Minutes of Tuesday, February 6, 2001
Present: Steve Hussey and Steve Markel in the Muskegon Heights Office; Kathie Sluiter, Jim Neff, Chuck Herring and Harriet Poch in the Petoskey Office. Note: Janice Gayan of the Escanaba Office was present but when reconnected, the Escanaba office could not be included.
Teleconference meeting was called to order at 5:11 p.m., by Chair Chuck Herring.
It was decided to only cover the web page portion of the agenda due to the absence of a good number of committee members. The data base portion of the agenda will be addressed at the next meeting.
A. Additions or subtractions -
Input was asked of the committee members present to give their thoughts on the
Northern Zone Web Page that is now up and running. Steve Hussey suggested adding
some more personal features like activities in the area. Chuck asked if adding
the local Chamber of Commerce as a link could cover this. Steve seemed to think
that would be a good idea. Kathie indicated that not all Uniservs would want to
add area Chamber of Commerce links. It was suggested this issue be taken up with
the Uniservs in each office before adding an area Chamber of Commerce as a link.
As far as school information, Steve seemed to think people would like to see who the officers are. Jim indicated this was already available by clicking on the individual offices. However, if there is something members would like to see added, Jim can add.
Members indicated there was nothing on the Website they didn't like.
B. Within budgeted hours -
Jim indicated that once the page is built we have twenty hours budgeted after
that and we are not up to that point yet.
Chuck was asked if all the Coordinating Councils had sent in the requested $100.00 start-up contributions. To date seven had and seven hadn't. Chuck was instructed to send a reminder to those Coordinating Councils who had not contributed as yet.
C. Neff walks on water -
Everyone agreed Jim Neff has done a terrific job. The Northern Zone has created
some ripples with some of the other Zone Directors.
D. Work with MEA -
Why would MEA want to do anything with our small site because our site is
designed for the membership? It is a teacher site. Don't think they have anyone
on staff at MEA as to what a teacher wants or needs in the website. They have
not made any overtures yet but we can see it coming.
Kathie: Other zones may want to attach to ours or use our sources.
Steve Herkel: We paid for development of it. Concerned with MEA taking Jim's time. Don't want MEA taking up his time.
Jim: Domain is registered to Tom Taylor so they would need our permission and he's is not looking to be on anyone's payroll.
Steve Hussey: What do we need to promote this? Can we give it to our membership yet? Yes.
Per Jim, our Website will start to appear on search engines. Uniserv Offices
should put this announcement in their newsletters. Make up a byline for all
newsletters. Can also be added to letterhead, for example:
www.meanorthernzone.org/mea14a.org.
This site now has 18 front doors.
Chuck: The MABO Summit Committee asked if it would be possible to have in addition to the Uniserv Offices, a Future Search subcommittee address that would allow us to put the minutes on there? That way people will know we met, what happened, and where we are going. Get minutes to Jim and he will load.
Next meeting date -- Chuck will send out an email suggesting various dates and the committee will go with the one with the most votes.
Meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Harriet Poch