July Monthly Meeting
When and Where
Urban Grind Coffee 2214 NE Oregon St. (take 22nd Ave. 2 blocks North of Sandy Blvd.)
Wednesday, July 27th, 6pm-9pm
Agenda
- 6:00PM - Introduction to Personal Telco for new comers
- 6:30PM - Announcements
- 7:00PM - Business followed by informal meet and greet.
Agenda Items
The Sunnyside Hood Report ( TomHiggins and DonPark )
Site Survey of a potential node between Node236 and HawthorneYoutHostel
- Mississippi Project Update
- Presidential Elections
- Candidates Speak, Field Questions
- Vote is cast
- President Announced
Notes for July PersonalTelco meeting
Scribe: Sam Churchill
Tonight is a big night for PersonalTelco. Former president Darrin Eden has served ably during the past year and a new President for Personal Telco will be elected. The two candidates are Don Park and Aaron Baer.
- 6:40pm: Darrin Eden calls the meeting together. Says he has about 30 minutes left.
6:50 pm: MichaelWeinberg goes around the room and asks new people to introduce themselves. About 8 new people
are here. There are about 50 people at UrbanGrind on this hot evening.
- 6:50 pm: Darrin Eden: Report from the Sunnyside Network. Darrin says Tom Higgins has built a network in SE Portland. Tom is giving a report.
6:55 pm: Tom Higgins: He reports that they got a direct link from TomHiggins house to the InternationalHostel about 4 blocks. It is working and operational. But Tom has reported that he is moving, so that node's future is under question. Tom says that mesh networking between neighbors is the way to get started.
- 6:55 pm: Darrin Eden: Summarizes clusters in Portland. North Portland is developing some clusters (as well as the Mississippi Project.
Darrin has a map (on the big screen) of the Mississippi Project. Darrin asks Michael Weinburg and Ben Jencks to explain the latest news on Mississippi. Ben explains that they are working to bring services all into one level of service (layer 2 vrs layer 3).
7:00pm: Don Park explains that OSCON, August 1-5 is next week. The biggest convention of the year, and PersonalTelco has a booth. Free enterance to the main hall and exhibits.
Darrin Eden starts the election segment. He explains that the two candidates, Don Park and Aaron Baer, will speak for a few minutes and answer some questions from PTP officers and others.
- 7:05 pm: Aaron Baer starts. Reviews his history with PTP and qualifications.
- 7:10 pm: Don Park reviews his history with PTP and qualifications.
Second phase is questions:
- What is your two year plan for PTP?
(1) Aaron Baer: Hasn't been drawn out but has a set of goals. A nonprofit that is more sustainable. Focus more on learning how to use resources in the community. Better manage communications with the community. Goal to iron out external inquiries.
(2) Don Park: PTPNet (rooftop to rooftop network). Identify costs and technology. Weigh volunteer base vrs projects.
- How do you weigh your technical skills versus social skills, and how can you address the weaker side?
(1) Don Park: [Garbled, couldn't hear well]
(2) Aaron Baer: [Also difficult to transcribe]
- How would you solve the maintence issues of the nodes?
(1) Aaron Baer: Getting the community to take ownership of the technology. Find hardware that is sustainable and reliable and create an infrastructure that involves people and provides ownership for the community.
(2) Don Park: Agrees with much of what Aaron said. Important to involve community into PTP culture.
- What is the scope of PTP?
(1) Don Park: Scope is limited to Portland, on the other hand, we're not turning people away. Documentation and educational materials is the key for people outside the area.
(2) Aaron Baer: Also feels that should focus on local area. Need density to be more successful. Scope is virtually limitless because PTPNet is not limited to the immediate area. The infrastructure is easily connected to other communities around the country and world. So software is key.
- What happens if The Feds try to limit PTP (due to legal issues)
(1) Aaron Baer: We can contact lawyers, EFF, for advice. As a 501c3 there will be issues and liability. The acceptable use policy is a good document we can follow.
(2) Don Park: It's taken on a case by case. Heaven Cafe: PTP contacted by FBI for files of illegal activity. But PTP has no files. It's a strategy Don likes.
- What's your favorite thing in PTP?
(1) Don Park: Meeting people, socializing with friends. Being part of a nationally recognized institution.
(2) Aaron Baer: Being able to contribute back into the Open Source community. Being able to give back to local and world community and involve local community.
- 7:50pm: Darrin Eden: Darrin thanks both parties.
The ballot box is on the table. Break is declared. Votes are being calculated
And the winner is....
Don Park has won the presidency for Personal Telco!
Congratulations to both Don Park and Aaron Baer! They have contributed hundreds of hours of their time to make PersonalTelco a vital and successful organization.