[Advisors] Fwd: NCF celebrates 31 years by reflecting and planning for the future

[Marita Moll]

Hello advisors. I am just a little late sending this message on, but it 
is never too late to congratulate one of our members for their long time 
dedication to community networking.

Happy 31st Birthday NCF!!!!

Marita



-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	NCF celebrates 31 years by reflecting and planning for the future
Date: 	Fri, 29 Sep 2023 21:11:52 -0000
From: 	NCF Executive Director <execdir at ncf.ca>

	

	



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National Capital FreeNet

Veuillez noter que ce message sera disponible en français la semaine 
prochaine dans la section nouvelles de notre site, nous nous excusons 
pour le retard.

NCF Members,

Happy birthday to us! National Capital FreeNet (NCF) was founded 
September 29, 1992: 31 years ago today.

Technology and the internet have changed nearly beyond recognition since 
those early days. NCF has been adapting to these changes while staying 
true to our original commitment to connect everyone in our community.

This time last year, we released videos featuring 30 digital equity 
advocates from across Canada on the current state of technology, the 
internet and digital equity: ncf.ca/digitalequityperspectives/ 
<https://www.ncf.ca/digitalequityperspectives/>

Interviews included the former Mayor of Iqaluit Madeleine Redfern, 
Ottawa professor Michael Geist, author and activist Cory Doctorow, and 
Eyra Abraham, founder of an app that helps those with hearing loss 
become aware of sounds in their environment. They also made predictions 
about the future for every five years from 2027 to 2052. Together these 
predictions form a digital time capsule and are locked until the year of 
their prediction date: ncf.ca/timecapsule/ 
<https://www.ncf.ca/timecapsule/>

Thirty-one is often a quieter celebration than 30 or the other big 
milestones. This year we’re celebrating by taking time to reflect and 
plan. This includes:

  * continuing to advocate to the CRTC and the government for affordable
    access to the highest speed services. We will be sending information
    about an upcoming CRTC submission deadline.
  * updating the last phase of the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan – the last
    few years have had many unexpected challenges and we’re laying the
    groundwork to sustain our work while growing our impact.
  * implementing more network upgrades to ensure we continue to offer
    members a high-quality and resilient service.
  * expanding our work to connect those living on low incomes through
    our Community Access Fund and in other ways.

We also had help from Bashir Saidi and Kelly Huang, two summer students 
supported by the Canada Summer Jobs program, to develop some new digital 
skills resources, website updates and other improvements to our 
communications, coming soon!

Thanks to funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient 
Communities Fund, we will be hiring a coordinator to support a new 
digital skills workshop series — the first since before the pandemic — 
as well as to help recruit and train more volunteers for the HelpDesk, 
and other digital equity work. If you’re interested in applying, please 
keep an eye on our Careers page over the next few weeks: ncf.ca/careers/ 
<https://www.ncf.ca/careers/>

Some of you have been NCF members since when we launched our dial-up 
community platform on February 1, 1993. Some of you may have just joined 
us. Thanks all of you for your support for NCF as a local not-for-profit 
alternative to commercial internet providers, committed to affordable 
internet as a right and ensuring digital equity for all. Here's to 
another good year!

Feel free to reply to this message with any questions or comments (or 
birthday greetings I can pass on to staff, volunteers and the Board of 
Directors!) Please just give me some time to get back to you.

For questions related to your internet service, billing or other 
questions about your NCF services please contact the HelpDesk by 
emailing support at ncf.ca or by calling 613-721-1773 ext. 0 
<tel:+16137211773p0>.

Talk soon, Shelley

Shelley Robinson
Executive Director
National Capital FreeNet
206-1305 Richmond Rd.
Ottawa, ON
K2B 7Y4
(613) 721-1773 ext. 1001

National Capital FreeNet
206-1305 Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON, K2B 7Y4
(613) 721-1773 <tel:+16137211773> support at ncf.ca www.ncf.ca 
<https://www.ncf.ca/>

National Capital FreeNet is a local, not-for-profit alternative to 
commercial internet service providers. Since 1992 we have connected more 
than 100,000 members.
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