Future Search Technology Committee

Minutes of November 5, 2001

 

Present:  Linda Myers, Al Beamish, Steve Karpiak, Jeanne O'Callaghan, Chuck Herring, Jim Neff, Dave Bowman, Janice Gayan

 Teleconference meeting called to order at 4:35 p.m. by Chairperson Chuck Herring.

 A.           Legislative Report Card: 

Jim reported that it is a two-part process--Linda gives the information to Jim and he puts it on the web. Current software is different from what we started with. There have been several upgrades in Microsoft. Question: Do we update or not? Jim thinks that we should wait and see. If you already have Microsoft 2000, he can teach you. If not, Linda can email it to Jim and he can put in on the web. 

Linda has 2000--Doesn't know if she has Front Page 2000, which is needed. Linda will go with email to Jim for now. She will check on the other and will let Jim know and they will go from there. Will meet with Jim and Chuck after the New Year to set it up. Per Linda, senators, legislation, budget bills or education bills, tax bills, MESSA bills should be on the report. Linda will mock one up for Jim to look at. The Report Card would be generally available. Jim will make an icon or text link whatever.

 

B.           Billing the cost/Process

When Jim gets a request, he has to open it, create a page, and upload the server (15-20 minutes). Key: What needs to be up? Should limit the page to what affects the most people. Should there be a gatekeeper? Per Jim, yes. Gatekeeper would decide what goes up. Consensus that Tom Taylor should be the Gatekeeper to keep the process clean. 

First check with Uniserv director who gets final approval from Tom Taylor. Will get Tom Taylor's approval to be gatekeeper; Janice will check with him. Janice will mock up a form to use for getting approval.

 

C.           Posting of Minutes, etc.:

Taken care of by the gatekeeper process. 

D.           Accolades to Jim Neff:

Chuck commended Jim for doing a terrific job after the September 11th tragedy. Information for student use, materials to help kids understand, donation sites and their links were up within two hours after the tragedy and up on the web completely by 2 p.m. on September 11, 2001. Most of the material is still available on the site. The Committee extended their appreciation to Jim for all of his work on this. 

E.           Bomb Scare at Michigan Tech:

Some Eco terrorist set two incendiary devises today. 

F.            Janice also noted that the site now includes a Homework Help site that is well read. 

G.           Chuck Herring asked the sub-committee if there is a need to continue meeting on the web page. 

1.             We met charge

2.             Could meet on an "as needed" or once or twice per year

3.             Have the budget to do that

4.             Periodic update (Summer Leadership Conference would be ok)

Consensus was reached. 

H.           Data Base:

Have had problems with MEA's database. Does anyone have access? Muskegon Heights, maybe. Are getting postcards that Fred will be up as of January 1, 2002. 

Should we wait until MEA's is available? Consensus that it be on hold until Summer Leadership Conference. Revisit it at that time. 

Arch's office is on a network, which is causing some problems. 

I.              Jim Neff's pay

Chuck reported that it was incorrectly listed as $20/hr. It is really $50/hr. 

J.             Will there be anything at Summer Leadership Conference on Future Search? Design Team will meet on January 19th to decide. 

K.           Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Dave Bowman, Acting Secretary