Letter #1:
==========
Hello.

The time has come for your National Capital FreeNet (NCF) account to be 
renewed.

Twenty-four dollars a year per member is the minimum which we will need to 
meet anticipated expenses.  NCF is almost entirely financed through the 
donations of individual members, and strives to evolve to meet the changing 
needs of the community.  While we continue to receive donations of equipment 
from Key Partners, our annual operating costs are about $250,000.  We ask for
your help to keep this valued community resource alive and well.

Donations above $24 help improve NCF and assist those in our community
who are less able to contribute financially.  Members who donate $48 or more
per year will be entitled to a Personalized FreeNet Address for the year
(see www.ncf.ca/ncf/pfa or type "go pfa").

FreeNet members can connect, communicate, and participate with thousands
of others in the community, have access to hundreds of special-interest
groups and to a large number of official sources of information, PLUS
have full and complete connections to the internet for world-wide email, 
and access to the endless sources of entertainment and information on the
world-wide-web.

The National Capital Freenet is possible because:

  1) many members volunteer their time to help operate it,
  2) NCF is a community-based, not-for-profit organization, and
  3) members donate enough money to cover the operating expenses.

If you wish, you may renew your account by providing volunteer support.
Volunteer opportunities include activities such as helping new members
get online, or maintaining a web page on NCF's CapitalFind directory.  Past
volunteer activity may also be recognized as your contribution
(see www.ncf.ca/ncf/volunteer or type "go volunteer").

If you are unable to make a financial or volunteer contribution, you
may use our service free of charge.  No one is turned away.  Please
encourage your friends and family to support the NCF.

There are several ways to make a contribution:

     1) Mail or deliver your donation to:

        National Capital FreeNet
        Room 402, Dunton Tower
        Carleton University
        Ottawa, Ontario
        Canada  K1S 5B6

        (You can donate by VISA on a one time or a monthly basis -
        please include your: account number, expiry date, and the amount
        of the donation.  You can also donate with Visa on-line - type "go
        visa")

     2) Drop off your donation at any Scotia Bank branch in the National
        Capital Region.  To do so, please enclose your donation with
        your name, and user id (e.g., ba451) in an envelope and leave the
        envelope with any Scotia Bank teller.  Please label the envelope
        as follows:

        Bank of Nova Scotia,
        Carleton University Branch, transit number 00406,
        Attention: FreeNet

     3) Send us e-mail at renew@ncf.ca to tell us that you wish to
        volunteer some of your time as your renewal contribution.

If you have donated in the last 9 months and wish to have us acknowledge
your earlier donation as your annual contribution, please tell us by
reply e-mail.  We hope that you will consider an additional donation to help
us improve our services.

We hope that you will renew your account and make a contribution to the
National Capital FreeNet today.


Sincerely,

Christopher L. Cope
Executive Director