During the weekend, VCN was overloaded by spam. VCN was unable to block the spam because it originated from a commonly used free email provider. Blocking the email provider would mean real emails would also be blocked. Emails were still processed but they were delayed. The spam attack stopped on Monday, August 22, 2016 and email service was restored.
In the future, VCN plans to setup additional spam filter servers.
On Thursday, August 18th at 3pm all the dial-up lines were moved to our new provider without any service disruption. If you are connected to the old phone lines you will automatically switch to the new phone lines when you reconnect.
VCN will be closed on Monday, August 1, 2016 and will re-open on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at 10am.
On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, our Internet provider will be upgrading their network again. They will be continuing the work that was started on Wednesday, May 24, 2016. The upgrade should be completed before Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 10am.
All VCN services will be affected but there should be no downtime.
If you have any issues please email [email protected] or call 778-724-0826 with the following information:
If the help desk is busy please leave a message with the information.
VCN will be closed on Monday, May 23, 2016. VCN will re-open on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10pm.
On Tuesday, May 24, 2016, our Internet provider will be upgrading their network. The upgrade should be completed before Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10am.
All VCN services will be affected but there should be no downtime.
If you have any issues please email [email protected] or call 778-724-0826 with the following information:
VCN has updated all our SSL certificates. SSL certificates allows you to securely access VCN services. For example, you can securely access our web site at https://www2.vcn.bc.ca/.
If you receive a security warning please send an email to [email protected] or call 778-724-0826.
For close to 20 years, Patrick Clark has stayed connected to the VCN network and has been meaningfully giving his time in different capacities – as a help|desk volunteer, board member, and digital rights advocate to name a few.
Patrick’s invaluable work and enthusiasm continues to inspire the VCN team to better serve our community. We interviewed Patrick and asked him to share what his involvement with VCN has meant to him.
How did you become involved with VCN?
Originally, many years ago when the organization was only about four months old I was invited to an introductory get-together and was immediately drawn in by the sincere desire to provide an insurer Internet access and education to the whole community regardless of an individual’s income or position in life. The founders of VCN had seen the writing on the wall in regards to commercial [high cost] Internet in Canada and wanted to make sure that the voices of modest or zero income people were not left out. I immediately then began a year-long term on the board of VCN.
What are your role(s) at VCN?
Two roles officially:
1. Volunteer and;
2. Board member, and now that I think about it, there is a third role, albeit unofficial perhaps,
3. Total Hard-Core VCN Fan And Supporter. I see good things coming from VCN and I sure do let people know about it whenever the opportunity sincerely arises.
How has being a part of VCN’s network impacted your professional work?
In the year and a half I’ve been involved with the office crew and manning the help line I have learned, and been exposed to, more information and opportunities than I could ever hope to have achieved on my own. I learned a completely new content management system “WordPress” for quickly designing web pages. I have been able to explore various Linux operating systems, and work on a wide variety of computers both old and new. Most importantly, because everyone at VCN is so supportive the knowledge has been free-flowing. There is no hoarding of information. If you have a question, you get a collaborative answer. It really is the best way to work. Not only that, there is a real sense of community that encourages questions and discussion. In short this has been a massive boost to my knowledge base, which has resulted in several contract jobs. A critical point is also that volunteering at VCN is real world experience, because ultimately we are there to serve and support all the people who use the organization’s Internet network and services.
How has working at VCN influenced you personally?
I have been involved with a great number of nonprofit and advocacy organizations over the years. I was becoming a little jaded because, through no fault of their own, many groups succumb to “power positioning” and hierarchical structures, ultimately focused on maintaining the status quo. Once this happens the environment becomes very stale and subtly unhealthy. VCN has done the exact opposite. Collectively they have managed to inspire, not only the community at large, but everyone who works or is involved on regular basis. There is a real sense of sincerity in everything they undertake. It is the true cooperative adventure with a real community and spirit.
What have you taken away from your experience with VCN?
Aside from everything mentioned thus far, one of the things I have been inspired to get back into is actually building electronics. I don’t think that would have had the “nerve” to even consider such a project before my exposure to the technical aspects via VCN.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
What makes VCN rock, and indeed makes them unique among many organizations is that there is a sincere cooperative spirit to everything that is undertaken. Ego does not live with this group. I think perhaps all the core people are “kindhearted radicals” who have each had to fight battles and that has given them a real understanding of community spirit in the truest sense. In short, the VCN module might be summed up as: “How can ‘We’ make this work?” Truly inspiring–is it any wonder I love VCN!
2016 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
VCN’s AGM was held on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 on the second floor of the Woodward’s Heritage Building. The meeting reached quorum with 4 board members, 7 staff, 2 volunteers, and 17 regular members.
Highlights of 2014-15:
LONG TIME BOARD MEMBER, TRAVIS KEYWORTH, RESIGNS
At the end of this AGM, we had to say good-bye to long time Board Member – Treasurer Travis Keyworth.
He joined VCN in July 2009. For 7 years Travis used his accounting designation and skills to guide the society with his eye to strategic planning and financial management.
He will be sorely missed. We thank him for his years of devotion to social justice and digital literacy!
SUCCESS STORY: GLORIA CARRILLO, FOUNDER OF PAYING IT FORWARD TO MOTHER EARTH FOOD TRUCK
Carrillo is a mother, an award-winning chef, community organizer, and activist, as well as founder of Paying It Forward to Mother Earth Food Truck Program, Pachamama’s Natural Rights, and Quinoa’s Ambassador.
When she discovered VCN, Carrillo was living out of her van, without permanent housing, and moving from shelter to shelter. She would commute from a women’s shelter in Surrey to the Downtown Eastside to the Woodward’s Building to access VCN’s computers and services Monday to Friday.
Over the last several months, VCN witnessed remarkable progress with Carrillo’s project despite being faced with what seemed like insurmountable odds. Carrillo’s resilience and tenacity coupled with VCN’s resources has helped to further her personal and professional goals.
Through the difficult months, VCN staff particularly Executive Director Tracey Axelsson, supported Carrillo in moving forward with her dreams. With limited resources, Carrillo utilized VCN’s web|team services to create her own website to spread her vision.
From editing materials to providing input on a business plan, developing and updating website content, assisting with a crowd-funding campaign, and emotional support, Axelsson and VCN staff have strived to encourage Gloria in her work. She says, “The assistance of the volunteers and staff at VCN have been absolutely very supportive, I don’t think there is any place like this in the whole city.”
When asked the ways in which VCN helped in her mission, Gloria replies: “How one could not be happy this organization’s breadth of empowerment. In my eyes, VCN truly represents the Canadian spirit. That the Canadian Government and sponsors should recognize that VCN truly works to empower spirit and minds… they are very supportive and they don’t hold back.”
Read Gloria’s full story here: https://www2.vcn.bc.ca/success-story-carrillo/
Learn more about Gloria’s work: http://pachamamahub.org/
VOLUNTEER, PAY DUES and/or DONATE TO VCN
As VCN approaches its 23rd year of operation, help to keep VCN’s open and inclusive program by donating what you can – including your time! We are continuing to seek volunteers who speak Aramaic, Farsi, Kurdish, or Arabic to help with the resettlement of thousands of refugees.
To volunteer, please fill out our online form: http://volunteer.vcn.bc.ca/apply/
Remember VCN counts on you to either pay your yearly membership ($25) and/or make a donation helps us to support the entire system. Please commit to keeping this valuable resource available into the future!
Please give: https://www2.vcn.bc.ca/get-involved/donate/
