08:04:37 PM Avagene Moore:Tonight we have Claire Rubin, Claire Rubin & Associates (EIIP Partner), and Rita Ossolinski, Communications Director of International City Managers (ICMA) with us... 08:05:25 PM Avagene Moore:(having a little problem -- patience please) 08:05:48 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks for joining us tonight in the Round Table to talk about ICMA's experiences with disaster information and the Internet. 08:06:03 PM Avagene Moore:Claire, will you please start the discussion. 08:06:32 PM Claire B Rubin:ICMA has a great deal of experience with forums and with web site use. I hope Rita will tell us about it. 08:06:53 PM Rita Ossolinski:Thanks Claire ... 08:07:59 PM Rita Ossolinski:Just over two years ago ICMA entered into a partnership with the National League of Cities and Public Technology Inc to create a place on-line for local government officials to communicate on various topics 08:08:27 PM Rita Ossolinski:We created Access Local Government and currently have 2000 managers and elected officials ... 08:08:45 PM Rita Ossolinski:talking to each other on various topics related to local government ... 08:09:06 PM Rita Ossolinski:The service features message boards. libraries, and chat areas ... 08:09:23 PM Claire B Rubin:How well is the peer to peer exchange working? 08:09:24 PM Rita Ossolinski:and has reallly become a useful tool for quick information sharing... 08:09:48 PM Rita Ossolinski:The message boards are the most popular feature ... 08:10:23 PM Claire B Rubin:Could you explain how a message board works? 08:10:35 PM Rita Ossolinski:Individuals can post a message, log off ... and know that when they log on again there is likely to be a long thread of responses from around the country. 08:11:23 PM Rita Ossolinski:It's so much more efficient and a lot cheaper than long distance calls, letters, or faxes. 08:11:29 PM Claire B Rubin:Aside from the speed gained, how good is the quality of the exchange? 08:12:05 PM Rita Ossolinski:I would rate the quality as high ... but of course I'm not the most objective judge ... 08:12:50 PM Claire B Rubin:Has there been an attempt to evaluate the service? What do the managers say about the new electronic medium? 08:12:51 PM Rita Ossolinski:Since it's a forum exclusively for members of the three partner organizations, individuals are at least sure to get a response from someone who knows about local government. 08:13:45 PM Rita Ossolinski:Funny you should ask. I just did a review of the "ALG Feedback" message board and pulled some great quotes for an advertisement we will run in PM magazine next month 08:14:40 PM Rick Tobin:What software did you use for your service (e.g., major domo, etc.)? 08:15:08 PM Rita Ossolinski:Managers are saying they like the ability to pull documents from the libraries and get responses. The software is Cold Fusion ... Allaire Forums 08:15:36 PM Avagene Moore:How many members do you have? Do they all have Internet access? 08:16:10 PM Rita Ossolinski:ICMA has approx. 8,500 members; about 5,000 of those are in service to local government. 08:16:49 PM Rita Ossolinski:Of those I know approx. 1,000 had e-mail as of last October. I suspect that number is higher now. 08:17:12 PM Avagene Moore:What percentage actually use your forum? 08:17:35 PM Darryl Parker:Can you give us a sample of the topics discussed? 08:18:16 PM Rita Ossolinski:We just moved the forum from Compuserve to the Internet in December. Since December, 2,000 individuals have registered ... 08:18:27 PM Kevin Farrell:Is the web site/message area open, or do you need to be validated in some way? 08:19:08 PM Rita Ossolinski:of those 2,000, half are members of ICMA. You need a user ID and password to get in; these are provided based on your membership in either ICMA, NLC, or PT 08:19:31 PM Rita Ossolinski:... that's PTI (Public Technology, Inc.) 08:19:49 PM Claire B Rubin:Do you have any information about whether managers are getting Internet access just to get to your on-line service? 08:20:16 PM Rita Ossolinski:Topics ... local government management; legislation; ... 08:20:39 PM Rita Ossolinski:Technology, ... 08:21:31 PM Rita Ossolinski:I don't have stats on managers getting Internet access just for ALG, but ICMA is trying to provide as many incentives as possible 08:22:02 PM Amy Sebring:What kind of incentives? 08:22:26 PM Rita Ossolinski:Useful information is the greatest incentive ... 08:22:33 PM Amy Sebring:You mean, just by the services you are providing I take it. 08:23:01 PM Rita Ossolinski:The services and access to information in as timely a way as possible ... 08:23:40 PM Claire B Rubin:Do you have any way of knowing how often emergency management comes up as a topic of interest? 08:23:56 PM Rita Ossolinski:Our members can get their bi- weekly newsletter (with local govt job vacancies) sooner if they have internet access. We put it in an ALG llibrary. Others have to wait for snail mail 08:24:05 PM Kevin Farrell:Where do your members come from? East? Central? West? North? South? Metro, or small town? 08:24:32 PM Rita Ossolinski:I did a full text search today using the words "emergency" and "disaster" ... 08:24:54 PM Rita Ossolinski:It called up several messages and three library entries ... 08:25:40 PM Rita Ossolinski:The messages were about volunteer fire companies; cell phone towers; and protective ordinances ... 08:26:11 PM Rita Ossolinski:The library entries were about Restructuring Fire & Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness ... 08:26:49 PM Kevin Farrell:Restructuring? 08:26:53 PM Rita Ossolinski:Kevin -- our members are from all states plus about 500 internationals 08:27:20 PM Claire B Rubin:If a city were to have a major disaster, do you think the managers would use the on-line forum to get info and practical help? 08:27:57 PM Rita Ossolinski:Kevin -- the restructuring piece is an article from a back issue of PM ... I'm not sure of the specifics 08:28:20 PM Rita Ossolinski:Claire ... definitely yes ... 08:29:01 PM Rita Ossolinski:The forum would be a quick way to get ideas and advice based on similar experiences ... 08:29:38 PM Burt Wallrich:Does the site feature a number of hotlinks to related sites, e.g., FEMA? 08:30:00 PM Rita Ossolinski:The best feature is that it links all regions. A manager from California, who might not consider it or have time for it, might get some great advice from states clear across the country ... 08:30:58 PM Rita Ossolinski:The Access Local Government forum does not feature links to other sites, but we encourage our members to come into it from the ICMA website which does feature many useful links ... 08:31:16 PM Rick Tobin:This is truly a dream come true, but even in California there is still too much provincial thinking. 08:31:34 PM Rita Ossolinski:Our main Federal link is the US State & Local Gateway which is a great site on Federal informaiton organized by topic rather than agency... 08:32:43 PM Rita Ossolinski:I won't comment on California ... but every state has a tendency to look locally first; the forum helps break that mold 08:33:04 PM Tim Murphy:The US State/ Local Gateway has an emergency preparedness topic area. 08:33:24 PM Claire B Rubin:I would like to mention the one disaster related use of the ICMA web site that I am familiar with. That is the use of web site to update an earlier hard- copy report on disaster recovery. The address is . I had some interested feedback from users of the web site. 08:34:02 PM Amy Sebring:http://www.icma.org/publications/40834-update.htm 08:34:34 PM Rita Ossolinski:Yes; I worked on the Interagency task force that helped pick the topics; it's a very well organized site. http://www.statelocal.gov 08:35:02 PM John Laye:Hi, Clare; Hi Rick; Hi, all! 08:35:31 PM Avagene Moore:Rita, the EIIP is very interested in your forum because we are trying to build the Virtual Forum and can profit from others who are doing something similar... 08:35:43 PM Avagene Moore:any advice for us? 08:36:09 PM Rick Tobin:It's an incredible service. I've watched the ICMA site for about a year now. You do a great job. 08:36:52 PM Rita Ossolinski:Build message boards; they are the most popular feature ... but then to keep people coming back,you have to keep adding new content ... 08:37:22 PM Rita Ossolinski:I almost forgot ... we do have links to other sites under our "News" feature ... 08:38:15 PM Rita Ossolinski:We also try to keep adding new items to the libraries in response to threads of conversation we see evolving on the message boards 08:38:33 PM Rick Tobin:Rita, has anyone you know of tried to use your forum for videoconferencing between city managers? 08:39:45 PM Rita Ossolinski:The forum itself doesn't have a video conferencing feature .... but I'm sure it's something we'd lilke to try in the future. Helping managers save on travel costs for meetings is a very appealing idea. 08:39:56 PM Avagene Moore:As emergency managers, we are also interested in working closer with ICMA and similar organizations; suggestions on building bridges there? 08:41:50 PM Rita Ossolinski:My philosophy is collaboration is the way to go ... hence the partnership with NLC and PTI for Access Local Government. We should have more conversations; I would recommend that you be in touch with ICMA's director of Reseach and Development -- his name is Mosi Kitwana 08:42:32 PM Rita Ossolinski:You can e-mail him at 08:42:38 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks, Rita. 08:43:04 PM Jim Mesite:Claire & Rita: I disagree with earlier discussion of EMs using forums to ask for help. It is currently too slow and haphazard for that. Its best currentuse is exchanging feelings on issues BEFORE a disaster happens. who has time to 'get on the net' during the disaster?? 08:43:31 PM Rick Tobin:There is nothing more dear to city managers than finding ways to pay for disaster costs when they arrive. I'll bet a forum on disaster financing would pull a lot of people in to the discussion area. 08:43:44 PM Claire B Rubin:Could you say something about the use of the web site and that of the forum. I am guessing that the forum is members only, and the website reaches a wider audience. Is that right? 08:44:37 PM Kevin Farrell:That's what your information manager should be doing Jim.... 08:45:14 PM Rita Ossolinski:Yes to Claire (not ignoring valuable comments from Rick and Jim) ... our website gets about 2000 hits a week. The most popular item is our publications catalog. 08:46:08 PM Rita Ossolinski:Access Local Government has 2000 registered users (since Dec 97) but I don't have hit statistics at the moment 08:48:02 PM Rita Ossolinski:FYI --- ICMA's web site url is http://www.icma.org 08:48:24 PM Jim Mesite:Kevin: I'm sorry, but I don't see that happening. Have you experienced an IM doing that?? Anyone elsez? Well, sorry, folks I have to fink out now - I have another life - softball. And if the first thunderclouds of the spring don't wet us, we'll a pracrtice out here in Colorado Springs. I'll try to talk again on next forum. Thanks all. 08:48:45 PM Claire B Rubin:Are the on-line features taking away from the no. of print documents that ICMA produces? 08:49:35 PM Rick Tobin:Actually, Jim, our IM people worked on that by using push technology to pick up key information from pre-designated sites. It works. It refreshes automatically. that is the ticket! 08:50:23 PM Rita Ossolinski:Claire -- not at all. We see ourselves producing in two formats rather than one ... Since everything is electronic, it's just an educational process to remind product managers and editors to provide things for both print and Web. 08:51:52 PM Claire B Rubin:Does that mean twice as much work for everyone involved in publication preparation? 08:52:47 PM Rita Ossolinski:No -- just the added step of HTML coding for the Web ... although the software available for short cuts on HTML coding is improving. 08:53:50 PM Rita Ossolinski:Can I ask a question? How many states are represented on this chat tonight? Sure would like to be in Colorado Springs! 08:53:50 PM Avagene Moore:Other questions for Rita? 08:54:04 PM Avagene Moore:TN. 08:54:06 PM Amy Sebring:TX 08:54:12 PM Tim Murphy:SC 08:54:12 PM Claire B Rubin:There are several people on line who have been very quiet. Any last questions as 9:00 approaches? 08:54:26 PM Kevin Farrell:<----Maryland 08:54:35 PM Ron Brittan:CA 08:54:47 PM Amy Sebring:Yes, what DO city managers and the like think of Emergency Management .. or DO they! 08:55:22 PM Rick Tobin:California 08:55:29 PM Kevin Farrell:Good question Amy! 08:55:49 PM Amy Sebring:Would like to understand their perspective better. 08:56:18 PM Rita Ossolinski:They do ... I have a sense that it is a significant issue for many. ICMA has tried to be responsive with several publications on emergency management issues. 08:56:20 PM Tim Murphy:I am interested in encouraging our local gov folks to use the Internet....can we get them hooked on ALG? 08:57:28 PM Rick Tobin:Thank you Rita. I must go. Keep up the great work. It's a wonderful site. 08:57:45 PM Rita Ossolinski:You can get hooked up to ALG if you are a member of ICMA or if you work for a local government that is a direct member city of the National League of Cities or Public Technology, Inc. 08:57:46 PM Kevin Farrell:Could someone define "ALG"? 08:58:14 PM Rita Ossolinski:ALG = Access Local 08:58:27 PM Rita Ossolinski:Government ... it is a private Web forum ... 08:58:39 PM Avagene Moore:(Claire must have been bumped again.) 08:58:42 PM Megan Gilge:Access Local Government 08:59:01 PM Rita Ossolinski:created and maintained by ICMA, the National League of Cities and Public Technology, Inc. 08:59:26 PM Avagene Moore:Any final comments as we approach the hour? 08:59:32 PM Tim Murphy:Where can we get on line literature on ALG to entice locals to look into joining? 08:59:39 PM Kevin Farrell:Thanx Rita (and Megan) 09:00:01 PM Rita Ossolinski:Access Local Government on-line literature at http://www.icma.org 09:00:02 PM Amy Sebring:Thank you Rita so much for speaking with us tonite! 09:00:11 PM Amy Sebring:Thank you Claire for hosting! 09:00:19 PM claire:MANY THANKS 09:00:20 PM Amy Sebring:(applause, applause) 09:00:32 PM Tim Murphy:Great idea ...I'll followup. Thanks 09:00:38 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, Claire and Rita, for a very informative discussion tonight... 09:00:50 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, audience, for joining us and participating in the dialogue. 09:00:52 PM Rita Ossolinski:You're welcome!! It has been fun! Please e-mail any additional questions to me at 09:00:55 PM Amy Sebring:Would very much like to keep in touch... and perhaps do a regular presentation on the topic... 09:01:05 PM Kevin Farrell: 09:01:09 PM Amy Sebring:of elected officials, managers, and so on. 09:01:12 PM Avagene Moore:Yes, Rita. Good idea, Amy. 09:01:15 PM Amy Sebring:Do we have an email address? 09:01:51 PM Avagene Moore:Yes. Above. 09:01:52 PM Rita Ossolinski:Once again ... Rita Ossolinski e- mail 09:01:57 PM Amy Sebring:We can get through Claire. Thanks to both of you. 09:02:16 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks to Rita and Claire. Very good discussion. 09:02:23 PM Avagene Moore:Good night all! 09:02:24 PM Rita Ossolinski:Avagene -- can I get a transcript of this chat? 09:02:36 PM Amy Sebring:Yes, I can send. 09:02:38 PM Avagene Moore:Yes, we will have one and see that you get a copy.