Ithaca Y2k Minutes Aug. 29, 1998

Present:


Hope Blitzer, Stephen Calkins, Norottan Collqzo, Bill Dewey, Napesh Jokhakar, Gene Ira Katz, Maha Labbe, Dave Lisbe, Ed Lisbe, Pratiti Pryor, Mary Richards, Terry Ricklefs, Rishi, Phil Smith, Pratiti Pryor, Suzanne Wood, Bob Yavits

1. Introductions

  1. Power will be de-regulated in 1999. It will then be possible to create a local power company (M. Richards)
  2. 2. H. Blitzer provided agenda of previous mtg. and expressed desire to be able to help those in need.

2. Creation of Agenda

  1. - Corrections to previous minutes
  2. - Committee reports
  3. - handouts
  4. -NYS Conferences (Sept. 10 - Oct. 23)
  5. -Validity of Y2K group w/ community at large
  6. -New Business/New Inputs
  7. -Networking within community at large (spiritual communities in Tompkins County)
  8. - Replication of membership
  9. - Volunteers for FEMA study group
  10. - Minnesota report
  11. - Funding
  12. - Contact members from last meeting who aren't here today
  13. Corrections to Minutes Ed Lisbee should Ed Lisbe.
    Terry Rickles should be Terry Ricklefs.
    Terry Ricklefs is not a pastor but is a representative of Covenant Love.


4. Reports

  • Report from Communications and Public Education Group:
  • Focus was on Public Education
  • Minutes were Distributed by G. Katz:
  • Recommendations (see handout):
    • - Letter writing campaign to newspaper.
    • - Educating through the schools, beginning with ACS - perhaps theatrically based.
    • - Fair - school assembly program
    • - Boilerplate flyers and brochures
    • - Cornell Health Fair with handouts
    • - Contact county board of reps to find out who's going to NYS Assoc. of Counties Conference.
    • - G. Katz will get a report of what happened.
    • - Contact Alan Cohen, re: NYS Conference of Mayors mtg. G. Katz will see if we can make up write-ups before and after the meeting (G. Katz)
    • - State-wide videoconference - B. Yavits will videotape Sept. 10 6:30-8:45 pm B. Yavits will try to set up room at TC3.
    • - We should attempt to obtain some form of official status.

  • Report from Health & Medical Group: How do we get the public and the medical community involved? Medical facilities may become overwhelmed. Do we need to stockpile drugs, or have alternative health care people become more involved?

    Wed. Sept. 23, Cornell Wellness Center is putting on a health fair from 9-4. 3,000 - 4,000 people are expected. A free table has been offered to this group. S. Calkins and M. Labbe volunteered to be at the booth.
    M. Richards will develop a flyer on "What to ask your doctor with relation to Y2K"?
  • H. Blitzer showed some of the Red Cross material that is available that may relate to this crisis.


Validity of Y2K Group within the community.

After some discussion of conflicting ideas P. Pryor suggested that we try to take the positive from each idea and bridge them, rather than continue to focus on differences. Issue: is it time to approach those in charge (eg. County Board members)? G. Katz - yes. H. Blitzer - no. Both should pursue their interests.

Discussions

G. Katz recommended that we begin to use Robert's Rules of Order and thar we create a Mission Statement.

B. Yavits was asked to be chair. From here on Roberts Rules of Order are in effect.

6. New business

Twenty minutes were allotted for the development of a Mission Statement:

Educate all of TC through both grassroots and official means as soon possible as to:

  • - what the Y2K problem is
  • - how they can deal with it
  • - what they can expect from the County in terms of real services
  • - what the population of TC can do as a community now to limit the distress from these potential problems.

Goal Statements:
  • Collect and disseminate relevant information for problem.
  • Help various existing communities in TC to network with each other.
  • Focus on encouraging people to do what any prudent person would do if they knew there was trouble coming without spreading fear, through common sense and cooperation.
  • Network with other interested groups or individuals that exist outside of TC.
  • Encourage other people to join this group.
  • Work in conjunction with human services and other concerned public organizations.
  • Encourage people to learn more about the above items and to educate each other.

G. Katz moved to vote on accepting the current working Mission and Goals statement.
B. Dewey seconded. Motion passed: 10 - yes, 1 -no.



7. Upcoming Events:

  1. - Videoconference on Y2K from NYS Office of Technology, Sept. 10, 6:30 - 8:45.
    (This will be held at Cooperative Extension. The cost of attending is free, but advanced registration is required). B. Yavits will attempt to provide a room at TC3 and will try to record videoconference.
  2. - Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce - Tues. Nov. 17 (evening) Communication officer - Fred Bona Purpose is for local organizations to reassure the public that they are doing what they need to do to keep all services running.
  3. - Sept. 10, 6-8 Statewide Y2K Conference
  4. - Sept. 13-15, NYS Association of Counties Y2K (Fall Seminar - Buffalo)
  5. - Oct. 19-23, NYS Conference of Mayors
  6. - Y2K Conference - Fall Training, School for city & village officials, Saratoga

8. Further Discussion

Recommendation on C-SPAN was for grassroots community groups to handle this problem. (G. Katz)

Whatever we do needs to be done in the spirit of cooperation, not as an adversarial act (M. Richards). Anybody in a responsible position will see us as adversarial (G. Katz). We will be better off discussing emergency preparedness in general terms, and relating to the Y2K problem as a side issue. (H. Blitzer)

Those who wish to work with H. Blitzer on a Y2K preparedness fair should contact her.

Doc Kinne has been hired by the Alan Cohen to make the City of Ithaca compliant. He wrote a report of the last meeting. We have not yet been provided with a copy of. Do we need a liaison to Doc for when he's not here? (M. Richards)

B. Yavits asked for contribution of funds for mailings, etc. $22 was collected.

9. Tentative agenda for next meeting:

  • 1. Silence
  • 2. Approval of minutes
  • 3. Name for group
  • 4. Cornell health fair
  • 5. Committee report(s)
  • 6. Networking within community at large
  • 7. Emergency preparedness fair
  • 8. School assembly program
  • 9. FEMA study group
  • 10. Web page
  • 11. Funding
  • 12. Minnesota report
  • 13. New Business
  • 14. Silence

    Next meeting: Sunday September 13, 1:00 - 4:00 pm,
    Alternate Community School, 111 Chestnut Street. Ithaca, NY

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