I agree with Chuck about the need to be a real organization. I'm a bit worried about liability that efforts such as the Loring Park project can involve. What if one of the volunteers falls, dies, and the family goes looking for someone to sue. Without a formal organization, liability can't be limited (I'm not saying it's tremendously better even with an org) and lawyers will go looking for fat pockets among the "membership," which right now is everyone on this list. Mike Ellsworth StratVantage Consulting, LLC Helping Successful Companies Make Winning Technology Decisions 8273 Westwood Hills Curve St. Louis Park, MN 55426 952-525-1584 mellsworth at stratvantage.com www.StratVantage.com Get a free one-hour wireless network evaluation. Forward this message to freebie at theWiMAXGuys.com www.TheWiMAXGuys.com They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Ben Franklin, ~1784 -----Original Message----- From: tcwug-list-bounces at tcwug.org [mailto:tcwug-list-bounces at tcwug.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Cole Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 10:56 PM To: TCWUG-List Subject: FW: [TCWUG] 7th Question: Minneapolis Park & Rec'n Board's RFP(deadline, etc.) oops: meant to post my reply.. -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Cole [mailto:cncole at earthlink.net] Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 3:34 PM To: Leif Pihl Subject: RE: [TCWUG] 7th Question: Minneapolis Park & Rec'n Board's RFP (deadline, etc.) > -----Original Message----- > From: Leif Pihl [mailto:leif at pihl.us] > Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 2:04 PM > > >------------------------------ > > > >Message: 2 > >Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 14:49:53 -0600 > >From: "Chuck Cole" <cncole at earthlink.net> > > > >TCWUG is not an entity in business terms, so it cannot respond > >legally. No Park & Rec Board person that did a basic check would be > >likely to respond because TCWUG, being a non-entity, cannot take any > >responsibility in the community. > > > Excuse me, but I think you've misunderstood. > > I do NOT mean that we should get involved in the building of the network. > I _DO_ think that we should get involved in the EVALUATION or or > other sorts of public comment phases of the MP&RB's procurement > process. > > LP Maybe, but it may be the reverse... Park & Rec is unlikely to acknowledge ANY responses from a group that is not a recognizable entity - except as a very shallow courtesy. By procurement law, they cannot - especially now with an active RFP schedule. Commenting as an individual or making unsolicited comments that can be put in the circular file is gonna be OK though :-) They may contract registered consultants or corporations to do separate system evaluations, and they may have a means to accept an "unsolicited proposal", but they won't take info "off the street" as would be the case for TCWUG or TCLUG to submit something. I would expect the Park & Rec Board to have a designated means for evaluations (ie, a contracted or internal review panel) and not review much themselves except a final recommendation on the RFP responses by that designated panel. Having a closed and structured review process is also a usual legal requirement for procurements. Coming to one of our meetings is not proper now. Members of the Park & Rec Board won't care much about the techie part of a WiFi project, and members of their review panel would not be permitted to discuss anything related until this whole RFP cycle (submission through evaluations) is completed. We should know who to invite and when to invite them. Don't misunderstand MY point: I think TCWUG should define itself as a non-profit that could be an acceptable commentator or contributor to such public works. It may not be in TCWUG's best interest to respond when there is no criterion of charter or membership or qualification or submission other than "some hobbyists" who respond randomly. TCWUG may earn a reputation as a "loose cannon" that must be "handled". Chuck _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Wireless Users Group Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota http://www.tcwug.org tcwug-list at tcwug.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tcwug-list _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Wireless Users Group Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota http://www.tcwug.org tcwug-list at tcwug.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tcwug-list