FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes 04-10-2012MINUTES
FIBERNET MONTICELLO ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, April 10, 2012 — 6 p.m.
2nd Floor Conference Room, Prairie Center Building
Voting: Clint Herbst, Glen Posusta, Jon Morphew, Wayne Mayer, Dennis Sullivan
Non - voting: Jeff O'Neill, Ben Ranft (HBC), Brett Demarais, John (visitor), Lynne Dahl -
Fleming, Paul Ruffin
1. Call to Order
Clint Herbst called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.
2. Additions to Agenda
• Promo items
3. Consideration of Approval of Meeting Minutes — March 13, 2012
JON MORPHEW MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MARCH 13, 2012 FIBERNET
ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES AS PRESENTED. DENNIS SULLIVAN
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5 -0.
4. Marketing Report (Ben Ranft, Brett Demarais, Jeff O'Neill)
• Cash Mob (Prior and Upcoming) — Ben Ranft talked about the Cash Mob event
held at Culver's; about 18 people showed up and bought food as a result of the
letter that was sent out. Jon Morphew suggested that it should be required for the
business to offer some kind of a discount or offer to help draw customers. Jeff
O'Neill explained that the purpose of a cash mob is really to celebrate a local
business and not necessarily for the business to give away something or offer a
discount. The people involved target a business and spend their cash, and
sometimes done without the business aware of the cash mob in advance. Clint
Herbst suggested that FiberNet may want to build an email list for future notices
of cash mob or other promotions.
• Thank You Letter Success — Ben Ranft reported 44 customers have taken
advantage of the special offer. Liquor Store coupon was very successful with an
increase in the average amount spent per customer. Glen Posusta talked about
expiration date on the coupon — he doesn't feel that it is necessary to add an
expiration date. Clint Herbst thought the value of an expiration date is to get a
customer to use the coupon before the next one comes out. Paul Ruffin said that
expiration dates can be useful in tracking marketing promotions.
• Door hangers — Michele Hertwig is working on a design for door hangers and will
have proof available next week. Door hangers will promote signing up for
FiberNet; other side could be a coupon perhaps.
FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes —April 10, 2012
• Other promo ideas — poster in Liquor Store; coupon on back of FNM monthly bill
• TV /City Feed development and distribution — approved by Council at April 9th
meeting. Ben Ranft explained how the system is intended to work with individual
TV monitors at designated city buildings with ability to program at each site.
Would also send feed to FNM for cable station.
5. Operations /Financial Report — General Manager
• Residential installations — update given on new and current customers
Apartments /Multi -units
a) Wireless Network — cannot door knock in apt buildings; hung posters
and managers hand out flyers to tenants. Also offer referrals to tenants
that refer a friend that signs up. Ben Ranft explained how they set up
apartments for internet.
b) Jeff O'Neill asked if there is a way to try to entice residents with drops
in place to hookup with FiberNet. Wayne Mayer suggested running
promotions to let them know the advantages of FNM and the other
discounts available to customers. Clint Herbst asked about the process
used when customers disconnect because they are moving. Ben Ranft
explained that they get lists from Utility Dept and work on contacting
the new customers. Clint Herbst suggested leaving packets when
disconnecting services at move -out. Jon Morphew recommended
trying to get realtors to help make referrals.
c) Glen Posusta asked about Kjellberg's Park and whether there were any
installations there. Ben Ranft explained they haven't hooked anyone
yet in the trailer park. However, they have done some promoting just
south of the City and have had some inquiries. Clint Herbst suggested
that they try cross - promoting city services to Kjellberg's so customers
know they can take advantage of other discounts. Clint Herbst asked
about getting wireless to Big Lake City. Ben Ranft said they plan to
implement but there is work to be done yet. Clint Herbst feels that
FNM should continue to work on expanding the Monticello Air
product.
• Commercial installations - Internet and Phone
a) Sales Manager Report — Brett Demarais gave an update on recent and
upcoming businesses installs.
b) Thank You Letter calls — CSRs started calling last week; also doing
courtesy calls after customer service calls are completed.
FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes —April 10, 2012
c) Clint Herbst suggested possibly working with Country Club to offer
free round of golf for customers of FNM.
6. Other — Promotions
• Ben Ranft explained that FNM has a lot of promotional events coming up this
summer and is looking for approval of purchasing some items for giveaways.
Some ideas: can koozies, pens, golf tees or ball markers. Each of these items has
a 1 -time set up fee; some offer free shipping. Check if Hi Way Liquors would
like to partner with FNM on a logo on the koozies. Dennis Sullivan
recommended also purchasing tees as a promo item for the golf tournaments.
DENNIS SULLIVAN MOVED TO PURCHASE PROMO ITEMS FOR
SUMMER EVENTS. GLEN POSUSTA SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED 4 -1 WITH WAYNE MAYER VOTING IN OPPOSITION.
• Paul Ruffin suggested looking into approaching FNM customers that might want
to partner with advertising on promo items. This might be an option to add to a
promotion on the back of the monthly bill.
7. Adjourn
WAYNE MAYER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:10 P.M. JON
MORPHEW SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 5 -0.
Recorder: Catherine M. Shuman
Approved: June 12, 2012
Attest:
C Pnistrator
FiberNet Advisory Board Minutes —April 10, 2012