Minutes of BC FreeNet Exec. Meeting
			Friday June 17, 1994
		at the Jolly TaxPayer, Vancouver, B.C.

	----------------------------------------------------

present:	Brian Campbell, Vice President
		Detlef Rudolph, Treasurer
		Gary Shearman, President
		Lynda Williams, Secretary

guests:		Patricia McNamee & Robin Inskip, Edmonton Free-Net
		sat in on the first half hour


Reviewed BOARD STRUCTURE and agreed by concensus that:

	the board of B.C. Free-Net consists of one representative 
	from each member organizing committee, appointed to the board
	by the organizing committee;

	B.C. Free-Net's membership embraced all board members of
	B.C. Free-Net organizing commitees;

	four table officers (president, vice-president, treasurer 
	and secretary) shall be elected by the B.C. Free-Net Board
	at its AGM, with each represented organizing committee 
	casting one vote


Reported by Shearman:

	B.C. Free-Net is an official NON-PROFIT SOCIETY, duly 
	registered as of January 1994. It's proper name is British	
	Columbia Free-Net Association, but it may be referred to 
	as B.C. Free-Net or Free-Net B.C.  


Moved by Campbell, Seconded by Rudolph: Carried

	MEMBERSHIP FEES of $100 per organizing committee per year
	will be required, effective August 1, 1994, for membership
	in B.C. Free-Net.


Discussion of Industries Canada sponsored Report on Sustainability
of Free-Nets in B.C.:

	Campbell believes substance is lacking and report is not
	a useful marketing plan for Free-Nets.

	Shearman said Teleconsult consultants found it hard to
	satisfy both the Free-Net Community, which wanted a
	formula for success, and government stakeholders who 
	wanted a higher level presentation of general principles.

	While it remains unclear exactly how B.C. Free-Net might
	make use of the report, it was agreed B.C. Free-Net
	must put support of local organizing committees ahead
	of developing its own infrastructure.
	


B.C. Free-Net as a coordinating agent for government contracts: 

	Shearman reported that Victoria Free-Net has been approached
	by the Information Commissioner to disseminate his office's
	information for a fee.  Shearman believes this could be 
	productive model for B.C. Free-Net to pursue on behalf of
	all operating Free-Nets (and member community computing
	committees).  

	A possible model might be for B.C. Free-Net to negotiate
	contacts, taking 5-10% off the top for its overhead and 
	dividing the rest among participating member systems.   
	To ensure some cash flow to small systems without unfairly 
	penalizing the lowermainland, 20% could be divided equally, 
	with the remaining 70-75% divided by population.

	Shearman will pursue obtaining contracts.

	Campbell will prepare one or more alternative payment 
	models for submission to organizing committees, requesting
	them to provide feedback.  Committees will be asked for
	their opinion of the idea and which alternative they 
	support for distributing payment.

	It was agreed that executive members continue to pursue 
	contacts as they occurr, making an effort, where possible,
	to include representation from at least 2 Free-Nets when 
	negotiating on behalf of B.C. Free-Net.


Moved by Shearman, Seconded by Rudolph:

	Shearman will contact PRATT for clarification regarding the
	disposition of their remaining funds of $10,000, upon their
	dissolution, and urging them to consider B.C. Free-Net as
	the heir to their original mission.


Treasurer's report:

	Rudolph submitted a financial report showing B.C. Free-Net
	has no funds or assets at the moment.


Relationship with B.C. Tel & B.C. Systems:

	Shearman will approach B.C. Tel and B.C.S.C. requesting
	formal support for the Free-Net movement in B.C.


Sea-to-Sky and NPTN:

	Rudolph reported NPTN has informed Sea-to-Sky they cannot
	continue using the term "Free-Net" unless they pay to
	become NPTN affiliates.  

	Recommendation from B.C. Free-Net is to request NPTN to
	wait until after Telecommunities Canada's August meeting,
	where Canadian ownership of the term "Free-Net" within
	Canada may be decided.  Recommendation is based on Shearman's
	information that NPTN intends to transfer the right to the
	name to its Canadian counterpart once Telecommunities Canada
	is established.


Rumours of surcharges for Free-Nets from B.C. Net:

	Campbell will follow up on flurry of e-mail on this topic,
	with an official letter to B.C. Net from B.C. Free-Net,
	requesting clarification.
	

B.C. Free-Net AGM:

	The AGM will be held, once more, in conjunction with the
	conference on Information Policy, Nov. 27, 1994.


Liability of board members, organizing committees:

	Campbell will ask Vancouver Regional Free-Net's volunteer
	lawyer, Bill Andrews, to look into this.


Relationships to Commercial Internet Providers:

	Due to insufficient time, it was agreed discussion be deferred
	to the bcfree mailing list.  

	Shearman did clarify recent questions regarding the relationship 
	between InterLink, in which he is a partner, and the Victoria
	Free-Net.  He stated the two organizations are separate, 
	despite the overlap of individuals, but that the founding
	principle of InterLink is that it would assist Free-Nets
	financially when it is in a position to do so.  To date it
	is small and just holding its own through connecting business
	clients.  It pays for its Internet connection, in partnership 
	with two other companies.  Victoria Free-Net is still sharing 
	Camosun College's Internet connection.


For further discussion on bcfree:

	1) policy regarding dissemination of information
	2) contact persons for organizing committees
	3) starter kit development for organizing committees


Projection:

	Rudolph solicited estimates of growth.  
	The group felt there will be 5 operating Free-Nets in B.C.
	by Sept 94.  Victoria, Vancouver, Prince George, Trail and
	Sea-to-Sky.