GRAND TRAVERSE AUDUBON CLUB
AD HOC MEETING ON TECHNOLOGY
01.04.2021
APPROVED 02.04.2021
Attendees: Kathy Flegel, Jerry Freels, John Mesch, Shirley Mesch, Mary MacDowell, Guests: Mary Ellen Newport, Joe Brooks
The meeting was led by Vice President Kathy Flegel. The meeting was held via Zoom. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss technology options for GTAC.
Discussion
- Bird Alert listing: Should we have a separate listing for club business communications?
- Bird alert is hosted on the Bluehost platform. It was set up through Mary Ellen Newport, now the management of the listing needs to be transitioned.
- Ann Kennedy, Treasurer, who maintains the membership list has volunteered to manage the Bird Alert list. Mary MacDowell will work with Ann to cross check the list and be backup.
- Ann and Mary will meet with Mary Ellen to discuss the transition and the particulars of using the Blue Host site.
- Kathy Flegel stated that she would talk with Barb Graf to see if she would be willing to issue a monthly announcement of the club’s meetings, presentations and/or outdoor events.
MOTION: Moved by Jerry Freels seconded by Kathy Flegel that the club use one listing for all communications. Motion passed
- Platform for regular membership meetings and presentations for 2021.
- Discussion was held regarding the use of Zoom and Google meet. Joe Brooks also mentioned Jitsi as another platform.
- Regardless of what platform we use, someone will have to become familiar with the platform. Discussion surrounded the most common platform for presenters. This was a key issue. The group settled on using Zoom. If this does not work out, we will revisit.
- Mary Ellen Newport offered to have GTAC use a Zoom account which she has access to.
MOTION: Moved by Mary MacDowell seconded by Jerry Freels that the club use Zoom as the platform for meetings and presentations in 2021. Motion passed
- Kathy Flegel stated that, as the Program coordinator, she would take responsibility for the initiation of the Zoom meetings and working with the presenters to Zoom their presentations.
- Website
- Don Flegel will be assisting Joe Brooks in managing the website.
MOTION: Motion by Jerry Freels, seconded by Mary MacDowell to approve both Joe Brooks and Don Flegel have access to all information and membership information necessary to administer the GTAC website. Motion passed
Joe Brooks indicated that he had agreed to manage the website for a period, not more than a year, while the club either finds another member with the skill to take on this job or until the club hires someone to professionally manage the site.
Don Flegel, as backup, may or may not be able or willing to take on this job.
It was agreed that the Club needs to research professional website managers to determine the costs of professional management. A subcommittee needs to be assigned to this task.
It was also suggested that the club consider not having a website and only using Facebook. Ann Kennedy has agreed to review our current Facebook pages. Shirley Mesch mentioned that her experience with our Facebook page suggests that the administrator must be actively involved in managing these pages. Often various controversial topics are posted which devolve into a contentious debate.
- Ann will be asked to provide information to the board as to the feasibility of using Facebook as our only external communication given that many people will not use Facebook.
- Joe Brooks has transitioned to the website from Carol Towar. However, the billing for the current webservices were in Carol’s name and guaranteed with her credit card. Blue Host, hosting services, is paid until 12.19.22.
- The board agrees that the web services should be in the name of the club for appropriate administration and ease of transitioning responsibilities. To have the webservices in the name of the club, we must guarantee payment with a credit card which the club does not have. This issue will have to be researched further and someone needs to be assigned to the task.