RBOnly:Minutes-1997-09-23

MINUTES OF DCU NETWORKING SOCIETY COMMITTEE MEETING 23/09/97

AGENDA:

1. ROLL CALL

2. DISCUSSION OF SPC GRANT FORM

3. DISCUSSED COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS

4. PROBLEMS ARISING WHEN NEW MACHINE COMES IN

5. BBS/CHAT/NEWS ISSUES

6. TUTORIALS FOR NEW USERS

7. CHAT SYSTEM PRIVELEGES

8. SPONSORSHIP

9. MEETING CONCLUDED

1. ROLL CALL

PRESENT: Michael Bennett, Jonathan Lundberg, Aoibhe McGovran, Kevin ODonovan, Dave O'Flynn, Sean Cullen, Dermot Hanley, Ka Chun Leung, Padraig O Ceallaigh, Shane OhUid, Fergus O Donohue, Mike Mc Hugh

APOLOGIES: Dave Murphy, John Barker, James Raftery, Andrew Lawless, Daire McKenna

2. DISCUSSION OF SPC GRANT FORM

Outlined proposed events for the year, to include -

* Break For The Border
* Jolly Beggarman Hallowe'en
* Games Nights Global Cafe
* Leisureplex quazar/bowling
* Olympic theatre (?)
* Weekend Away
* Internet Exhibition

3. DISCUSSED COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS

* Who has been doing what?
* Has everyone done their fair share?
* Are there any members of the committee who are passive?
* The issue also arose of the fact that we have to fill in the class of those on the committee, when in fact, James is no longer a student.  Will this be a problem?

4. PROBLEMS ARISING WHEN NEW MACHINE COMES IN

* passwords: people will have to use the password they were given when they joined/renewed. As in, we may have to give out passwords again.

5. BBS/CHAT/NEWS ISSUES

* It's obvious that there's not a unanimous liking for the new system.  A lot of members have posted their views on the news boards, expressing their dislike for it. Their arguments are that it's much more complicated than the simplicity of the BBS, and doesn't seem to offer as many options as the original system.  Redbrick House is much more complicated than the last one, with the need to learn off lots of commands etc. The system was argued for by Mike, Dermot, and Kachun in the main.  It was argued that the new system offered a lot more than the original one.  People could use whatever interface they wanted etc.

6. TUTORIALS FOR NEW USERS

* Education Officers should try and book some computer rooms, and rooms with A/V equipment.  Slides should be made up, and users should be guided through the entire process of using the system for the first time. It was agreed that this really needs to be done.

7. CHAT SYSTEM PRIVELEGES

* The administration of the new chat system (run by Cian Synnott), was discussed.
* Questions asked included
 - Who should have what priveleges?
 - Why should they have them?
* Although there lots of proposals, no agreements were reached on the issue.
* Basic outline of proposals at the meeting were
 - Cian Synnott, and all DCUNS Admins should be of Level PROF.
 - Other committee members should be of level DOC and TECH.

8. SPONSORSHIP

* John Barker is in negotiations with his boss to secure cash sponsorship of 1000-1500 pounds.  Please note that this is in the very preliminary stages, and nothing is definite. In return for the cash, it is believed that Books Unlimited, would want a web site of some sort, to be provided, and designed by DCUNS.
* Complications come in the form of PostGem policy.