[FreeGeek] Meeting Minutes, Feb 3, 2007

[Terry Lowe]

(Hope I got everyone's name right...)

Free Geek General Meeting 4.0
Feb 3, 2007, 1 - 3 PM
Spartacus Books

* People present: David, Mike C, Malcolm, Ifny, Sean M, Bernie, Sean B, 
Rusty, Terry, Greg R, Wolfe, Dan, Scott, Joe, Sean H, Steve K, Heather, 
Rowan, and one who remained anonymous.

* Date and time of next meeting: Mar 3, 2007, 1 - 3 PM, Spartacus Books

* Old Business from last meeting

1) Initial meeting with Techno Trash in Port Coquitlam. FG delegation was 
well-received, and Techno Trash is interested in having FG as an additional 
revenue source, and as a drop-off point for items destined to Techno Trash. 
FG, in turn, was impressed with Techno Trash's methods and motivations. 
Future meeting TBA.

2) Possible Georgia Strait article. Apparently back-burnered for the time 
being. This is not a bad thing: it would be much better if FG had an actual 
address where people could drop stuff off before that article appears.

3) "Windowsless Wednesday" Linux Clinic. Going ahead on Feb 7, 2007 from 6 
- 9 PM at SPEC building, 2150 Maple Street. FG wishes to repeat this on the 
first Wednesday of each month thereafter.

* New Business

1) Funding. Mike gave a short talk on a conference presented by and raising 
money for FG, tentatively scheduled for the weekend of Sep 29/30, 2007. 
Preliminary estimates of costs and revenue are:

$3,000 cost for organization
$4,000 revenue from attendance fees
$4,000 revenue from sponsorships

which would represent $5,000 raised for FG.

Scott to talk to Greenpeace about possible input from them.

2) Online payment and donation options. David has investigated this and 
reports that: HyperWallet (in Vancouver) is non-responsive and unhelpful. 
Vancity and Desjardin (sp?) POS systems can set up an account for the 
Thrift Store. PayPal (used by FG Portland) is generally seen as the one to 
use, since it has worldwide appeal and people trust it. PayPal requires a 
bank account number to work with, so FG should set up a separate bank 
account for this, and ensure that funds therein are transferred nightly to 
a different account.

Donations: David received a donation of $200 from a private citizen, and 
some used audio equipment that can be sold, with the resulting money going 
to FG bank account. Cheques can now be made to Free Geek, and Vancity will 
accept those.

Steve suggested that FG hire a fund raiser, to work on commission only. 
This person could also work on grant proposals. Approved, and referred to 
the Communications committee.

3) Events.

Summit on IT, Feb 23 weekend, 2007. This conference focusses on bringing IT 
to rural communities. We decided that this is a good event to attend; it 
will give FG some exposure, and we might get some more volunteers out of 
it. The cost is $75 for a table. Approved, and referred to the Outreach 
committee.

Sista Hood conference, Mar 24, 2007 at the WISE Hall. FG was specifically 
invited attend. The cost is $30 for a table, and we may be able to do 
another Linux clinic. Approved.

Movie Night; should we do it again? Yes, but show a different movie this 
time. Where? Spartacus. When? Tentatively scheduled for Feb 28, 2007. We 
are to investigate a possible partnership with the Green Party on this, 
because they are having a Movie Night then, too. A question from an absent 
director was raised: Is Movie Night legal? Are there any copyright issues 
we should be addressing before asking people to donate money to watch 
movies? Joe to investigate and find out.

4) Other. David to meet with a real estate agent Feb 05 to inspect a 
possible FG location at Powell St and Victoria Drive.