NCFRN office, in Summersville

10am-12am

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Marcel Fortin

Members Present

Jerry Edens, Dick Bartlett, Robert Johnson, Jim Anderson, Norvill Clark and Marcel Fortin

Guests Present

Gwen Hagaman – C.H. Bailey Company

Partners Present

Approval of Minutes

Motion: Jerry Edens Second: Robert Johnson All Vote Yes

Correspondence

Received quarterly financial information from Barbour County CDC. As of May 31^st $15,547.24 remaining of the original $35,000.00 Benedum grant.

Unfinished Business

1. “ WV. Distressed Communities Broadband Assessment Project” (BAP)

Community meetings have been held in Belington (Barbour), Bradshaw (McDowell), Hacker Valley

(Webster) and Spurlockville (Lincoln). Wyoming and Clay counties are scheduled for the last week of June. The next step after the completion of the meetings is to meet with all the providers to discuss issues that surfaced during our community meetings. Follow up sessions will be scheduled with all the participating communities to discuss and assist in deployment.

Marcel discussed some of the results of the meetings and how the Alliance is collecting important information about Broadband use and computer ownership. The surveys show that the communities surveyed exceed the national average on computer ownership and are slightly below average on internet access. One main reason for low Broadband access is the unavailability of DSL in their areas.

Dial up access is still the predominant method of access.

2. 05/06 Benedum Grant

The business cards, envelopes and brochures are producing the positive results that were anticipated. Feedback on the logo and brochure has been extremely good and the Champions need to develop inserts, so we can develop a mailing campaign to seek donations and volunteers. Our branding information has been provided to all participants in the BAP community meetings. Information provided to DEP in a meeting to discuss collaboration on environmental projects and issues within our service area.

Marcel discussed the meeting with Greg Adolphson from DEP and has forwarded the Alliance contact information to him. He desires to work with the local Champions on their Sustainable Communities project dealing with economic and cultural environmental issues.

3. 501c3 Status

I was contacted by IRS taxpayer services and was told that we should hear something by mid July and if not to get in touch with their office and they would check on the progress.

The requested additional paperwork has been sent to the attorneys and awaiting responses from them. Deadline for the information is July 11, 2006. We should hear something about our request sometime after that.

4. AllianceWV.org Website

As part of the Alliance branding process we need to develop strategies on enhancing and promoting the site as our communication piece throughout our service areas, the state and beyond.

Discussion about the website and the value as a communication tool. Gwen Hagaman will be working with Steve Reynolds to incorporate our brochure into the site. Work is in progress to get the BAP survey onto our website.

5. Coal Connectivity Grant

A Benedum grant has been awarded to the Community Connect Foundation working with The Corridor G Community Foundation to focus on Home computer usage program and a Coal Connect program. Funding for this effort will come from WVDO and private businesses. This is a statewide initiative and is being recognized as the central contact point for Broadband projects.

Discussion on the program and how the Alliance will be conducting the surveys using local community groups in Boone, Lincoln, Logan and Mingo counties. This effort is part of the Coal Connect program. As the Community Connect Foundation moves to other areas, the Alliance will play a key role in accumulating and compiling the Broadband Assessment Project data.

New Business

Reports: Community Reports

The reports presented last meeting showed the progress from the champions in attendance.

We need to hear from the others so we can share experiences and best practices.

McDowell

Jim Anderson discussed the opening of the KOA campground in Ashland, WV. in McDowell County. They opened officially a week ago and have filled all the cabins for the July 4^th weekend. They are part of a national network and are seeing good attendance at their campsites. The campground is using a coal heritage theme and is converting a former Ashland Coal Company store as a trailhead for the Hatfield/McCoy Trail system.

Nicholas/Webster

Bob Johnson reported July was National Parks & Recreation month and activities were planned for the area. A discussion of the ’speed trap’ in Summersville took place and Jerry Edens mentioned how Canadian tourists are avoiding the area. Speeding has been a problem and the local police department feels this is the only way to deal with the issue. Bob is working as manager of the Landfill & Solid waste Authority for the area. Wants to have a white goods reclamation day and wants DEP to assist.

Barbour

Jerry Edens mentioned that after the BAP Community Meetings that a local Wireless internet service provider received numerous calls about service. Apparently, the area was covered by Micrologic but few people new about it. Our meeting brought out the discussion of the Wisp and resulted in multiple new Broadband users.

Speaker:

G.H. Bailey Company – Gwen Hagaman - Presentation on Marketing and Communications

Gwen discussed the need for enhancing our website and how continued marketing of the Alliance and its’ Champion Communities was an important piece of the branding of the organization. Individual inserts for the Champions are planned with Gwen contacting each champion to develop their ideas as to what they wish to convey about themselves. A Broadband conference is planned in October and these projects will be displayed. We are using this conference to show what the Alliance is doing and how the local champions are helping their service areas.

Next meeting:

July 19, 2006 Location TBA

Adjournment

Adjourned 12:45

Respectfully submitted: Marcel J. Fortin