Subject: Minutes August 3, 2005
From: RLaRosa331@aol.com
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:38:41 -0400 (EDT)


I counted 20 people total at the 7 PM meeting. One of them was Richard Morfopolus, 
Chairman of Business Administration and Office Technology at Briarcliffe College. 
He is concerned about declining enrollment and is interested in working with us, 
possibly by having his students help us with marketing research. Another Briarcliffe 
professor was at the meeting. Can't find his name in my notes.

Treasurer Dave Rost reported $6664 in our account, and 40 members in the Network.

Mike Tedaldi reported that the Vonage telephone referral system was working. There 
was some discussion about how to reduce the volume of junk calls. Also, the low audio 
volume was mentioned. For what it's worth, my Dell laptop squawks loud enough with the 
volume turned up, but I have to hold a speaker near my ear with the volume all the way 
up on my hp Win 98 desktop. I have some hearing loss.

Telephone referral volunteers:
August - Dave Rost
September - Marty Kanner
October - John Liguori

Jim Latourrette reminded us that we can log into the website to look at the referrals.

Peter Buitenkant gave out copies of the 2004 Directory.

TechFest at Eisenhower Park August 19 - 21 was discussed. We passed a motion to appropriate 
up to $500 for banners and other supplies to display at the event if they would allow it. 
Some people volunteered to participate. Chris Early later emailed the decision that there 
was not sufficient time to prepare and make a good impression. I spent several hours at 
TechFest on Saturday. Met Robert Barone at the Association of Information Technology 
Professionals table. He works for St.John's University and is a live wire. Got some good 
advice from him. It will be interesting to see who went to the show and what they got out of it.

Chris Early reported a request for someone to make a prototype.

September 7 speaker is Andrew Haimes on "Engineering and the Law".

October 11 meeting is on a Tuesday, moved from the first Wednesday because of Rosh Hashanah. 
There was supposed to be two speakers on removal of hazardous materials from electronics 
equipment. This appears to have been cancelled.

The November meeting speaker will be Jim Monnier (?) on Negotiating.

The August 3 speaker was Carl Schwab on "The Hybrid Car". He went through the history and 
present technology with the aid of a 4-page handout. He told us that the traction electric 
motor was on the same shaft as the gasoline engine in the Honda. There was a Honda Civic and 
Honda Accord on display at TechFest. I could identify the gasoline engines on both vehicles 
but could not find their electric motors or transmissions. There was a Toyota Highlander on 
display. That's supposed to have the traction motor separated from the gasoline engine. 
I could only identify the gas engine. Could have used somebody there to guide me through these 
cars. Who is going to service these marvels?

Richard LaRosa
Secretary