Call to Order: 8:20 a.m.
Adoption of Minutes from October 29, 1998
Steve moved to adopt minutes. Motion passed.
Financial Report - Art moved to adopt the Actual Budget. Motion passed. There weren't many 1999 dues collected in 1998. Projection for 1999 is $45K in dues. Datacomm Warranty payments can now be factored in (unknown at time of budget preparation). Ron moved to accept the Budget for 1999. Motion passed.
Business Partner payment Update: don't expect payments from CTL due to Elite/EliteMail and distribution changes (Canada). Maureen will ask RCR for a complete report of partner payments.
Datacomm Warranty issues have been resolved with a new 12 month Agreement.
Council has been advised by Doug Wonson that legally, NEC cannot contractually agree to not hire dealer associate staff (NEC states legal counsel advises that this would be a violation of the Sherman Anti-trust regulation). Dealers have to protect themselves through tighter employment agreements and local legal counsel. Council agrees that this is still an open issue.
Ongoing issue of NEC Dealer Agreement: Mark pointed out that the NEC Contract is written expressly for new dealers.
"General Discussion ensued amongst board reviewing the previous days meeting with NEC. Serious concern was voiced about the ramifications of BNS being the National Accounts arm and the question was raised 'was this a 'true' National Accounts' program that our membership is competing against with others {LUCENT, etc,}"
MCI Fund - DTNS may use the forum and vehicle of NECSI as a Business Partner. NEC, if they take on MCI, wants to offer to all dealers. NEC is still working on the MCI program.
New Business Partners - Some guidelines and controls need to be implemented to prevent an onslaught of companies trying to be NECSI Business Partners. Aside from web site and Crosstalk how does Council promote these partners to the Membership? Council members can provide referrals. Maureen states that we generally have one partner per product, i.e. our leasing partner is NEC Leasing.
TriVium is a start up company offering Call Detail Recording Software that can be downloaded off web and demo'd for 30 days. Mark questioned taking on a start up company as a business partner. Steve moved to accept TriVium Systems' offer of 1% to NECSI. Motion failed.
E911 Consulting wants to pay 1% to NECSI for sales of their software for E911 compliance issues. This company contracts with the dealer for a commission but works directly with your client. Steve points out that when a PBX database is loaded, if there is an error and Fire Police Ambulance is dispatched to wrong room a lawsuit can/may ensue. Telephone local MACs are also affected.
Steve moved to accept E911 Consulting as a Business Partner according to NECSI Partners Program. Motion passed.
BCL to be considered for partnership (Maureen and Vito). Report at next meeting.
Project Partners Update: Implementation procedure must be a prerequisite to purchase agreement. Help Desk Support is critical along with client access to web site for emergency assistance. Timeline and adherence to cutover date and procedure is essential. Ron and Maureen described their respective experiences so far.
Maureen stated that NECSI is not ready to offer Project Partners as a NECSI Partner and will state as much in the Annual Meeting.
Other software choices are Dynamite, Ormandy, Phonebizz and Tiger Paw. Dynamite is purchased through local VAR and therefore locally supported. Dynamite also supports batching feature that others lack.
RCR Contract Renewal - Steve reported problem with web site technical issue (connecting new members and email). Maureen will handle. Ron moved to accept renewal subject to working out the technical deficiencies brought forward by Steve. Motion passed.
Committee Reports
Marketing - Mark
Two things: NECSI Brochure and End User Video. Overwhelming response for end-user video. NECs new hires (E. Wortmann, Director for Product Marketing) will deliver increasing marketing power.
Multi-location - no report
Membership Committee - RCR has sent out 135 notices to renew plus contacted lapsed members. NEC is also updating RCR with new dealer info. Ken Newell offered to telephone lapsed members and report to Council at Advantage.
Training - Thirty-two Master Technician diplomas have been issued. Looking toward scheduled enrolment, 65 total diplomas are anticipated. Major concern now is the convergent technologies (data systems/network training). Ideas have been put forward and will be discussed in further detail at Advantage.
Lingering issues for many Active Voice Dealers whose certified Active Voice technicians are continuing to go unrecognized by NEC NTAC. Mark will address this issue with Victor Foia.
NTAC resources are impacted by dealers who do not fully avail themselves of the technical training and certifications provided and resort to calling NTAC for support (low quality of call). Thus, in future NEC may be forced to charge for some support calls. NTAC is making continual improvements to quality insurance within the department.
Mark will submit article for Crosstalk newsletter.
Recruiting Program Committee -
Steve says Lincoln could use some EPRO II switches. Reviewed the key and pbx lab programs. There are 60 students in freshman program with double enrolment forecast for next year. BCIT, DeVry, Northlake, etc. Idea to set up a forum for these institutions to compare curriculum.
NEAX 2400 - no report
NEAX 2000 - Greg
Greg has previously participated in sub-committees. What features have we been able to get NEC to add to software? Ken says we have been successful; Greg counters that NEC already has their agenda regardless of NECSI input. NEC reacts to "lost sales" and NECSI can make impact by stating specifically why "I lost a sale to….competitor". Remind members at annual meeting that web page exists for this input. Ron emphasizes from Key System Committee experience that formal surveys continue to be the effective vehicle to get results.
Trouble hits on web -site should be immediately reported to Dan Allman.
Key System Committee - Survey is planned. Elite success has come from NEC listening to NECSI input.
Web site - drop the "spamming by-law".
Steve presented web site statistics for January 1999. E.g., membership index was hit 458 times. Used Equipment: 247 searches. Sixth highest page searching for NEC dealer near you. Steve will report this to Annual Meeting.
NEC Leasing would like to have a mini-spot on our web site to post rates and also a hot link to their web site. Vito and Steve will handle this and report back to Council.
Steve moved to accept web advertising subject to Council approval for $500 (one month fee) set up charge plus $500 per month. Motion passed.
Netrix - will work on relationship with Netrix.
Code of Ethics - as is
Member Events - Getting conference accommodations for Advantage due to Users Group will be impossible.
Crosstalk - Listing the Business Partners Directory as a complimentary service, NECSI Administrative office, address, phone number and contact
Meeting Adjourned at 11:45 a.m.