Dear RIPE NCC members, I am sure you will have seen by now many invites to take part in the RIPE NCC Survey 2023. I would like to thank all 3,500 people who have taken the time to give their input so far. And if you have yet to take it, I urge you to do so before it closes this Friday, 30 June at 23:59 UTC. https://www.ripe.net/survey I’d like to explain why we would like as many of you as possible to take this survey. It has been four years since we last carried out such an extensive survey of our members and community, and this one arrives at a very important time for the RIPE NCC. In the run-up to the recent General Meeting, we consulted with the membership on the charging model that we should use in the coming years. This consultation also sparked a lot of discussion about the RIPE NCC’s activities and budget. The vote on the charging scheme for 2024 means that fees will remain the same next year and there will be an effective reduction in the income the organisation receives. So, as we move into the planning cycle for 2024, we need to be sure that we plan effectively for the coming years with your input as the main guidance in the process. We will start to analyse the results of the survey from next week, and this will form the basis for the Draft Activity Plan and Budget that we will share with members in the Autumn. The survey asks a wide range of questions, including on the importance you attach to the various services we provide, ways to improve our registry and other services, and the main challenges you face that the RIPE NCC can help with. By getting your thoughts on these kinds of questions, we will be able to focus our planning on the needs of members and produce a Draft Activity Plan and Budget that takes those needs into account. The survey is open to everyone to take, so more than one person per company can participate, and responses are anonymous so you can provide your feedback freely. It is available in ten languages so we can get input from across the service region. And there are still several prizes to be won, including a trip to Rome to attend the RIPE 87 Meeting in November. Thank you for your participation in this important project for the RIPE NCC and its members. Kind regards, Hans Petter Holen Managing Director RIPE NCC