National Capital FreeNet Board Meeting December 20, 1994 - 7:00 PM Honeywell Room RMOC/HQ 111 Lisgar Street AGENDA 1. Approval of the minutes of the November 15, 1994 meeting 2. Business arising from the Minutes a) Update on the NPTN situation (David Sutherland) 3. Review of the Agenda 4. Executive Committee Report a) Operations Update (Lisa Donnelly) b) Improving Board/Exec Communications (Brett Delmage) 5. Information on Budget planning for 1995 (Jean Wilmot) 6. Renewal of Agreement with (Gordon Pearson) Network Training Services 7. The 1995 AGM - Discussion of plans and (Richard Taylor) setting a date 8. Creation of a Board Recruitment Committee (Lisa Donnelly) 9. Creation of a Board Planning Committee (Lisa Donnelly) 10. Developing a Policy on Telnet Services (Andrew Patrick) 11. Other Business a) Drafting an AUP and (Robert Pless) new user hints: starting the process b) Francophone Committee Goals (Charles Trahan) and Objectives for 1995 c) Menu Design Update (Ian Allen) d) Setting the date for the 1995 (Lisa Donnelly) NCF Birthday Party 12. Next meeting 13. Adjournment Minutes of the National Capital FreeNet Board of Directors Meeting held on November 15, 1994 Colonel By Room - RMOC/HQ - 111 Lisgar Street Ottawa, Ontario 1. Board Members in Attendance David Sutherland Chairman Andrew Patrick First Vice President Jean Wilmot Treasurer Al Seaman Secretary David Blackwood Julie Chahal Brett Delmage Rosaleen Dickson Marc Labelle Robert Pless Richard Taylor Stephen Toy The meeting was called to order by David Sutherland at 7:05 PM. MINUTES OF OCTOBER 18, 1994 MEETING 2. Motion by Andrew Patrick, seconded by Richard Taylor that the Minutes as previously circulated be approved. Motion carried. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 3. Resume Bank Andrew Patrick provided an update on the Resume Bank. The Hardware/ Software Committee has considered the issues involved and developed a plan for housing this database on the NCF system. An exact date for completion of the work is difficult to forecast, but is likely of the order of a few months. AGENDA REVIEW 4. There were no changes to the previously published agenda. Tom New of the CBC, who was in attendance requested permission to video tape some portions of the meeting for a news article on "Whither FreeNet" that he was preparing. Permission was granted. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT 5. Operations Update A summary of the Operations Update as available on-line was provided by Lisa Donnelly. In addition she also commented on some further points: - The Survival Guide has been submitted for printing and should be available by Nov. 18. - A task group has been organized for Nov. 19 to deal with a donation of used PC's from the Post Office. - The On-Line Auction which was still in progress had collected about $18,000 in bids at the time of the meeting. FINANCIAL REPORT 6. Jean Wilmot tabled a Financial Report for the period January 1 to October 31, 1994 as previously posted. A copy of the report is attached to these minutes. She also noted that a budget for next year is to be developed in the near future. CHANGE OF BANK SIGNING AUTHORITY 7. Jean Wilmot introduced a previously posted Banking Resolution to replace the existing resolution that would delete individual names as signing authorities and replace them with defined positions including: President, First Vice-President, Treasurer and Executive Director. Motion by Jean Wilmot, seconded by Rosaleen Dickson that the previously posted resolution be approved. Motion carried. The Resolution as approved is attached to these minutes. DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT 8. The draft Mission Statement that was tabled at the October Board meeting and posted to various newsgroups for public comment was discussed further. Motion by Andrew Patrick, seconded by Richard Taylor that this Board endorses the Mission Statement as drafted by the Board and as translated to French by the Francophone Committee. Motion carried. The Mission Statement in both languages as endorsed is attached to these minutes. 9. There was some further discussion of the merits of having the Mission Statement ratified by the general membership. Motion by Julie Chahal, seconded by Richard Taylor that the newly endorsed Mission Statement be submitted to the AGM for ratification. Motion defeated. NCF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE DRAFT 10. The draft organizational structure as tabled at the October Board meeting was discussed further. It was agreed that it is suitable as a guide to the general operation of NCF. It was also agreed that the next step is for the Executive Director to refine her job description along with refinement of the organization model, and to bring these as recommendations for approval to a future Board meeting. NPTN AFFILIATE STATUS OF NCF 11. We have received a fairly emphatic request from NPTN to pay our fee as an affiliate, and to adopt the authorized spelling of "Free-Net". There was concern that this is counter to the intention of having NCF as an affiliate of Telecommunities Canada, with that body being the Canadian affiliate of NPTN. A further concern is that a name change will cost us effort and legal fees since we are incorporated with the word "FreeNet", but the cost could be greater if NPTN takes legal action. It was agreed that we will defer any action until after the Telecommunities Canada meeting on Nov. 19, which will consider the issue, and Dave Sutherland will also seek legal advice on the name issue. OTHER BUSINESS 12. Help Desk Committee to manage Public Meetings The Help Desk Committee took over the management of the monthly Public Meetings for the summer on a temporary basis. There is a need to define the current status. Motion by Al Seaman, seconded by Stephen Toy that the responsibility for the Public Meeting be formally delegated to the Help Desk Committee until and including the April 1995 meeting, and that the meeting format cover basic introductory information along with additional topics such as advanced sessions, special events and information provider introductions at the discretion of the Committee. Motion carried. 13. Gopher Server facility on NCF There has been a request to provide a Gopher Server facility on NCF to support a requirement of the RCMP. It was agreed that such a service is not in keeping with the NCF mandate, and it is also in potential conflict with commercial internet service providers. There is a further conflict with current work on making menus available with WWW. NEXT MEETING 12. It was confirmed that the next meeting will be on December 20, 1994 at 7:00 PM in accord with the Board's monthly meeting policy. The location is to be the Honeywell Room at the RMOC/HQ. The deadline for agenda submissions is December 13. ADJOURNMENT 13. On a motion by Rosaleen Dickson, seconded by Andrew Patrick the meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM. ------------------------------------------------------------------ BANKING RESOLUTION OF DIRECTORS RESOLVED: 1. THAT an account in the name of the Company shall be kept at THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA (herein called the "Bank".) 2. THAT any two of the President, First Vice-President, Treasurer, or Executive Director are hereby authorized on behalf of the Company: (a) to borrow money from the Bank upon the credit of the Company on cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange or otherwise in such amounts and subject to such terms as may be considered advisable; (b) to assign, transfer, convey, hypothecate, mortgage, charge or pledge to or in favour of the Bank any property of the Company, real or personal, moveable or immoveable, present or future, including book debts, unpaid calls, rights, powers, undertaking, franchises and the Company's own debentures, as security for the fulfilment of any liabilities or obligations, present or future, of the Company to the Bank and to empower the Bank or any person or persons to sell by public or private sale, assign, transfer or convey from time to time any such property; (c) to sign, make, draw, accept, endorse, execute and deliver on behalf of and in the name of the Company all such cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange, drafts, acceptances, orders for the payment of money, warehouse receipts, bills of lading, agreements to give security, assignments, transfers, conveyances, hypothecs, mortgages, pledges, securities and other agreements, documents and instruments as may be necessary or useful in connection with the borrowing of money by and other banking business of the Company. 3. THAT any one of the President or Treasurer be and is hereby authorized on behalf of the Company: (a) to negotiate with or transfer to the Bank for deposit or discount with or collection by the Bank (but for the credit of the Company's account only) cheques, promissory notes, bills of exchange, drafts, orders for the payment of money and other instruments, whether negotiable or not, purporting to be signed or endorsed on behalf of the Company by any one of them or having the name of the Company impressed thereon by rubber stamp or other device without any signature; (b) to arrange, settle, balance and certify all books and accounts between the Company and the Bank and to receive all paid cheques and other vouchers, unpaid and unaccepted bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments and to sign the Bank's form of settlement of balances and release; (c) to delegate any authority conferred on such person by sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph to any other employee of the Company, by notice in writing filed with the Bank. 4. THAT all agreements, documents and instruments signed, made, drawn, accepted, endorsed or executed as aforesaid shall be valid and binding on the company. 5. THAT the Company shall furnish the Bank with a list of the names of all persons authorized by this Resolution to do any act or thing, together with specimens of their signatures, and shall notify the Bank from time to time in writing of all changes of such persons; and such list when received by the Bank shall be binding on the Company until written notice to the contrary shall have been given to the Bank and receipt of such notice acknowledged by the Bank. 6. THAT this Resolution shall be communicated to the Bank and shall continue in force as between the Company and the Bank until written notice to the contrary shall have been given to the Bank and receipt of such notice acknowledged by the Bank. ------------------------------------------------------------------- National Capital FreeNet Mission Statement The National Capital FreeNet is a free, computer-based information sharing network. It links the people and organizations of this region, provides useful information, and enables an open exchange of ideas with the world. Community involvement makes FreeNet an important and accessible meeting place, and prepares people for full participation in a rapidly changing communications environment. **** Enonc de mission """"""""""""""""" Le Libertel de la Capitale nationale est un rseau informatique d'information partage et gratuite. Il relie les gens et les organisations de la rgion, produit de l'information utile et favorise un change ouvert d'ides l'chelle du monde. La participation communautaire fait du Libertel un lieu de rencontre accessible et majeur, et contribue la participation efficace des gens dans un monde de communication en volution constante. ------------------------------------------------------------------ NATIONAL CAPITAL FREENET Statement of Revenue, Expense and Surplus for the period January 1,1994 to October 31,1994 (accrual basis & unaudited) Actual Budget Receipts Regular Donations 116,292 112,388 Line Sponsorships & Fundraising 12,815 37,400 Revenue from Affiliations (1) 772 n/a Public Access Site Cost Recovery (2) 2,208 n/a Government Grants 25,000 25,000 Conference & Misc. Revenues (3) 23,326 n/a Promotional Item Proceeds 1,928 n/a Deferred Contributions (4) 7,368 n/a _______ _______ Total Receipts 189,709 174,788 _______ _______ Service Expenses Phone Lines (5) 49,135 58,259 ONet fees (6) 12,195 12,038 Conference Expenses 26,599 n/a Cost of Promotional Items 1,264 n/a _______ _______ Total Service Expenses 89,193 70,296 _______ _______ General and Administrative Expenses Office Staff and Office Supplies 34,506 34,880 System Administration 41,117 49,534 Operations/Exec Director & Fundraising 29,607 37,434 Admin. & Professional Fees (7) 8,489 9,990 Public Access Sites 257 n/a Public Relations & Events 584 3,300 Depreciation of Equipment 20,750 n/a _______ _______ Total General & Admin Expenses 135,309 135,168 _______ _______ _______ _______ Net Surplus (Deficit) from Operations (34,793) (30,677) ======== ======== NOTES 1. Revenue from Network Training Services affiliate 2. Expenses for public access terminal connections to FreeNet host are recovered from the public access providers. 3. Includes '93 conference fees received in arrears, and Sutherland's speaker fee. 4. Deferred contributions relate to the unrecognized portion of contributed computer and telecommunications equipment 5. No. of Phone Lines Actual: 160 Budget: 190 6. Includes $5,445 of the $14,445 ONet fees for May 1/93 - Apr. 30/94 and an accrual of $6,750 for the period May 1/94 - Oct. 31/94 The bill for 94/95 has not been received 7. Admin. and Professional Fees include: - printing expenses - bank service charges - accounting & audit expenses - volunteer honorariums - board & committee admin. expenses - insurance ------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL CAPITAL FREENET Balance Sheet as at October 31,1994 and December 31,1993 (accrual basis & unaudited) October 1994 December 1993 (unaudited) (audited) Assets Current Assets Cash 24,580 107,335 Current Receivables 0 3,000 Capital Assets,net of depreciation Computer Equipment 63,064 28,558 Telecommunications Equipment 77,988 53,095 Accumulated Depreciation -30,957 -10,207 ________ ________ Total Assets 134,675 181,781 ======== ======== Liabilities and Equity Current Liabilities Accounts Payable (1) 12,036 35,181 Accrued Liabilities (2) 18,200 0 ________ ________ Total Liabilities 30,236 35,181 ________ ________ Equity Deferred Contribns,net of amortization 27,020 34,388 Surplus 77,419 112,212 ________ ________ Total Equity 104,439 146,600 ________ ________ ________ ________ Total Liabilities and Equity 134,675 181,781 ======== ======== NOTES: 1. Includes Conference invoice of $11,851.82 2. Includes accruals for a terminal server and ONet fees NPTN BENEFITS Date: Sun, 4 Dec 1994 07:24:48 -0500 From: aa001@freenet.carleton.ca (Dave Sutherland) To: aa331 Subject: NPTN benefits (for next Board meeting) Under continued business, we should discuss the NPTN situation again at the next Board meeting. Here's the benefits of belonging (acording to Peter Harter). The following is a list of benefits: 1. Support services: NPTN can connect its Free-Nets with information and consulting that will enable it to remain at the cutting edge of community computer issues. Our listserv is the first component -- it is where members of the Free-Net family post their gripes, comments, advice, ideas, and questions. The value of being a part of this ongoing discussion is in the uniqueness of the content of the discussions and in their direct applicability to what you are trying to do in Prince George. Beyond self-help on the listserv, NPTN staff offer a diverse array of skills for a Free-Net to tap into when their volunteer staff is unable to solve a problem. NPTN's model for a Free-Net encourages the Free-Net organizing committee to collect a diverse array of people so that it has all the skill sets necessary at its disposal. However, there are some problems that a Free-Net is unable to solve on its own. That is where NPTN comes in. Also, when Prince George sees a need for a community computer network in a neighboring community, NPTN can help Prince George with informational materials and support services so that another Free-Net may be built by Prince George. 2. Legal. Even though a Free-Net has yet to be sued, that day may come sooner rather than later. With a lawyer working in house who is very familiar with all the legal and public policy issues affecting community computing, NPTN has a resource that may be unavailable in your local legal community. NPTN's legal source also brings his connections to lawyers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe to bear so that American law is not his limitation. When requested, he will work with you to find the solution to your legal problem. Also, with a lawyer on board, NPTN can now work more closely with individual Free-Nets on their specific needs such as drafting a user registration contract or acceptable use policies, or even educating them on how to write their own bylaws. NPTN's legal resource strives to be aware of legal matters affecting all other Free-Nets and comparatively other community networks so that whatever precedent there may be NPTN's legal source can put a Free-Net in touch with what is most current. 3. Insurance. One of NPTN's newest services -- soon, NPTN will offer a comprehensive insurance package for protecting a Free-Net's equipment, for providing against liability, and other areas of exposure. 4. Information Clearinghouse: with NPTN's ongoing collection of data on system configuration and user demographics and behaviour, NPTN has an information resource on what community computing systems do that is unparalleled. NPTN will make this survey and all of its updates available to each Free-Net. 5. Content: As more Free-Net's start up in countries outside the U.S., NPTN's cybercasting services will increase in order to meet the information needs of its family. Academy One, NPTN's award winning K-12 educational suite of cybercasting services, has many areas that know no borders and is recognized as international content. NPTN welcomes and encourages Free-Nets to develop content areas for cybercasting. If Prince George sees a content need unaddressed but needs assistance in developing it and cybercasting it, NPTN can help. 6. Image: by being an affiliate of NPTN, you get the legal right to use the trademarked name "Free-Net" and avoid the possibility of legal entanglement over infringement. NPTN aims to maintain the notariety of the term Free-Net and to continually improve its quality by ensurnig that all Free-Nets meet a minimum standard so that no Free-Net that may be slouching ends up sullying the Free-Net name and thus bring bad publicity to our hard earned reputation. Also, NPTN aims to take community computing to new levels: forming a national association in the states so that NPTN may someday soon, in cooperation with TC and other national associations, become "IPTN" (the International Public Telecomputing Network"). Although an IPTN is only a concept and is many years away it something NPTN intends on working toward but only with the support of all of its Free-Nets -- Prince George can have a role in shaping IPTN if it is an affiliate. 7. Governance. By being an affiliate, Prince George has a seat on NPTN's affiliate council. Each Free-Net gets a vote as to the affairs of NPTN and its operation. Your voice will be heard and you have access to a forum of like minded representatives. It a place where you can introduce projects and participate in the strategy of community computing. Benefits of Being a Part of the NPTN Free-Net Family: * Being part of an international network of community computer systems sharing ideas and providing help to one another via an organization that remains very much close to the grass roots spirit of the Free-Net movement. NPTN strives to incorporate the input of its Free-Net Affiliates and Organizing Committees into its work and remains small enough to avoid bureaucracy but large enough to provide an integrated collection of support and information services. * Information Services: NPTN provides a diverse group of CyberCasting Services to all of its Affiliates: Academy One for K-12 schools; Teledemocracy for connection to federal government information; Health and Wellness for education about common health issues. * Technology: NPTN strives to support as many hardware and software platforms as is feasible given certain menu and delivery constraints. Besides flexibility, NPTN is working on maintaining leads in new technology applications. With our Rural Information Network (RIN) system level Free-Nets, NPTN has successfully implemented a graphical user interface that is easy to use and readily customizable by the Free-Net sysop and its users. NPTN will have in early 1995 a rollout of a comprehensive Mosaic and Lynx application strategy whereby all content from NPTN will be available on the Web to its Affiliates that are able to browse. Integrated into these new applications are security measures that flag minors from accessing undesirable areas on the Web, direct connectivity to newsgroups, and built in e-mail. * Technical Support: NPTN has three technical experts on staff to assist Affiliates and Organizing Committees at all times. They are available (on a reimbursement basis) to travel to a site for consulting. They are also constantly online via the various listservs that NPTN operates for its Organizing Committees and Affiliates, dispensing advice and monitoring issues confronting Free-Net systems worldwide. Daily they respond to e-mail, telephone, and snailmail requests for assistance. NPTN's Technical Support staff also develops new applications to advance communications functionality in community computer systems; such advances are shared with Affiliates and Organizing Committees. By having access to such a laboratory, members of the NPTN family can leverage their systems and activities to levels that would be otherwise unobtainable. * Managerial: NPTN's new systems development staff assists Organizing Committees launch their efforts and guides them to becoming Affiliates. Through telephone, e-mail, and physical material support, NPTN constantly makes itself available to any inquiry for ideas, questions, and help. This nuturing relationship does not end once one goes online and becomes an Affiliate. NPTN interacts with its Affiliates to exchange innovations and to share such changes with the rest of the Free-Net community. * Legal: NPTN provides assistance to its Organizing Committees and Affiliates in such areas as nonprofit organization, corporate law, insurance, and governance. NPTN also supplies guidance for creation of acceptable use policies and user registration contracts so as to safely guard against liability, censorship, invasion of privacy, for example. NPTN employs a full-time in house counsel well versed in the current issues confronting community computing. NPTN's General Counsel works to advance the interests of Free-Nets within private and public industry sectors, professional associations, policy groups, government, and throughout numerous international organizations. * Leadership: Evidencing NPTN's leadership role in community computing is its receipt of a large grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Adminstration's Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program for FY1994. NPTN was one of ninety successful applicants in a pool of over one thousand. During the next year NPTN's work in fulfilling this grant will spread the Free-Net name across the nation connecting Free-Nets with new communities and individuals. Logically, the successes of NPTN depend on the coordination of new activity with its existing Affiliates. NPTN cannot move ahead too far without them. Also, NPTN's advances can only benefit its Affiliates. * Image: NPTN has worked hard to build and advance the "Free-Net" name. While some have tried to exploit NPTN in the past, NPTN has been fortunate to have the loyal support of its numerous Affiliates and Organizing Committees. Together we will continually enjoy the increasing benefits of name recognition and unity. NPTN has recently hired a public relations consultant to assist NPTN in capitalzing on its name and work. -- Peter F. Harter, Executive Director & General Counsel National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN) 30680 Bainbridge Road, Suite 100-B, Solon, Ohio 44139-2268 U.S.A. S-Mail: P.O. Box 1987, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-0187 U.S.A. E-mail: pfh@nptn.org Voice: 216/498-4050 Fax: 216/498-4051 "Free-Net" is a servicemark of NPTN registered in the U.S. and Canada. -- Dave Sutherland National Capital FreeNet Ottawa Canada Operations Report 20 December 1994 1. Staff Assessment of priorities for January ------------------------------------------ As we approach the close of 1994 there has been an emphasis on year-end assessment and planning. The staff continues to meet every other week to discuss and define our priorities and share in finding solutions to operational challenges. For January, each staff member will be producing a brief document on 1995 priorities and providing a summarized breakdown of how our individual time is spent. This will help give the Board a clearer picture of staff activities as well as assist us in staying as effective as possible. 2. Status of the Administrative Office ----------------------------------- All is proceeding fairly well in the administrative office. We have a new full-time registrar via the Futures Ontario program so there is currently no backlog in registrations. We will also be receiving one, possibly two, co-op students for the first quarter of 1995. This, along with our outstanding crew of office volunteers, will assist office operations and guarantee little or no backlog in registrations and password related problems. 3. Post-Auction News ----------------- We have deposited most of the donations received from the Great On-line Auction. There were very little uncollected or defaulted funds. With uncollected funds and GST charges, we will be netting a bit less than $20,000. 4. Proposed Update of the 1994 Volunteer Coordinating Strategy ----------------------------------------------------------- A little less than a year ago Andrew Patrick, Brian Monkman, Kyla Huckerby and myself submitted a Volunteer Coordination Strategy to the Board of NCF. It was the first of its kind for this organization and made a marked difference in organized handling of our most valuable resource - our volunteers. NCF has continued to grow and develop quickly throughout 1994 and we need an updated approach to the current strategy and committee/task force structure. Brian Monkman and myself will be meeting with a various Board members, staff and volunteers to discuss our proposed plan for 1995. This plan will be tabled in January of 1995 for Board discussion and possible approval. The goal of the updated strategy will be to better support and recognize our volunteers, to provide clear, focused mandates and reporting for committees, task forces and projects, and to have a more cohesive approach taken by our volunteer coordinators. We are also in the process of recruiting two new volunteer coordinators (one for technical and one for non-technical activities) to assist Brian and I in placing and supporting our volunteer talent. 5. Current Committee and Task Force Update --------------------------------------- Note: All Committees and task forces should post their minutes in ncf.status.committees "go status." This provides a central location for all activity and and information on past meetings along with upcoming dates. Information Providers Committee Dereck Payne ae162 & Al Seaman aa331 This group is handling the overhaul of the on-line Information Providers forum, designing group training courses in MMS for new Information Providers, and training and providing volunteer consultants to organizations without any computer experience. Both the Executive Director and the Administrative Coordinator are on this committee as much of the initial handling of Information Providers goes through staff. This group now considers itself a task force and will seek Board approval for its mandate and structure in January. Dereck Payne, the Chair who revitalized the handling of IPs on NCF, would now like to step down as Chair and pursue individual projects. Last Meeting: 14 December 1995 Next Meeting: TBA Public Access Committee Chris Bradshaw aa122 & Julie Chahal ab161 This group discusses and plans for public access issues and placement of terminals, as well as researching and planning related to underrepresented groups on NCF. Also is assisting in overseeing Public Access terminal (PAT) installation logistics, maintenance of the Public Access list and on-line forum, and exploring ways to promote user education via our PATs. Chris Bradshaw's one year term as Chair will expire after January. He would like to stepdown as Chair but continue to participate in the group. Brian and myself will be drafting a task description and begin active recruitment for the position in January. Last Meeting: 21 November 1994 Next Meeting: 9 January 1995 Help Desk Committee Mathew Darwin aa673 & Al Seaman aa331 Answers all questions asked in the help desk or forwards the questions to the appropriate individuals or locations. Keeps the help files current. Produces other versions of help documents found on the help desk. Assists in user education. Develops tools to help diagnose problems. -Will be handling public meetings until April 1995. Documentation Task Force Heather MacFadyen ai529 & AL Seaman aa331 Documentation and fixing errors in the help files. Also documents new software: elm, trn, pine, & MMS. Last Meeting of the Help Desk and Documentation: 26 November 1994 Next Meeting: TBA French Committee Charles Trahan aj279 & Marc Labelle ac078 This group is working on having new goals and a clearer mandate for 1995. The Francophone committee is currently very small and would like to interact more with the other NCF committees and begin a volunteer recruitment campaign. Ideally we would like to see a Francophone on every committee so that Francophone issues and bilingualism will be a part of all FreeNet activities. Last Meeting: 12 December 1994 Next meeting: TBA Hardware & Software Committee Andrew Patrick aa118 This group handles a wide array of technical planning and projects for NCF. They are currently searching for an active Chair. The first meeting of 1995 will focus on creating a new mandate. Last Meeting: 9 November 1994 Next meeting: 11 January 1994 Fundraising Committee Gordon Pearson au167 A flexible group which meets to handle individual fundraising projects. They are now discussing 1995 fundraising strategy and exploring new ideas for gaining donations. Last Meeting: 9 December 1994 Next Meeting: TBA Menu Design Task Force A presentation to the Board on the menu design progress will be provided by Ian! Allen. Last Meeting: 12 December 1994 Next Meeting: TBA Donation Database Task Force This group is involved in designing the Donations database that will allow all donation information to be in one place and donations reports and renewal letters to be effectively produced. The group is currently behind schedule due to employment demands on the volunteers involved. Our goal was to have the database ready in late January-early February. Alternative methods for completion are being explored as this project is crucial to effective donation campaigns. Last Meeting: 1 November 1994 Next Meeting: TBA -------------------------------- Lisa K. Donnelly, am412 Executive Director IMPROVING BOARD/EXEC COMMUNICATIONS The following motion is put forward to enhance communications among Board members. Although an "Operations Report" is presented by the Executive Director at each Board meeting, it is necessarily incomplete, as it is a public document and cannot report details of business negotiations in progress and certain other discussions. Sharing the issues dicussed by the Executive Committee will assist all Board members in policy development by allowing them to build on the work that the Executive Committee has already done and will help to keep the discussions of the Executive Committee focussed on operational issues. Moved by Brett Delmage: That the agenda for each Executive Committee meeting be e-mailed to all NCF Board members before each meeting and that notes/minutes of each NCF Executive Committee meeting be e-mailed to all Board members within two weeks after each meeting. -- Brett Delmage aa693@freenet.carleton.on.ca fax (613) 729-2207 Director, National Capital FreeNet President, Citizens for Safe Cycling INFORMATION ON BUDGET PLANNING FOR 1995 A tabluation of quarterly summary data is available in a separate item in the Agenda Documents. More detailed spreadsheet will be distributed at the Board meeting. Unfortunately these detailed tables are not easy to adapt to the limited formating of NCF screens, and will not be posted. The budget documentation is being tabled at the December Board meeting for information, with final discussion and approval of a budget to occur at the January Board meeting. Note that there will be no monthly financial statement for December as the focus of effort has been placed on preparing the draft budget. The regular statement should be available with the January meeting documents. BUDGET PLANNING INFORMATION - QUARTERLY DETAIL Below is the data for the Budget Planning Information item on the Board agenda. The statements provide a forecast of revenues and expenses under a baseline scenario where the NCF continues operations in a similar fashion as 1994. At the January board meeting, Gordon Pearson will present information on fundraising initiatives which would be in addition to the baseline scenario presented here. These initiatives will be presented separately since they support specific projects outside of baseline operations, with a project proceeding only if its accompanying funding is received. Assumptions used to build the statements are listed at the end of this document. NATIONAL CAPITAL FREENET Forecast of Baseline Revenue, Expense and Surplus for each quarter 1995 RECEIPTS Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Donations 40,001 50,003 50,003 50,003 190,010 Line Sponsorships & Fundraising 10,875 27,208 7,208 32,208 77,500 Promotional Items & Misc. Revenues 1,000 1,333 1,333 1,333 5,000 Government Grants 15,000 15,000 15,000 45,000 Deferred Contributions 2,756 2,956 2,956 2,956 11,625 ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Total Receipts 54,632 96,501 76,501 101,501 329,135 ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- SERVICE EXPENSES Phone Lines - existing 12,420 12,420 12,420 12,420 49,680 Phone Lines - new 1,460 690 690 11,506 14,346 ONet fees 3,611 4,945 5,611 5,611 19,778 Cost of Promo Items 500 500 500 500 2,000 ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Total Service Expenses 17,991 18,555 19,221 30,037 85,804 ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES Office Staff & Supplies 8,705 8,105 8,005 8,105 32,920 System Administration 12,603 12,603 12,603 12,611 50,420 Exec.Director&Supplies 13,875 13,875 13,875 13,875 55,500 Fundraising Costs 11,239 15,015 15,846 19,486 61,585 Admin.&Profsnl. Fees 5,245 3,495 3,645 3,495 15,879 Public Access, Relations & Events 350 350 350 350 1,400 Depreciation -Equip. 10,228 10,560 10,560 13,547 44,894 ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Total General & Admin. 62,244 64,002 64,883 71,468 262,598 ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- Net Surplus (Deficit)(25,603) 13,944 (7,604) (5) (19,267) ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------- NATIONAL CAPITAL FREENET Forecasted Baseline Balance Sheet quarterly for 1995 ASSETS Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Current Assets Cash 18,402 29,186 35,675 4,951 Current Receivables 0 0 0 0 Capital Assets Computer Equipment 78,064 78,064 78,064 103,064 Telecom. Equipment 80,788 80,788 80,788 103,588 Business Equipment 4,800 10,100 10,100 10,100 Accum. Depreciation (50,685) (61,245) (71,804) (85,351) --------- -------- -------- -------- Total Assets 131,369 136,893 132,823 136,352 --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts Payable 1,354 1,354 1,354 1,354 Accrued Liabilities 13,365 4,701 11,191 17,681 --------- -------- -------- -------- Total Liabilities 14,719 6,055 12,545 19,035 --------- -------- -------- -------- Equity Deferred Contribns 44,100 47,300 47,300 47,300 Amortization of Def Contributions (19,992) (22,949) (25,905) (28,861) Retained Surplus 92,542 106,487 98,883 98,878 --------- -------- -------- -------- Total Equity 116,650 130,838 120,278 117,317 --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- Total Liabilities & Equity 131,369 136,893 132,823 136,352 --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- Notes for the Baseline Forecast: Number of Registered Users Quarter 1 end 36,500 Quarter 2 end 41,000 Quarter 3 end 45,500 Quarter 4 end 50,000 Number of Telephone Lines Quarter 1 - 170 beginning in February Quarter 2 - 170 Quarter 3 - 170 Quarter 4 - 234 Donations New Registrants 140,000 100% same growth as last year General (outside reg'n proess) 50,000 Approx 1/3 renewals from last year's donors and first time donations from old registrants Line Sponsors Renewals 14,000 75% of last years sponsors as worst casee scenario; New Sponsors 17,000 20 new sponsors as worst case scenario Fundraising includes Black Tie Dinner at Embassy for Honorary Council to the NCF $10,000 revenue with $5,000 cost = 5,000 net Grants Municipal Grants 30,000 ONIP 15,000 1995 balance of grant Final balance of $15,000 due in 1996 Amortization of Deferred Contributions Calculated at Straight Line over 4 years; Policy is 25% per year with 1/2 year rule. Phone Lines Line cost $23/line/month + $100 install/line ONET Fees Current cost for May'94 to Apr 95 of $14,445 (56Kb) , cost for May '95 to Apr '96 expected to be $22,445 (112Kb). Office Supplies Expense Increased in 1995 for expected relocation to new site Office Furniture & Equipment Expense Non-Capital office equip - $500 for small photocopier for Office if relocate to new Office Misc Computer Software includes $600 for office software if relocate to new office System Admin Supplies to cover phone and emergency transportation to site during system failures. Audit Expense 1994 accrued at $3,960 payable in Feb 95, 1995 est. at $3,960 Insurance Expense Insurance expense estimated at $1,000 for directors Honorariums and Gifts - 2 volunteer recognition parties @ $150 each + 4 projects or events @ $50 each for food & beverages + $25/month Depreciation Calculated at Straight Line over 4 years; Policy is 25% per year with 1/2 year rule. Equipment to be Purchased FreeNet Computer required upgrade for adequate performance & system safety Modems Feb: add 10 modems @ $200 per modem plus 4 spares; Oct add 64 modems Terminal Server for 64 lines Business Equipment $1,000 for Laser Printer for Office Business Equipment 6 - 286's @ $125 + 2 486's @ $2,000 donated Balance Sheet Accrued Liabilities Terminal Server $10,000, Onet payment in May/95 of $14,445; Onet for May/95 to Apr 96 of $22,000; Audit fees of $3960. ===================================================== Jean Wilmot, aa145@freenet.carleton.ca Treasurer, National Capital FreeNet ====================================================== NETWORK TRAINING SERVICES AGREEMENT July 6, 1994 Raphael Rostenne & Michel Sallenave Network Training Services 505 Westminster Avenue Ottawa, ON K2A 2T9 Dear Raphael & Michel: The following is a copy of the Motion passed by the National Capital FreeNet Board on June 21, 1994 -- the Board approved the terms and conditions as stated here. Kindly indicate your acceptance of these terms and conditions, including the additions numbered 6, 7, and 8, by signing where indicated below. "THAT National Capital FreeNet (NCF) offer freenet training by sub-contracting the work on a 6- month trial basis to "Network Training Services" (NTS) under the following terms and conditions: 1. NTS's training procedures and course materials must meet NCF's standards as determined by the NCF Board prior to the start and during the term of this agreement; NCF may terminate this agreement at any time without notice if, in the opinion of the NCF Board, NTS has failed to fulfill any of its obligations under this agreement. 2. 10% of all NTS course fees (current price is $39 tax included) are to be remitted to NCF on a mutually agreeable regular and timely basis; NTS will provide NCF with such periodic reports and access to NTS financial records as may be reasonably required by NCF to test the accuracy of the remittances; 3. NCF reserves the right of prior approval (not to be unreasonably withheld) of NTS promotional materials which mention NCF; 4. both NTS and NCF will use reasonable efforts to encourage NTS students to become registered NCF users and NCF donors; 5. NCF's Development Office will produce approximately 3,200 letters which NTS will mail, at its expense, to registered NCF users with dormant accounts; AND THAT NCF provide a means on-line for Registered Users and Guests to indicate their interest in taking the course (by filling out a form) and that this information be made available to NTS." NCF agrees to the following additions as discussed: 6. Renegotiation of this agreement may begin after five months have been completed, so that a new agreement may be in place effective immediately upon completion of the term of the current agreement; 7. NTS may terminate this agreement at any time without notice if, in the opinion of NTS, NCF has failed to fulfill any of its obligations under this agreement; 8. With regard to #5 above, NCF's Development Office will first produce 200 letters which NTS will mail, at its expense, to registered NCF users with dormant accounts. Thereafter, NTS and NCF will come to a mutual agreement as to how to proceed with the remaining 3,000 dormant accounts. Yours sincerely, Gordon Pearson Director of Development (co-signed by Dave Sutherland, Chairman) 1995 AGM PLANNING AGM Committee Meeting 1994-12-11 Rosaleen Dickson (RD) David Loan (DL) Richard Taylor (RT) Dates and Duration: The committee recommends that The Annual General Meeting be held over a two week period from 27 February until March 12, 1995. Election of Board Members An elections officer is needed to collect and check nominations. RD will contact a possible candidate for elections officer. It was suggested that more than one nominator be required to nominate candidates for the Board. However, since there were not an excessive number of candidates in last year's election, this restriction was not felt necessary. Five board members have terms that expire at this AGM. RT will contact these board members to find out if they intend to run for re-election, and will contact the other board members to find out if any others intend to resign at this time. Required Motions Certain motions are required by the By-Laws at the AGM. DL will draft these motions based on last year's. Reports The By-Laws require that "the report of the directors, the financial statements and the report of the auditors shall be presented". Following the format of last years AGM it is also recommended that reports be solicited from all NCF committees. Lisa Donnelly should be asked to collect these reports from the committee chairs. Confirmation of Rules and Regulations The By-Laws state that all rules and regulations prescribed by the board are only in effect until the next annual meeting of members "when they shall be confirmed, and failing such confirmation... shall at and from that time cease to have any force and effect." The committee agreed that there will have to be a motion to confirm board prescribed rules and regulations. There was no agreement on the scope of such a motion. The committee recommends that the Mission Statement be subject to separate confirmation by the members at the AGM. At the last AGM, the User Agreement was confirmed separately by a motion to the members. In the past year, various other rules and regulations have been passed by the board either by vote or by consensus. We could propose a motion that all of these rules and regulations be confirmed and point to the minutes of board meetings as the reference. We could explicitly list all current rules and regulations and ask for confirmation. We could list some "important" rules and regulations explicitly, ask for individual confirmation of each and blanket confirmation of all others. The committee could not agree on a recommendation in this area. Other Motions The By-Laws do not explicitly indicate whether or how members can bring motions to the AGM, except in a few specific cases. Last year, motions from members caused considerable frustration because some that passed by vote of members were later rejected by the board as being infeasible at that time, or beyond the mandate of NCF. We would like to avoid that kind of frustration at this AGM. The committee discussed a number of possibilities, but could not arrive at a recommendation: 1) Since members are always free to bring ideas to board members or to committees, there is no need for members to bring motions directly to the AGM. Members can elect board members who will represent them in the decision- making process. 2) Members could bring possible motions to a "Resolutions Committee" who would screen the motions to ensure that they are within the mandate and By-Laws of NCF, are feasible and are not redundant or in direct conflict with other motions. The Resolutions Committee would prepare the list of motions to be brought to the AGM. After the AGM, the board would still have to consider each motion that was passed by the members. 3) Members could bring possible motions to the board who would screen the motions to ensure that they are within the mandate and By-Laws of NCF, are feasible and are not redundant or in direct conflict with other motions. The board would approve a list of motions to be brought to the AGM. After the AGM, the new board would have to reconsider each motion, but since they would have been pre-selected, there is a high probability that they would be approved. -- Submitted on behalf of AGM Committee by: Richard P. Taylor Creation of a Board Recruitment Committee ----------------------------------------- A Nominating Committee is a typical standing committee of most non-profit Boards. As we are approaching our Board elections, it is the appropriate time to strike a committee to make researched recommendations on Board candidates that will compliment the existing talent we currently possess. Explainations on the complimentary qualification of each candidate should be presented during elections. Elements of Successful Board Recruitment ---------------------------------------- The Nominating Committee - Standard Definition Manages the Board's membership. Monitors performance of individual Board members, including identification and recruitment of new members, orientation of new members and appointment to Board committees. May also be members of a any related Advisory Council that exists. "Nominations to the Board should be made through its nominations Committee whose job it is to seek the most desirable new members. Community stature alone is insufficient reason for nomination. Members should be elected for what they can do and not for what they have done. One or two prominent people are sufficient for public recognition." Boards of Directors: A Managerial Analysis, FEDAPT: 1982 Ideally a Board should be composed of community leaders from the following professions or backgrounds: Computer and telecommunications experts; Representative from educational institutions; Representative from a major community organizations with non-profit experience; Representative from a government department; A lawyer; An investment banker or accountant; A marketing or advertising executive; A business and strategy executive; Representative from the mass media; Persons with excellent planning and logistics skills. Currently we could use more of the following skill sets: -------------------------------------------------------- 1.Business, logistics and planning skills 2.Marketing and media skills 3.Banking, investment and accounting skills 4.Non-profit skills 5.A Lawyer 6.Telecommunications knowledge on a National level Recommendation: --------------- We strike a Board Nominating committee at the December Board meeting to research, and bring forward, appropriate candidates. This group should be made up of three to four Board members who are not up for election and who are elected by Board vote. Traditionally the Executive Director is a de facto member of this group as well. As we will have only 5 openings and have existing members running for a second term, we will want to bring forward a small number of nominees (3-4) who embody several of the skills which are currently underrepresented on the NCF Board. Members from the nominating committee should meet with appropriate candidates and bring those who are willing and qualified before the Board for approval. This is a standard process and not meant to limit others wishing to run for the NCF Board. Additional Information: ----------------------- Simple questions to ask when choosing a Board candidate: -What professional qualifications will you be bringing to the NCF Board? -How much time do you have to commit? -How many other Boards do you currently sit on? -Have you been a member of a board before? -If so, inquire into how they served? -Has this person been active with NCF in any prior manner (been an active user, been an IP, donated to or volunteered for NCF)? Summary of Standard Board Expectations and Responsibilities: 1. Be an Advocate of the Organization 2. Attend regularly scheduled Board meetings 3. Serve on at least one standing committee 4. Exercise "fiduciary responsibility" which refers not only to financial matters, but also to overseeing the organizations mission and objectives 5. Contribute expertise in order to further the objectives of the organization 6. Assist in the raising of contributed income in some appropriate way ---- Submitted by: Lisa K. Donnelly, am412@freenet.carleton.ca Executive Director Creation of a Board Planning Committee -------------------------------------- It is standard for many non-profit Boards to have several standing committees. The most typical of these are Planning, Nominating/Board Review, Development and Finance. Given NCF's continued growth, both in size and in organizational development, and the challenge of completing realistic goals and objectives for 1995, now is a wise time to strike a formal planning committee. The results of a concentrated planning effort are more effective growth, funding and user services, in addition to better use of human and financial resources. The following information includes a description of a planning committee, suggestions on voting in the appropriate members to such a group and a recommended method of sharing findings with the rest of the Board, as well as staff and members. The Planning Committee - Standard Definition -------------------------------------------- -Develops and updates the current priorities and multi-year long range plans of the organization and shares recommendations with the Board, staff and members. Ideally, this group meets often throughout the last quarter of a year and into the first quater of a new year. For NCF, we will require frequent meetings in January and February. Updates to the Board via the moderated and unmoderated Board discussion area should be made after each meeting. Major issues should be brought forward to the Board meetings. If necessary, the planning committee should call a meeting of the Board to assist in consensus building on any grand strategies that may develop. Note: According to our Bylaws, it is not necessary that all members of a Board standing committee be Board members. Typically, this type of committee membership contains an outside individual with appropriate skills sets and knowledge. It is also normal to have one or more members of the staff participate as needed. Suggestion for creation of a Board Planning committee ----------------------------------------------------- 1. Ideal Candidates will be those with two or more of the listed skills: Hardware and software expertise Knowledge of the national movement of information/communication technologies Business and strategy expertise Financial and/or fundraising expertise **Enough time to meet regularly and communicate with the Board and membership on the results of the committee interaction. 2. Via Board vote on 20 December, elect 3 Board members for the committee. 3. Have all interested in participating raise their hand and a list will be compiled. Each Board member will vote on three Board candidates. Someone will count votes and those nominated by majority will comprise the planning committee. The first meeting date is to be announced by Thursday the 22 December via on-line postings. 4. The planning committee should chose an outside participant based on the skills and knowledge required to round out the elected group. ------- Submitted by: Lisa K. Donnelly, am412@freenet.carleton.ca Executive Director DEVELOPING A POLICY ON TELNET SERVICES The following item is being tabled for clarification and brief discussion. I do not wish to raise any motions at this time. Very few Board members have participated in the online discussion about this topic and I believe that we need to think about this and related issues carefully. We should also wait until we have some financial planning data to work with. Two documents are provided: a brief description of the the issue and possible options, and a long discussion paper providing the relevant background. BRIEF DESCRIPTION - the NCF has chosen to not be a general Internet provider. Maybe it should be, but the current and past positions of the Board has been that this is not an objective for the NCF. - so, the NCF has intended to only offer limited Internet services. This means no FTP, no binary file transfers, no International IRC, etc. - however, because of the telnet links in the Gopher and WWW services, and because people can telnet to other systems that do offer these Internet services, we are in fact acting as a general Internet provider. Moreover, we are not a very efficient one since many things (such as FTP) are done second-hand through remote telnet links and these would be much more effective if they were done locally. - thus, our actual situation, virtually unlimited Internet services, is not consistent with our statements of "we only have limited Internet services". - possible options: - limit the telnet service so it is consistent with objective of limited Internet services - Let's define something called "specialized telnet destinations" as those destinations that offer a single specific service, such as a MUD or a MOO or a library catalog or a weather service. If these services are consitent with what the NCF is trying to do, then they need not be affected. So, MUDs and MOOs and library services could remain. The only specialized service that might be removed would be those that specifically offer a service the NCF has chosen not to support, such as anonymous International IRC services. - contrast this with something called "generalized telnet destinations", which are those destinations that offer general services which often included those Internet services we have decided not to support. This includes some of the other FreeNet systems, and the commerical Internet login hosts. To be consistent with our objective of limited Internet services, these destinations would have to be eliminated or restricted to "guest" access where the Internet services are not available. - the other option is to admit that we are acting as a general Internet provider and start acting like one. This means installing FTP, IRC, etc. on our local machines where they run efficiently. The issues here become: - is this what the FreeNet is here to do? - can we afford the systems and network and modems and operators that would be necessary if all these services were turned on? The root issue is that we can't be saying one thing while doing another. The NCF must decide what it is, and what it is not. It then must put into place the mechanisms to support this decision. It is not a question of control, it is a question of mission and focus to make the best use of our limited resources. DISCUSSION PAPER Developing a Policy on Telnet Services: A Discussion Paper prepared for The National Capital FreeNet Board of Directors by The National Capital FreeNet Hardware/Software Committee Acting Chair: Andrew Patrick (aa118) Version: 1.2 -- 11/11/94 Preamble -------- This paper describes an issue that needs to be discussed by the Board. It involves using our recent discussions of our mission and goals to make a major policy decision about the external services that we support, and do not support. Introduction ------------ There is a history on the NCF of only offering limited Internet services to our members, and only services that are consistent with our goals and objectives. For example, we have taken steps to limit Gopher transfers to non-binary files, we provide local-only IRC service, and we do not provide FTP services. The reasons for this are both economic and philosophical. We do not have the resources to spend on the Internet connections, computer horse-power, disk space, and modem lines that would be needed to provide these services on a large scale. In an ideal world with lots of funding, it might be possible to offer these services. With limited funds, however, it is not possible to provide all the Internet services that are possible. Also, it was never the purpose of the FreeNet to be a general-purpose Internet provider. Instead, the philosophy was one of local community information sharing, and members seeking complete Internet services are encouraged to sign-up with one of many local Internet providers. The FreeNet was intended to build a useful electronic resource for the community. That might involve some Internet services directly related to our mandate, but an on-ramp to the Internet was never the intended goal. The Telnet Service ------------------ This policy of limited Internet services has also been applied to the "telnet" service that allows users to connect to other machines on the Internet. We do not provide a general telnet "prompt" service, but instead list a few sites in our menus (e.g., other FreeNet systems, a few MUD-type games and services). Again, people seeking a more general service are directed to an organization that is dedicated to providing Internet services. Telnet and Gopher ----------------- The Gopher service provides menus to many files and resources on the Internet. It also provides menus for telnet connections to many, many sites on the net. There are even a number of Gopher menus that allow users to specify any host to telnet to. The result is that although we are limiting the number and type of telnet connections in our menus, we are not limiting them via Gopher. Further, as the Gopher "space" has grown throughout the Internet, the number of different telnet links reachable by our members has grown tremendously. One analysis of our system logs showed that our members have connected to over 3400 different hosts in the last 18 months or so. Moreover, as we install the even-more-popular WWW service (and the Lynx browser), the number of telnet destinations reachable from our system will grow significantly once again. Since the Gopher and WWW spaces are so large and diverse now, there is a very wide range of "types" of telnet connections possible, from the routine to the potentially dangerous. The result is that that our telnet connections are not restricted in any meaningful sense. It is not just a Gopher problem, as some of the sites we provide telnet links to via our menus, such as other FreeNets, provide the services and launch points that we have chosen not to provide here. It is well known that user can get FTP services by going to one FreeNet, and IRC services by going to another, for example. The Implications of Unrestricted Telnet --------------------------------------- Why are unrestricted telnet connections a problem? Again, it goes back to issues of economics and philosophy. Users doing telnet connections consume system resources, network bandwidth, and they occupy expensive modem lines. Further, it is not the philosophy or mission of the FreeNet to provide a general Internet service where users can connect to practically any site in the world. As a result of our unrestricted telnet destinations, users of our system are able to access most of the Internet services that we have decided not to provide (for reasons of costs or philosophy). There are telnet connections reachable from our system that provide: general telnet prompts, unrestricted international IRC ("chatting"), full FTP file transfers, unrestricted newsgroups, etc. A list of the 20 most frequent telnet destinations can be seen in the Table (at end). It is clear that IRC clients, MUDs, and similar systems are very common destinations. By failing to restrict telnet we have failed to implement fully our policies and procedures. There are also security issues associated with this situation. We have had a few cases where users have used the unrestricted telnet connections on the NCF to launch attacks on other systems on the Internet. Using telnet-type links in the Gopher space, they are able to connect to other systems (sometimes using special network "ports") that may be vulnerable to break-ins and/or misuse. (We have even seen a case where someone used a Gopher telnet menu to attempt to break-in to our systems!) They may do this to damage the systems, harass the users or operators, forge message traffic, etc. When the attacks are discovered, we are called upon to investigate the users' behaviour and take actions. If we fail to act, all connections from our systems may be refused by that site or service (this has occurred). We have also had cases where users telnet into the NCF for the purpose of disguising their location when they launch attacks on other systems on the net. There are also many commercial "BBS" and "login" hosts on the Internet that provide general net services not available on our system (e.g., eskimo.com). These systems charge a fee for services such as: a UNIX prompt, unrestricted IRC, binary file transfers, etc. They are able to do this at reduced rates because they do not have to cover the costs of the dial-in lines the users are using. Providing access to such systems through our dialup lines is probable not consistent with our mission and practices. Options ------- It would seem that properly restricting our outgoing telnet connections would be consistent with NCF policies and practices, and be true to the mission and philosophy of this project. There are a number of options we should consider when considering our telnet services: 1) We could attempt to limit telnet to those sites that seem to be within our mandate, such as libraries and other FreeNet systems. We would develop a list of "acceptable" hosts and service ports, and attempts to connect to any systems not on the list would be refused. The major problem with this is if our users can register and get accounts on these foreign systems, they can use that system to make telnet links via Gopher and WWW. So, we are just moving the interface one layer away from us and not addressing the problem. 2) We could restrict all but a few outgoing telnet links, and only allow connections to sites where we specify the host, port, and login account. (Specifying the login for all the connections may require some technical work.) We could use this to allow users to continue to connect to some libraries and MUDs that we want to support. We could also provide access to other FreeNet systems, but only as "guest" users. Guest access and the fact that many information sites offer their data via traditional Gopher or WWW files, would mean that very little information would lost with this option. One thing that our users would loose is access to local newsgroups on other systems that, like the NCF, do not distribute their news outside of their system. 3) We could develop a "cost system" for telnet connections so that users who make telnet connections somehow incur a cost for that connection. So, users might get reduced time limits if they are using the telnet services. Another possibility is a credit system where credits are used during telnet connections, and when a user's credits are gone the connections are disabled for some period (e.g., 5 hours of external connection per week). This option could be combined with Options 1 and 2 above. This option does not address the policy issue of whether these kinds of external connections are part of the NCF goals and objectives, and it would not address the security issues without some other restrictions placed on the connection destinations. 4) We could restrict our telnet service to users who access our systems via the modem pool and dedicated connections. If a user has reached our system via a telnet connection, it may be a bad use of resources to allow them to then connect to another system from ours. This option could be combined with one or more of the other options. Impact if Telnet Restrictions Implemented ----------------------------------------- Implementing any restrictions on telnet connections may be rather controversial. Connecting to other systems on the net is a very popular activity on the NCF, and users have found very interesting paths to many services that we do not provide. There is a very vocal community that feels that the NCF should provide all Internet services for free, and they have been using the telnet connections to get many of the services we do not offer locally. Placing restrictions on the telnet links is likely to anger this group, and education about our mission and philosophy is going to be an important task if this is done. Table Top 20 Telnet Destinations for the Period Oct 17 - 24 1994 Total Connects: 26280 1. mud.eskimo.com 4000 -- 2925 Moosehead SLED MUD 2. tiger.itc.univie.ac.at 6668 -- 1353 Anonymous IRC client 3. kanga.INS.CWRU.Edu 23 -- 1264 Cleveland FreeNet? 4. schoolnet.carleton.ca 7777 -- 1102 SchoolNet MOO 5. freenet.toronto.on.ca 23 -- 813 Toronto Freenet 6. thrash.isca.uiowa.edu 4444 -- 793 Armageddon MUD? 7. THRASH.ISCA.UIOWA.EDU 4444 -- 622 " 8. dogbert.ugcs.caltech.edu 1536 -- 587 MadROM MUD 9. neuromancer.hacks.arizona.edu 6060 -- 586 Hotel California MUD? 10. ottlib.carleton.ca 23 -- 530 Ottawa Library 11. freenet.carleton.ca 23 -- 526 Us 12. freeport.uwasa.fi 23 -- 507 Finland FreeNet 13. dallet.channel1.com 1234 -- 467 Channel 1 MUD 14. freenet3.scri.fsu.edu 23 -- 461 Tallahassee Free-Net 15. freenet.hut.fi 23 -- 412 Finland Freenet 16. ugsparc11.eecg.utoronto.ca 9000 -- 376 Stick in the MUD 17. 131.188.192.11 23 -- 354 Erlangen FreeNet 18. freenet3.carleton.ca 23 -- 349 Us 19. freenet.victoria.bc.ca 23 -- 343 Victoria FreeNet 20. farside.atinc.com 3000 -- 313 Farside MUD ---------- Submitted by: Andrew Patrick (aa118@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) Vice-President - National Capital FreeNet Proposition de Plan d'action du comit francophone de Libertel, pour l'anne 1995 NOTRE MISSION ============= - Rpondre aux aspirations et aux besoins des membres de la communaut francophone de la rgion en matire d'change d'information; - assurer une participatin dynamigue des francophones dans l'expansion et le fonctionnement de l'espace francophone et de l'ensemble du rseau; - promouvoir la francophonie en dveloppant des relations efficaces avec les autres communautes francophones (de l'interrseau) et les communauts non-francophones. PRIORIT POUR L'ANNE 1995 ========================== Augmenter la participation des francophones dans le LCN, pour qu'elle soit plus reprsentative des proportions de population dans la rgion. En ce moment, nous estimons que, sur les 30 000 usagers enrgistrs du LCN, moins de 1000 sont francophones. Toutes proportions gardes, le nombre de francophones devrait plutt se chiffrer plus de 6000. Nous avons donc un norme dfi devant nous, dfi qui risque de prendre plus d'un an relever. POINTS DE MIRE ============== Avant d'attaquer directement le problme de la participation des francophones, nous nous devons de rgler... - les problmes d'ordre technique et de support linguistique, - les politiques du LCN relatives aux correspondances des structures de menu de l'information dans les deux langues. Dvelopement - jeu de caractres -------------------------------- - Documenter principes de conversion; - Dsactivation automatique de conversion durant transfer de fichier binaire; - Ajouter nouvelles tables de conversion, si ncessaire; - Menu de slection de conversion bas sur exemple; - Intgrer menu de slection avec le menu de l'environnement; - Intgrer le paramtre "jeu de caractre" avec les autres paramtres de l'environement; - Jeu implicite: ASCII, Latin-1 ou autre chose? - Prparer une feuille d'information montrant la correspondance entre les jeux de caractres Latin-1, MAC, DOS850, DOS863... - Dvelopper un message tre prsent au moment de l'accs pour annoncer la venue prochaine du support de jeu de caractres multiple; - Mise en place officielle: modifier le script d'accs. Choix - interface humaine ------------------------- - Reste-t-on avec FreePort, ou allons-nous vers autre chose? quand? Cette question affecte comment concevoir et mettre en place le support d'un choix de langue d'interaction avec le systme. Cette question affecte le LCN dans son ensemble, et ne peut pas tre traite uniquement dans le cadre du comit francophone; mais sa rsolution est maintenant rendue urgente pour le comit francophone. Dvelopement - interaction en franais -------------------------------------- (Suppose un choix de l'interface humaine) - Ajouter le paramtre "langue" au profil de l'usager; (valeur initiale: nulle; script pour demander quelle langue) - Dterminer principe gnral de fonctionnement; - Nouvelle commande de menu pour changer de langue d'interaction; - Invites et rponses du systme: bilingues? - Ajouter la version franaise des commandes de menus de Freeport - Y a t-il des versions franaises de PICO, CE? (Version franaise de gopher dj en service); - le paramtre de langue du compte "visiteur" est le franais (mais son jeu de caractre est "indtermin"); - Prparer et prsenter une/des sessions d'information sur les nouvelles fonctions de langue pour les usagers; - Dvelopper des rgles d'dition pour les producteurs d'information (texte original ou traduction de....) - Prparer un document d'information sur les nouvelles fonctions de langue, et leur influence sur la prsentation d'information sur l'cran de l'usager. - Version franaise de l'inscription interactive; Politique face au multilinguisme dans les menus ----------------------------------------------- - Dcrire au CA du LCN les points concidrer quant la mise en place d'une politique de multilinguisme sur les menus du LCN - Faire une proposition au CA face au multilinguisme dans les menus - Obtenir du CA une dcision ce sujet. Dvelopement - menu franais ---------------------------- (Suppose une politique tablie face au multilinguisme des menus) - Ajouter la logique ncessaire pour que le menu soit prsent dans la langue de l'usager (l o cela s'applique); - Dvelopper des procdures et/ou modifier le systme pour faciliter l'entretien des rfrences entre les menus. Recruter des Producteurs d'Information francophone -------------------------------------------------- - Informer tous les Producteurs d'Information qu'ils peuvent maintenant composer leurs textes franais, et les afficher sur leur babillard; les contacter pour savoir s'ils ont l'intention d'afficher des textes franais, et s'ils veulent de l'information etou de la formation ce sujet; - Obtenir la liste de membres de l'ACFO; - partir de cette liste (sans s'y limiter), tablir un ordre de priorit; - Contacter les membres de la liste, les informer propos du LCN et leur offir l'entrainement pour Producteurs d'information but: 10 nouveaux producteurs d'information ce printemps) Recruter des membres francophones --------------------------------- - Tenir des sances d'information gnrale, non seulement Ottawa, mais galement Hull, Gatineau, Aylmer...; - Faire connaitre la population francophone l'existence du LCN... - En publiant des articles dans les journaux et autres priodiques locaux, - En incitant les mdia locaux parler du LCN, - En distribuant le dpliant d'information du LCN dans les endroits publics o se regroupent les francophones... Ouverture officielle de la section franaise de Libertel -------------------------------------------------------- - Dterminer si cela peut se faire cette anne Requis pour l'ouverture officielle: - Paramtres de jeu de caractre et de langue en vigueur - Plus d'information qu'il est possible de lire en une session d'une heure, - 25 producteurs d'information franaise - plus de 1000 usagers francophones - Prparer la publicit - Informer les mdias - Confrence de presse ------------------- Charles Trahan (aj279) Comit francophone du LCN, Draft goals and objectives for 1995 Partial Translation THE MISSION =========== - Meet the aspirations and the needs of the regional francophone community w.r.t. exchange of information. - Ensure a dynamic participation of francophones in the expansion and oparation of the francophone space and NFC as a whole. - Promote french by developping effective relations with other francophone communities (of the internet) and non-francophone communities. PRIORITIES FOR 1995 =================== - Increase froncophone participation in NCF so that it is more representative of population proportions in the region. We currently estimate that, of the 30,000 registered users, less than 1000 are francophone. To be more in line with population proportions, this number should be greater than 6000. Rectifying this imbalance represents such a big challenge that it will probably take more than a year to tackle. PROJECTS ======== - Development - character sets - Choice - human interface - Development - system interaction in french - Policy w.r.t. multilingualism in menus - Development - french menu - Recruiting french Information Providers - Recruiting francophone members - Official opening of french section of NCF MENU DESIGN UPDATE On behalf of the Menu Design Task force (MDT) volunteers, Ian Allen will present the recent products of MDT work on creating a clearer NCF menu hierarchy and a short summary of what has been learned in the design process. The MDT has set down some principles of menu design by consulting with experts in user interface design and in information organization. Ongoing details of this work continue to be posted regularly in the System Design work area. A summary document is being drafted. MDT recently did some rough field-testing of possible menus to help narrow the choice of menu formats and confirm design decisions. This helped enabled MDT to eliminate unpopular and confusing menu items and formats. Current work focusses on refining and possibly field-testing variants of a proposed main menu. Details on the precise placement and wording of each item is underway. The Information and Discussion menu, developed over the summer by a team working with Miranda Gray and available online, is itself undergoing review with the assistance of our Library experts. ------------ Submitted by: Ian! D. Allen (aa610) System Administrator Setting a date for the 1995 NCF Birthday party -We need a concrete date for the upcoming Birthday party in order to begin the appropriate planning for the event. -- Lisa K. Donnelly, am412 Executive Director