Board Meeting Notes - 12/22/25

Plans for the combined January meeting from Italy!

Quick recap

The group discussed plans for Jim's Spanish language learning initiative and reviewed Apple product releases and rumors, including potential new store locations. They reviewed membership status, upcoming meetings, and content plans for the new board taking office in January, while also discussing technical topics like VR technology and email issues. The conversation ended with discussions about future meeting dates, prize giveaways, and website management, including plans to contact Duncan Wilcox about hosting the Sitely app and securing a 20% discount.

Summary

Spanish Initiative and Treasury Update

The group discussed Jim's upcoming Spanish language learning initiative via WhatsApp, which will begin January 1st and close January 3rd. They also discussed Apple product releases and rumors about a potential new Apple store location. The conversation ended with a brief treasury report showing an increase of a few hundred dollars.

2026 Membership and SIG Plans

The meeting discussed the current membership status, with 11 renewals for 2026 and potential for one more. Mark G. reported that he had contacted three individuals who had signed up but not paid earlier in the year, and one of them, Todd Brown, committed to sending a check to the treasurer. The group also discussed plans for a combined general meeting and SIG on January 10th at 10 AM, with Skip working to secure a license for the Sitely app from Duncan. Jim and Skip plan to follow up with Duncan about his commitment to the event date, noting that if he remains unresponsive, they will proceed with a Zoom meeting featuring Skip's demonstration of the Sitely app.

Future Meeting and Content Planning

The group discussed plans for upcoming meetings and content, noting that February's content would be left to the new board, which will be seated on January 1st. Mark suggested that iOS or OS 27 might not be released, and the group agreed they would likely be living in point releases for a while. Guy proposed topics for future meetings, including how to change microphone and camera modes in FaceTime and making emergency calls, with Mike suggesting these could be combined into a single session. Jim agreed this approach could work well, potentially using February 9th as a "smorgasbord" of topics.

Backlog-Clearing and Demo Planning

The group discussed plans for a backlog-clearing session, agreeing to cover topics like partitioning external drives, basic IT tasks, and potentially demonstrating new features of Apple products. They decided to make the sessions more experiential, with Guy suggesting hands-on demos rather than just step-by-step instructions. The team also considered including a demonstration of the Vision Pro, though they noted it would likely not be feasible in February.

VR Options and Email Concerns

The group discussed potential VR technology options, including the Vision Pro and Oculus 3. Ralph raised concerns about increased junk mail issues with the new Apple Mail program, which Jim suggested might be related to the email address rather than the program itself. Jim advised Ralph to review and simplify his email rules to address the spam problem. 

Meeting Plans and Website Review

The group discussed upcoming SIG meeting dates, with February 14th set for Focus and March 14th for iCloud. Ralph and Jim will handle technical aspects for SMMUG, with Skip managing admin duties and the Treasurer role. The group is still determining where Sitely will be hosted, considering authorized copies and a potential 20% discount with Duncan. Apple will not provide door prizes in time for the January meeting, so Mark offered to help instead.

Prize Giveaway Plans for January-February

The group discussed giving away two separate prizes in January and February. They decided to give away an Eero Mesh system in February and a cable modem in January. Linnea suggested splitting the prizes, which Mike and Mark agreed was a good idea. They also decided to skip giving away $10 gift cards in January and to try to get rid of a stylus. Sharon mentioned they would continue giving away another lantern. Mark offered a used Mac Mini docking system for February, which several members expressed interest in. Jim noted that Comcast is pushing out DOCSIS 4.0 modems, but these can only be rented from Comcast.

Internet Services and Giveaway Plans

The board discussed internet service experiences, with Mark sharing positive feedback about Ting's performance and Ralph reporting strong speeds with DOXIS 4.0. They agreed to continue offering $10 gift cards monthly, excluding January, and decided to hold back the Eero mesh and pedestal for the Mac Mini for future giveaways. Linnea confirmed the next newsletter would be in February, and the board approved pre-authorized spending up to $100 on Apple products without requiring additional permission. Jim and Skip were tasked with contacting Duncan regarding a January 10th meeting and 20% discount, with plans to adjust the SIG general meeting format if needed.

AI can make mistakes. Review for accuracy. Edited by S. Mundy