BBoard of Directors – Feb 7th

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Quick recap

The MacTechnics Board meeting covered several key topics including the acceptance of January meeting minutes with corrections, review of the treasurer’s report showing $1,774.04 in funds as of January 31st, and discussion of upcoming presentations for the March and April meetings. Cassie reported on website updates including the addition of membership levels under the donate button, while Gerry shared that he would demonstrate SpamSieve at the upcoming Demo Fair. The Board discussed Apple’s 50th anniversary in April and considered organizing a retrospective presentation. Kathryn announced she would miss the April meeting due to travel to Australia to visit her son and new baby. The conversation ended with a reminder about an upcoming HomeKit app update on the 10th that would affect all Apple devices in the ecosystem.

Next steps

• Kathryn: Send the Libre Office file of the treasurer’s report to Keith.

• Cassie: Coordinate with Bruce Mitchell for the guest presentation on AI voices and avatars for the March 21st meeting.

• Geronimo: Demonstrate SpamSieve at the Demo Fair in two weeks.

• Keith: Email Cassie suggested wording for instructions on how to pay dues via the donate button on the website.

• Cassie: Update the website with Keith’s suggested instructions for dues payment and continue working on modifying the donate button/membership options as feasible.

• Chris: Post an announcement about the change in March and April meeting topics (AI presentation in March, Q&A in April, and Apple 50th anniversary retrospective in April).

• Chris: Announce the Apple shareholders meeting at the main meeting.

• Geronimo: Assist Kathryn with AirPod Max setup for her upcoming flight after the March general meeting.

• All (who use HomeKit): Update HomeKit/Home app before February 10th as per Apple’s instructions.

• Cassie: Prepare and submit information about upcoming meetings (March, April, May topics) for the Observer.

Summary

February Meeting: Finances and Events

The group discussed meeting logistics and reviewed minutes from the previous month, making several corrections to the document. Kathryn presented the treasurer’s report, noting a current balance of $1,774.04 as of the end of January, with two dues payments received and no paid expenses. The group agreed to proceed with paying the MediaFire bill despite not having received a response from Dave regarding reimbursement. They also discussed an upcoming screening of the film “Stormy Weather” at the Michigan Theater on February 27th at 7pm, which Chris will introduce.

AI Presentation and Website Updates

The board discussed upcoming events and website updates. Cassie announced that Bruce Mitchell will present on AI voices and avatars at the March meeting. Geronimo confirmed he will demonstrate SpamC at the upcoming demo fair. The group also discussed website changes, including adding membership levels to the donate button. Keith suggested adding instructions for paying dues through the donate button, which Cassie agreed to implement.

Apple Anniversary and Meeting Updates

The group discussed various topics including the history of PageMaker, web development progress, and upcoming meeting plans. Cassie mentioned she would be out of town for the April board meeting and general meeting, but would be in town for the March meeting. The group agreed to do a Q&A session in April instead of March. They also discussed Apple’s 50th anniversary in April and considered doing a retrospective of Apple products and commercials. Chris announced a shareholders meeting on February 24th and shared a video about Apple’s complicity in current world issues. The conversation ended with a reminder about updating the HomeKit app by the 10th.

Chris mentioned he would be presenting on CES in two weeks, though details about the event were still pending.

February Demo Fair and Tech Updates

The group discussed plans for upcoming meetings, including a demo fair in February and the possibility of breakout rooms for testing during the January meeting. Chris shared information about a new microRGB TV technology, which offers improved color output and a wide field of view compared to OLED screens. The group also briefly discussed potential topics for the March meeting, including a presentation from a local Apple repair specialist, but decided to wait for more information before making a final decision.

Apple Products and Holiday Plans

The meeting began with a discussion about potential Apple product announcements, including a new Apple TV and HomePods, and the naming convention for Apple products. The group then shifted to sharing New Year’s Eve traditions and experiences. Cassie announced plans for a Q&A session in March following the February demo fair, which could address questions about iCloud and other topics.

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