OPERATIONS MANAGER: VICTORIA FREE-NET ASSOCIATION

Internet use is evolving. Victoria Free-Net Association volunteers support the special challenges some people face when applying the Internet’s changing use in their daily lives. But, as a consequence, Free-Net itself faces a transition that requires recruiting a new generation of volunteers. Our first and immediate need is for:

AN OPERATIONS MANAGER.

This creative opportunity calls for a large commitment from a community volunteer. We need someone who will increase our administrative capacity for daily operations and help create a foundation to sustain our future direction.

Where we are now.

Established in 1992, the Victoria Free-Net Association, <victoria.tc.ca> is a registered Not for Profit. From its inception the Free-Net has been an avid supporter, and advocate of universal and equitable access to information technology, and of community-based approaches to the use of information and communications technologies for development. Presently the Free-Net:

• Supervises and oversees 52 Community Access sites
• Provides an IT help desk
• Supports local initiatives (i.e. Voice over Internet or VOIP)
• Provides domain registration
• Hosts and services IT servers on Free-Net premises for Not for Profits
• Hosts email for individuals and group distribution lists
• Hosts web sites
• Provides inexpensive dial up services

Free-Net’s role in provision of free Internet access (at first understood as merely a technology question) has evolved into support for and coordination of community-based approaches to digital inclusion. As part of its continuing mandate to address digital inclusion, Free-net is the home of the South Island Community Access Network (SICAN) project. SICAN serves people who might not have computers or Internet access in their homes or workplaces.

Where we need to go.

As a result of its experience with SICAN, the Free-Net anticipates shifting its emphasis towards enhanced development of online applications that support the social services sector more broadly. We need collaborative approaches to addressing digital inclusion – the uses of the Internet to enhance social services delivery throughout the Capital Regional District. As that shift occurs, our focus must move beyond serving individuals directly to engaging with other social service agencies in addressing common needs. We see an increased revenue potential emerging as we make that shift, but we’re not there yet.

Responsible citizenship changes in an online society. People volunteer for Free-Net because they are excited to learn and share how networked interaction can work to improve our community. They want to achieve a society with qualities that are: networked, interactive, collaborative, and characterized by open systems. The effective use of the Internet for learning within community pushes the evolution of our capacity for social justice.

Most of the infrastructure of the social economy remains organized into vertical silos. Use of information and communications technologies can and will support a horizontal integration of community services by creating and sustaining a collaborative learning community of stakeholders. We need to find better ways to share insights, what we are all learning about leveraging that integration, among our partners. In adapting to changing patterns of Internet use, the Free-Net must now focus on new approaches to social sector collaboration. We are working to ensure everyone in our community can fully participate in daily life online.

Contact and application:

Please submit your CV, contact information, and a brief statement of how you see your fit to Free-Net’s mandate and the Operations Manager role to:

Gareth Shearman, VIFA President: shearman@victoria.tc.ca

Garth Graham, Chair, VIFA Board of Directors: garth@victoria.tc.ca

For enquiries or more information, please call: 250- 727-7057