VANCOUVER REGIONAL FREENET ASSOCIATION
                                 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                 MINUTES OF MEETING
                                   August 3, 1993
                              Vancouver Public Library


The meeting was called to order at 7:09 pm.

Regrets: Greg Buss, Margaret Coates


1. Agenda

The agenda was amended to include Item 2.5, Report on Test System.

2. Minutes from previous meetings. Corrections: July 6th. 5.h
"Brian's home address" corrected to "Vancouver Public Library's
address". Adopted as corrected.

Corrections: July 24th. Meeting starting time corrected to read 7:05
pm. Adopted as corrected.

2.5 Report on Test System (Mike Hrybyk)

The instruction sheet on how to log in to the poplar machine was
reviewed in detail. There is a suspected bug in the FreePort mail send
code at this time, which is being dealt with by Vic Vaivads and Simon
Edgett from the Hardware/Software committee. A new group has been set
up for board discussions, with the address: freenet-
board@poplar.netcom.ubc.ca (postings will be reflected to
freenet-sc@ubc.ca). Instructions were given about keeping personal
.forward files in directors' personal home directories.

3. Policy Issues

3.1 Information Provider Brochure Issues (Mike Lehmann)

Mike Lehman and Gladys We have extensively revised the Information
Provider brochure, along with Guy Thomas and others from the Community
Content Committee. There was a detailed item- by-item discussion of the
draft brochure. The new format is designed to fit into a folder, along
with a covering letter, an endorsement letter, a fundraising
information letter, and a membership form. A copy of the National
Capital FreeNet brochure was passed around, and there was general
agreement the VRFA brochure should emphasize more clearly what the
FreeNet can do for the Information Provider, rather than the reverse.
The sub- committee will incorporate the suggested changes and will
return with a revised version. Phil Lyons will bring revised letter of
endorsement.

3.2 Restricted Access Conference Areas (Steven Chan)

The idea of allowing groups such as non-profit organizations to have
private-access areas on FreeNet, to facilitate their operations, was
discussed (as per the model outlined in the Carleton Working Paper #4).
Some concern was expressed that such private access areas could
jeopardize our application for status as a charitable organization.
This is based in part on the recent denial of such status for the
Victoria Freenet, and information from the Law Foundation that a
organization may have trouble with charitable tax status if it networks
with non- charitable status organizations. Some issues internal to the
Freenet were raised, such as does the FreeNet want to provide other
than completely equal access for all, if this was a pressing issue or
not, private mailing lists versus conference areas, and if private
areas in exchange for donations was desirable. Some directors view this
option as an exciting, positive direction but perhaps for a "sister"
organization rather than the FreeNet itself. It was agreed to revisit
this issue after the fall conference.

3.3 Case Statement (Greg Buss)

Postponed until next meeting.

3.4 Donor Acknowledgements (Greg Buss)

Postponed until next meeting.

3.5 Budget (Tom Hansen)

A draft budget covering the period June 1, 1993 to May 31, 1994,
compiled from committee submissions was distributed. There was a
lengthy discussion of including projected staffing costs and what the
pay levels/number of positions might be. It was agreed that staff
support equivalent to two full-time positions would be in keeping with
projected activity on the FreeNet. It was also agreed that
approximately one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) would be a
suitable amount to be included to address the concerns of the Task
Force on the Information Technology Disenfranchised. These two item,
together with the draft budget as distributed, will produce an total
budget of approximately six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000). Tom
will incorporate these changes in the next version of the budget.

4.  Treasurer's Report (Tom Hansen)

The application for charitable status with Revenue Canada has been
filed. It was noted that the similar application by the Victoria
FreeNet was denied, but it is hoped that our application has addressed
the deficiencies contained in the Victoria one. There is approximately
fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) in the VRFA current account, following
the purchase of the ticket for Brian's air travel to attend the
national FreeNet conference in Ottawa.

5. Membership Report (Susan Pendakur)

VRFA membership is up to 141. The message on the voice mail line has
been updated and there are lots of calls coming in and being passed on
to the appropriate committee contact.

6. Task force on the Information Technology Disenfranchised
Postponed until the next meeting.

7. New Director Appointment

The qualities being sought in a new director were examined and a number
of candidates were discussed. There was general agreement on the idea
of bringing nominations to the September general meeting (if there is
one) and having the membership at large elect the new director.

8. Orientation Program (Gladys We)

There have been Rsvps from approximately a dozen people for the next
session, to be held August 4th at 7:00pm in Room 1600 at SFU Harbour
Centre. A demo has been prepared and the speakers are lined up. There
will be more focus on "Why FreeNet?" than the previous session, and the
organizers will meet after for an assessment of the evening.

9. Information Policy Conference (Jacqueline van Dyk)

The British Columbia Library Association, the Simon Fraser University
Centres of Writing and Department of Communications, and the BC Freedom
of Information and Privacy Association and co- sponsoring. The dates
are November 19, 20, and 21, with the 21st being set for
Freenet-specific issues. Contact Jacqueline for a copy of the agenda.
Depending on information gathered at the Ottawa conference, the issue
of the Canadian Community Computing Network may be added to the agenda.
A number of high-profile speakers are being looked at, such as Noam
Chomsky.

10. Co-ordinated Database (Mike Lehmann)

The current setup is to have representatives of each committee update a
Lotus spreadsheet on the Poplar box. Other options are being looked at,
including non-Unix systems (eg. keeping with Lotus), as well as moving
to multi-user systems such as Ingress. There was general agreement to
commit this to the technical groups.

11. Committee Reports

11.1 Hardware/Software (Mike Hrybyk)

The next joint technical committee meeting will be on Saturday, August
21st, at SFU Harbour Centre. Sun Microsystems has been contacted (Jim
Green) about possible equipment. As well, an offer has been received
from Fonorola (a communications reseller (Troy McNeill, product
manager)) for the donation of a 56 kilobps leased-line. This would have
to be sited in the central business district, and looks like a
three-to-five year offer. As well some modem manufacturers have been
approached concerning donations of used modems and telecomm racks.

11.2 System Design (Jacqueline van Dyk)

The summer holidays have been making serious dents in the work of the
committee. The respective groups are continuing work on the user
interface, database, menu structure, and third-party user support.
Unix- based database management systems are being looked at, but there
is currently a shortage of qualified people among the volunteers.

11.3 Community Content (Guy Thomas)

Work on the Information Providers brochure is continuing. Follow-up work
is needed as to who to contact at Pacific Press, and with Chuck Davis
of the "Vancouver Book".

11.4 Fundraising (Brian Campbell for Greg Buss)

The second draft of the Case Statement is not available at this time.
(Rest of report postponed until next meeting).

11.5 Public Relations (Fritz Radandt)

The newsletter is being prepared, along with a fall news release. The
idea of a "marketing plan" was discussed, and met with general
agreement, with various "clients" such as end users, Information
Providers, donors, and members.

12. Other Business

12.1 Summer Party

A party is being planned for September 11th (the Saturday following
Labour Day). There was some discussion of whether it would be for the
full membership of just the core committee people. A place has not been
set at this time, although Brian Campbell is rumoured to have a
commodious house.

12.2 The next meeting will be held on August 24th at 7:00pm in
the board room of the VPL.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40pm.