Date of Meeting: Saturday 08-21-10

Attended: Pete Ashdown, Randy Everett, Dave Turnbull, Kyle Waters, Craig Shepard, Laura Moncur, Matt Reeve and Richard Thompson

It has been a year since we first appointed officers, so it’s time to reinstate them. Although Matt Reinbold will remain on the board until he leaves town, Laura is taking over the position of Secretary. Kyle will remain in the board as a trusted member, but Randy will take over the Treasurer position. Matt Reeve is joining the board.

Craig Shepard is our new Executive Director. He has lots of experience with eBay so he’ll be helping the donation side of ERGS.

The clutch on the truck is broken. Replacement is $1100. We looked at new trucks priced at $2000. Craig is going to research these new trucks to see if it’s worth the extra money for them. If they aren’t better, we’ll fix the one we have. Craig is contacting Utah Dave to see if he is willing to donate his truck for our pick ups. Craig will also put the truck on eBay for $1000 to see if we get any bites.

We sold four computers on walk-ins and two on eBay.

We are dbanning our free hard drives and marking them, so when we sell them, the data is wiped. Randy would like to have an automated way to log the wipes.

We also need a release of liability for everything that goes out the door so we won’t get in trouble if these monitors/computers end up in a landfill. We need manual serial number tracking. We need an inventory tracking system. Randy will look into that software.

Monitor storage: Metech charges 18 cents a pound to recycle monitors. We are about full. Craig will contact Metech to negotiate with them to take the monitors for free in exchange for the green boards. Depending on the recycled reimbursement for green boards, it might be better to not use Metech. Storm Castle is offering more for recycling and they are approved.

We are talking to the legislature to get the laws changed, but the bill died in committee because the manufacturers fought it. Kyle is going to continue working on that.

We are giving the monitors away. Craig is going to put an ad on Craigslist announcing this.

Craig needs some boxes to send out computers. Dave will talk to his dad to see if he can get some donations.

There is a gas leak under the stairs. The paving is falling apart. The lights are out. Pete is going to talk to the landowner about these issues.

The Make Group is going to come and disassemble some printers this Wednesday.

Need a clear division between the games, Rich’s stuff and ERGS. We need colored tape or paint to delineate between the groups. We also need to open up the blocked doors. We need a 7 foot corridor. Rich will paint the boundary of his area. Pete will talk to Chris about his areas. Rich is also looking at tool chests to make sure their tools don’t walk off. Randy will talk to Snap On.

Craig will be organizing our things to help with flow. Rich, Chris and Pete need to draw the lines and we’ll follow them. Pete will add Rich to the board list.

Shelving is a concern. The food shelter might donate their old shelves. Kyle is going to talk to his work about donating their old cubicle calls.

Do we have a set schedule? 8-5 M-F Dave will give Craig access to the schedule.

Pete will call a sign maker this week.

The board agreed to offer a grant writer 10% of any grant money they get for ERGS. Advertise on Craigslist for grant writers.

Laura will give Craig access to the blog.

Next Board Meeting is Saturday 09-25-10 at 10 am

Our friends at Catholic Community Services contacted us about getting computers for a lab. The lab will serve to help people learn computer skills, as well as search for employment — all of which serves CCS’s mission to empower people in need to reach self sufficiency. We were delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to this important work. We look forward to a continued partnership to help people help themselves.

Representatives from Catholic Community Services picking up ERGS computers.

The Electroregeneration Society recently supplied equipment to the Kostopulos Dream Foundation, which improves the lives of people with disabilities through recreation and leisure education activities such as camping, fishing, horse riding, swimming, arts and craft projects, and more. We at the Electroregeneration Society enthusiastically support the Camp’s mission and are delighted that we can play a supporting role.

Mike Divricean, from Camp Kostopulos, with some of their Electroregenerated equipment.

Below is a brief video about recycling at the Electroregeneration Society. Some of our volunteers are earning their computers by helping us take apart equipment that cannot be refurbished. Reducing computing equipment to recyclable base components is the first step in recycling computers in an environmentally responsible way.

The Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association recently came by to pick up some computer equipment. The Electroregeneration Society is delighted to be able to support the effort to conquer Alzheimer’s — we applaud the Alzheimer’s Association for their efforts and hope that a cure will be found soon.

Representatives from the Utah chapter of the Alzheimer's Association with their Electroregenerated computers.

I am at PodCamp at Neumont University today from 9 am to 5pm. Here’s the address if you’d like to drop by:

Neumont University
10701 South River Front Parkway, South Jordan, UT
Google Map

We are giving away two laptop bags. For every five dollars you donate to ERGS, you get a raffle ticket.

You’re invited to visit the Electroregeneration Society booth at the 2010 SLC PodCamp on March 26 at Neumont University. Come learn more about our mission, find out how we can serve you, or learn ways you can support ERGS. We’d love to get to know you or reconnect with you.

The next day (March 27) we’ll be holding our monthly board meeting at 10 a.m. at the warehouse. Our board meetings are open to the public and we encourage participation. Join us!

Kenyn, Sinaih, and Matt drove up from Utah Valley University to volunteer at the warehouse today. They’re students in a Spanish class that has a community service requirement. They chose to volunteer at ERGS and earn computers that they’ll place with Latin families in Utah County.

Kenyn, Sinaih, and Matt with their Electroregenerated computer.

The trio amassed 15 hours and took a computer to give to a deserving family. They’re planning to come back and rumor has it that several other students from their class will be volunteering, too. We’re not certain how word got to students at UVU, but we’re delighted to have their help. Thank you to everyone who helps us spread the word about the Electroregeneration Society!

The Servantes family joined us last week to earn a family computer. They came in together and combined their hours so that they could get their computer as quickly as possible. This is a common occurrence at the Electroregeneration Society — we see a lot of families that join us to obtain their very first family computer.

The Servantes Family

When you make a tax-deductible donation to the Electroregeneration Society, you help us make a very real difference in the community — and, more importantly, you enable positive changes in family’s lives, helping them achieve the educational, employment and interpersonal benefits that computers bring into all our lives. In addition to directly assisting families and individuals, your support for ERGS helps nonprofits throughout Utah (which in turn supports thousands more people).

Please help us continue to help others by clicking on the Donate button (on the right) and giving what you can. Thank you for supporting ERGS.

Jonathan Morrison of the Salt Lake City Bike Collective stopped by yesterday to pick up some computers that will help the Collective fulfill its mission to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society.

Jonathan Morrison of the SLC Bike Collective, with Electroregenerated computers.

The Bike Collective is a very similar to ERGS in its goals, programs, and the groups we both serve. The Collective has shared advice about its strategies for success with ERGS, and ERGS may be able to help the Collective with volunteer management systems. It’s a budding collaboration that we at ERGS look forward to building.