TAFN Membership Information Page
The Accessible Friends Network is a UK Registered Charity,
No 1108043.
(1) Cost of Membership
(2) Full TAFN Charity Membership
(3) TAFN Associate Membership
(4)
TAFN Voice Conferencing Server Users (Guests)
(5) TAFN Volunteers
Server Guest accounts last for a 1 month period and are free.
The cost of one year's full membership of TAFN is currently
£12 - twelve pounds - per year, from January 2008.
Associate Membership (open to blind or partially
sighted people or their partners who live outside the UK) is also £12 per year,
from January 2010.
The cost of ongoing membership is reduced for anyone who has
been with us for 2 years or more.
If you have any enquiries about membership fees, or would like
details of how to pay please contact us
The Accessible Friends Network is a UK Registered
Charity (No 1108043) and Full Membership is exclusively open to British blind or partially
sighted people and their partners. However we also welcome members' close
relatives, access technology
trainers and online volunteers, by agreement.
Paid-up British TAFN member benefits include the following:-
- Access to our voice conferencing server 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week.
- Access to the exclusive members area of our website.
- Access to all scheduled member events and channels on our voice
server including
for example computer training, and high quality audio channels.
- Internet facilities, including an email address and/or mailbox, FTP
account and
web space if
required.
- The right to attend and participate in monthly TAFN members meetings
(held via voice conferencing), access to the minutes, and a democratic
vote in any decision that goes to the voting stage,
including elections.
- The option to become a TAFN Volunteer from home, subject to
agreement (volunteers are given full support and their efforts are formally
recognised, see below).
- Priority status for certain TAFN social activities and beneficial
offers.
- Priority for Technical Support, and access to certain members-only discount
schemes, including a Tech Support Fund to help with the cost of computer
repairs, a new SMA fund to help with the cost of screen reader software
upgrades, and occasional software discount offers.
If you would like to further discuss TAFN Member benefits,
or take advantage of any of the above, in the first instance please contact
the TAFN chairperson
We also welcome overseas members, who do not necessarily have to be British,
from anywhere in the world.
TAFN Overseas Members have the following benefits:-
- Access to our voice conferencing server 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week.
- The right to attend and participate in members
meetings, and access to the minutes.
- Access to the members area of the TAFN website
- Access to VoIp server channels & scheduled
events.
- The right to become a TAFN Volunteer, e.g. event host, subject to
agreement.
- Priority status over guests, for TAFN social activities and beneficial
offers.
- Priority for Technical Support over guests, and access to certain associate-members
only computer services.
- The right to attend and participate in monthly TAFN members meetings
(held via voice conferencing), access to the minutes, and from 2010
a democratic
vote in any decision that goes to the voting stage.
If you would have any enquiries about TAFN Associate Membership,
in the first instance please contact
TAFN Chairperson Audrey Tonge.
TAFN's voice-conferencing server is online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
and offers high-quality audio for voice chat and playing
MP3's, etc. Server Guest accounts last for a 1 month period, and this
is an ideal way for people new to TAFN to come along and meet us live over the
internet.
All applications to use the server
as a guest must be first approved
by TAFN, however this normally takes no longer than a 48 hour period. Our tech
support volunteers will help anyone with the technical side of getting connected.
All Guests should be aware of the following:-
- Guests may use the server at any time, including our high quality stereo
rooms.
- Guest use of the server is time-limited, and anyone who applies for
access and does not use it will be removed from the user list after the
trial.
- If someone has technical problems we will normally extend their trial
period.
Importantly, there are guidelines for all users of our VoIP server, and some of the rules we expect everyone to observe for the benefit
of all server users, are as follows:-
- Server access passwords are strictly to be kept private.
- Server users must use their real name(s) (see TAFN server guidelines
link below)
- Server users must show courtesy to others at all times
- Server users must respect the privacy and confidentiality of others. This
includes not running multiple voice clients (such as Skype) simultaneously with
our voice server.
- All server users must report any abusive conduct by others to a moderator
or administrator, as soon as practically possible.
- A full copy of the TAFN Voice server guidelines is available via our website,
and is regularly sent to our Mailing List.
TAFN Server guidelines, in notepad format.
Email us
if you wish to apply for a guest account, and have any questions
The Accessible Friends Network is run entirely by volunteers,
and TAFN is committed to supporting and protecting the interests of anyone who
gives of their own time & effort to help our organisation. Although
we gladly accept ad-hoc voluntary help at any time, all TAFN volunteers may
be asked to provide
references and details of their next of kin, etc. We endeavour
to recognise all volunteers for their work, and provide written references where
required as
well as Certificates of Achievement. We have recognised around 14 volunteers
in this way so far.
Among the commitments that TAFN makes
to it's volunteers are the following:-
- To assist volunteers in
carrying out their roles by providing information and support
- To try to match volunteers' needs
and motivations to those of TAFN
- To make it clear what is
expected of volunteers and to provide regular feedback
- To have an understanding of
the need for flexibility within a volunteer's role
- To endeavour to resolve any
problems, grievances and difficulties which may be encountered while volunteering
with TAFN and to provide an opportunity to discuss any issues that arise.
- Where agreed, to reimburse out of pocket
expenses (supported by receipts) incurred in a volunteering capacity for TAFN.
- To recognise volunteers' contributions.
These guidelines were last updated in 2010. Should
you have any enquiries please contact our Chairperson
Find out even
more about The Accessible Friends Network (TAFN)
Find out about our mailing lists
Find out more about scheduled live events, on our
Voice Server.
Return
to the TAFN Home Page.
TAFN Helpline (During normal UK office hours)
0845 83 82 369
The Accessible Friends Network is a
registered charity set up by & to improve the
quality of life for, blind/visually impaired people & their partners via the internet
and accessible VoIp conferencing.
UK Charity No 1108043.
Have a Nice Day!