It is hard to believe that more than ten years have passed since this website was first launched. As time moves on, websites age just as quickly as technology, and it was clear that our online home was due for a significant update. For quite some time, there had been enthusiastic discussions about updating the site. Unfortunately, many of those eager volunteers interested in getting the job done have vanished into the Nordic mist over the past year. As a result, the task eventually landed again on my desk. Since the next NNFM meeting has already been decided to take place in Helsinki, I felt there was no longer any excuse to postpone the work. So here I am, continuing this lonely webmaster’s monologue for at least one more year.
The website has now been completely refreshed. My highest priority was to create a modern, mobile-friendly experience that works well with smartphones. Behind the scenes, I have also updated the technical foundations of the site to better align with current technologies, security standards, and maintenance requirements. Hopefully, this will provide a more reliable and user-friendly experience for everyone.
One challenge I encountered was the membership database. Over the years it had become outdated and was filled with incorrect, duplicate, or obsolete information. To ensure a clean and accurate start, I made the difficult decision to remove all existing user accounts. An email explaining this process was sent to everyone on our mailing lists. If that email never reached you and you have only discovered that your account was deleted, there is no need to worry. Simply register again using the new registration system. During registration you will be asked for a password. This can be obtained from your national representatives or directly by contacting me. Once you have registered, please take a moment to review your mailing list preferences. If you prefer not to receive updates, announcements, or other network news, simply untick the relevant mailing lists. After that, we promise not to disturb your inbox anymore.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the new website. Feedback of all kinds—positive or negative—is warmly welcome. Constructive criticism helps improve the site, and encouraging words help keep the webmaster motivated. I am also looking for volunteers who would like to contribute blog posts, news items, reports, or other content. A website is only as vibrant as the community behind it, so if you have something worth sharing, please do not hesitate to put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard.
Finally, we now have brand-new discussion forums available on the website. Please make use of them, share ideas, ask questions, and help strengthen our network throughout the year.
Thank you for visiting, and I wish you many enjoyable moments exploring the new site.
See you in Helsinki next year—at the latest!
Best regards,
Your (slightly lonely) Webmaster
A.T.