The NCF Board Planning Committee will request that the following motion be
considered at the Board's next meeting on 18 July.
-----------------------

The Planning Committee is excited about NCF's possibilities in relation to
the WWW. We cannot fulfill the part of our mission statement that says NCF
"prepares people for full participation in a rapidly changing
communications environment" without strategies that include the fastest
growing part of the Internet. Two years ago NCF was paving the way for
other on-line environments.  As one of the oldest and largest community
networks on the planet we should now embrace this opportunity to re-create
the services we offer and position NCF for a solid and successful future.

For further background, please see ncf.board-moderated posting # 609.


I MOVE THAT NCF implement increasing access to, and visibility from, the
World Wide Web.


Carrying out this motion would probably include actions such as:
* Make available a text-only Web browser (e.g.., Lynx).        (Staff)
* Complete testing and install the NCF web server software that makes
  FreePort menus available to external web browsers.           (Staff)
*  Design the overall look of NCF information on the WWW; specifically
develop a style guide for web pages and find ways to identify material as
coming from NCF.                               (Menu Design Committee)
* Learn from Chebucto software, operations and costs.          (Staff)
* Investigate alternatives to Lynx.                       (HW/SW committee)
* Investigate non-FreePort alternatives to other services (e.g, mail)  (Staff)
* Assess impact on costs and system loads.  Determine if some form of
  rationing will be required.                    (Finance Committee, HW/SW)
* Develop alternatives for distributing client software to our members
  (e.g., VT100 emulation packages on a diskette)         (HW/SW, Help Desk)
* Develop a communications plan including members, Information Providers,
  and the media.                                     (Staff)
* Regular reports of progress and impact.            (Executive Director)
* Investigate new opportunities for funding to make the transition to
  the web technology.                   (Development Committee and Staff) 
--
Julie Chahal

Vice President, National Capital FreeNet		Voice: (613) 226-3915
Trustee, Nepean Public Library				Fax:   226-7817