GAZeL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JULY 24^TH, 2007

Present: Alex, Richard, Doug, Bobbie, Maggie, Sher Downing, Kelley and Bobbie

Alex:  Welcomed everyone and thanked Cox and GlobalMedia

Maggie gave the report on membership.  Sheri has put together material for membership to put on the website.  Also Sheri is asking for items for the newsletter.

Maggie asked board members to explore the website. She asked people to explore a topic they are interested in.  Alex said he tried to put out a blog.

Sher:  She would like to explore assessment practices, managing on line, student content and administrative issues etc. 

Doug:  Changes for corporate CEO’s.  We should have a list of board members and what they provide, so if we have customers they may call our board members for assistance.

Steve: Business development and International Trade.

Maggie:  Look at the 3 mission statements on the website and decide what we want. What is the GAZeL mission?

Kelley:  is in San Diego on the beach .He told us to close our eyes and picture gulls. (Thanks Kelley).  He has new volunteers.  Journalism and English are their areas of expertise.   The website seems very business oriented and we should have some things for K-12. 

We also should list the things we need from volunteers. 

Richard:  We can create tutorials for people who need help using the website.  Maggie is too busy to do it all, but his daughter can do this.  Alex said that this is probably a good idea.  Paul McKenna can also do this.  Maggie, Kelley and Richard will discuss portal development and people assistance next week.  (when Kelley gets off the beach.). 

Portal Development.  People should think about putting content on line (Alex)

Kelley suggested we have a list of topics so people can be encouraged.

Alex brought up our visit to the Decision Theatre for a networking meeting that would showcase the decision theatre.  Steve suggested the Scottsdale Advanced Strategy Center.  They do on line brainstorming &  planning.  Conference room for 30-40 people.  Alex said we can consider both places. 

Bobbie moved and Sher seconded that Kelley be brought onto the Board of Directors. Counting the people at the Ex. Committee meeting we had a quorum and  Kelley is now a board member.   Kelley thanked us and will continue to support us. 

Conference:  Steve:  Planning:  The intent is to be a Summit.  We need to focus on strategy development and policy development and how  we integrate eLearning into workforce development and advanced schooling and business practices. It is a .1 day event to include key note speakers at the beginning and at lunch.  Tim Dosemagen is a faculty member of the U. of Phoenix. Extensive background in international relations. Joni S. from Pearson . eLearning and collaboration with the global economy.    Our lunch speakers were Bryan Williams and Microsoft, but now we have a compication.

Date:  We started with Sept. 20^th and somehow put in the 27^th.  We haven’t  done a lot of marketing which now becomes a positive..  We either make the 27^th work or we change the date.  We estimate the facility cost to be $16,000-17,000 dollars.  Mesa only wants $1000 up front.  They also allow us to bring in our own electric.  Alex suggested the Fiesta Inn.  Bobbie will call Tiffany at Fiesta Inn. 

Steve estimates 200 people will come to the conference.  Richard suggested we give a demonstration of the new $200 notebook computer.  He thinks we will have standing room only and we should include legislators.  Steve said we only have 2 months left and we may not have enough time to get sponsors.  Also have $350 computers.  “One laptop a child”.

There is also a conflicting conference on eLearning in Health  Care onSept. 27^th.  Other available dates at the Mesa conference Center are     Sept. 25, Oct 16, Nov. 20^th, Nov. 27^th, Dec. 3-7 Dec 13^th .

Other suggestions:  See when the speakers are available and see if another facility wants a big down payment.  Sponsorship is a critical issues.

Alex listed three objectives:

 1.All speakers are available on the 27^th.so find another location.

2. Oct. 16^th is the next target date.

3.  Dec. Week of Dec. 3-7^th. 

Other places to call and explore are the following:

Chapparel Resort on Scotsdale Road. 

480-949-1414 

Fiesta Inn:  

The ASU Downtown Campus at the Mercado.  

Dr. Gary Bitters. 

Dr. Jim Middleton

Grand Canyon. University

Free exhibitors:  Richard Brincefield, Modavox, and IntraMedia,

Steve:  Review of the Greater Tucson Technology Alliance.The Cluster folks have been meeting to facilitate the cluster organizations, especially in Tucson.  They will provide cluster support and assistance to business development. 

1. Tucson has to have a meeting with Tucson Regional Support organization, Dept of Commerce is going thru reorganization so we have to meet with Jan Lesher. The Gov. Council on Innovation and Technology is readjusting some goals.  ATC is looking at their future.  Before she left Donna said we have to find other support from the State.  They are reassessing where they are going.  Bio cluster in Phx may merge with the one in Tucson.  We need to talk together to support all of the organizations that are out there.  We need to look at a statewide entity. 
2. Alex said that we haven’t heard from any other organization. He suggested we have a collective meeting. 

The Executive Board will meet at noon on Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The next full board meeting will be on Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Meeting adjourned at 1:21 PM