Matt Strait typed up these minutes from a paper copy in 2020. No OCR was involved. Original errors, if any, are lovingly retained, and marked with [sic] when I noticed them. Other content in square brackets are likewise transcription notes. Additional errors may have been introduced. Original errors may have been inadvertently corrected. As mentioned in the minutes, Denny's printer did not want to print zeros. In fact, what seems to have happened is that his zero hammer was bent so that it struck about half a character to the right and only made an impression for the left half of the zero, making it look a lot like an open parenthesis. In nearly all cases, Denny wrote a zero over this in pen. ================================================================================ [handwritten:] A # "9" Minn-STF Board of Directors Meeting -- Minutes -- 14 Dec 1987 ["87" handwritten] meeting held at home of Bailey/Bratton's // present the following: Board Members: Don Bailey, David Cargo, Rob Ihinger, Karen Johnson, Geri Fitzgerald Sullivan Others: Officers: David Dyer-Bennet (Vice-President); Scott Raun (Membership Secretary); Denny Lien (Recording Secretary) Misc: Margo Bratton, Terry Garey, Eric Heideman, Mark Richards, Dave Romm, Geoff Stone. ************************************************************************ The 7:30 meeting was called to order at some point approximating that, with Karen Johnson designated late person this time. An agenda emerged, consisting of Minn-STF mail, TotU, RUNE, C'Ntraction, Minicon, the Minicon Poetry Anthology, Computer Usage Policy, Santa Anonymous, the Assumed Name Policy, EINBLATT, Karen's new hairdo, Geri's new socks, and Minn-STF rubbers. ************************************************************************ "Quorum, schmorum; the important thing is that the more that are here, the more there are to spread the blame around." ************************************************************************ Sullivan reported that our Corresponding Secretary, Kay Drache, is in Methodist Hospital with endometriosis (unpleasent [sic] but not dangerous). In her absence, Jeanne Mealy will do mail pickup from the Minn-STF PO ["S" handwritten] Box and will give same to Geri Sullivan, who will distribute. Romm will get checks and such from Treasurer Joel Halpern (absent tonight; sick) and will take same to Post Office to renew our bulk mail permit. Heideman on TotU: galleys for #3 went in to the printers this day. Exact cost of printing will not be known for a few days. We are expected to be near our $2000 budget when remaining ad revenue is collected. Heideman will have full financial report to date at January meeting. Ihinger proposes and Board OKs that Halpern be authorized to write check in amount needed to printer when exact amount is known, even if such involves advance against future budget of not more than $150. (Check back with Board first if higher.) Romm noted that TotU subscribers automatically get a RUNE subscription: such a deal. Ihinger on Minn-STF Assumed Name Certificate: forms received but not yet filled out and sent in. Romm on RUNE: He has extras of RUNE/Minn-STF manila mailing envelopes for anyone who wants and/or can use. // Minn-STF should perhaps be using its nine-digit ZIP Code for stuff like RUNE; Romm will check to see what it is. // Box of old RUNE-trade fanzines has been found at Dixon household and will be turned over to Minn-STF Library. // Lots of RUNE contributions are in; fifteen or so pages more than can fit into upcoming issue already accepted for upcoming plus one issue (possibly a Funny Vegetable Theme Issue). // MPLS-ST. PAUL magazine has requested and received a sample copy of RUNE, prepatory [sic] to possible upcoming article therein on fanzines. Attendess [sic] expressed some nervousness. // RUNE Subscription Rates: Romm indicates editors suggest $2 for one issue; $10 [badly printed zero *not* inked over] for four issues (or free with TotU subscription). After discussion, Board OKed by acclamation. Cargo on One Treu [sic] Mailing List and RUNE's desired subset thereof: what is requested will be possible but not easy. Bailey on C'Ntraction: Books not yet closed. We had 150 attendees, give or take a couple, and broke even, give or take $50. Rousing cheers from all. Cargo has updated the List to reflect C'Ntraction registration info and now has a separate Fallcon subset of List. Garey on proposed Minicon Poetry Anthology: As indicated at yesterday's Minicon meeting, would be anthology of poets who had read at past Minicon Poetry sessions. Estimated 250 copies (including 50 freebies) selling at $2.50 or $3. Desired budget of $350 to $500, depending on how swank and/or large we want to get. Ihinger moved approval. Discussion. Would price break make 500 copies almost as cheap as 250? Garey will check. OK to do under imprint of RUNE Press, previously used for our Theodore Sturgeon book of 1979. Board OKed a budget of $500, with money to come from the Board directly rather than from Minicon. (Moneys set aside by Programming for this can be reassigned.) ************************************************************************ "Chocolate in the con suite bathtub--that has a familiar ring to it." ************************************************************************ Dyer-Bennet: All agree that the Poetry Anthology is a Good Thing, but it has brought up philosophical/legal argument of relation of Minicon and the Board; e.g., did Minicon need Board approval for such a proposal? In researching question in Minn-STF Constitution, it was noted that there was some uncertainty as to which amendments thereto were active and which had been repealed in last revision. ************************************************************************ "Well, maybe that's what's wrong: does anyone have amendments one through eight?" ************************************************************************ Johnson noted that we need to correct grammar, date, reprint, and distribute official current constitution and by-laws. (No volunteers were noted.) Sullivan noted that Amendment 26.3 holds that Board approves extraordinary Minicon expenses, and that Board decides what is an extraordinary expense. Discussion. Stone (on this year's Exec) uneasy with possible problems. Emphasizing that discussion was meant to clarify, not to be combative/battle for turf. More problems than usual this year because of atypical lack of overlap people on Board and Exec. Is expected revenue a factor in Extraordinariness? Is precedent, or arguable precedent? Does presence of Board members in non-Board, non- formal setting (e.g.: Minicon meeting) make a difference? Is revenue expected over long term (rather than just during the convention) a factor? Is Extraordinariness determined by "not done every year" or by "done every year, but taking a Big Jump in cost/size this year," or--? Board and Exec need to meet independently and try to write suggested guidelines, then meet together and try to agree on compromise. Dyer-Bennet and others on Minicon: Does Board think phone and/or clock purchased for the Bridge is an extraordinary expense? (Answer: No.) Is Minicon Child Care function, give that this may cost us more than $1,000 this year (maybe much more)? Probably; Bailey moves and Board agrees that we authorize $1200 this year and consider such expense hereafter ordinary. We still have no one willing to run it. ((Note from Secretary: reportedly volunteers subsequently surfaced.)) We may have to raise child attendance rates and/or charge users of function. Would be nice to get notice into PR 2. Ongoing Minicon existential ennui: for some (many?) involved in putting it on, it's Just Not Fun Any More. Do we want to consider means of capping attendance in the future? If we do (or if we don't), is it the Board's decision or the Exec's decision to make? To be discussed, at great length, at some point in the future: not tonight. Bailey and others on Computer Policy. Registration again stored on Bailey/Bratton computer, which is not compatable [sic] with anything else in the club and which is wearing out. Data conversion project would be "interesting" (i.e., appalling). Does Board/Con want to purchase a database program (at least $150) for such use? Is this camel's nose (next: club gets its own computer; then needs its own clubhouse to store it in, etc.) Can Minicon spend up to $300 for software to support its Registration, with understanding that they "will try not to do anything stupid"? Board agrees to spend up to $500 for this, but money to come out of general Minn-STF funds and software to be owned by Minn-STF, not by Minicon. (No guidelines offered on degree of acceptable stupidity.) Objection have been raised to proposed Minn-STF Computer policy (i.e., that we reimburse use of member's computer for club business, when same is used by other members for that business). Minn-STF traditionally a volunteer organization--members already donate time, energy, sleep, wear and tear on autos, houses, refrigerators, psyches, etc. Cargo suggested that we could agree to policy on reimbursement for computer usage, but that we set the present level of such reimbursement at $0.00 and consider raising it only if we cannot get volunteers at that level. After discussion, proposed policy was essentially withdrawn; it was moved and passed 5-0 that we do not reimburse Minn-STF members for use of their personal computers, though we do reimburse for supplies such as paper consumed in such use. Cargo moved we increase our Santa Anonymous donation this year to $60. Said funds are spent to buy new sf books for SA: at $60, we can spend $20 each at the three member-run local bookstores (Blyly/Bond/Ketter). Mark Richards volunteered to do the actual buying and donation. Passed. Mockup of proposed EINBLATT (in calendar format) passed around by new editor, Mark Richards. Some object to beginning each week with Monday, at least unless Sat/Sun at end of week is more clearly marked off from the rest. Closer proofreading suggested, along with use of laser printer. General approval and thanks to Richards. Karen Johnson's new hairdo was officially declared "Real nice." Geri Sullivan's new socks were officially declared "Interesting." Ihinger announced acquisition of Minn-STF Rubbers: a pair of size small left at their place after last meeting by some soggy-footed fan. This led to announcement that the Minn-STF Lost and Found Box, which had been Lost, has now been Found. Sullivan volunteered to take charge of it, with proviso that items unclaimed after reasonable time can be auctioned off at parties for purposes of general merriment and/or money. OKed. Board authorized $100 for expenditures for New Year's Eve party at Dream Park. Next meeting: Wednesday, 20 January, at Toad Hall. Rob Ihinger is requested to get there at 7:15 and everyone else at 7:30. Minutes typed with, oh, several hours to spare, by [signed:] Denny Lein Denny Lien, 20 January 1988 [handwritten:] (whose printer no longer is interested in printing zeros) ================================================================================