Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting of the Whole
Thursday, March 9, 2006

Board Members Present: Kevin Jenkins, Andrew Hedden, Tamir Nolley, Joel Rainville
Board Members Absent: Robert Vose, Tom Cassidy, Marido Huber, Joan Higinbotham, Floyd Child
Ex-Officio Present: Lance Leupold, C. John Harrison
Others Present: Pamela Colby, Beth Peloff, Jim Derks

Nolley called the meeting to order at 5:44 p.m.

I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public and staff – no comments. Pam showed class promo videos.

B. Approval of the agenda. No quorum.

C. Minutes from the February board meeting. Tabled until next meeting. Leupold suggested they go ahead and look at them now anyway. Jenkins asked how we're doing spending down equipment money. Derks said there are some big things coming up—new pedestals and headsets for studios, server system for playback


II. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – C. John Harrison not present
Lots of request for video taping events. Harrison said he is passing these opportunities along to MTN. The violations hearing is over. They are just waiting for decision from City Council Member and Ways and Mean Chair Paul Ostrow.

B. Minneapolis Public Schools – Kathy Burns not present
She told Colby that she feels it is important and plans to come regularly in the future. Colby sent letter to superintendent and school board asking that MTN be able to bid on school video contract.

C. Time Warner Cable – Leupold reported
There are currently 78,650 subscribers. Leupold passed out nomination forms for the Time Warner Youth Service Award. Nolley said there was an article in the Star Tribune today about it. Rainville asked if there was any news on transfer deal. Leupold said no, but the deal is still moving forward.

D. Executive Director's Report – Pam Colby presented
ACM conference. It was good to see what other centers were doing. Tom Cassidy went and he found it interesting.
Colby attended all the franchise violation hearings.
There will be a mini-media camp in April for at-risk youth, learning about college.
Next week, Colby will go to a steering committee meeting on media reform in Washington, DC, representing NAMAC.
TCdailyplanet.net. is a new website where one can get community media from many outlets. MTN is planning to put up video on the site. Right now MTN has its own internet computer and internal wireless network. The city approved a pilot project in near north and Cedar Riverside neighborhoods.
MTN is doing more paid work, most recently for the Minneapolis public housing authority. We are also doing regular live shows on Mondays and just did a Friday night live show featuring Patrick's Cabaret. There will be more production this summer and we will avoid taking the truck out as much as possible. We are waiting for a resolution with the franchise renewal so we can make decisions about the truck. Rainville asked if we can use PPU instead. Colby said, yes. That is what we are planning to use.
III. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.