Some people's idea of the information system of tomorrow is a pushbutton marked "BUY" that lets you mail-order a crystalline rabbit or a pewter model of a classic car from your home computer instead of from your television.
Our vision is a little different.
We foresee a world when the community has an active voice on the Canadian information infrastructure. Where citizens and community groups can join online discussions and be active participants, not just passive consumers.
We think this is an exciting future, and we're here to make it happen!
We're hosting community Web pages so that local organizations - from associations for the disabled to arts groups to transition houses - can get online. We're providing free dial-in access and helping to provide public access terminals so that anybody can get connected, not just those who can afford it. We're working to provide online forums for discussing anything and everything of interest to the community.
But to do all this we need your support! And one of the best ways you can help us is to take out a membership.
Taking out a membership in The Vancouver Community Network gives you a vote at our annual general meetings, and a say in the directions we'll take in the future. But, most importantly, it means you're helping support our continued endeavours, and helping us fight for a public voice in the online world.
Individual memberships are $25 per year, family memberships are $40 per year, and low-income memberships are $15 per year. We have an online membership form that you can print out for your convenience if you're applying for a membership. If you're renewing, just send your cheque to our offices with your user ID attached.
Remember that membership is not required in order to use our system. However we run on an honour system, and expect all of our users who can afford it to become members.
We also welcome donations of any size, whether or not you join as a member. And, since we're a volunteer-driven organization, you're also encouraged to come out and help! There's a lot of work that always needs to be done, from working in the office to helping community groups build their Web pages.
Because there's more to life than buying trinkets with your computer.
Revised: October 8, 1998