to critique GFN assessment entries on the Michigan NOW! 2009-2010 Organizational Assessment form. The purpose of the consultation was to review our (GFN) assessment results and obtain guidance on how to prioritize our request for a Technical Assistance Grant.

Prominent items highlighted:
1. Need for Board retreat to figure out where GFN wants to go and service niche.
2. Need up to date job descriptions for staff, committees and Board members.
3. Statements on governance of finances, fund raising, human resources, information and technology planning and risk management.
4. Leadership succession and transition plan.
5. Liability Insurances covering directors and officers, office staff and general volunteers.
6. Off site system back-up.
7. IRS determination letter publicly available.
8. Assure annual governmental forms and filings are executed on time.
9. Being strategic means having it in writing.

Note: Many comments were not recorded during the consultation.