2018 October Jetboaters Staff Meeting Minutes

[Julian]

Jetboaters.net was founded to support owners of all kinds of Jetboats, and one of our foundational goals was to be transparent in how we operate. We post our financials, code of conduct etc (in my signature if you want to read them). Until now, we've had adhoc meetings of the staff and moderators. Last night we had our first official "planned" staff meeting. Below is the agenda and high level minutes (we welcome member comments):

Attendees: Bruce, Julian, John (@0627Devildog ), Neil (@OperationROL ), Scott (@Murf'n'surf )
Agenda:

1. Hosting costs (putting this on the agenda as the Cost Transparency thread has some recent interest, and I know I've not paid in a year or so).
2. Banning Process - are we good with our approach?
3. Vendor mgmt - we are seeing more and more vendors posting...are we ok with the process?
4. Giveaways - do we want to get vendors to "fund" some prizes for events? We'd kicked around having a best photo thread with prizes, best mods thread etc. Do we want to try and make this happen?
5. Forum Structure- are we ok with it? Changes? Most recent change I made was the "Model Year" Section--ok?
6. Tip/topic of the week-via the "Notice" option. Lots of configurability there for who see's what.
7. ??? other topics?

Minutes:

• Storage capacity was upped last summer, monthly cost is now $32. We have 31GB free out of 118GB. Processor utilization is low. Costs will likley go up $5 next summer when we have to add more storage.
• Banning process: not good that we had to ban our first member (Clemson Tiger), and some complained that it took us too long, but it worked. Next time we should call a quick staff meeting to perhaps expedite the process.
• Vendor Mgmt- seems to be working ok. Haven't had many complaints (there is one "report" right now).
• Funding ideas - this was the longest part of the meeting with lots of discussion covering many topics.
  • Banners-consider an ad banner
  • Donations-get members to donate. None of us liked this option - our experience with the old forum wasn't good. We don't like begging.
  • Administrators paying
  • Banner Ad in the New Member "Notice" (seen when you aren't logged in-encourages visitors to become a member)
    • Best part of this is that logged in members wouldn't see any ads, and we think it would raise enough money to cover what we need.
    • Has tax implications - perhaps get tax advice?
    • Sell it to vendors? Don't take the money, but take it in "credit"
    • Insert a google add frame? Has definite tax implications
    • How do we handle the fact that some members might want to see the ads? (if it is only in the new member, non-signed in "notice" members wouldn't see it.
    • Action Item to Bruce to check on rotating ad capability - see how easy it would be to insert a rotating add.
  • We also discussed how we might use $ if we raised money:
    • Paying for hosting and operational costs
    • General and/or Gathering Photo Contests
    • Best Mods contests
    • Prizes/awards for gathering
    • Other contests
    • Incentives for gathering organizers (like a grant of sorts?)

• Forum structure-is good to go for now. Model year section works, we can make a sub forum to reduce the main page length as more years are added.

• Meeting Frequency?
  • Every 2 months monday nights being the preference.

 

[jlcj7]

Is there a way to donate towards operating costs? I would be more than happy to. This forum has saved me lots of money and time.

 

[Julian]

Is there a way to donate towards operating costs? I would be more than happy to. This forum has saved me lots of money and time.

At this point we do not need donations, but thank you for the offer!

 

[GTBRMC]

Excellent work on the transparency. Important and very much appreciated. Keep up the great work!

 

[Speedling]

Thanks guys! Was this your meeting?

 

[Julian]

Thanks guys! Was this your meeting?
View attachment 84278

That is what we asked Scott to arrange!

He showed up with this:

 

[Mainah]

I trust, respect, and appreciate the staff. Food for thought as things have grown. Is there a way to identify regular content contributors and get their input from a poll on items that will have material impact to the community to help guide the staff?

 

[Whisky]

Thank you all for your work maintaining this awesome community! If there is anything we can do (not speaking for everyone, just the many members who would happily step up) don't be afraid to ask. I'm confident that you would see offers of help from all around.

 

[Julian]

I trust, respect, and appreciate the staff. Food for thought as things have grown. Is there a way to identify regular content contributors and get their input from a poll on items that will have material impact to the community to help guide the staff?

That would be easy and could be accomplish any number of ways. Typically when we are at a decision point we do poll the membership for their input....hadn't thought of constricting that to "regular contributors".

 

[Betik]

@Julian if people want to give some money you should consider taking it and put it on rainy fund for when get hacked or something.
There is one thing to have a mandatory donation and another thing people just wanting to send money.
Some of us might feel like free loaders and look for random ways to give back to the forum/community. It might be a peace of mind of we just send some money to say THANK YOU instead of running logistics for a tongue scale & other such shenanigans

 

[2kwik4u]

I'm thinking some way to add anonymity to donations. If someone wants to toss some dollars in the pot, I think we should let them. There are plenty on here that would gladly drop a $20 bill in the mail to help the site along.

Another thought for your next meeting......How can we as users help the cause? Need volunteers to be moderators? What about running contests etc? I'm sure you can get time donations just as quickly as money donations if needed.

I don't think you need the cash or the time at this point, but I suspect it will be needed at some point, and having a system already setup to garner that might not be a terrible idea.

 

[Betik]

@2kwik4u if you are planing on putting a $20 bill in an envelope, I am taking those "donations" NOW

 

[2kwik4u]

@2kwik4u if you are planing on putting a $20 bill in an envelope, I am taking those "donations" NOW

Just check under the foam in the Tongue Scale Box if it ever makes it way back to your possession

 

[Weeb]

That is what we asked Scott to arrange!

He showed up with this:

At least they brought a cooler.

 

[robert843]

I trust, respect, and appreciate the staff. Food for thought as things have grown. Is there a way to identify regular content contributors and get their input from a poll on items that will have material impact to the community to help guide the staff?

Interesting thought an advisory committee I like it.

 

[GTBRMC]

Thanks guys! Was this your meeting?
View attachment 84278

@OperationROL

That white suit is really slimming on you. Lookin' good!

 

[ToddW850]

Best Forum on the planet. I'd be happy to contribute when the time comes too.

 

[OperationROL]

@OperationROL

That white suit is really slimming on you. Lookin' good!

Lol. I clean up well sometimes!