VANCOUVER REGIONAL FREENET ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS MINUTES OF MEETINGS August 2, 1994 Vancouver Public Library Present: Jacqueline Van Dyk, Brian Campbell, Eric Yung, Guy Thomas, Vic Vaivads Sharon Zaluski, Ann Doyle Absent: Susan Pendakur, Steven Chan, Phil Lyons, Margaret Coates, Tom Hansen Dennis Breckenridge, Boodie Arnott Guests: Eric Teachman, Neil K. Guy 1.0 Agenda * no posted agenda, but it was circulated at the meeting * in addition to the usual committee reports, the Policy Issues were: - Telecommunities Canada founding meeting - Purging users policy - Acknowledgment policy for fundraisers - modems - BCLA Information Policy Conference - Internet course advertising * Under Other Business, Ann wanted Board Meeting Structure to be raised. Motion (Guy/Vic) To accept the agenda. PASSED 2.0 Minutes of July 19th: Motion (Vic/Guy) To accept the minutes of July 19th. PASSED. 3.0 Policy Issues: 3.1 Telecommunities Canada Founding Conference: * Vic is our official representative, and John Jespersen from Comm Content will also be there. * the role of Telecommunities Canada and NPTN was discussed - we envision that we pay Telecommunities Canada and that they work out an agreement with NPTN. (BC FreeNet model). 3.2 Puring Users' Access: * policy document not ready yet from Eric Y. 3.3 Acknowledgement of Fundraisers: * Tom needs to send money information to Vic/Dennis * this needs to be articulated and is to be a function of Fundraising 3.4 Modems: to be covered in HW/SW report 3.5 BCLA Info Policy Meeting: Jacqueline * Jacqueline asks that we participate in the conference in November. * she asks that we endorse the event and participate in organizing the conference - possibly we talk to PR about this? Motion: (Jacqueline/Sharon) That we endorse the Information Policy Conference and participate in the event at the organizing level. PASSED. 3.6 Internet Course Advertising: Ann * Ann wants to list facilities offering Internet courses * discussion on listing for-profit organizations vs. educational/non-profits Motion: (Ann/Jacqueline) That information be posted on the FreeNet about Internet courses from the educational/non-profit sources and that we mention commercial courses as well. PASSED. * Eric Y. mentions that Sandy Mayo is giving a speech about FreeNets at the Fidonet RegionCon17 in August. * Eric Y. mentions that BC Tel has been given the go-ahead for increasing its business measured service by 250% and whether we want to take an active advocacy role in this - discussion indicated no interest at this time. * Jacqueline leaves at this time and quorum is lost. All motions/decision after this point in the minutes are to be ratified at next Board meeting. 4.0 Treasurer's report: Tom absent * we have $23,527.59 in our account * we received about $1400 in last 8-10 days from memberships * report does not include $50,000 from Vancouver Foundation Motion: (Vic/Eric) To accept the Treasurer's report. PASSED. 5.0 Office/Membership report: Eric T. present, Susan absent * we have 91 new members for a total of 558 members Motion: (Guy/Vic) To accept the Office/Membership report. PASSED. 6.0 User Support/Training report: Ann * report posted to board mailing list * technical writers met with PR for formats etc. * library trainers met - honorarium discussed Motion: (Ann/Vic) That VRFA request an honorarium for any hands-on training sessions from professional and other financially capable organizations. PASSED. * Ann is away from August 11th to September 5th. - a technical writer liaison will be asked to represent that group at the Board meetings Ann misses. * Vic mentions he is away from Thursday August 4th until September. * Eric Y. asks that all absences be posted to him so he can put together a guide for everyone else. 7.0 Library Liaison: Jacqueline absent * no report * Ann: do we have an agreement between VRFA and libraries? Brian: Jacqueline is working on this. 8.0 Volunteer Coordinator's report: Sharon * two orientation meetings coming up: Monday August 8th and Thursday August 18th. - looking for some place other than Neil Squire Foundation office * Eric T. to look into modem/telnet connections at Harbour Centre rooms * 6 people on Volunteer committee to do phone backs etc. Motion: (Sharon/Vic) To accept the Volunteer Coordinator's report. PASSED. 9.0 Committee Reports: 9.1 Hardware/Software: Vic * modems - they're up, and finally debugged by Dennis. We're getting busy signals! * as of 1:00 Saturday, we had 849 modem logins of which 202 were to the guest account. * 2GB HD was purchased and installed, and now moving everything to our own hardware. * 590 active accounts - 563 through online registration, 27 setup previously. * there are 429 registrations waiting processing. Motion: (Vic/Guy) To accept the HW/SW report. PASSED. 9.2 System Design: Steven absent * 5 diskless ATs available Motion by Guy failed due to lack of a seconder Motion: (Vic/Eric) That the PC support group investigate these machines for their value to our office and report back to us a recommendation for their purchase. PASSED. 9.3 Community Content: Guy * meeting next week - Wednesday or Thursday. 9.4 Fundraising: Brian * add for coordinator position in Thursday or Friday's paper (Vancouver Sun) * sent off Section 25 application for 4 positions * sent off casino application * meeting in next 2 weeks 10.0 Other business * AGM - Britannia Community Centre suggested * Grand Opening - Science World suggested * Ann: Board meeting structure - current format very adversarial and she wonders if a new format might be better - referred suggestion to the new Board after AGM. * Eric Y. to add VPL events to events calendar. Meeting adjourns at 9:00pm