Minutes of Board Meeting of October 27, 1999

Location: IRC server irc.chatnet.org, channel #asfar

Time: 8:30 pm central time

Board Members Present: Eric Anderson, Justin Mallone, Arthur Traldi, Susan Wishnetsky

Members Present: Al B., Matthew H., Alex K.P., G.M., Larissa P.

Visitors Present: None

Reports of Officers: The President, Eric Anderson, reported that ASFAR's first check from I-give for $73.25 had been received. He also reported in passing that he had been looking into the possibility of ASFAR applying for a grant.
The Vice-President, Justin Mallone, had no official report.
The Secretary, Susan Wishnetsky, reported a problem with some membership applications being submitted with invalid e-mail addresses, and two new members who have no e-mail addresses.

Reports of Committees: For the 'zine committee, Justin Mallone reported that only the cover art and two articles were needed to finish the 'zine.

Susan Wishnetsky reported on the plans for production and distribution of the print edition. Subscription rates for the print edition were discussed, and a motion was made to charge $1 for single issues, $2 for an annual subscription for members, and $10 for an annual subscription for non-members. The motion passed.

Old Business
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the meeting of October 13, 1999. The motion passed.

Regarding promotional items, Eric Anderson reported that he had found the address of the agent of Robert Heinlein's estate, in order to request permission to use a quotation on our promotions. Susan Wishnetsky reported that, contrary to her expressed opinion in a previous meeting, the quotation might not have been able to fit on the pens along with all the other desired text. A motion was made to approve production of the pens without the quotation. Susan Wishnetsky asked that the order be limited to only 500 pens, since the wording might still be subject to change in the future. With that point agreed upon, the motion carried.
The order is to be placed on November 1, with delivery 10-15 business days later. It was agreed that any member of ASFAR would be sent up to 20 pens upon request as long as they were available.

A motion was made to approve the button design submitted by Susan Wishnetsky. The motion passed.

Susan Wishnetsky reported that a limited number of buttons could be prepared quickly and could be sent to members upon request beginning November 1.

The opening of an online bank account was discussed. It was specified that the bank must provide online statements to several different people and require a low minimum balance. Arthur Traldi, the Treasurer, said that he would investigate this and report on it at the next meeting.

New Business
The declared candidate for ASFAR's vacant board position, G.M., was interviewed by all present. A motion was made to table the matter of filling this vacancy pending further discussion.

Matthew H. and Larissa P. then declared their candidacy for the vacancy. Consideration of these candidates was postponed until the next meeting.

Eric Anderson's letter to the Minnesota legislature in support of their bill to lower the voting age was discussed. Alex K.P. reported that one of the bill's authors recommended that letters be sent only to the members of the committee considering the bill. Eric Anderson reported that he already had the list of the members of that committee, and proposed to rewrite the letter, since a vote was not imminent, to address it more specifically to the committee members.

Susan Wishnetsky raised the issue of information to be sent to members interested in forming local chapters, asking if the letter she had submitted to the Board, which had already been sent to several members, could be improved upon or have more information added. The issues of chapter web pages and a centralized schedule for online chapter meetings were discussed. No motions were made to change the letter to members.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:06 pm central time.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Wishnetsky ASFAR Secretary