NCF Board of Directors
Minutes of Meeting
May 17 2005

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

• National Capital Freenet Internet Co-op, a new organization, to be formed

Minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors

The meeting was called to order at 7:20 p.m. with Chris Cope as Chair and Michael Mei as Secretary (acting).

1. INTRODUCTIONS

   Board members present:
   Christopher Cope (bz787), President/chair
   Gary Eikenberry (aa353), 1st Vice-president
   Shing Kwong Lee (ez191)
   Mark Mielke (al278)
   Mary Anne Dugmore (er983)
   Don Francis (ba990)
   Michael Mei (bi195)
   Elaine Condos (ff377)

   Regrets:
   Sandy Campbell (dt820), Secretary
   Graeme Beckett (aw958)
   Tony McNeill (ff231)

   NCF Management/Staff present:
   John Selwyn (es347), Executive Director

   Members/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 OF MEETING
   (see minutes of prior month)

   MOTION: That minutes be adopted with noted editorial ammendments.
   Moved by: Elaine Condos (ff377)
   Seconded by: Gary Eikenberry (aa353)
   VOTE: All in favour

3. REVIEW OF THE AGENDA
   (see draft agenda)

   MOTION: That the item 6 b. "Treasurer's Report and financial statements" be removed, but otherwise, that the agenda be adopted as published.
   Moved by: Mary Anne Dugmore (er983)
   Seconded by: Don Francis (ba990)
   VOTE: All in favour

4. ONGOING BUSINESS
   
   
5. REPORTS
   1. Executive Director's Report (John Selwyn)
      (see accompanying report)

      As well as the standard report on the previous month, the Executive Director presented a plan for actions to improve NCF. The following challenges were highlighted:
      

      • The 'FreeNet' component of NCF's name commonly misleads people about NCF's need for donations and sounds like a commercial gimmick. About half of NCF's members do not donate. Years of cost-cutting have left NCF in a less-than-robust state.
      • DSL service, which is desired by many members, is too expensive to offer on a donation basis.
      
      The Executive Director proposed the following solutions to these and other long standing NCF challenges:
      
      • Re-organize the NCF as a non-profit co-op.
      • Operate NCF services at not-for-profit rates.
      • Establish an access assistance fund to provide service to individuals experiencing hardship.
      
      The Executive Director noted that naming the new co-op as the National Capital Freenet Internet Co-op ('NCF Internet Co-op') along with the establishment of an access assistance fund has the following benefits:
      
      • 'NCF Internet Co-op' better communicates what NCF is about, making it easier to promote NCF.
      • Allows for retention of the domain name ncf.ca so that the organization's web URL and member email addresses can remain the same.
      • The NCF Access Assistance Fund allows members to continue helping members.
      • Operating services at not-for-profit rates will make it easier to avoid abuse of member generosity.
      
      He noted that co-op membership would be free, just as NCF membership is today, with each member having one vote. He also noted that separating the access assistance fund from operating funds would likely make it easier to obtain government, corporate and personal donations (he noted that NCF's current organizational structure has been an impediment to seeking various forms of funding).
      

      MOTION: That the Executive Director commence the process of establishing the National Capital Freenet Internet Co-op, a new organization.
      Moved by: Don Francis (ba990)
      Seconded by: Gary Eikenberry (aa353)
      VOTE: All in favour

      MOTION: That the Executive Director submit an application to the City of Ottawa Community Projects Fund, requesting a maximum of $20,000 to help NCF create the National Capital Freenet Access Assistance Fund and the National Capital Freenet Internet Co-op.
      Moved by: Mark Mielke (al278)
      Seconded by: Shing Kwong Lee (ez191)
      VOTE: All in favour

      MOTION: That the Executive Director be instructed to cause the creation of the National Capital Freenet Access Assistance Fund.
      Moved by: Gary Eikenberry (aa353)
      Seconded by: Mark Mielke (al278)
      VOTE: All in favour

6. NEW BUSINESS
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS
   
   
8. NEXT MEETING

   June 21, at 7 p.m.
   Board Room, Main Branch
   Ottawa Public Libary

9. ADJOURNMENT

   The meeting adjourned at 9.45 p.m.