National Capital FreeNet / Libertel de la Capitale nationale

NCF Board of Directors
Minutes of Meeting
November 19, 2002

SOME HIGHLIGHTS


Minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors

Held on November 19, 2002 at 7:00 pm
Festival Boardroom
Ottawa City Hall
111 Lisgar Street, Ottawa

The meeting was called to order at 7.10 p.m.
with Chris Cope as Chair, Sandy Campbell as Secretary, and Sheila Alder as note-taker.

  1. INTRODUCTIONS

    Board members present:
    Christopher Cope (bz787), President/chair
    Gary Eikenberry (aa353), 1st Vice-President
    Sandy Campbell (dt820), Secretary
    Mary Anne Dugmore (er983)
    Mark Mielke (al278)
    Graeme Beckett (aw958)
    Don Francis (ba990)

    Regrets:
    Andrea Holland (es170), 2nd Vice-President
    Gibby Armstrong, (et091), Treasurer
    Michael Williamson (em324)
    John Wenuk (ep585)

    NCF Management/Staff present:
    John Selwyn(bi207), Executive Director
    Sheila Alder (bw306) , Office Manager

    Guests:
    Jim Elder(aa456)

    Once around the table . . .
    Informal pre-meeting conversation, with Directors taking turn offering personal views and commentary on interesting things that might not make it to the Agenda.

  2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
    (see minutes of prior month)

    MOTION: That minutes be approved as published.
    Moved by: Sandy Campbell
    Seconded by: Gary Eikenberry
    VOTE: All in favor

  3. REVIEW OF THE AGENDA
    (see draft agenda)

    MOTION: That the agenda be adopted as published.
    Moved by: Graeme Beckett
    Seconded by: Mary Ann Dugmore
    VOTE: All in favor

  4. ONGOING BUSINESS

    1. Discuss NCF's 'vision' and priorities with new ED (Graeme Beckett)

      ED John Selwyn said it might be premature to focus on 'vision;' his preoccupation is on "getting everything working" to capitalize on NCF's traditional objectives, with no major changes in mind. Graeme Beckett agreed to put the discussion off to another day.

    2. Plans for browser-based community software (Jim Elder)

      This is an action item initiated in August. In view of changes since then, Jim Elder asked that his report be placed after ED John Selwyn's presentation later in the agenda. Unfortunately, time ran out before the matter could be discussed. It will be placed on the agenda for the December meeting.

  5. REPORTS
    1. Treasurer's Report (Gibby Armstrong)
      (see accompanying report and financial statements for prior month)

      Treasurer Gibby Armstrong repeated her advice from September to receive cash in advance on contract work to avoid an "out-of-pocket" situation, along with other 'bookkeeping' shortcomings. Revenue was close to budget for October, although renewal donations are still short of target.
      Personal reasons (she's expecting her first child!!) make is impossible for Gibby to continue as NCF Treasurer. She has recruited a successor, with whom Chris Cope will be in touch immediately.

      MOTION: That the Treasurer's Report be accepted as presented.
      Moved by: Graeme Beckett
      Seconded by: Gary Eikenberry
      VOTE: All in favor


  6. Executive Director's Report (John Selwyn)
    (see accompanying report)
    ED John Selwyn presented details of an aggressive and ambitious immediate and mid-term action plan, as outlined in his special report-- including 56K digital lines, converting ottawa.com webmail users into NCF members, expand offerings on Internet Desktop (Thin Client project) as promotional tool for 'specialist' software companies, re-double efforts to enlist 'extended access' partners, develop NCF-only instant messenger service, and capitalize on NCF's 10th Birthday celebration.

    MOTION: That the report be accepted as published.
    Moved by: Gary Eikenbarry
    Seconded by: Graeme Beckett
    MOTION: All in favor

  7. Executive Committee Report (Chris Cope)
    Chair Chris Cope delivered an oral report on meeting, which was essentially a 'brainstorming' session with ED John Selwyn in preparation for the BoD meeting.

    MOTION: That the report be accepted as presented.
    Moved by: Sandy Campbell
    Seconded by: Mary Ann Dugmore
    VOTE: All in favor

  8. NEW BUSINESS

    1. Motion on Board support for The Communicator (Sandy Campbell)

      MOTION: That the Board go on record as supporting the initiative of volunteer Andre Ouellette to create the independent online membership publication The Communicator, as an important asset in the building of the NCF 'community'; that the Board use its good offices to encourage members, including Directors and staff, to contribute to the content of The Communicator, and to encourage readership by giving approval to the Editor to issue one or more MoMs per issue to "promote" the publication to the membership; and that staff be asked to use The Communicator, where possible and practical, to deliver news and information to members.


      Moved by: Sandy Campbell
      Seconded by: Mark Mielke

      A spirited and sometimes heated discussion ensued, with mover Sandy Campbell arguing for the motion, as per his 'rationale' distributed to Directors in advance of the meeting, and ED John Selwyn summarizing the argument against. (Original seconder of the motion Andrea Holland was unable to attend the meeting, and Director Don Francis left the meeting before the vote.) All present praised Editor Andre Ouellette's initiative and hard work and urged him to continue. There was discussion of planned technical changes that would give The Communicator more opportunity to attract readers among the membership.

      VOTE:
      For: Sandy Campbell, Graeme Beckett
      Against: Mark Mielke, Gary Eikenberry
      Abstained: Mary Ann Dugmore

      The vote being tied, Chairman Chris Cope voted against.

      The motion was therefore defeated.

    2. Appointment of Nominations and AGM Committees (Chris Cope)

      MOTION: The the Board appoint a Nominations Committee consisting of Andrea Holland, Chair, and members Chris Cope and John Selwyn.
      Moved by: Sandy Campbell
      Seconded by: Gary Eikenberry
      VOTE: All in favor

      MOTION: That the following be appointed to the AGM 2003 Committee, with Chair to be named later: Mary Anne Dugmore (director in charge of proxies), Gary Eikenberry (returning officer), Mark Mielke (voting system software consultant), Andre Dalle (voting system administration), Jim Elder (AGM web pages and software configuration).

      Moved by: Sandy Campbell
      Seconded by: Mark Mielke
      VOTE: All in favor

  9. Announcements
    1. Ottawa Broadband Strategy (Chris Cope)

      As part of the Ottawa 20/20 process, the City of Ottawa is developing a comprehensive Economic Strategy that will include initiatives for the City's export, local, and rural market sectors. Included in this strategy will be a Broadband Plan that will contain recommendations on how high speed Internet connectivity will be extended throughout all of urban and rural Ottawa. The Ottawa Partnership (TOP), led by Mayor Bob Chiarelli and Kirk Mandy, invites you to attend the launch of this important plan for the City of Ottawa and welcomes your feedback on the draft recommendations for making Ottawa the most connected city in the world. Tuesday, November 26, 2002, 4 to 6 p.m. Capones Restaurant, 831 Industrial Avenue in the Rochester Room $25 per person (incl. GST)

  10. NEXT MEETING

    December 17, 2002 at 7 p.m.
    Festival Boardroom, Ottawa City Hall
    111 Lisgar street, Ottawa

  11. ADJOURNMENT

    The meeting adjourned at 10.35 p.m.