Minutes of Genesee Free-Net Board of Directors Meeting
Annual Meeting
October 22, 2009
Bristolwood Community of Christ Church
1158 West Bristol Road
Flint MI 48507-5518
Present:
Larry Porn, Board Chairman
Scott Gifford, Board Vice Chairman
Dennis Cavanaugh, GFN Treasurer
Solomon Johnson, Board Secretary
Chad Cramer, Board Member
Nicolette Hodge, Board Member
Chairman Larry Porn called the meeting to order at 7:15pm.
Nicolette Hodge reported that she had requested permission to place GFN brochures in the office of Bennett Financial Services and a Baptist church in Davison. Treasurer Denny Cavanaugh reported that Directors and Officers insurance was quoted at $900 a year. It was commented that GFN was paying about $200 a month for 10U server space at SectorLink. Eventually, GFN expects to reduce space to less than 7U but must pay for a minimum 7U space monthly.
Denny Cavanaugh reported that IRS forms 990 and 1099 and other required government filings were being prepared by the Fagen Agency. Board consensus was to pay Bristolwood Community Church $25 a month stipend for space and utilities used by GFN.
Chair Report, Larry Porn:
Presented Agenda and persons to make reports. Noted decline of GFN membership and income and cost reduction steps taken to reduce expenses. GFN must move in direction of Web hosting for nonprofit organizations.
Status:
GFN is losing 8-10 members a month with less than 2 members added a month. Total income for the past year was about $23,135.00. Average monthly expenses are about $1850.00 or $22,000 per year. Cost reduction steps taken were moving from OTC for both server hosting and office rental which cost about $1200 a month to SectorLink hosting currently about $200 a month. The office was moved to Bristolwood church where a DSL line is shared for about $45 a month and GFN will provide a Web site for the church. Telnet modem price was increased to $19 a modem per month and GFN reduced use to 23 modems from 46. Telnet modems provide coverage for GFN's Century Tel user members. Modem sufficiency is maintained by supplementing Telnet modems with 123 Net modems at $15 a month based on average 123 Net usage. Cost reduction moves may net potential savings of $1000 to $1200 a year. Tax report preparation was costing GFN over $2000 a year. Change to a different accounting firm has reduced preparation costs to less than $400 a year.
New Direction:
Website hosting for nonprofit organizations using the content management solution Drupal. GFN may provide help in site setup with potential help from Baker College. Hosting about 100 sites can produce over $10,000 in new revenue.
Untangle Server:
Was purchased to block Spam from GFN email and provides virus protection and phishing protection. Also protects GFN servers by blocking intrusion. Features encrypted VPN and capable of providing much more safety. The server was purchased for $225 with nonprofit funding and the operating software is freeware.
Office:
Staffed by Janet Craig, Chris Hall, Sol Johnson, Larry Porn, Dennis Cavanaugh and Ron Crang. All income comes through the office and is registered in database providing excellent records for accountant. Office staff answer telephone and email messages and process postal mail in support of GFN members.
Committees:
Technical: Chad Cramer, Scott Gifford, Kenny Thomas and Larry Porn.
Web Site: Chad Cramer and Scott Gifford.
Treasurers Report, Dennis Cavanaugh:
GFN 2009 Yearly Financial Report
Total Deposits: $23,845.72
Total Transfer From Savings: $14,245.99
Cash on hand $ 977.82
Total Income $39,069.53
Total Consultant Fees: $14,130.00
Total Equipment: $ 58.30
Total IP System Fees: $15,197.37
Total Modem Pool: Telnet Worldwide, Inc. $ 3,463.75
Total Miscellaneous: Check A Frame for Laura Austin Award $ 4.77
External Withdrawal ATT - Payment $ 1,004.75
Flint Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Invoice 3681 $ 100.00
Total Office: $ 303.11
Total Office Rental: $ 2,634.80
Total Stamps: $ 264.00
Total Tax Preparation: $ 1,895.00
Total Taxes: $ 20.00
Total Expenses $39,076.25
Summary of Form 990
2005
Gross receipts $ 55,987
Expenses $ 57,851
2006
Gross receipts $ 46,286
Expenses $ 52,779
2007
Gross receipts $ 39,828
Expenses $ 46,007
2008
Gross receipts $ 30,206
Expenses $ 43,905
Conclusions:
Receipts continue to decline as we lose members to broadband and land line phones are discontinued. Aggressive actions to contain costs should payoff this year. Slow reduction of assets to meet expenses continues.
Tech Committee Report, Chad Cramer:
Chad Cramer reported that GFN had significant email problems last year. SectorLink introduced GFN to the Untangle application featuring excellent Virus, Spam and Phishing protection. Untangle options are not fully used. GFN went through a few servers during the year: the old Web server was decommissioned and a new DELL server acquired. We moved from OTC, which was unresponsive to some GFN concerns, to SectorLink. The modem pool was reconfigured to reduce reliance on Telnet Worldwide modems when the usage fee was increased to $19 per modem. 123 Net provides use at a fee of $15 per modem. Some Telnet Worldwide modems are required to serve members using the Century Tel telephone company.
Work for the coming year: move the Mail and RADIUS functions to the DELL server, develop a backup system for server files and implement hosting of more Drupal based Web sites.
There was brief discussion of account setup fee. The office was encouraged to be a bit lax on pushing payment of setup fee until a new policy is set by the Board.
Web Site Hosting, Scott Gifford:
GFN is piloting nonprofit Web hosting using the Drupal Web management system. Drupal provides lots of modules for functionality, lots of themes for look and feel, can get a lot done in a short time and, once the site is up, it's self-managed.
Pilot Goals:
Establish the system is workable.
Work out the kinks and learn.
Develop high quality demo sites.
Determine community needs.
Pilot Sites:
mbea-online.org, ccan-genesee.org, St. John Vianney.
Next Steps:
Complete pilot sites, do community survey, determine pricing and find paying customers. Plan to complete these in the next year.
Vice Chair Report, Scott Gifford:
Board Terms 2009 Election
Name Expiration Date Current Eligibility
Up for Election
Sol Johnson 12/31/09
Dennis Cavanaugh 12/31/09
Beverly Duval 12/31/09 Resigned
Les LeMieux 12/31/09 Has not attended in past year
Opening 12/31/09
Remaining on Board
Chad Cramer 12/31/10
Jim Thomason 12/31/10 Has never shown up
Janet Craig 12/31/10
Opening 12/31/10
Opening 12/31/10
Larry Porn 12/31/11
Scott Gifford 12/31/11
Opening 12/31/11
Opening 12/31/11
Opening 12/31/11
Proposal:
Remove board members who have not attended a meeting.
Convert Les LeMieux to Emeritus status.
Motion by Scott Gifford. Supported by Dennis Cavanaugh, to remove Board members who have not attended a meeting. Motion approved.
Motion by Scott Gifford. Supported by Nicolette Hodge, to convert Les LeMieux to Emeritus Board status. Motion approved.
Post Proposal Board Terms 2009 Election
Name Expiration Date
Up for Election
Sol Johnson 12/31/09
Dennis Cavanaugh 12/31/09
Chris Hall 12/31/09
Nicky Hodge 12/31/09
Opening 12/31/09
Remaining on Board
Chad Cramer 12/31/10
Janet Craig 12/31/10
Opening 12/31/10
Opening 12/31/10
Opening 12/31/10
Larry Porn 12/31/11
Scott Gifford 12/31/11
Opening 12/31/11
Opening 12/31/11
Opening 12/31/11
Emeritus
Les LeMieux
The meeting adjourned at 8:46pm.
Next regular Board meeting:
Thursday, December 3, 2009, 5:00pm, at Bristolwood Community of Christ Church, 1158 West Bristol Road, Flint MI 48507-5518.
Respectfully submitted,
Solomon T Johnson, Secretary
