Editing WPLUGBoard/Meeting-20130115

==Venue Info==
Meeting to be held at [https://plus.google.com/102551317508921481435/about?gl=us&hl=en#102551317508921481435/about?gl=us&hl=en Panera Bread #3506] at 7217 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.  7:30pm, Tuesday, January 15, 2013.

== Agenda ==
* TBD

== Minutes ==


[[Category:Meetings]]
[[Category:Board]]
[[Category:Agenda]]
[[Category:Minutes]]

'''MEETING START'''

The meeting was called to order at 7:41 pm. Treasurer Terry Golightly (excused due to external circumstances) and director-at-large John Lewis were not in attendance.

'''REPORTS OF OFFICERS'''

1. Chair Pat Barron reports that Twitter has given WPLUG control of the "wplug" Twitter account.

We have a room available at the Wilkins School Community Center for February.

2. Vice-chair Justin Smith reports that Bill Moran is still interested in serving on the Investigating Committee. No word yet on whether he'd like to chair the Investigating Committee in place of Michael Hansell. 

3. Secretary Justin Smith reports having received renewal funds from Stanley Slomberg.

4. Treasurer Terry Golightly is absent.

5. Director-at-large John Lewis is absent.

6. Director-at-large Joe Prostko inquired about the reasons behind cross-promoting with other local technology groups. Pat explained that this is a service provided to the members.

Joe proposed holding an informal social event(s) to entertain current members and attract new ones.  The matter was referred to the Events Committee.

The board discussed reasons why WPLUG's member participation is low. 

9. Due to the board meetings being in such close promixity to general user meetings, and because committees don't attend board meetings, the board has decided not to hear committee reports at board meetings any longer.

'''NEW ITEMS'''

1. The CRW survey is not finished. Justin will work on this.

2. The board discussed its recent interaction with Dave Sevick. While WPLUG cannot make a formal commitment to Computer Reach, it invites him to promote his organization's meetings on the mailing list.

3. WPLUG needs a new direction. This will be addressed in large part by the Events Committee: lead by example. Pat gave a brief history of how WPLUG's direction has changed over the past few years.

4. The board agreed that WPLUG's focus ought to be on users who are already familiar with Linux. Pat explained how Installfests work against this focus and are a legal liability.

The CRW survey will include a question about relative usefulness of Installfest. Some proposed alternatives off the top of our head:

-Bowling night
-Open culture fest
-Attending a technology convention
-A presentation on Replicant (a free software derivative of Android that is 100% free of proprietary material)

'''OLD NEWS'''

No old news to report.

SPECIAL ORDERS

No special orders to report. CRW may examine the utility of special orders in the future.

'''MEETING END'''

Pat proposed adjourning the meeting, and Justin seconded; the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.