-efn--efn--efn--ef         Every $200 raised
EFN March                  -efn--efn--efn--efn--efn--        in March means
    _                    -efn--e_________efn--efn--efn-        one more new 
 ==| |==1050           -efn--ef/  ______/n--efn--efn--efn       phone line!
   | |               -efn--efn/  /n--efn--efn--efn--efn--ef
 __| |__900         -efn--efn/  /n--efn--efn--efn--efn--efn-
   | |             -efn--efn/  /___efn__________--efn--efn--e
 __| |__750       -efn--efn/  ____/fn/  _______/-efn--efn--efn
   | |           -efn--efn/  /n--efn/  /n--efn--efn--efn--efn--   25% Matching
 __| |__600      -efn--ef/  /fn--ef/  /fn--efn--efn--efn--efn--   Grants on
   | |           -efn--e/  /______/  /__________efn--ef___efn--   March 10!!
 __| |__450     -efn--e/_________   _______     |n--ef/  /fn--ef
   | |           -efn--efn--efn-/  /--efn-/     |fn--/  /-efn--
 __| |__300      -efn--efn--efn/  /n--efn/  /|  |fn-/  /--efn--
   |$|           -efn--efn--ef/  /fn--ef/  /f|  |fn/  /n--efn--
 __|$|__150       -efn--efn--/__/-efn--/  /-e|  |e/  /efn--efn
   |$|             -efn--efn--efn--efn/  /n--|  |/  /--efn--e
 __|$|__0           -efn--efn--efn--e/  /efn-|     /fn--efn-
  /$$$\              -efn--efn--efn-/  /--efn|    /-efn--ef
 ($$$$$)               -efn--efn--e/__/efn--e|___/fn--efn
  \EFN/                  -efn--efn--efn--efn--efn--efn-
$277 so far                -efn--efn--efn--efn--efn--
"One Ringy-Dingy"-- ;-j        -efn--efn--efn--ef         Population: 394


While it's still close to the beginning of the month, please help us
buy more modems and phone lines by mailing a check (payable to "EFN") to:

            EFN, Attn: Fundraising
            PO Box 1221
            Eugene OR 97440-1221

Then send an e-mail message to me (marc@efn.org) saying how much you're
mailing in so I can update the pledge thermometer.

Yes, folks, the internet can change your life.  In 1992, I read about a
new computer project in comp.parallel and sent my resume by e-mail.
During the subsequent interview, I learned about another company doing
very similar work and later sent that company an e-mail resume as
well.  Then I read about a third possibility in misc.jobs.offered, and
communicated with that manager via e-mail while he was travelling in
Europe.  Eventually, I wound up with a job where I telecommute from my
office at home (relying on the internet most days) for a company in the
Silicon Valley and I still get to live here in Eugene.

I don't have to commute/pollute every day.  I can go running in the
morning and wear my sweats all day if I want to.  I don't have to waste
my money on $5 lunches at downtown restaurants and I get to spend
coffee breaks with my wife and kids.  Your mileage may vary, but it
goes without saying that I think the Internet is A Good Thing.  To be
honest, most of this increased well-being is due to my work being in
the field of computers, a discipline that got a head start on the
Internet.  However, I believe many other disciplines will catch up over
the next five years and that the flexible lifestyle I enjoy will be
available to many more people then.  Anyway, that's why I'm an EFN
volunteer.

Besides work though, I also find NEWSNET to be an excellent source of
news and insight into the world around me.  Nowhere else have I seen
the in-depth reports on environmental topics.  Nowhere else have I been
able to get a clearer idea of what the Mohawk/Canadian gov't standoff
in 1992 was like (maybe you didn't hear about it from other sources?).
And I get to talk back if I want to!  Did you know you can register an
opinion with the white house via e-mail?  (president@whitehouse.gov and
vice.president@whitehouse.gov)

The point of the Internet, I think, is that it's a tool and,
fascinating as it may be, it's only useful to the extent that it allows
you to do things "better, faster and cheaper" than you could before or
maybe even allows you to do things you couldn't do at all before.
Unfortunately, learning the tool takes time and effort.  We would like
to improve EFN to make it easier to learn and to help you find things
that will actually enhance your life.  Your suggestions, patience and
help in this effort are all appreciated.

v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v 
BUT, SINCE THE NET HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ME, I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING
EXTRA FOR THE NET THIS MONTH-- I'M GOING TO PERSONALLY MATCH 25% OF
ALL** PLEDGES MADE TO EFN ON THURSDAY, MARCH 10th (my birthday :-).
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Just mention the matching grant in your e-mail (which should have a
date stamp of March 10), and, of course, let me know how much you're
sending in.  So, put me to the test and send those pledge checks and
e-mail in now.  We need to raise a lot of money because the Internet is
going to cost $500/month, we need more phone lines, Clif recommends we
buy some Xylogics routing equipment ($800), legal expenses for getting
set up as a non-profit tax exempt organization could reach $600...we
can do it, but we have to pull together.

Thanks for your support.

** -- P.S. Just in case this causes a pledge stampede, I'm stopping
when y'all get up to $2000 (that's $500 to me).  Go on, I dare you :-)
***EFN!NEWS***EFN!NEWS***EFN!NEWS***EFN!NEWS***EFN!NEWS***EFN!NEWS***