Board Members Present:   Jim Peterson, Bob Mugge, Dick Schmeling, Jan Schneck, Vince Alline, Joyce Knouse, Dean Miller and Warren Sanders

Board Members Absent:  Karen Brown

Also in attendance:  Bob Foster, Frank Fritchman, Bob Kutschera, Dennis Malcolm, Dale Noll

Bob Mugge motioned to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2008 Board Meeting; Warren Sanders seconded; minutes were approved by the Board.  Due to absence of the secretary at the February 5 General Meeting, there were no minutes taken at that meeting.

OFFICER REPORTS
President, Jim Peterson

• The Learning Center room renovation is in process and should be really finished in about a month.

Vice President, Bob Mugge

• The basic construction of the cabinet for storing our laptops for the Learning Center is complete.  It’s in my minivan, so after this meeting, you’re all invited to take a look at it.  I designed the basic plan and procured most of the materials.  These were transported to Bill Peterson’ shop where the construction was done.  Bill is to be commended for doing 99% of the work on this project.
• The cabinet is 76 inches tall, 24 inches wide and 16 inches deep and it rolls on casters.  There are 11 shelves, one for each of the laptops with their power bricks and mice and one shelf for the club projector.  The Learning Center printer will be stored on the bottom.
• Decisions need to be made now on these items – mostly security issues:  (1) door hinging method, (2) locking system (for the door and for locking the cabinet into the structure into the structure in the closet so it cannot be stolen as a unit), (3) finish and marking.  Expenses will be turned in to Dick Schmeling when the project is finished.  So far, major expenses amount to about $88.  Items listed above will add to that.
• Course plans for the Learning Center were temporarily interrupted by the cabinet design and construction.  They will resume shortly.

Secretary, Jan Schneck

• The Club Administration list has been shortened to include only the Board Members and Committee Chairmen.  This allows for fewer changes and revisions.  Committee members who were previously included on the list will remain on my e-mail list for distribution of Meeting Minutes, etc.

Treasurer, Dick Schmeling

• Distributed the financial accounting for the month of February. The Club received $735 in dues, $5 in gifts and $0.37 of bank interest during the month.  Operating expenses include $378 for Outside Services, which represents reimbursement to Victor deGroote for his payments to the website management company last year and the additional fees which have us now paid through January 2009.  The largest expense, of course was the $7,996.02 to purchase 10 laptop computers and peripherals for the Learning Center. The Non-Operating Pass-Through Account received $450 and  $422.45 was used for Technology Access supplies, leaving that account with a balance of $496.08. All of this combined activity left the Club with a Bank balance of $2,684.30.
• Dick disclosed that the laptops purchased were a particularly good deal, achieved at employee discounts.
• In February, the required Form 990-N, which must be filed as an e-postcard, has been filed with the IRS.  The due date was May 1.
• Advised the Board that he and Sanders needed to buy $384 worth of stuff for the TAP.  Such purchases must be paid with a Club check in order to get the tax-exempt status applied.  Dick asked the Bank about a Club credit card, but learned that, unlike personal credit cards that have a $50 liability limit if lost or stolen, the business card has no liability limit.  Dick is therefore not in favor of any kind of credit card for the Club.

• Dick Schmeling made a motion to handle Club purchases with a Club check payment in advance of receipts.  The purchaser may use the State Tax ID Form and the signed Club check on the condition that the Treasurer will receive the proper receipt within 48 hours.  Joyce Knouse seconded.  Board approved.  Sanders advised that Staples now has the Club on their tax-exempt list and he plans to get the Club onto the tax-exempt list at Cartridge World as well.  Only one form is required for each supplier.
• Bob Mugge motioned to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  Jan Schneck seconded.  Board approved.

Past President, Warren Sanders

• Nothing to report.
   

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Membership

• Kutschera opened his report by saying that he regretted missing the General Meeting, but heard very favorable comments about it.  He did report that the General Meeting had 92 attendees plus 3 guests including the presenter of the program. Also, in the past month we received 10 new memberships and 19 renewals.  As of this date, the Club has 198 paid memberships and 120 additional members, bringing the total member count to 318 for 2008.
• A new Excel spreadsheet has been designed by Kutschera and Schmeling that will automatically calculate all totals – memberships, members, new renewal and dollars collected.  This will be done for the current month and by month from October of the previous year when 2008 dues collection was started and the total amount of dollars collected in the 2008 fiscal year.
• Finally, the Membership Committee has a new member, Peggy Mills and two other new members have expressed an interest in this Committee.  Another new member indicated an interest in SIGs.
• The greeters now are providing receipts only to those members who pay cash and that has speeded up the process on the 4^th floor.
• Vince Alline made a motion to allow the Treasurer to write off the $15 discrepancy that Bob Kutschera reported last month.  Joyce Knouse seconded.  Board approved.

Communications Committee

• Peterson mentioned that he is still searching for a chairperson for this Committee, so there is no report.

Programs

• Bob Foster said that he contacted Smart Computing.  They might give the April presentation and, if not, he and Don Stieghan will have a program on genealogy.
• Foster needs suggestions for door prizes.  He has one more Windows One Live Care.  Sanders said he thinks we still have 3 or 4 subscriptions to Smart Computing left now.  He also suggested a $29.95 paid subscription might be given in addition to the free ones.  Everyone thinks it’s a great magazine.  Schneck suggested reams of paper or packages of photo paper.

First Level Support

• Dennis Malcolm said he had nothing to report.

Computer Education

• Bob Mugge hopes that, before the next meeting, he can get a list of courses coming up to report to the membership what our plans are.
• Peterson said that he will purchase some software for the new laptops.  He plans to get XP Home and Office 2003 (for the XP operating side) and 2007 (for the Vista operating side).  He expects the Learning Center room to be finished by the end of March, so we’ll want to get the classes going by sometime in May or at least by June.
• Schmeling said it would be a good idea to get a core group to put all the laptops back to a default mode after each class so that they all look identical for the next class.  It was agreed that this is in the plan.

Special Interest Groups

• Don Stieghan is in Texas, but left his written report:
• The Digital Photography and Computer Hardware SIGs are continuing.  The others that have been started are probably out of business, although there have not been any formal closures.  Recruiting for new SIGs has not been an outstanding success even though ideas for new SIGs have been announced regularly in the Newsletter and at the General Meetings.

• Stieghan, Alline and Jim Noonan met as the SIG Committee on February 21, to consider the purpose of SIGs and to do some planning for the future of TVCUC SIGs.  Vince and Jim represented the two active SIGs at the present time.  After reviewing the need for SIGs, we considered options for the future.  We agreed that it was not necessary to disband the SIGs that were still active, but a new approach to starting SIGs is needed.  We think that a better approach is to form new SIGs as a natural outcome of the classes that are being arranged.  The students who want to continue on-going learning of the subject matter of the class would be given encouragement and support to form a SIG for follow-up study and understanding based on the classroom experience.  It should be recognized that all SIGs can be either a short-term or a long-term interest.
• If this change of approach is approved by the Board, it may be worthwhile to consolidate SIGs formation with the Learning Center or Don would be willing to continue as a separate function with a close coordination with the Learning Center.  This matter can be further discussed when Don returns.

NEW BUSINESS
Learning Center

• Kutschera:  We should plan something to do for a grand opening.
• Peterson:  The floor will be a vinyl tile type.  Power will come from under the work tables.  The projector will be up top and we will look into a wireless operation.

Dues

• After some discussion among the members present, it was generally agreed to continue to begin on October 1 to accept dues for the following year and to maintain the grace period from January 1 through March 31.  This accommodates new members as well as those who leave Tellico Village for the winter.

Technology Access Program

• Alline reports that the group has been working on computers for sale and for giveaway.  They have given away 63 systems and have more ready, but they’re concentrating on the 6 they have for the craft sale this Saturday.
• The News Herald reported that the County has approved the TVCUC to go through their recycle center to pick up anything we can use.  He and Sanders will be meeting with the recycling people to find out how often pick-ups would be reasonable.
• Sanders advised that with the Community Church substantially expanding their size, the house being use by the TAP will, at some point, be used as temporary church offices making it unavailable for the TAPs use.  He has discussed with Cooper the possibility of using the building across the driveway from the POA offices.  Cooper will let TAP use it as long as we pay the utilities, but require a $3,000,000 bond.  The cost of that would be $1,250 per year.
• TAP would like to be an authorized Community Microsoft Recycler.  As such, they would be entitled to XP licenses for $5 and would be able to give them away with the recycled systems.  The license agreement, however, is written in legalese and we need someone to interpret for us.  Knouse suggested a friend of hers who is an attorney.  Peterson suggested we check with the APCUG.
• Knouse said the signs are available for the craft sale that say “computers are downstairs.”  The computers will be just inside the lobby.
• Sanders told of a woman up around Jellico who is conducting classes and trying to get the community there up on its feet.  A gentleman here in Tellico told Sanders that she needs about 6 computers.  Sanders has agreed to get 3 to her for starters.  Adult Community Training (ACT) in Lenoir City got 5 systems from us and is probably going to want 5 more.
• Fritchman asked if we should have a TAP section in the Newsletter.  Sanders responded that he will periodically submit something to Frank.

Service Awards

·         Some discussion ensued regarding the appropriateness visual recognition of past and future presidents of the TVCUC.  The most favorable suggestion was for a plaque with panel(s) to which names could be added as necessary.  Peterson said he will entertain a motion on this issue next month

Sound System

• Fritchman asked if we could get a directional mike to use at meetings when the audience asks questions.
• Foster said he will ask presenters to repeat the questions so all can hear until we get suitable sound.

Supplies and Equipment

• Sanders asked who did not receive a Club Notebook when he presented them in January.  All present seemed to have gotten theirs.
• Warren Sanders made a motion to purchase a new digital tape recorder to assist the secretary in recording of the minutes.  Jim Peterson seconded.  Board approved.

Meeting adjourned at 4:40 P. M.
Next General Meeting Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. at the Yacht Club
Next Board Meeting Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 3:00 PM at Chota Recreation Center