NECSI Council Minutes

May 4, 2000

Reno, Nevada

 

Meeting Called to Order at 5:00 p.m.                                                                      Maureen

 

Members Present:  Charlie Eazor; Greg Osler; Maureen Gaynor; Suzanne Sherrod; Steve Autor; Ron Brennan; Mark Lynn; Charlie Eicher  Absent: Vito Marrone; Phil Maulding

 

Steve moved to Adopt Minutes from March 6, 2000 Motion Passed.

 

Financial Report - Bobby Horton filled in for Vito. Dues are up with 117 renewals, 14 New Members, 82 Service Center Listings. Canadian membership is down.

 

Unfinished Business

 

1.       Dropped initiative to test Q-Master ACD due to disorganization and low level support by developer.

 

2.       Elite/EliteMail Compensation - US dealer associates reported receiving rebates May 1 & 2. Status of Canada to be investigated.

 

3.       Progress report on Phil's investigation of alternative marketing strategies  Tabled until July meeting.

 

New Business:

1.       Council Elections (3 U.S. Seats (Vito, Phil and Steve) and 1 Canada (Suzanne) are open for nominations

Elections Officer - RCR will oversee the Elections.

Election Schedule- Bios to Maureen by July. Ballots sent out and 1 week to vote (First Week of August)

 

 

2.       IVS 2 - pricing concerns. NEC is working on the price difference between 128 and 129 ports, according to Dan Allman.

 

3.       Grey Market - dealers selling product out "back door" to vendors marketing via Internet and undercutting Associates. Resolution requested from NEC by July meeting.

 

4.       NEC requests Council feedback on GSA type schedule for state and municipal government (includes education). Idea of marketing promo (rebate) instead of hardware discount. Council favorable to this program.

 

5.       Major Accounts Program Draft Proposal - designed to "push" business, discounts too low for key systems; dealer responsibility is onerous. Associates should offer program to customers subject to customer understanding that the discount will ultimately depend upon the actual quantity of systems purchased within a specified time frame (NECs fiscal year). Charlie Eazor to work with Doug Wonson and NEC to modify the draft proposal.

 

6.       NECCare - Council worked with NEC toward a palatable program for Membership. It is Councils' understanding that the document reads "must be Dealer/Associate" so that this program does not apply to other distribution channels.  NEC requested our feedback and final word of support prior to announcement--which we gave them along with an emphatic negative vote on extending this program to independent VAR channel.

 

 

 

 

 

Committee Reports

 

Customer Service (Ad hoc)                                                     Maureen, Steve, Vito &Phil

This committee has completed its task.

 

Marketing                                                                                Mark

¨       Market and brand awareness initiative update - working on a web based brochure.

¨       Yellow Pages Issue update - Dealers must buy Trade Name "N" and TradeMark (Associate Co. Name) or just Trade Name. Coop funds may be used.

 

Membership                                                                             Mark

Mergers have lowered membership numbers. For 2001 renewals, 3 email broadcasts will be sent:

¨       Prior to billing (December)

¨       After billing (January)

¨       Final Notice (February)

 

Multi-Location                                                                          Steve

No report.

 

Training                                                                                   Mark

¨       "NEC Cares" update - tokens may be purchased with coop funds.

¨       NEAX 2400 Master Tech Program - Response from survey will be posted on web site.

 

Recruiting                                                                                Maureen, Steve

Step up visibility on the Recruiting issue...from last meeting - Tabled until July meeting.

 

Crosstalk (Next copy deadline: June 11th)                                Suzanne

 

Adjourned at 6:15 p.m. and following Reports were tabled until July Meeting:

 

NEAX 2000                                                                               Greg

Update on outstanding issue when quoting Hospitality application and using AD-40--NOT competitive.

 

Update: Where is NEC with SNMP? Network Management is becoming extremely critical--users will demand to see every device (that is PBX must support Simple Network Management Protocol). Getting more critical by the day…

 

NEAX 2400                                                                               Charlie

 

Key System                                                                              Ron

 

Update on NEC's intentions regarding "Big-Box" distribution.

Infoset update

 

Wireless                                                                                   Charlie Eazor/Suzanne

¨       Finally officially released in Canada. Comments on the Dukane integration? Suggest NEC also get working with an Austco Nurse Call System integration (Nortel has already with Companion)

 

Web Site                                                                                  Steve