[freegeek-startup] Free Geek Intergalactic minutes - 7-29-2006

[That Man Behind the Curtain]

Very rough minutes from the Saturday session:

This meeting took place on Saturday, July 29, 2006 from 9:30 am - 10.45 am.
 Attendance
>From Free Geek Portland: Richard (facilitater), Oso, Matteo, Michael,
Martin

Also in attendance:
 Scott Merrill (FG Columbus)
 Casey Milford (FG Arkansas)
 John Billings (FG Michiana and FG Chicago)
 Tom, Chris, Amy, Rob (Olympia)


scribe - Michael
discussion of things we will do after the meeting
adoption class - how we run it
command line class
tour
various things we do

Casey - what happens to fast boxes?
  advanced builder will work on them, infrastructure, special grants, store
specials
Tom - what happens to the macs?
  mostly to macrenewal.org, but a few go to store
  macrenewal is similar to us

recap of last night's introduction
re-introductions

another list to look at is minutes list
lists.freegeek.org/listinfo/minutes
all minutes go to that (with omissions for confidential info)

 Overview of Franchise Process by Richard
franchise not the best word
we started it, want to make sure it stays reasonably within limits
would like an overall association

This is a presentation with Q & A
 caveat: a lawyer may want to tweak whatever we say or come up with
 Stages:

 One:
 Do you understand what Free Geek is (with some degree of detail)?
 Mission Statement
 Principles
 Is that what you want to do (really)?
 Do you have a realistic understanding of what this entails?
 Can we communicate with you? Are you involved in the larger community?
    need to be able to come to understandings, need communication
types of status
    1.  Official free geek
            Chicago is almost there
    2. Affiliate - doing similar thing, not use name
            Tacoma has applied for this
potential members
discussion of Penn being mostly out of touch

end of stage 1 is preliminary status with permission to use the name
Free Geek

rob - certification? (answered in part two, below)

 Two:
 Lots more details about actually getting up and running, business
plans, etc.
 (Way incomplete at this point.)

possibilities - certification trademark - certifying the recycling
process for
example
   we don't know how far we would go in that

 Types of relationships:
 Official Free Geek -- you can use the name
 Affiliate of Free Geek -- part of a larger, looser network -- you can't
use
the name, however.

scott - will there be help filling out the questions favorably?
richard - yes, stage two orgs will be in franchise list and be able to
ask for
help, debate what it means to be stage two, etc.

note location of initial application on website
http://freegeek.org/franchiseapp.php

casey - what if penn does not get involved?
we may have to live with that, but we started the name, and have priority,
would legal options be worth pursuing?
more concerned about the newer ones
we would like to fix issues

rob - timeline?  is the stage 1 app good as it is?
richard - might revise the initial app to be be less intimidating
but the stage 2 app should be very initimidating and detailed
timeline - today is first major date.  needed to meet people face to face
how quickly can it get filled out?
would like it soon
round discussion - how soon could you have it?
general agreement should have most of the apps in a month

scott - will successful apps be available for review
  yes, will be discussion on franchise list

tom - how about windows software?
example - older box with included license, reinstall would get it working
richard - principles include promoting foss software
there is some of the discussion to be done
do not want to be promoting windows software
oso - there may be some room to be flexible
scott - we will not give out windows software

rob - timeline or milestone?
richard - do not do timelines much here

 Free Geek Intergalactic  -  this is an open discussion.
 Mission of Free Geek Intergalactic (open conversation)
 What should it be? Early on, vs. down the line?
 Structure (open conversation)
 How should it work? Starting more informally? And gaining more
structure as
necessary?

casey - trying to establish company so they can get grant to
latch on to opportunity for building
would be nice for umbrella organization to be able to help write grants or
give grants

oso - umbrella org would be owner of name and oversee franchise process
could raise money on national level and redistribut to startups
would be foundation
richard - but this would not be on your timeline
we (fgpdx) could just file in other states, but organizationally could
not do
it
can perhaps do some sponsorship
could administer a grant possibly
oso - legal issues about doing this over state lines
we were not able to help michiana because of this

would be nice for a person from fgpdx to be an ambassador
rob - paid staff person dedicated to franchises ?
  timeliness of responses and better communication
oso - there would be site visits
board and staff who could be sent to startups
brainstorming
staff from each of the franchisees dedicated to this?
person or role?
paycheck cut by intergalactic organization?
scott - would really be good to get advice and help on setting things up

richard - definitely bring these things up on the list
we are busy but want to help

#freegeek on irc (freenode.net) is good place to ask questions

discussion of what to do later in the day
scott - budgeting with richard
rob - speak with staff people about some things and with other franchise
applicants


(meeting ends)

 Next Steps
 What do we need to do to make all this happen?
did not get to this one much

-- 
Richard Seymour
That Man Behind the Curtain