Tri-County Technology Consortium Meeting Minutes
June 6, 2011
Present:
Steve Higgins (Sassafras Forge), Mary Salony (Tri-County Workforce Investment Board), Lori Harris (Family-Life TV), Marie Dillon-Griffith (PA CareerLink Armstrong County), Mary McFarland (Butler County Business Matters), Kara Prentice (Senior Times), Fred Orozco (AET), Joel Warren (FLIR), Carl Bromley (Local4All), Lynda Pozzuto (Armstrong Chamber)
Welcome:
The Chair, Steve Higgins, welcomed everyone to the meeting. Introductions were made.
Minutes:
The minutes from the last meeting were reviewed. Lori Harris motioned for the minutes to be approved. Joel Warren seconded. The motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report:
TC2’s bank account has $2,404.40 in it. The Local Chambers of Commerce will be joined in July.
Training:
Ms. Salony reported on training to the group. Microsoft Access & Fundamentals, Network Security 101, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) were cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Advanced Network Security was held with 2 people, Cloud Computing with 4, Virtualization with 4, and RFID with 2 people. So far Visual Studios has 6 enrolled and Microsoft Exchange has 3 enrolled, and the classes will be held. There is a balance between spending grant money responsibly and completing the goals of the grant. Ms. Salony did report she was concerned about the required matches to the grant and encouraged everyone to turn in their paperwork.
Invoices are still needed for tuition reimbursement training from ICTC, Quality Life Services, and Steel City Optronics. Ms. Salony will send out reminders to everyone.
IP funds:
Mary Salony indicated approximately $1,200 remains of IP Capacity Building funds if everyone spends all that is allocated. The members discussed various possibilities for spending the funds. Possibilities included purchasing more DVDs, flash drives, pens, and brochures for recruitment, funding the Penn State EOC Robotics camp, funding lunch for youth attending a field trip to the Carnegie Science Center through Family-Life, robotics programs at local public libraries through Family-Life, and editing the 6 minute DVD to a one minute DVD. After much discussion, it was decided to fund approximately $245 for the lunches for the Carnegie Science field trip, fund $560 to Family-Life for the robotics programs at two libraries, and give remaining funds to the Robotics Camp at the Penn State EOC which currently are about $400 but may fluctuate. Ms. Salony had provided numbers of the materials for recruitment and it was decided that we had enough items. There was not a consensus to move forward on the DVD in addition to not enough time to receive quotes.
Bylaws – Discussion was tabled until the next meeting when more members would be at the meeting.
Armstrong County Chamber of Commerce – Lynda Pozzuto from the Chamber spoke on benefits of membership. Benefits include marketing of the group and its events, opportunities to sponsor events, opportunity to put articles in the newsletter, email blasts, and access to Chamber functions. Membership for the group will cost $40 for a half year and $80 for 2012.
Other:
Lori Harris reported on the STEM conference that she attended on behalf of TC2. Ms. Harris also suggested the TC2 could sponsor Light Up Night in Kittanning. Members asked about the target audience. Ms. Salony suggested that the group create a targeted marketing plan.
Next Meeting:
TC2 will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2011.
The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
Submitted By: Mary Salony
