NCF Board of Directors
Minutes of Board Meeting
January 16, 2024
Minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors
Board members present:
Majd Karam (gc029) 1st Vice Chair
Emmanel Adenlolu (gc476) Treasurer
Graeme Beckett (aw958) Secretary
Christopher Cope (bz787)
Michael Chan (ga869)
Eddie Villarta (gd683)
Chris Taylor (fs180)
Steve Fanjoy (gd782)
Regrets:
Anis Hanna (gb499) Chair
Peter MacKinnon (fr198) 2nd Vice-Chair
Laura Novitsky (gd477)
NCF Management/Staff present:
Executive Director: Shelley Robinson
Sysadmin Andre Dalle
- Confirmation of Quorum
Quorum was confirmed
- Consent Agenda (45 minutes: questions & comments or corrections)
- Minutes of board meeting November 14, 2023
Motion: To move in-camera.
Proposer: Christopher Cope (bz787)
Seconder: Steve Fanjoy (gd782)
The motion was carried.
- Executive Director's Report
The Executive Director's report was submitted in advance of the Board meeting. Highlights of the open portion of the meeting are provided below.
Summary:
• Luke has transitioned to NCF’s new Volunteer and Training Coordinator. As a result of this change, the full-time HelpDesk team will move to self-management, rotating the manager role each month.
• After more than a year, members have started to receive automated renewal messages and requests for donations.
• NCF will be presenting at a CRTC hearing on the review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework on Feb. 13.
• To help improve services, we’re sending out a general member survey on February 1st , and will also be launching new automated surveys.
Updates since the last meeting:
• For more than a year, NCF’s member renewal and donation system has been broken for members who don’t subscribe to NCF’s DSL and cable internet services. During this time we auto-renewed everyone’s account. The system is now fixed and members have started to receive automated renewal messages and requests for donations.
• We recently finished up activities for the Investment Readiness Program grant activities. This included support to update NCF’s membership agreement and terms of service and move forward plans for additional business internet services, community WiFi and fibre internet in multi-dwelling units. The contribution of $20,000 from the federal program was managed by the Ottawa Community Foundation.
• For the first time since X, in early February we will be sending out a general survey for all NCF members, as well as launching new automated surveys when members install new services or cancel services, and when HelpDesk tickets have been closed.
• The Marketing and Communications Committee is recruiting members with experience to help support NCF’s work to get the word out about our services and digital equity work.
Dashboard:
NCF members:
Progress on Strategic Goals:
• In 2019, the Board and staff of NCF developed a five-year strategic plan. Obviously COVID-19 meant things changed significantly. We have updated a Strategic Roadmap for the coming year, and will meet this year to create a strategic plan for the future. We will post updates online: www.ncf.ca/stratplan Industry and sector news:
• Federal Court of Appeal Upcoming events:
• NCF will be presenting at a CRTC hearing on the review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework on Feb. 13. This relates to the submissions we have been making on getting wholesale access to fibre-to-the-home internet services as well as more affordable wholesale rates for DSL and cable internet services.
Good news and thanks:
• We paid back the $40,000 Canadian Emergency Benefit Account (CEBA) loan in October and have received confirmation of the forgivable $20,000 portion. Thanks to the government for this program, it helped.
Motion: To approve the consent agenda.
Proposer: Chris Taylor (fs180))
Seconder: Michael Chan (ga869)
The motion was carried.
- Strategic Discussion: (60 minutes)
- NCF network overview: current/future/security/existential threats (Andre Dalle & Shelley Robinson)
This item was conducted in-camera.
- Date of Next Meeting _________
The next Board meeting February 20th 2024: Hybrid, electronic and in-person at NCF office.
- Standing agenda item for discussion without staff and review (15 minutes)
- Discussion item (Majd Karam)
This item was conducted in-camera.
Motion: To move out of camera.
Proposer: Christopher Cope (bz787)
Seconder: Steve Fanjoy (gd782)
The motion was carried.