Minutes of Founder's Meeting

June 14, 2000

The Founders' Meeting of the Nebraska Distance Learning Association took place beginning at 10:25 a.m. on June 14, 2000, in the Lifelong Learning Center, Northeast Community College, Norfolk, Nebraska.

Introductions and Roll Call were held. The following persons were present: Sarah Cunningham, Chris Petroff, Roger Adkins, Robert Hays, Rich Schlesselman, Craig Carlson, Tom Rolfes, Rick Koch, Wayne Fisher, Mike Walinder, Merwyn Bolles, Randy Hiatt, Bob Huber, Brad Yeager, Ed Thamer, Nigel Buss, Mary Honke, Judi Haney, Wayne Erickson, Brenda Jeter, Max Thacker, Pat Hoffman, Gloria Vavricka, Linda Kraus Wagner, Barb Hidy, and Phyllis Brunken.

It was announced that UNL paid the $500 one-time chapter fee to form a Nebraska state chapter and that $5 of each membership goes to the USDLA. Membership benefits include Online Educational Journal, Policy Panel, speaker's bureau, $100 off registration fee for national conventions, national does tax reporting, the organization is tax exempted, and legal advice on distance learning matters is available through the national offices.

A proposed Constitution and By-Laws were presented to the members for review and modification. It was suggested that the calendar year become July 1 to June 30 and that in Article VI a change from Publication to Communication be made in committee designations.

ARTICLE IX. Amendments

Section 2. Proposed amendments to this constitution may be introduced at any regular meeting of NDLA at which a quorum is present. In the interval between meetings, proposed amendments may be submitted to the Executive Council who may authorize introducing the proposed amendments to the membership by NSLA listserv. Proposed amendments shall be voted on at the next regular meeting following their introduction. A vote of two-thirds of the members present shall be required to adopt any proposed amendments.

Article X add "present voting members."

Wayne Erickson made a Motion to accept the Constituion with the above modifications made. Max Thacker seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

Bylaws

Article I. Section 1: the suggestion was made to change membership year to read "July 1 through June 30."

Article II, Section 6: Delete first sentence.

Article III: Change 30 members to "5% of members"

After Section 9, add new Section 10: Publication Relations Committee. Current Section 10 becomes Section 11, and Section 11 becomes Section 12.

Article V, Section 1: Change November 15 to May 15 of the preceding fiscal year.

Wayne Fisher made a Motion to adopt the Bylaws as modified. Neal Henning seconded the Motion. Motion carried unanimously.

Election of officers was held. The new officers for the 2000-2001 year are:

President, Shirley Schall; President-elect , Sarah Cunningham; Secretary/Treasurer, Phyllis Brunken; Board of Directors: Pat Hoffman, Wayne Erickson, Max Thacker (two- year terms); Randy Hiatt and Liz Hoffman, (one-year terms). Craig Carlson, Linda Wagner and Bob Hayes were also on the ballot.

Pat Hoffman and others on the Membership Committee presented a proposed fee structure for the Association. After discussion, Wayne Erickson made a Motion to accept the membership fee structure as presented. Judi Haney seconded the Motion. Motion carried unanimously.

Linda Wagner and Bob Huger discussed the Neb*Sat Users Group meeting to develop clearer procedures for conflict resolution in scheduling and other such issues. The Meeting will be held via NVCN on June 30th. Anyone utilizing the Neb*Sat-scheduled services should attend this meeting.

Wayne Fisher gave a report from the NDE Tech Center and presented information about a white paper resulting from the Tech 2010 conference. The white paper will be presented to NITC on infrastructure in Nebraska.

Tom Rolfes stated that much information is on the NITC website. The Ed Council will meet June 22, in Lexington, at 9:30 a.m. The Tech Committee will be meeting July 21 in Lincoln. Data is being gathered from all entities who have telecommunications infrastructure. This will be used for the RFP for the TINA Study. A study on wireless technology is also being conducted. An Information Clearinghouse on the NITC website will be available July 1.

NEB*SAT grants were announced.

It was announced that the Annual NEB*SAT Telecommunications Workshop for 2001 will be held in Grand Island. Mike Beach, NET, is in charge of the June 6 and 7, 2001 event. Discussion was held concerning creating a one-day Nebraska Distance Learning Association Conference in conjunction with the NEB*SAT Workshop. This will be a topic for the first NDLA Board Meeting, which will be held on August 16th.

Richard Schesselman made the Motion to Adjourn. Brenda Jeter seconded the Motion. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.

Phyllis Brunken, Secretary/Treasurer