October 10, 2012

7:00 PM @ Dupont Circle Business Incubator (DCBI)

Present:  Andrew, Lougenia, Howie; James (via teleconference)

Absent: Gene, Eric, Matt, Simson

Others Present: Roger Fujii

Correction to last month’s minutes: The January speaker is Dr. Simson Garfinkel.

Proceedings:

• Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by Chair
• Review of prior EC reports
  • Chair report – Approved (standard)
  • Vice Chair report – Approved
  • Treasurer’s report – Approved
  • Secretary’s report
    • Minutes from September approved (verbal).
• Current Reports
  • Treasurer (James)
    • Establishment of PayPal account – Completed
    • Change of Address submission – Completed
    • Chair (Andrew)
      • PayPal: We need to put a donation link on the main DCACM web site (had one once)
      • Nite Owls: 100-person milestone & 1-year anniversary
      • DCACM MeetUp page: lost 1 member, due to recent reduction in lectures
      • Old PO Box will be closed out and keys returned this month.
    • Secretary (Howie)
      • Reported on prior session (Strategic Goals/Objectives 1)
      • Continuing to work on earlier meeting minutes
    • Treasurer’s Report [moved from end of meeting, for continuity/readability/flow]
      • Budget: Make 1 change for fee at DCBI (Googledocs –>Management –>Budget).
      • Bylaws: Changed from 5 committees to 2.
      • Summary of analysis of costs for mail and space
        • Previous cost of meeting room: $1,000.
        • DCBI replaces Post Office Box and old meeting space ($300/year or $25/month).
        • Only budgeted for ½ actual costs of storage unit for year; need to wrap up soon/ASAP/Now!
        • No changes due on budget for past 2-3 months.

* Subcommittee Reports –

• Communications Chair (Lougenia)
  • Spoke to a potential CompuTopics columnist–No show! (good resume, but maybe overqualified [CEO/COO experience])
    • Volunteer Match –Feeds the web-site” feed”
    • Idealist.org (had much more responsibility).
    • Communications Chair’s Perspectives on Strategic Objectives
      • Re: Civic Participation
        • Lougenia thinks this could be really important.

…[Andrew will talk to Carter about obtaining a projector.]

• Professional Development (PD) Chair (Gene)
  • If the emphasis is on professionalism, focus on education; but if it is about membership, call it “membership.”
  • Teaching/Building future technologists makes us well-rounded.
  • [Suggested watchword for] PD: Continuing Education for Professionals.
  • Last Seminar: Android & I-Phone Development.

Communication with Chair: chair@dcacm.org or aconklin@dcacm.org –All of this dcacm e-mail gets forwarded to Andrew’s gmail account (aconklin@gmail.com).

• Universities & Schools
  • Coordinate conference or seminar
  • Focus on individual.
  • Communities of Practice
    • Co-working groups
    • Classes/lectures (emphasis on connecting with community groups)
    • Civic Participation
      • Relationships with schools
      • Regularly occurring events
      • “Giving back!”
      • Teaching the underprivileged to program computers (Example: Data Science).  [Someone noted that “CodeNow” already does that.]

• STRATEGY SESSION PORTION OF MEETING

[James presenting, via remote telecommunications]:

Governing Rules –Strategic Objectives –Rewrite

1^st step=Discovery

Spreadsheets on Communities of Practice (COPs) & Civic Participation (CP).

[Lougenia thought it would be interesting to see/hear what Gene had in mind.]

Need participation in technology realm.

Board agreed that it needs to be clearer what “Communities of Practice” means.

COP Concept

ACM very wide in scope.

Question: How do we build relationships with smaller groups?

Some people do a great job of “marketing out”

DCACM acting as a facilitator? Partly, but focus is on events.

Andrew remarked, “Partnering” is a loose term. [We want to] reach out to other groups.

A brief discussion ensued. Mentioned were Social Net working/Visualization (interested, promoted a little, but had own event on conflicting night); Potential partnership; producing an event; benefiting marketing from fallout.

“Whatever topic is decided on, we have to make it open to multiple groups so that partnering is effective.”

Andrew asked if we should unbundle the strategic objectives, but the consensus was, “No, we should stick with these 3 basic strategic objectives.”

We have targeted 3 areas of interest: Professional Development, Civic Participation, and Communities of Practice.

[“Communities of Practice” is a standard term (more discussion-based).]

Roger asked if this should be 1-year or multi-year, and Andrew suggested that we look ahead about 2 years.

Then the session wound up with a summary of what Communities of Practice should involve (producing events and projects that grow and unite peer groups around a specific [area]); and the interrelationship of the Vision, Mission, Strategic Objectives, and Committees to carry out the detail-level organizational goals.

Business:

• Action taken: Revised wording acceptance by Board.
• Motion to approve the changes was passed unanimously.
• Andrew will create a draft of the approved changes, e-mail to Board, and instigate response.
• Possible agenda for upcoming meetings: Late October or early November lecture?
• Assignments that board members have taken on:
  • Board: Check with Monica on venue and speaker leads.
  • Andrew has a lead on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but there are potential security issues (badging, etc.).

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM, EDT.

Minutes submitted by Howie Harrell

Chair’s Report (Andrew)
Possible venues for the next few meetings:
• October – Dupont Circle Business Incubator (DCBI)
• November – Forensics
• December – ?

Introduction of Simpson Garfield, Member-at-Large

Night Owls – Up to 546 members so far
Latest Venue: B Spot Art Gallery & Framing / Coffee Shop
Normally closes at 7:00, but stayed open til 2:00 AM for Night Owls.

Vice-Chair’s Report (Gene)
Speakers’ Spreadsheet is available.
Monica working on new leads spreadsheet.

Secretary’s Report (Howie)
Working on official minutes and notes for last few meetings.
Will be working on mail-forwarding and close-out of old Post Office box/account.
Permanent Change of Address will be required.

Treasurer’s Report (James)
Reported on cash on hand. Submitted official report.
Change of address to Dupont Circle Business Incubator facility.
Issues with PayPal? (Something…about…ITN?)

Monica – Spreadsheet is in progress.

Communications Report (Lougenia)
Computopics is being published online.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Andrew presented the briefing 2010-2011_Strategy_MidYearReview.

Mission

Putting events out…

Wording of mission statement was discussed and organizational goals
… “Professional”…”Broader Communities”…or “Society?”
Some proposed descriptors: Competent, Ethical, Advancing…
“Ethics and excellence through encouraging professionals…”

Vision Statement was two years old. Suggestions were taken for revised vision statement.
“Our vision is a world where…” (See other chapter web locations for detailed statements.)

Membership [leads to] –> Civic Participation

Awards reinforce volunteer spirit and community involvement (e.g., High School Science Fairs, sometimes leading to National or local chapter memberships)

Follow-on meeting will be held on October 10th at DCBI.

7:00 PM @ Radio Free Asia (RFA)

Present:         Andrew Conklin, Chair

Gene Lloyd, Vice-Chair

James Imanian, Treasurer

Howie Harrell, Secretary

Lougenia Bailey, Communications Committee Chair

Eric Noriega, Professional Development Committee Chair

Simson Garfinkel, Member-at-Large

Isaac Christofferson, Immediate Past Chair

Absent:

Others Present:

Roger Fujii

Brian

Proceedings:

*      Meeting called to order at 7:00 by chair

• Possible new meeting and/or event locations:
  • Turned down by Google-DC >Keep trying
  • Data DC has a larger-sized venue >Might try them also
• Organizers:       Andrew has placed a few strategic links.
  • 100+ people + couple of experts
  • Tech/non-tech behind the Shield Act
• Warning: Be aware of potential “patent trolls”
• Happy Hour with ACM Public Policy person(s)?
• DC Nite Owls: > 500 people signed up
• ACM has 95 people on MeetUp
• Gene identified Dr. Arun Sood as confirmed to speak on September 5^th
  • Dr. Sood will discuss self-cleaning and intrusion tolerance issues
  • The above topic involves virtual boxes
• Feeding DC Tech Events

Storage:

Record materials

Noted that some of the material is difficult to digitize

We want to keep journals

Nothing newer than about seven years

2 File Cabinets: A scrap metal dealer might want to take these off our hands

It is now down to two shelves of boxes, and an overhead projector.

Post Office Box:

Dupont Circle Business Incubator (DCBI) will be the location for Executive Council meetings beginning in October 2012; DCBI could also provide a permanent address

* Annual Budget Report –

$180 under Mailing & Postage, for the old PO Box

Office Supplies, listed under Programs

Membership Dues

$1,250 budget last year

Expenses were $1,600; Income, $900

$700 can now be eliminated, for Storage

Ideas: Reach out to other [groups]: Conferences, Raffles [at events/meetings], etc.

Brief rehash of Communities of Practice, Professional Development, and Civic Participation

General [budgetary/financial] concerns:

$1,000 bank fees

Event Brite and Google Checkout – Take 5-10% in fees

What about new local startup, Eventster?

There is no regulatory limit on expenses; but if we make too much income, it must be reported to ACM National.

Near future:

Strategic Objectives meeting? Vision, etc.?

• Any action taken:

Future Business:

Post Office Box will be closed out

Disposition of storage lot to be completed within a few months

• Conversations that were tabled until next time
  • MOTION to table discussion of Strategic Objectives

Seconded and passed unanimously.

* Meeting adjourned at 8:20.

Minutes submitted by Howie Harrell

Board Meeting Minutes: June 25, 2012

7:00 PM

Present:
Andrew Conklin
Gene Lloyd
James Imanian
Howie Harrell
Simson Garfinkel

Others Present:
Isaac Christofferson
Lougenia Bailey
Matt Piekarszyk

Proceedings:
* Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM
* News & Reports –
Voting:
The following officers were elected
Chair = Andrew Conklin
Co-Chair = Gene Lloyd
Treasurer = James Imanian
Secretary = Howie Harrell
Member-at-Large = Simson Garfinkel

Brief discussion of the ACM membership classes followed.
* New business
No Executive Board meeting next month (Speaker instead)

Nite Owls:
Working on sponsorship arrangement
Expense – $200 for food @ DC Nite Owls
Event about “Co-working group” [“angel” funders]
(They usually do their own “events”)
Affinity Lab’s incubator was mentioned.
A start-up weekend was discussed
Isaac Christofferson said that every event should consider self-funding.
• Andrew went over how the chapter was established in the 1950s. (Different scene through the 80s/90s)
• Examples of aspects of DCACM life have included:
o Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
o University partners
o Communities of Practice
* Some immature
* Others more mature

Data Groups; Knowledge/Discovery
Ex.: Speech technology (Python language, UNIX platform)
Open question: How can we partner with [other communities/groups]?
Remark: DC Nite Owls might want to go on their own in a year or so.
Examples of other groups’/communities’ experiences, and related discussions:
HackDC had fallen apart, now back together.
Brief mention of Northern Virginia / Ashburn, VA
* Meeting adjourned at 8:30.

Minutes submitted by Howie Harrell

Agenda

• Prior meeting minutes approval (PPD)

• Reports from the Officers

⁃ Chair

⁃ Overview of last year’s adopted strategy for the benefit of new attendees.

⁃ Nominations Committee

⁃ Elections are coming up. The elections committee will be formed by next meeting.

⁃ Vice Chair

⁃ Volunteer Recruitment

⁃ New volunteer postings

⁃ Secretary

⁃ Nothing to report

⁃ Treasurer

⁃ Mid-year budget review

⁃ No adjustments. Need to focus on revenue generating activities (Professional Development workshop)

⁃ Member-At-Large

⁃ Nothing to report

• Reports from the Committees

⁃ Programs

⁃ Resume Workshop – 1st week of March, RFA

⁃ Eric will contact Harry to check on room availability

⁃ Robert Neelbauer can coordinate resume consultants

⁃ Lecture Series – 3 events, 1 coordinator

⁃ Wikipedia mirroring lecture

⁃ Need to set a date. Kent Miller to present on his work regarding mirroring Wikipedia.

⁃ Distinguished Speaker Program

⁃ dsp.acm.org – a resource of speakers provided by ACM that can be used for lectures

⁃ Professional Development Seminar

⁃ GWU spring break week of 12 Mar

⁃ Target for the first week

⁃ Technical Focus Committee – Technology Startups

⁃ DC ACM supports NightOwls as part of a Technical Focus Committee on area technology startups

⁃ http://www.acm.org/chapters/professionals/toolkit/tech_focus

• New Business

⁃ Membership Benefits Discussion

⁃ Discussion on the value-add that Robert Neelbauer’s product can bring to the benefit of the membership

⁃ DC Tech transportation visual map

⁃ Andrew would like to start a project that compiles various data mappings about area technology. Details will be on the project page of the dcacm.org web-site. Volunteers welcome and encouraged

Volunteer Meeting (7pm – 7:40pm)

• Programs Committee Planning (20 minutes)
  • Work towards a draft program calendar
• Upcoming Distinguished Speakers
  • Identify volunteer needs, assign tasks
  • Q&A for new guests
• Communications Committee Planning (20 minutes)
  • Continue developing communications plan
  • Identify volunteer needs, assign tasks
  • Q&A for new guests

Members attending: Isaac Christoffersen, Eric Noriega, Andrew Conklin, Ken Spokas, James Imanian

Non-members attending: Robert Neelbauer, Mike Thomas and Tim Egan of Ohava Computers

No volunteers attended this meeting.  The agenda was quickly reviewed by executive committee for future action.

Executive Council Meeting

Board members attending: Isaac Christoffersen, Eric Noriega, Andrew Conklin, Ken Spokas
Non-members observing: Robert Neelbauer, Mike Thomas and Tim Egan of Ohava Computers

The meeting was called to order by Chair at 8:35pm

1.     Meeting Minutes

There were no minutes of the board meetings presented for approval.

2.     Reports of the Officers

Chair

• Nominations committee starting early
• Resume workshop in work – space to be determined

Vice Chair

Discussed:

10NOV Game Fest to held at University Maryland

11NOV Drupal Installfest leading to DC Week Closing Party, Location: Braddock Road

Treasurer

Statements are now on-line with Wells Fargo.  Reports next meeting.

Secretary

Nothing to report.

Member At Large

Nothing to report.

3.     Reports from the Standing Committees

Communications

Covered above

Membership

Nothing to report.

Programs

• DC Week was discussed
• December Resume Workshop was discussed

Professional Development

• Cloud Workshops was discussed
• Additional Workshops to be determined

Awards

Nothing to report.

4.     Reports from the Ad-Hoc Committees

Historical

Nothing to report.

Nominations

As mentioned above Chair has started process early.

5.     Unfinished Business

None

6.     New Business

• DC ACM Resume Workshop, Robert Neelbauer
  • Robert talked to the group about tools and processes that would help members connect with employment and project opportunities
  • Proposal from Ohava, regarding Computer Donations
    • Ohava Computers has a line of desktops, laptops and servers running open source operating systems and applications
    • They run a “BootUp Camp”  where they teach computing skills over a week long session and give participants a free computer at the end
      • Currently being run at Arlington employment center
  • Ohava is looking for donations from ACM members – DC ACM will consider sending out an e-mail requesting hardware and monetary donations from members supporting the “BootUp Camp” events
  • There was a discussion on “Is there a way to develop a “train the trainer” program (so other organizations could provide the same educational opportunity)?”  This could be a professional development event.  Ohava said there may be an organization that could develop the required syllabus.

Action: Need to talk to ACM legal department on how DC ACM can properly collect monetary donations for transfer to another non-profit organization.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM

Board members attending: Isaac Christoffersen, Eric Noriega, Andrew Conklin, James Imanian,

Members attending: Roger Fujii

Non-members observing: None

The meeting was called to order by Chair at 7:25pm

1.     Meeting Minutes

No minutes of previous board meetings were submitted for approval.

2.     Reports of the Officers

Chair

• Budget approved last meeting
• Goal now for chapter is to get schedule prepared and then execute

Vice Chair

Nothing to report.

Treasurer

Nothing to report.

Secretary

Nothing to report.

Action: Move previous meeting minutes into Word Press.  Use DCACM_min as tag.

Member At Large

Not applicable

3.     Reports from the Standing Committees

Communications

Discussed Home page

Action: Eric to re-write first paragraph.

Discussed MeetUp platform and its functionality

Discussed strengths and weaknesses of Eventbrite for membership management (especially concerning dues) vs Mail Chimp

Chapter Meetings (invites) to be posted on MeetUp

Discussion on what contact manager DCACM will use.  We could possibly use Highrise CRM.

Lanyrd a social conference directory was discussed as another member contact manager possibility.

Membership

Nothing to report.

Programs

Nothing to report.

Professional Development

Amazon Web Services (AWS) a possibility along with other cloud service development.

Code Jams with Phase Two Technologies as a partner another possibility for a PD program.

ACM’s Distinguished Speaker Program @ dsp.ACM.org is a resource for picking speakers and presentation length.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University (http://www.olli.gmu.edu/) could be a venue for DC ACM program

There was a discussion on “What does event coordinator do?”  Answer was initially event coordinator is responsible for arranging for the space, and food needed to support the event.  PD chair or another designated person would be responsible for the speaker and any support arrangements (e.g. travel, hotel, presentation requirements)

“What night of the week is best for an event?” was asked.  This should be worked out thru DC Tech Events and Meetup.

4.     Reports from the Ad-Hoc Committees

Historical

Nothing to report.

Nominations

Nothing to report

5.     Unfinished Business

6.     New Business

n/a

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM

Board members attending: Isaac Christoffersen, Eric Noriega, Andrew Conklin, Kent Miller, George Romas
 
Members attending: Roger Fujii, Ingrid Mihai
 
Non-members observing: None
 
The meeting was called to order by Chair Isaac at 8:05pm
 
1.     Meeting Minutes

The minutes of the board meetings on  2/28/11 were approved as posted.
 
2.     Reports of the Officers
 
Chair

• ACM HQ published guidance recently on Chapter Newsletters.  If EC members have not seen this the Chair will resend it.
• No comments have been received on the Deck sent out last month.  It is assumed then that these will be our goals and objectives for the coming months.  These will be finalized and sent out the membership.
• As a heads up, DC ACM members who have been uploaded to ACM’s Chapter Roster and are not ACM members are apparently being offered discounted memberships to join the parent organization, ACM.  The DC Chapter has no details on this, but an inquiry from a current DC ACM member regarding this was received by the Chair. 

Vice Chair

Nothing to report.
 
Treasurer

See attached report.

Secretary

Nothing to report.

Member At Large

See attached report.

 3.     Reports from the Standing Committees
 
Communications

Andrew reported that CompuTopics will no longer be a monthly PDF newsletter, but will instead be an online reporting blog.  The main areas of focus will be on chapter news, local tech events, reviews on publications and events, as well as info on technical user groups in the area.  

The new emphasis will be on individual emails to members via CiviCRM with less usage of the Google Group mailing lists, attendee emails via Eventbrite, and subscriber emails / RSS feeds via the CompuTopics blog.
 
Membership
 
Nothing to report.
 
Programs

Nothing to report.

Professional Development

Eric reported that he wanted to focus on the web for the next Professional Development Seminar.

Awards

Nothing to report. 

4.     Reports from the Ad-Hoc Committees
 
Historical

Nothing to report. 
 
Nominations
 
Kent will send an email opening up nominations to Communications Chair for review and submission to the membership.

5.     Unfinished Business

The letter was not sent to Rebecca, the meeting with Rebecca has been delayed.

6.     New Business

n/a

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM