Minutes:Board Meeting Minutes 20110712

2011-07-12 i3 Detroit Board Meeting

July 12, 2011

Members Present: Ross Smith Eric Merrill Paul Kerchen Joe Bender Nate Bezanson Ed Platt

Meeting called to order at 7:16 PM.

Ferndale Chamber of Commerce--Jennifer Roosenberg, Executive Director

• Benefits of membership (see flyer for full list):
  • Some benefits might not make sense for i3 (unmployment insurance discounts, etc)
  • Social media: Facebook 500-600 fans, 1500 group page, members can post on feed; Twitter group has ~1600 followers, retweets member tweets
  • Weekly e-list of events
  • Members of i3 Detroit could get discounted CoC membership
  • Might be able to have Core members get member-to-member discounts
  • Members can put promotional materials in CoC lobby
  • Stay and Play social club: regularly does fun hobby/social events; could tie in with i3
  • Perhaps i3 could host a social event for its members
  • CoC owns marquee at 9 Mile & Woodward; members can advertise at member rate; message must be brief (4 lines of 16 characters)
  • CoC can help with fundraising: access to biz community, social media networks
  • Quarterly educational workshops and seminars
    • Open to Core members, as representatives of i3 Detroit, not to business owners who just happen to be i3 members
    • Next seminar: securing funding for business
  • CoC is working with Kiva Detroit to see what can be done together
  • Access to membership mailing list (for one-time announcements, not recurring subscriptions)
  • Forum similar to Motor City Connect (eg., BNektar tastings are announced on this forum)

15-minute interlude trying to get the phone set up

Red Bull free product

• NY rep told RBC crew that she can make getting product happen for i3 if local rep doesn't.

Dust Collector

• Opportunity to get large collector unit that can serve entire wood shop
• Asking price is $750
• Sawdust control is a fire hazard
• Collector footprint is probably the same as a fridge; outside placement may be technically possible, though there may be landlord/easement issues
• Dustin and Nate will check it out
• Located in Fraser; can be hauled with trailer or full sized truck
• Would also need ducting, machine adaptors, etc.
• Should be able to handle metal shavings, small screws, etc.
• Dustin and Nate W will champion project
• No member vote necessary
• i3 will limit reimbursement to $600.
• Vote: Shall i3 reimburse the cost of acquiring and installing the dust collector system with a limit of $600?

   Yes: 6
   No: 0
   Absent: 1

Electric Bill

• Ross needs to verify that they know we're self-reading

501(c)(3) status

• Need two things: Narrative description and financial plan
• Need to get taxes squared away--Paul and Ed
• Eric can get narrative of another organization (cousin's organization?)
• Should be done before September
• As long as non-profit is postmarked by November, PPT should be okay

Maker Faire

• Transporting
  • Need to get truck (can make multiple trips)
• Party planning
  • Brad seems to have it under control
  • Need to get momentum going on list
  • Ed will back Brad with party planning
• There is some concern that there won't be enough room for people in the tent
• Swit's projects may need to be indoors due to sensitivity to wind
• Kristine suggested having a live link between D7 and i3; probably not technically feasible in the time left
• Time-lapse photo cameras would be cool
• Swag: plenty of t-shirts left, need more hats & patches
• Squiggle trike will be at MF

Neighboring space

• Neighboring tenant is getting evicted
• Landlord has told us that there is a possible new tenant, but he doesn't like him
• Landlord is open to possibility of splitting space into thirds: one third for i3, one third for landlord and one third for landlord renting/leasing to i3 members.
• Eric and Ross will develop a detailed plan on how to fund and use it
• Need to ask landlord about storing stuff there

Mouse problems

• Dustin's dad is a pest control guy; he may be able to help us out
• Need to send reminder to list; mention at next general meeting

Pile o' Laser Cutters

• Possibly could get a bunch
• Tubes only; no cutting tables
• Functionality unknown
• Probably will take a pass
• Might be of interest to individual members

TorqCut CNC

• Nate will be working on CNC now that he's back in town
• Technical difficulties are slowing progress, but it's still underway
• Joe will make a post requesting status reports on big projects (TorqCut, plasma cutter, etc).

 Status report should include time estimates, help needed, etc.

Plasma cutter

• Rumor is that Walter broke his leg
• Work appears to be underway, need to get progress report from Walter (or Lee?)
• Need to get a completion date

Piano

• No apparent progress since last party
• If it's not registered for MF, it needs to go ASAP
• In a pinch, might be able to store it next door until after party
• Joe will contact Trevor about status

RedBull Recap

• Not officially second place (there is no second place); cannot say we placed second
• SquiggleTrike will be at MF
• Crowd-sourced, distributed control center worked great
• Ted suggested i3 telepresence pod for future events
• Other teams didn't seem to have nearly the same level of support as i3 team

Board Calendar

• Ed will set up a Google calendar for board business (rent, taxes, etc)

Meeting adjourned at 10:00PM.

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