From: ejdormer@bnr.ca (Eric Dormer)
Subject: Freenet: B.o.D. Nomination- Eric Dormer
Reply-To: ejdormer@bnr.ca
Organization: Bell Northern Research Ltd
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 17:05:35 GMT


National Capital Freenet:

Board Of Directors Nomination  
=============================

Please accept the following nomination of Eric Dormer for a position on the 
Board of Directors of the National Capital Freenet (Ottawa).
--------------------

Eric J. Dormer
1058 Silver St.            work: Bell-Northern Research
Ottawa, Ontario                  ejdormer@bnr.ca
K1Z 6H9 (613) 724-6435           (613) 763-5897
                                 fax: (613) 763-8835

Dear Freenet members,

I am very interested in participating on the Board of Directors of the 
Freenet.  I have been intested in computer mediated communication systems
for some time, and my interest spans technical, business, and social 
perspecitves.  

On the technical side, the introduction of affordable PCs and modems makes
this new medium possible, yet there are many technical decisions yet to be
made that will affect the ultimate utility and impact the Freenet will
have.  It is essential to provide the public with a high quality of service,
and this means signal quality and bandwidth, ability to get access, and the 
ability to quickly search for relevant information.  

From a business perspective, it will be challenging to find the appropriate
niche for the Freenet.  It must complement commercial public access 
networks, not directly compete against (them which would jepardize its funding).
There will be pressures to use the Freenet for commercial purposes such as
classified ads, employment wanted and offered, services, and even publicity.
The board must make balanced policies in these areas to avoid undue competition
with commercial enterprises, and yet to fully capitalize on the capabilities
of the new technology.  What advertisers will be accepted -- government?, 
commerical enterprises?,private citizens? -- and who decides? What types of 
"ad" postings are acceptable -- public interest only? or more commerce 
oriented?  Relations with community groups and organizations that are 
information providers must be managed carefully to ensure high information
integrity and applicablity, without onerous obligations on the providers.

And finally from a social perspective I view the Freenet as part of a much
larger and very important process.  This process is reshaping society in 
fundamental ways through the ability to instantly exchange and communicate
information with anyone, anywhere.  This is not just a technical capability,
but rather it reshapes many of the social institutions that define us as 
a society.  Many organizations assumed a heirarchical model simply to condense,
refine, and distribute information and control as it passed up and down from 
one branch to another.  This ever-present heirarchical model is now subject
to some revision since computer and communication technology has provided new 
tools for the processing and distribution of information. Our very concept of 
a community is currently related to our geographical location, but on the 
network a virtual community arises related to common interests. These virtual
communities have much more dynamic characteristics than communities we are 
used to so far, and shaping their social norms and customs to yield a 
cordial, productive, and liberating environment must be the goal.

In summary, the Freenet is part of a much larger process, and that process
has the capability to improve the way we live, improve the functioning of 
our institutions, and improve our life on a day-to-day level.  

I want to be a part of that process.   Please support me as a member of 
the Board of Directors for the National Capital Freenet.  

Sincerely, 
  Eric Dormer.

ps - 

There are 3 areas where I feel my experience will be an asset to the 
Freenet: my academic background, professional background, and my previous
organizational experience.

Academic Background: 
--------------------

M.B.A.  -- Masters in Business Administration (Univ. of/d' Ottawa, 1992).

B.A.Sc. -- Electrical Engineering, with a minor in Computer Science.
           1st class honours, co-op (Univ. of Waterloo, 1986) 

Professional/Employment Background:
-----------------------------------

Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa  (1987 - present) 
   -- Currently developing a broadband switch product (10 Gigabits per 
   second), managing a team of 7 people delivering 3 Application Specific
   Integrated Circuits (VLSI ASICs).
   - Extensive background in data communications, statistical communication
   protocols, ASIC design, object oriented software, simulation, 
   communication system architecture, etc.

Organizational Experience:
--------------------------
Big Brothers of Ottawa/Carleton (1987-1988) - volunteered as a mature 
   male role model for fatherless boy.

Toc Alpha (1980-1985) - on the executive, and later elected vice-president of 
   this provincial organization of young people (aged 14 - 24) which 
   promotes educational and social opportunities for youth, free of any 
   pressure to use drugs.  Toc Alpha has over 600 members,
   and sponsors an annual 4 day conference with seminars
   of interest to young people.  Members come from school councils, churches,
   boys and girls clubs, etc.  Other activities include educational campaigns,
   speaking engagements at high schools, and many weekend-long events.
   Annual budget was $60,000 which was supported from dues, fees, and 
   charitable donations.

Engineering Class Representative (1981 - 1986) - for various terms was 
   elected class rep for management of class finances, organization of 
   social events, complaint resolution with faculty and administration, etc.


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