[Board member Andrew Patrick has requested that the following item be
include as material for the Board meeting of Dec. 19. - RPT]

                           A Web in the Soup:
                 A Revised Strategy and Budget for 1996

                         Andrew Patrick (aa118)
                      Fri Dec  8 23:05:19 EST 1995

- the issue

   - draft budget based on strategic decision to change technologies
   to WWW

   - included assumption of offering dialup-IP services 

   - but, only 11% of population online so far

   - technology changes will, if anything, hinder some people that we
   want to serve to get online

   - full WWW implementation may be costly and distract us from our
   central mission

   - budget did not include strong community outreach component


- proposal for revised budget

   - WWW implementation is already proceeding, and is not an
   all-or-none thing

   - there may be large implications of offering dial-up IP so should
   proceed slowly

   - so, rate of WWW implementation reduced

   - community outreach component added, focused on more funding for
   the volunteer/outreach coordinator and a physical point-of-presence
   in the community


Part 1: list of options for WWW activities (* = being done now)

   - client side
      1. 'www' line-mode browser available to users
      2. lynx VT100-mode browser available to users *
      3. support menu links to URLs via lynx *
      4. support use of GUI browsers via dial-up IP
      5. support offline mail/news via dial-up IP
   
   - server side
      1. make FreePort menus and information available via WWW server *
      2. support HTML documents in IP areas *
      3. support use of graphics in IP areas (viewable externally only)
      4. support personal home pages available through server *
      5. integrate FP menus and HTML files "seamlessly"
      6. replace all FP menus with HTML files and 
          replace entire FP menu interface with WWW server
   
   WWW Implementation Proposal:
      - client side
         - complete options 1,2,3
         - research options 4,5 using in-house staff/volunteers
            (and explore political ramifications)
      - server side
         - complete options 1,2,3,4,5
         - option 6 not needed, could be very costly for all concerned


Part 2: Changes to Draft Budget

   Model 1: draft budget presented to BoD in November
   Model 2: proposed revisions

    - only changes to "strategic" items.  No change in operational items
    or dial-up phone line configuration.


                                 Model 1   Model 2     Diff.
   TOTAL                         $76,220   $76,480   -260.00
---------------------------------------------------------------       
Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator     18420     36840
Systems Admin                           no change 
Public Events                       1000         0

Computer Systems                   25000         0
Disk Drives                        10000      5000
WWW Server Software                 2000         0
Membership Database                12500      5000
WWW GUI Design                      2500         0
Modem Upgrade                       4800         0

Community Outreach Centre     
   Rent                                      19000 = 1583.33/month    
   Furnishings/Setup (one-time)               3000
   Telecom                    
      Voice (2 lines)         
         Setup (one-time)                      280
         Ongoing                               960
      Data (e.g., ISDN link to Carleton)
         Setup (one-time)                     2000
         Ongoing                              2400
   Supplies                                   2000


Highlights:

    - volunteer coordinator made full-time and expanded to include
    outreach duties

    - no change to systems administration (1.5 people)

    - small public events budget included in new "outreach" item

    - no purchase of computer equipment (some systems being under-used
    now in anticipation of full WWW conversion, plus recent offer of
    donation of slow SPARC machines that will handle a few more users)

    - reduce disk drive purchase (we are about to archive and compress
    idle accounts until they are used again)

    - remove WWW server purchase (there are PD servers that will do for
    gradual WWW implementation)

    - remove WWW GUI design (can be done in-house or through donation or
    recognition agreement)

    - remove purchase portion of modem upgrade (64 modems donated
    already, need to replace all modems not pressing under new model)

    - reduce Membership Database (Oracle) project (some service may be
	 donated)

    - new project is Community Outreach Centre

      - physical space in central location
         - would not replace current space at Carleton U

      - drop-in and training centre
         - combined with revitalized community outreach efforts (e.g.,
         live meetings, targeted recruitment, etc.)

      - has in-house LAN and link to Carleton U

      - operated by volunteers under direction of coordinator

      - also meeting place for staff, committees and volunteers


-- 
               Andrew Patrick (aa118@FreeNet.Carleton.CA)
                Vice-President, National Capital FreeNet