Location: IRC server linkline.ca.us.webchat.org, channel #asfar
Time: 9:30 pm eastern time

Board members present: Justin Mallone, Larissa Price, David Schneider-Joseph, Oliver Traldi, Susan Wishnetsky
Members present: Sam A, David C, Daniel M, Ben PS, Mark S
Visitors present: none

The meeting was called to order at 9:38 pm eastern time.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the February 21st meeting were approved without objection.

Reports of Officers

The President, Justin Mallone, reported that he was interviewed by Individualist Voice.

The Vice President, Larissa Price, reported that she is planning to write an article on ASFAR in her school newspaper.

The Secretary, David Schneider-Joseph, reported that ASFAR has 539 active members and is receiving an average of 1.5 per day.

The Treasurer, Susan Wishnetsky, reported that she has not yet received the form authorizing ASFAR to conduct business in Illinois, so she has not been able to open a bank account.

Reports of Committees

The zine committee reported that it has a book review, a President's Pen, and several news links prepared for the upcoming issue. It was agreed that discussion for the Youth Truth staff would take place on the ASFAR mailing list.

The advertising committee reported one dollar in the Amazon.com account and no money in the Commission Junction account.

Old Business

Susan Wishnetsky reported that she received a phone call from the American Library Association's New York lawyer, Ms. Chmara, who was not enthusiastic about ASFAR joining the lawsuit challenging the Child Internet Protection Act, although she did not rule out the possibility.

New Business

David Schneider-Joseph reported that he spoke to Chris Hansen, the Senior National Staff Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union. Chris said that in its lawsuit challenging the Child Internet Protection Act the ACLU will be representing web sites that are currently or have in the past been blocked by Internet filters, public libraries, and people that view web sites at public libraries that may be blocked as a result of CIPA. David sent a message to the ASFAR membership looking for people who view such web sites at public libraries. He received one response, but after contacting that member's library he learned that Internet filters are already used in that library. During the meeting, Daniel McGuire volunteered to be a co-plaintiff, and David said that he will look into that possibility. Since ASFAR's web site has been blocked, there is a small chance that ASFAR itself could be represented as a co-plaintiff. David moved that ASFAR be a co-plaintiff, if possible. The motion was seconded, and carried 4-0. Chris told David that ASFAR may also file an independent friend-of-the-court brief, and the ACLU may be able to find an attorney that will assist ASFAR with that for free.

There was discussion of whether non-US chapters are in ASFAR's best interest. Concern was raised that ASFAR would be spreading itself too thin. It was agreed that the bylaws currently don't prohibit the formation of non-US chapters, and there was no reason to change this, but that ASFAR should not explicitly encourage the formation of non-US chapters either.

Oliver Traldi suggested that the Pennsylvania Youth Rights Network be a statewide ASFAR chapter, with subchapters throughout the state. The idea was well received and it was agreed that there is nothing in the bylaws prohibiting that.

Susan Wishnetsky proposed that, in order to facilitate the formation of chapters, the board set up chapters itself and contact members in the area to invite them to its first meeting. No motion was made.

Justin Mallone said that he thinks ASFAR should have a board of advisors. He received a request to be on such a board by Michael Gilson De Lemos, a member of the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party, a coordinator of the Libertarian International Organization, and a retired Fortune 100 management consultant. It was also suggested that ASFAR approach Mike Males and David Deutsch for a position on that board. No motion to form a board of advisors was made.

Other Business

The next board meeting was scheduled for March 21, 2001, at 9:30 pm eastern time.

The meeting adjourned at 12:06 pm eastern time.

Respectfully submitted,

David Schneider-Joseph
Secretary, ASFAR