NCF President's 2003 Message
To: The
members of the National Capital FreeNet
When the National Capital FreeNet was founded ten years ago,
it was doubtful that anyone could have foreseen the profound effect that this
new organization would have on our community and its owner members,
nor how the resources that it offered would impact on our daily lives. Now
as we celebrate our 10th anniversary we can look back over a decade
where NCF has helped to introduce not only new communication technology but
also a new way of communicating and interacting. Ten years ago, the phrase
Internet was a term not yet in our vocabulary and the potential for rich
vibrant community interaction that this technology afforded was largely
unknown.
Now, looking back over these ten years, we can proudly boast
of a major accomplishment. We, the member/owners of the National Capital
FreeNet have introduced more than 75,000 people to Information Technology and
Internet-based communication and that fact alone can be seen as a significant
factor among the several reasons that Ottawa now boasts the highest number of
connected citizens among all communities in Canada and indeed North America. We
have had a lot to do with Ottawa being the “Most Connected City.”
Since inception, the National Capital FreeNet as an
organization has faced many tough challenges and hurdles. This past year was
certainly no exception. Perhaps the most difficult challenge any organization
can face is what NCF experienced this year, that being a change in senior
management and the potential disruption that might have arisen because of this
change. I am delighted to report
that this was not an issue at FreeNet and our new Chief Executive Officer; John
Selwyn has proven his obvious suitability to his new role at FreeNet. He has
quickly demonstrated that our confidence in him is well deserved.
John has an incredible depth of knowledge and experience
resulting from diverse experiences including high-technology development,
teaching and, of course, his role as founding CEO at Crosskeys, where his
accomplishments are well known. Perhaps of even greater importance is John’s
ability to foster and nurture a sense of teamwork among the various
contributors to the organization. This talent is of tremendous importance in
FreeNet’s volunteer-based culture.
Moving forward, we can be confident that John’s focus on getting modems and services running rock-solid, our soon-to-be released new services and a continuing attention to member and community needs will provide the necessary elements of a sustainable future for FreeNet. I look forward to the coming years.
Chris Cope,
President NCF
ccope@ncf.ca