Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, September 11, 2008

Board Members Present: Kevin Jenkins, Floyd Child, Andrew Hedden, Marido Huber, Joel Rainville
Board Members Absent: Robert Vose, Barb Nei, Tamir Nolley, Tom Cassidy
Ex-Officio Present: John Harrison, Lance Leupold
Others Present: Pam Colby, Beth Peloff, Vera Allen

Huber called the committee of the whole at 5:32 p.m.

Quorum achieved at 5:44 p.m.
Huber called meeting to order at 5:47 p.m.

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public, staff and board – no comments

B. Approval of the agenda. Motion to add part III, New Business to approve bylaw amendments. MSP Hedden, Child.

C. Approval of Minutes from the July board meeting. MSP Child, Jenkins.


II. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – Harrison presented
The City Communications Department's proposed budget will be presented Friday, September 13, at the Ways and Means Committee. Harrison has not been given the proposed budget number for MTN, but he expects that it will be about the same as last year. The Minnesota Association of Community Telecommunications Administrators (MACTA) conference is coming up on October 23 and 24. Colby will be a presenter. Comcast numbers: June: 75,341; July 75,259; August 75,126. Bob Vose asked Harrison through Colby if there are any meetings regarding franchise renewal. Harrison replied that they are in discussion.

B. Minneapolis Public Schools –Edie French not present. Colby presented French's report.
The State of the Schools address will happen at the downtown library on October 2. They would like to have a live broadcast, but there is no Comcast cable connection at the library. Leupold said that the best thing to do is to make a request through Arlen Mattern and Leupold added that Mattern was the correct channel for this request rather than MTN board meetings. Colby stated that she brought the matter up because it was the main item in Edie French?s school report. Colby also mentioned that MTN wanted to do a live show out of the Ritz Theater, but was told by Comcast that it would cost over $2000 even though, according to Jim Derks, there is a cable drop right outside the building. Leupold will ask Arlen Mattern for an explanation of why the cost was so high.

C. Comcast – Leupold presented
Comcast was busy during the Republican National Convention. They supplied cable feeds to the Excel center for the conventions use. The History Channel has a new documentary called "102 Minutes that Changed America." Leupold stated that it was very well done. Comcast's On Demand Channel has several additional documentaries on the September 11th attacks. Comcast participated in fundraising money for back to school supplies for schools where their employees serve as volunteer tutors. In Business Journal, Comcast was voted one of the Best Places in the Twin Cities to Work.

D. Executive Director's Report - Colby presented
The Members Meeting happened on July 24. Annual Reports are still available if anyone is interested in seeing one.

Next Friday is MTN's 25th Anniversary party. Colby said she would like all board members to be there at 6:30 for introductions. Colby read a message from Tom Cassidy saying that he was able to get $500 in donations for the silent auction and encouraging others also to solicit donations for the party. Vera Allen handed out a list of what staff and board members have so far been able to secure for the celebration. Allen said she would like to have a complete list by tomorrow at 4 PM. She also passed out flyers. There will be a short program, then music and dance.

During the RNC, MTN partnered with Donald Allen to host a press conference with African American candidates and delegates. There were reporters from several major news outlets in attendance.

We submitted an application for the digital inclusion grant through the Minneapolis Foundation. The proposal was to do new media work in immigrant communities. We'll find out in January whether our project will be funded.

We are beginning our annual youth training with South High students. There will be 72 students.

Colby met with representatives of Philips Community Television (PCTV), a small non-profit that does youth video work. She talked with Program Director John Gwinn and Board Member Tom Borrup about the possibility of PCTV merging with MTN. They are a well respected and award-winning organization with a South Minneapolis location. PCTV would like the stability that MTN would offer. Colby asked if the board would like her to continue talking to them. The general consensus of the board was that it is a good option to pursue. Leupold said that Comcast doesn?t have any opinion about any potential merger, but he suggested that PCTV might want to see how it would affect their ability to receive grants. Colby said they are looking into it.

John Akre secured a contract with the Minnesota Parks and Trails Association through a former NRP contact. MTN will produce three shows this year. Akre sent one of the shows to TPT and they want to put it on their channels. They are willing to do close captioning. Colby and Akre will go to TPT to meet with them and will also bring another MTN produced program Access to Art.

Vera secured an artist to paint a mural in our front hallway. Board Members were encouraged to check it out.

E. Treasurer's Report. Hedden presented.
The July profit and loss statement showed a net monthly income of $6,000 and a year-to-date net income of $23,000. The budgeted income was
-$4900. Colby requested a Finance Committee meeting to discuss changing MTN's policy on cashing out sick time. She's looking to have MTN contribute matching funds to employee retirement accounts instead. Huber said she'd like to see a proposed budget at that meeting. Motion: Accept the Treasurer?s Report. MSP Rainville, Child.

III. New Business. Hedden Presented.
Bylaw Amendment Proposal. Colby handed out Hedden's changes. The first bylaw amendment changes the number of directors and the way they are appointed. The second change discontinues compensation for Board Members' attendance at Board of Directors meetings. At least one City Council member at the MTN Member's Meeting expressed opposition to changing to a closed board process. Motion: Forward proposed bylaws amendments 32 and 33 to the city council Leadership Committee for advice about how best to proceed. MSP Rainville, Hedden. Motion: Adopt bylaw 37, sub-paragraph 5. MSP Child, Rainville.

Child asked Colby if MTN was informing candidates of its policy and price for producing television shows, so candidates can have programs on MTN during the election season. She said that MTN will do this for the elections next year when there are more local races.

IV. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm. MSP Child, Jenkins.