VANCOUVER REGIONAL FREENET ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MINUTES OF MEETINGS FEBRUARY 1, 1994 Vancouver Public Library Present: Margaret Coates, Steven Chan, Susan Pendakur, Jacqueline Van Dyk, Guy Thomas, Brian Campbell, Tom Hansen, Phil Lyons, Fritz Radandt, Eric Yung, Rob Clift, Greg Buss, Boodie Arnett. However, Fritz had to leave early, and Eric arrived late. 1. Acceptance of Agenda * added IP content guide policy discussions as 4.5 Motion: Tom/Phil: to accept the agenda. PASSED. 2. Minutes of January 8th and 18th meetings. * where are they? * Susan: posted the January 18th meeting minutes to the mailing list. 3. Board membership 3.1 Rob Clift resignation: * Rob reiterated email resignation (due to lack of time). Motion: Tom/Phil: To accept Rob Clift's resignation from the Board. PASSED. 3.2 Jama Chorush * Brian reported that Jama is no longer interested. 4. Policy Issues 4.1 Domain Name: * Mike: we need to choose a domain name. Motion: Jacqueline/Susan: That we choose "freenet.vancouver.bc.ca" as the VRFA domain name. PASSED. 4.2 Machine Name: * we have 2 machines. Theme names: salmon, famous fools, Quixote, Napoleon, York, clowns, etc. 4.3 Ombudsperson: * for people who don't feel they've been treated well as volunteers * hopefully it'll never be used. * Reviewed Rob's proposed draft of Chart of Rights and Ombudsperson statement. * Brian proposed Margaret as "Ombuddy" * re: Rob's draft: Brian modified #3 on back page "All communication shall be in good taste and free of discrimination;" to read "All communication within Vancouver Freenet shall be ..." * Margaret can review volunteer handout Motion: Phil/Boodie: To nominate Margaret Coates as the internal ombudsperson. PASSED 4.4 CANARIE RFP: * Steven annoucement of RFP, as posted. * Phil reported to his meeting with CANARIE as Freenet representative. BCNet rep (Mike Patterson) also there. Felt Decima Research rep had "own agenda" - a partnership of private and public research. * meeting was taped, but not sent to political representatives. One of 13 regional meetings. * Brian: we should make a submission for RFP. Tom agrees * Brian: Greg should monitor this. * Steven/Mike: work with a partner on submission * Phil: Downtown EastSide and Carnegie project? 4.5 IP Content Guide: * general discussion on paper from Guy. * Phil: Change phrase "Both the Freenet and public libraries..." such that "Both Freenet and public libraries share similar principles". * Greg: Why state it at all? * Jacqueline: good reasons for comparison, to establish ourselves. * Rob: 1st content point: we can't violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as it is only for governments/government agencies, not private sector. Last content point: libel and slander are legal definitions for the courts, while demeaning is a problematic point. * Guy/Brian: civil disobedience with respect to Clayquot Sound? * Eric: content guidelines vs. not responsible for info on system. * Brian: broadcast vs. carrier * Phil: 1st and 4th content points are "backdoor censorship" and need policy decisions. Points 2 and 3 are operational. Suggest omit #1 and #4 for now. * UBC policy was discussed. * Tom: exclude KKK and Nazi's * Rob: lengthy discussion needed. Make the point of copyright material and refer decision to Community Content for recommendation to the Board. Motion: Phil/Jacqueline: That points #2 and #3 be adopted and exlude points #1 and #4, and refer it back to the Board. unanimous vote. Phrase to read: "Content considered inappropriate by the VRFA is: > information that is primarily of a commercial nature, such as advertising, or solicitation of business for the profit of the information provider > copyrighted material, such as news articles, essays, etc., unless permission to copy the material has been given by the copyright owner to the information provider." 5. Treasurer's report: * donation in kind from Motorola of $4000. * Phil: need assessment of equipment * Mike: Sun not delivered IPX yet, but he will followup on this. Motion: Tom/Guy: To accept the Treasurer's report. PASSED. 6. Membership report: * 225 members to date * Mike suggest that Susan report new members from last update. Motion: Susan/Eric: To accept the Membership Chair's report. PASSED. 7. Endorsement report: * Phil: we have over 60 (63 or so) endorsers. Phil's fax number is 681-3589. Motion: Phil/Susan: To accept the Endorsement coordinator's report. PASSED. * Brian: BCSFA to contact Guy. Did Steven send letter to AIDS Vancouver? * Steven: No, only info packet. 8. Taskforce on Equal Access: Margaret said it was covered already. 10. Volunteer Coordinator report: * Rob to contact unions * Brian: aim meeting for evening of February 14th (Monday). * leave volunteer portfolio with Brian for now. 11. Committee Reports: 11.1 Hardware/Software: Steven/Mike * Steven reported minutes of last meeting. Suggested that in future, the to committees report separately. * Note: change to minutes of last meeting of HW/SW/Sys Design: Brian and Jacqueline left after Steven's election as Chair. * Steven: frustrating as System Design chair due to lack of machine. * Brian: questions on DB and Harvey's procmail interface. Answered by Eric. * Mike: needs Board approval for 2 phone lines at UBC for machine hookup. Motion: Phil/Susan: To allow Mike to get 2 phone lines for the UBC site at an approximate cost of $85/line/month. PASSED. * Sandy Mayo contacted Mike about DEC donation (older 3100 MIPS machine w/ 200 MB disk drives. * new member of HW/SW group, technical person from forming Calgary Freenet. * Phil: contacted John MacDonald of MDA and need info. * poplar/native-ed login problem discussed. (Poplar dial-in is momentarily disabled.) Suggest alternatives to Board members without dial-in access. * Mike: former Board members: Derek Dowden is now at CISR, and Stuart Hertzog is a Director at Wimsey. Motion: Steven/Mike: To accept the Hardware/Software/System design report. PASSED. 11.3 Community Content report: Guy * meeting tomorrow night (February 2nd) for IPs at SET-BC. * Guy: IP Content guide as discussed. - no profit/no money-making? What about 4-111 Seniors' newsletter with trip advertisement? * discussion followed * Phil: IPs needed to followup via Community Content. 11.4 Fundraising report: Greg * Gandalf doing inventory * Oracle info obtained and being forwarded * need volunteers for proposals * non-profits had a very successful meeting - Boodie reported: roughtly 15 people attended. Showed video, and will be doing followup. * Phil: health sector reorganizing, maybe "pushable". Via "New Directions" from Royal Commission. * Brian: met with Real Estate Foundation. Will meet with Federal Human Resources Department (Manpower and Immigration) Motion: Greg/Susan: To accept the Fundraising report. PASSED. 12. Other Business * Eric to give Greg Trail contact information in regards to modems Motion: Tom/Jacqueline: To establish April 11th as the official launch date for Freenet. PASSED. Meeting was adjourned at 9:10pm.