Director of Development's Report April Board of Directors Meeting 1. The Committee has 40 members (up from 6 last fall) and meets monthly. This is a big improvement. The next meeting is on Tuesday April 25th. 2. We are following the Development Plan adopted by the Board. We have inaugurated a "FreeStars" program to recognize donor, sponsor and volunteer of-the-week. 3. We are ahead on most of our financial targets, especially membership donations and government grants. We are on target in soliciting Connection Sponsorships, but the sponsors' cheques have not been received yet. The corporate committee, headed by Doug Milne, is just getting started. 4. Several extra mini-projects are being organized by Committee members including an NCF cookbook (offered through the Boutique) and a spring rummage sale. The new edition of the Survival Guide is at the printers. 5. The Auction project has been slow getting off the ground. However, a chairman has recently come forward (Mike Mason - an956) and the committee is now gearing up. 6. NTS (Network Training Services) has reported a small decrease in training course registrations. This can be put be put right with more promotional work on their part and higher visibility for the course registration menu on NCF. 6. An award of $40,000 has been recommended by the RMOC's Economic Development Committee for system expansion. I will be defending this recommendation to Council on April 18th. 7. Our Key Partner, Hardware Canada, recently gave us a SCSI Drive. Andrew Patrick and I will be meeting with them in the near future to discuss NCF's short and long-term hardware needs. 8. We have established "partnerships" with two local corporations who have applied to CANARIE for research & development funds using NCF as a test bed. This may result in new equipment and other tools for NCF. *********************************************************************** Gordon Pearson, Director of Development, National Capital FreeNet Want to do something great for your community? Type "go $" and help make FreeNet more accessible to everyone..$25 is a good place to start. Email: au167@freenet.carleton.ca Voice: (613)749-9372 Fax: 749-9970 ***********************************************************************