Executive Director's Report
February 2004
===========================

March 9th, 2004
By John Selwyn
(execdir@NCF.ca) 

Membership on the 1st of March was 8596, just shy of 8600 forecast in the 
budget.  I expect continued growth in membership especially in light of 
expected publicity.  

Donations for February were $21,187 as compared to expected donations of 
$21,263.  This is up from approximately $16,000 last year and $17,000 the 
year before.  As donations were low in January, we are currently $6,000 
shy of target for this point in the year.

Expenses for the month were light due to the continued involvement of Andre 
in the extended access project.  As this project has now ended, we expect 
expenses to rise to the budgeted levels in March.  The refund of 
installation charges from our telecom supplier has been received.

Modems:
As one would expect with the growth in membership we are seeing a continually 
growing load on the modem pool.  I believe that upgrading of Mitel and the
enlargement of the modem pool will be very timely.  Extended sessions are 
typically being limited during the hours of 6:00 p.m. to about 11:00 p.m.  
The upgrading of Mitel was delayed waiting for a software load which has 
now been received.  

The extended access project is also continuing to make progress.  Testing of 
the new equipment will start this week.  

Marketing:
Smart Capital launch provided the NCF with coverage in the Ottawa Citizen as
well as other mass media.  Our ads are scheduled to run in the Citizen in 
early March.  At the Smart Capital launch CFRA and le Droit expressed 
interest in feature articles/interviews during the next month.

Spam assassin has now been enabled for FreePort users.  

The Ottawa Citizen has a high tech supplement on spam during the week of March 
16th.  The NCF with it's SpamFilter will be covered as one of 10 articles.  
CJOH is introducing the NCF enhancements with a teaser feature during their
nightly news and then planning full coverage on March 16th.  Other
media outlets have been contacted.

A media kit has been produced with an overview of the projects and one
double sided hand out for each sub project.  This messaging will be helpful
for all public interaction going forward.

Shirley has done a stellar job of the final report for HRSDC, gaining praise
from the project manager.  Apparently the NCF project management, accounting
and reporting was head and shoulders above any other project.
The audit was completed yesterday and we are waiting on final signoff.
  
We will be introducing a checkin feature to the NCF shortly.  There has been 
some discussion in the news groups on this feature.


Things are very busy,


Happy Saint Patrick's Day

John