Board Meeting, 11 November 1997 Board: Geri, Martin, Dean, Polly. (Margo sick) Me [Fred]. Beth Friedman. David Emerson. Don Bailey 7:30 QoM: David Emerson: In other words, they're behind me, but I'm on my own. AGENDA - Postage Meter. - ReinCONation. - Tangent: Supercon? - Pursue TM Minicon? - OTML - {other stuff--pick up from body} BUSINESS - Postage Meter Dean: What we're paying is $142 something per quarter. At his work has another postage by phone meter and paying about $30 per month. So in same ballpark. Martin: It seems to me maybe we don't need. Beth: Can live without it. If we can't have a Zeppelin, what's the point? Dean: Will talk to Kay, see if can send it back. Geri: Tricky part. Use up postage and check tape with David. Not worth $140 to save $60 postage. BOARD: Get rid of it ASAP. Further investigate to see what possible means. Dean will check with Kay. Fred was supposed to email David to see how much postage is left. Beth: Someone may wish to look into Microsoft postage meter. Attach dongle and print postage on laser printer. Beth will keep eye out. Geri: If see, tell David. Geri didn't investigate cheaper ribbons. - ReinCONation. David: Financially, NAR spent about $500, took in over $300. Net out of $200. Leaving about $400 or so for next year. Socially it was a big hit. Good tone. Someone suggested more times a year. Pool Party? Not seriously proposing, but as example of reaction. Lots of positive feedback. Brings up question of wither ReinCONation. Fred: Make it into a media convention. Don: Using crochet as medium. David: My basic question about ReinCONation is what is the future of it? Given that: 1) High-Rez things to scale down and [intimate feel]--one of reason. 2) Since DiversiCon is very similar kind--small, intimate, program, GoH's, etc. Differences: not Minn-Stf, not very fannish. 3) Chronically difficult to find a date in the Fall acceptable for mass of people. October is bad for a midwest convention. August/September is bad for RenFesties. Martin: I've been saying the other weekend similar advantages to Easter is Thanksgiving. Fred: Is Chambanacon still? Martin: Then we have conflict. But less of a conflict than, say, Icon or Windycon. Objection I've heard is, "no one in right mind come to Minnesota then." Well, how many in right mind? Geri: Thanksgiving air traffic is insane. Polly: Fare blackout period. Beth: Tries to see parents, not travel again to con. Martin: Board's Pro continues as long as people want to do it. Board will not recommend. David: Leads to fourth point. Some running out of steam on committee. Strongest was 2-4, entering 6 started... then was a little bit of a slowdown and reason 7 didn't get going everyone ran out of steam. There was no "motor." No one driving. Martin: Same reason why 4th Street petered out. Don: Support coming to Minn-Stf, see if interest. Beth: Does have to be "ReinCONation"? David: Sharon, DavE, and Gellman do a FallCon. Martin: Third weekend after Labor Day. What pushed into October was trying to get off RenFest. David: Moved it, younger people still didn't come. Not getting involved. No problem moving back to September. Hotels... September and October are big wedding months, believe it or not. Not easy to find hotels that are desperate for business. Martin: I'm [enjoying] when discussion, but not the [point]. Good idea to go to Minn-Stf meeting or two, are there people out there who want to do with fall convention. If you want to continue having, great; if not, fine. Given that can be run without losing money, Minn-Stf is happy to have a fall con of some sort, but if no people to run, no push. Geri: Hot right now for weekends of fannish fun. Feb 7 Pool Party Tentative. Martin: In best of all possible worlds, quarterly. Geri: Three or four a year. Dean: One other bit of info on NAR success. Carol Kennedy didn't want $50 from Minn-Stf for meeting, used left-over NAR supplies. Geri: Idea being for pool party. Sunday afternoon at Hugos (first crack), desert party at Toad Hall. Weekend full. Good weekend with less. David: As a footnote, speaking of Dreamhaven, made back refreshments in first transaction; best Sunday ever. Geri: Whatever happens with ReinCONation/FallCon or whatever. Well, whatever. But "ReinCONation on a Stick" over Labor Day, no appeal. BOARD: Likes convention, not force people to do. If interest in ReinCONation. If interest in FallCon. Let them {???}. David: In other words, they're behind me, but I'm on my own. - Supercon. Polly: Tangential. I take it Supercon is no longer official Minn-Stf event? Martin: They haven't gotten money. ...er... can somebody call and make sure they're not signing contracts in Minn-Stf's name? Dean: Will call Charles. - TM Minicon? Fred: Pursue TM Minicon? Geri: I was on Board when discussed. I don't like formality. Don: Came up--if [????], we can still use. Martin: Yeah. Fred: Keep people from using. Martin: For [fanl prints]. Dean: How much expense and work is it? Would like to know. David: As non-board member, but what Don said. So if not put effort out to challenge, why get it. Don: We talked in 80's--no need. - OTML Beth [something] software. Expecting verdict from Board. Don, can't tell what want to do. Don: Wants to do requirements. Since let drop, should pick up. Geri: And you [martin] have FrameMaker PC V2.0? Don: 4.0 adds web access. Martin: What? Laurel being involved hasn't happened: I'm more interested in something that works at all than cross-platform that hasn't happened. Right now, Beth is in charge of it. Don: Point of information, after meeting. 1,350 persons for Minicon. Entered. As of Sunday. Not all in. But close. Beth: Means about 1500. As Point of Info, PO is making things difficult. Only way to get is double entry of addresses. Geri: As Board member who [stirred] up. go ahead. But please talk to Laurel. Beth: Yeah. BOARD: Kindly accepts Beth's offer to try on behalf of club. If working software, we'll use it. Beth: Spent two hours talking with Ben on how they [NESFA] do it. But needs tweaks. Unsuitable to us. Geri: Who do we [report] for Boston? Fred: So when do we pay for Ben to have In-WATS? Geri: He has 24/7 10 cents minute. Likely will be here over holidays. Martin: Given the degree he's [thrsfascv], is he enjoying? Geri: Yeah he loves it. Martin: Give him the data. Geri: [never got a light wounds right now, so opened scheduled]? - M32 losses. Geri wants to know: How much did M32 lose? Martin: I have lost track. I know we were out $7K from our account from M33 to M32. Not sure if sent more, if some came back, what what what. Geri: Will ask Mark and Mike for current status report and tracking. Who knows if got Visa money? Martin: Kay would know. Dean: I can't recall if-- Martin: Julie might also know. - Don announces Don: Info. Fellow in gaming group did Eastercon. Wants to put him and Pins together to do treasury stuff on M33. - Dead Presidents Don: Damage fund. People liked the idea? What have to do? Geri: Board seemed cool. Martin: I think what's... it seemed like a lot of issue; seemed real question was "is that... is exist /how exist actually make a difference?" Don: Can't address. Groundswell of support. Martin: Do we need special fun? Geri: Reads from notes. Don: Theory is if fund exists, people will ask. Next step? Martin: Who runs it? Geri: As a club, have no setup for donations. Don: Set of rules and procedures; including collect and keep, rules for asking and getting? Martin: Upper limit of, say, $300. Fill to that. Only take donations as depleted. And making hosts aware of it. Person who breaks should pay, if doesn't, club will cover what able. How do we get into valuations? Fred: Is same? Was [???] BOARD: Dead Presidents will come up with guidelines with Martin's vague structure. Money should sit in Minn-Stf account. - Ish's Books Thing BOARD: Not a Minn-Stf thing. A Minicon thing. Let Ish know this. Also mention that WorldFantasy are donated. BOARD: Saying "is Minicon thing" as a "go for it," not as an "ick." - David has one more ReinCONation thing. David: Assuming it continues, the ReinCONation bank account is charging $6 a month when no activity, more when there's activity. BOARD: Resolution: Move to Riverside Bank. - Next meeting Geri: When's next meeting? As usual. Let DD-B know. NEXT MEETING: 18 December 1997, 7 pm, Eileen's Thank you Eileen! 8:25 adjourn.