MINUTES
ACTV Board Meeting
Thursday, Jan 10, 2008, 7:30

Call to Order: 7:40 pm, Isaac BenEzra presiding

Board Members present: Ruth Backes, Isaac BenEzra, Paulette Brooks, Anna Carter, Jeff Lee, Josna Rege, Alan Root

Board Members absent: Kathleen Anderson, Frank Gatti, Eduardo Suarez

Quorum status: This constitutes a quorum of the Board.

Also present: Afton Fleming (camera), Jim Lescault (ED), Dick Kraus, Steven Kravetz, Betsy McInnis, Bruce McInnis, Ed Severance (Rotary Club of Amherst)

1. Presentation, Rotary Cub of Amherst
Members of the Rotary Club of Amherst presented a proposal for an annual fundraising auction to be conducted on ACTV, with the first auction to be held on the weekend of November 14th and 15th, 2008. The proposal was received with interest and the board accepted it in principle.
MOTION
A motion was made and seconded that:
ACTV’s ED and the Rotary Club of Amherst work together to prepare a more detailed proposal for the RCA’s Amherst Community Auction, including estimates of technology needs, time commitments, and staffing, for final approval at the February Board Meeting,
The motion passed unanimously.

2. President’s Report                                                
President BenEzra:
—explained the process for Executive Director Jim Lescault’s 4-month evaluation to be completed this month. He reminded board members to return their evaluation forms to Josna Rege.
—gave an update on the planning underway for the Board Retreat, scheduled for Saturday, January 26th, 11 am-5 pm at the Cadigan Center, Amherst College. A luncheon will be included. Margaret Lobenstine will be the facilitator, and has offered her services free of charge.

3. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Anna Carter presented the November budget report.
MOTION
A motion was made and seconded to:
Accept the Treasurer’s Report, subject to audit.
The motion passed unanimously.

4. Approval of December Minutes
MOTION
A motion was made and seconded to:
Approve the December 2007 Minutes.
The motion passed unanimously.

5. Executive Director’s Report
Jim Lescault reported on the past month’s activities in three main areas:
Outreach: The ED has been engaged in a great deal of outreach to the colleges and UMass He has also met with several individuals to discuss their ideas for productions. He had a meeting with a group of ACTV producers who were unable to make the December producers’ meeting.
Operations:
—The clean-up and reorganization project in the large studio has been completed. Board members will be taken on a tour after the meeting. Clean-up projects underway or completed in other areas include the small studio, the control room, the front storage room, and the conference room.
—James O’Connor is investigating why we have not been able to connect to the other programs available to us through our Dish Network package (through which we get Democracy Now!). 
—Sean and Jim went out for a pizza nice with the college interns and production assistant as a thank you for their work last semester. The intern program is expanding for the Spring semester.
—A new DVD recorder has been purchases. And Gretchen Saathoff is reviewing the recently-located barcode wand and software to explore what needs to be done to get it operational.
Fundraising: Three proposals are in progress: one to Amherst College under its Civic Engagement initiative (will be presented to the Executive Committee for approval prior to submittal); one to the Mass Cultural Council for Organizational Support for Media Arts (Deadline: March 2008); and one to J-Lab,  the Institute for Interactive Journalism for participatory news ventures (Deadline: Feb. 20, 2008)

6. Old Business
President BenEzra appointed convenors to several board committees:
By-laws: Anna Carter
Personnel: Paulette Brooks
Membership/Outreach: Josna Rege
Technology: Jeff Lee
Committees are asked to hold their first meetings in the next month or so.

7. Adjournment: The Meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm.