Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:56:55 AM: Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP 
Virtual Forum!

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:04 AM: Avagene Moore: Today is a very special 
day -- a proud and happy day!  The EIIP Virtual Forum was launched 3 
years ago.  Through trial/error, a lot of work, and with the help of 
you all, we provide a means of staying on top of the disaster 
business from your desktop regardless of location or time zone.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:16 AM: Avagene Moore: We appreciate you being 
here with us to celebrate and hopefully encourage the continuation 
of online interactive discussions with subject matter experts from 
the disaster/emergency management community. Your presence and words 
of support are the reasons the EIIP Virtual Forum is alive and well 
today!

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:30 AM: Avagene Moore: This past year has been 
phenomenal in its own way.  We continue to grow a credible 
reputation and following for this type of global sharing of 
information and networking.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:40 AM: Avagene Moore: One of the highlights 
of the year was the December '99 WEBEX II exercise in conjunction 
with the Virtual Fire & Rescue Expo (VFRE) --- WEBEX is another 
example of the EIIP pushing the envelope and creating an opportunity 
for new Internet experiences and learning.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:49 AM: Avagene Moore: (If you are unfamiliar 
with WEBEX, please see http://www.vfre.com/presentation26/ for 
further information after today's session.)

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:58 AM: Avagene Moore: We were also pleased 
that we were able to be part of the GDIN Conference in Ankara, 
Turkey in the spring.  We had a remarkable 2-hour connection and did 
3 workshops that connected folks in Ankara and around the world.  A 
wonderful global experience!

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:09 AM: Avagene Moore: However, our Wednesday 
sessions with experts and our audiences that make them so successful 
are our real pride and joy.  This year, the number of participants 
each week has at least doubled; we have averaged 40-45 per session 
for the year 2000.  It is so rewarding when you, the audience, take 
the time to be with us.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:23 AM: Avagene Moore: Another big change this 
year is that speakers are coming to us in many cases and asking for 
an opportunity to do a presentation.  If you have looked at our 
Presenter Hall of Fame for the year, you know the lineup of speakers 
was great!  A veritable "Who's Who" in the Emergency/Disaster 
Management field!

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:33 AM: Avagene Moore: We thank each and every 
speaker for their time and effort on behalf of the EIIP Virtual 
Forum.  Please review this year's Presenter Hall of Fame when 
convenient -- http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/000809.htm#FAME -- our 
hat's off to each one of them!

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:43 AM: Avagene Moore: As far as next year, we 
have plans for moving into distance learning.  This has been part of 
our dream for the past 3 years.  We hope to continue the EIIP 
Virtual Forum -- at the moment, we are working hard to find funding 
to keep us going.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:54 AM: Avagene Moore: If you value the EIIP 
Virtual Forum and want it to continue, please let us know.  Send us 
a 'rave' about what it means to you -- perhaps that will help and it 
will certainly lend moral support to Amy and me.  The EIIP Virtual 
Forum is truly a labor of love for both of us.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:04 AM: Avagene Moore: I would be remiss if I 
didn't express publicly how much I personally value the friendship 
and expertise of Amy Sebring, EIIP Technical Projects Coordinator.  
Amy provides so much to the EIIP Virtual Forum and she is a true 
professional.  Thank you, Amy!

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:12 AM: Avagene Moore: And now it is my 
pleasure to ask Amy to tell us about the EIIP Pledges --- the 
Friends of the EIIP.  Amy?

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:20 AM: Amy Sebring: Thanks Ava ..

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:27 AM: Amy Sebring: and the same goes for me 
...

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:37 AM: Amy Sebring: I am going to review 
where we stand to date on our filled pledges, but I need to do some 
clarification first.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:46 AM: Amy Sebring: First, not all the 
pledgers that I am going to mention pledged 12 months ago.  Some may 
have pledged after August last year, so they may be still working on 
perfect attendance at this point.

Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:57 AM: Amy Sebring: From here on out, we will 
recognize each 12 month fulfillment as it occurs.

Amy Sebring: Second, we gave pledge credit for showing up at least 
part of the time, that is, if for some reason a pledge tried to 
attend, and could not stay connected, we counted them anyway.

Amy Sebring: Third, "pledges completed" does not take into account 
how many sessions were completed -- only that the pledger met his 
particular pledge level for that month.

Amy Sebring: Also, some pledgers attended more than the pledged 
amount in a given month.  We are only counting up to the pledge, 
however, we certainly commend those who did the extra time!

Amy Sebring: I am going to start with those who have completed 6 
months of fulfilled pledges at this time, and work our way up to 12 
months.  Please hold your congratulations, (or send them privately), 
until the end.

Amy Sebring: Here we go ... 6 individuals have completed 6 months of 
fulfilled pledges ...

Amy Sebring: Dennis Hicketheir, Tim Murphy, Jan Kimmell, Chip Hines, 
Steve Smith, and Christopher Effgen

Amy Sebring: 5 persons have completed 7 months of fulfilled pledges 
...

Amy Sebring: Terry Storer, Jim Cook, Rick Wood, Isabel McCurdy, and 
Roger Kershaw

Amy Sebring: 3 persons have completed 8 months of fulfilled pledges 
...

Amy Sebring: Kevin Farrell, Don Hartley, and Leslie Little

Amy Sebring: 4 persons have completed 9 months of fulfilled pledges 
...

Amy Sebring: Claire Rubin, Ray Pena, Burt Wallrich, and Rick Tobin

Amy Sebring: Now we come to our top 3 categories ... drum roll 
please ....

Amy Sebring: Those completing 10 months of fulfilled pledges are ...

Amy Sebring: Cam King

Amy Sebring: Darryl Spiewak

Amy Sebring: and Linda Underwood

Amy Sebring: We have one individual who has completed 11 months  who 
is ....

Amy Sebring: Gilbert Gibbs!

Amy Sebring: And we do have one person who has completed, (or at 
least attempted to complete) 12 months ....

Amy Sebring: ....

Amy Sebring: David Crews!!  Way to go David!

Amy Sebring: Now can we please hear/see your congratulations to ALL 
our pledgers!

Jim Acosta: Way to go!

Louise Comfort: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Avagene Moore: <<<<applause, applause, applause:::

Amy Sebring:  //bell

Steve Detwiler, MNG: Congratulations everyone!

Daryl Spiewak: Yea, team! Way to go.

Amy Sebring:  //exclaim

Isabel McCurdy: <<<yahoooooooo:::

Lizzie Hicks: Nice One

LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: Yea! Yea! Yea!

Judy Jaeger: Congratulations!

Amy Sebring:  //thumbsup

Charles Carey: Congradulations from the Arizona Division of 
Emergency Management, Hooray

Amy Sebring: We will send David an appropriate certificate, suitable 
for framing, (not sure if we can afford the frame!) and we hope you 
can use this certificate of evidence of professional development for 
CEM credit, life experience credit, or at least show it to your boss 
and see if you can get a raise!

Isabel McCurdy: Hip hip Hooray!!

Amy Sebring: We will send such a certificate to anyone who hits 12 
months of filled pledges, regardless of how long it takes you to do 
it!

David Crews: Thanks Amy!

Steve Detwiler, MNG: Congratulations from the Marasco Newton 
Group!!!!

Amy Sebring: We will also notify you when you hit 12 months, and ask 
you if you would like to renew your pledge for another 12 months ... 
assuming we can keep going that long!

Elaine Sudanowicz: Best wishes for future successes.

Amy Sebring: We are also happy to take any new pledges today!  Just 
go to http://www.emforum.org/eiip/pledge.htm and fill out the form.

peter buchner: congratulations! hip hooray

Amy Sebring: We have a new pledge this week from Peter Buchner in 
Germany ...

Amy Sebring: //bell http://www.emforum.org/pledge.wav Thanks Peter!

Amy Sebring: I would like to add that we have seen what a difference 
this has made in our attendance this year, and has been very 
worthwhile ...

Louise Comfort: Welcome, Peter!

Amy Sebring: We don't always pick the most sensational topics, 
because we try to cover a wide variety of things that we think are 
important, and that you should know about ...

Amy Sebring: So it really helps that when a speaker goes to the time 
and trouble it takes to prepare a session for us, free gratis, that 
there is a decent audience for his efforts.

Amy Sebring: It also makes the sessions more beneficial for everyone 
when you are here contributing your questions and comments.

Amy Sebring: Ava, I will turn it back to you to add your comments 
and to introduce our special guest for today.

Avagene Moore: Thank you, Amy.  We appreciate the Friends of the 
EIIP and encourage you to become one if you have not previously done 
so.

Avagene Moore: Now, it is my pleasure to introduce our special guest 
today.  Joseph D. Szwarckop is the Director of the Global Disaster 
Information Network (GDIN) Committee Support Office.

Avagene Moore: J. D. supervises an interagency staff responsible for 
supporting the Interagency Coordination Committee and for 
implementing the GDIN program under the Committee's guidance.

Avagene Moore: Please read J. D.'s full bio after the session to 
find out about his distinguished career prior to being appointed as 
FEMA's representative to the GDIN program.

Avagene Moore: Our speaker is with us for the Q&A segment of his 
session but Amy will input his formal remarks.  Afterwards, I will 
remind you of the protocol for Q&A and you can address your 
questions to Director Szwarckop at that time.

Avagene Moore: Welcome, J. D.  Amy will you please input now?

J. D. Szwarckop: Hello everyone;  thank you for your kind 
introduction. Before I begin I would like to wish EIIP a Happy 
Birthday and congratulations on another successful year.

J. D. Szwarckop: I would also like to extend my appreciation to 
Avagene and Amy for doing such a fine job producing the forum over 
the past three years.  Again, happy birthday and congratulations.

J. D. Szwarckop: To you out there in cyberland, thank you for this 
opportunity to speak to you about the Global Disaster Information 
Network (GDIN) initiative.

J. D. Szwarckop: GDIN is a concept for reducing the impact of 
natural and man-made disasters through an improved application of 
information technology for disaster management.

J. D. Szwarckop: As envisioned, GDIN is a robust, integrated, 
virtual information and decision support process which provides for 
the timely and accurate exchange of relevant emergency management 
information during all phases of disaster management to save lives 
and reduce economic loss.

J. D. Szwarckop: For years the effectiveness of emergency management 
has been hampered by the community's inability to readily access 
required disaster information. This obstacle has been due in part to 
the lack of standardization, integration and interconnectivity.

J. D. Szwarckop: To achieve the desired accessibility, the GDIN 
initiative would encourage the participation by all stakeholders and 
promote the establishment of a distributive knowledge base, 
interconnectivity and integration.

J. D. Szwarckop: Stakeholders would include government at all 
levels, non-government organizations, industry, academia, research 
community and the general public.

J. D. Szwarckop: A distributed knowledge base would consist of 
systems of measurement, methods of data visualization and 
exploitation, information analysis, event forecasting, knowledge 
modeling and data and information management.

J. D. Szwarckop: Interconnectivity would entail the modes of 
communication employed to retrieve and distribute data as well as 
disseminate information products developed with the distributed 
knowledge base.

J. D. Szwarckop: Integration would address the tracking of system 
performance, standardization, quality and reliability assurance and 
systems training.

J. D. Szwarckop: With the foregoing explanation, one might very 
appropriately ask, "What will GDIN provide that is value added?"

J. D. Szwarckop: Required disaster information will be accessed 
through a search engine dedicated to disaster management.  
Information will be passed over the Internet and dedicated national 
communications systems.

J. D. Szwarckop: Policies will be established that promote the 
availability of information as well as certify the quality and 
reliability of information.  Processes will be established that 
provide security and confidentially for the disaster information 
required.

J. D. Szwarckop: Having stated in general terms what GDIN is, it is 
also important to state what GDIN is not. First, the network is not 
a supranational communications authority for disaster information 
management.

J. D. Szwarckop: Second, it is not an initiative to replace current 
emergency management facilities and systems. Rather, the system 
would build upon existing activities and encourage voluntary 
compliance to standards and processes developed collectively by 
GDIN's stakeholders.

J. D. Szwarckop: What does this all mean, for example, to the 
emergency manager and other decision- makers involve in disaster 
management?  By establishing a GDIN, everyone will have:

J. D. Szwarckop: * a "network" for sharing critical expertise, data 
and technology;

J. D. Szwarckop: * a "collaboration forum" for information exchanges 
across all levels of civil, military and commercial sectors,

J. D. Szwarckop: * an "Internet-accessible archive" for time-
critical and value-added information.

J. D. Szwarckop: President Clinton underscored the importance of 
establishing GDIN when in April of this year he signed an Executive 
Order directing the Federal government to support domestic and 
foreign disasters through the use of the GDIN concept.

J. D. Szwarckop: This order establishes an Interagency Coordinating 
Committee (ICC), comprised of 13 departments and agencies, to 
provide leadership and oversight for the development of GDIN.

J. D. Szwarckop: The order also establishes my office - Committee 
Support Office - to assist the ICC by developing plans and products 
that promote GDIN.

J. D. Szwarckop: By this executive document, GDIN, as a program, has 
official recognition and the infrastructure to accomplish what is 
required to establish the concept. But if GDIN is to succeed as a 
program, support by the Federal government is not enough. All 
stakeholders need to be involved in the development of the network.

J. D. Szwarckop: One way to accomplish this task is by forming a 
public-private partnership. We have already begun working toward 
that end by participating in a number of emergency management 
conferences to inform attendees of the concept.

J. D. Szwarckop: Further we are sponsoring a GDIN Exposition and 
Conference in Hawaii this October 9-11. Our purpose is to explore 
the needs of participants in government, business, and non-profit 
sectors related to emergency management technologies.

J. D. Szwarckop: We are also investigating the possibility of 
conducting a national conference to promote GDIN.

J. D. Szwarckop: In addition, as we work toward forming the public-
private partnership, the GDIN program will focus its attention to 
establishing disaster information interconnectivity within the 
Federal government.

J. D. Szwarckop: I have mentioned the principal activities of the 
program for the upcoming year. For those who have developed 
programs, you know that there is a lot more to be done with regard 
to planning, administration and logistics.

J. D. Szwarckop: I know that some of you have questions so I'll 
close by recommending the following documents for a more detailed 
explanation of the GDIN concept:

J. D. Szwarckop: Disaster Information Task Force Report. Harnessing 
Information and Technology for Disaster Management: The Global 
Disaster Information Network (GDIN), November 1997, 115pp.

J. D. Szwarckop: National Research Council, Reducing Disaster Losses 
Through Better Information, National Academy Press: Washington, D.C. 
1999.

J. D. Szwarckop: President William Jefferson Clinton, Executive 
Order 13151: "Global Disaster Information Network", April 27, 2000, 
found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/library.

J. D. Szwarckop: (The latter two are linked from the background page 
for today's session.)

J. D. Szwarckop: Thank you for this opportunity to briefly describe 
the GDIN initiative to you. I hope this presentation will stimulate 
everyone to learn more about the program and how important it is to 
the welfare of our country.  I am now ready to answer your 
questions.

Avagene Moore: Thank you, J. D. and Amy, for the overview of GDIN.  
I remind you of the protocol for asking questions of our guest.  ...

Avagene Moore: Please input a question mark (?) to indicate you wish 
to speak.  Compose your question but hold it until you are 
identified by name, then hit Send or Enter to submit your question 
to the chat screen.

Avagene Moore: We will take questions and comments in the order in 
which they appear on the screen.  Please submit your ? now if you 
have a question of Director Szwarckop.

Avagene Moore: Please input your ? now.

Louise Comfort: ?

Steve Detwiler, MNG: ?

Avagene Moore: Louise, whenever you are ready, submit your question.

Jack Long: ?

Louise Comfort: Hi J.D., thanks for the summary of GDIN.  How many 
nations are currently involved in GDIN?

Amy Sebring: (Please be patient for responses.  There appears to be 
some lag time in the connection to Washington.)

Avagene Moore: (Yes, Director Szwarckop is coming from inside the 
Pentagon.)

Joe Szwarckop: at last count I understood 13.

Avagene Moore: Steve, your question, please.

Louise Comfort: Are there plans to increase this number?

Joe Szwarckop: We are encouraging all nations by attending 
conferences that are international, for example the Inter-American 
Development Bank conference.

Amy Sebring: ?

Steve Detwiler, MNG: With the implementation with this new Disaster 
Networking systems will the Federal govt. be depending on private 
contractors to handle the functional areas? (gathering data etc.)

David Crews: ?!

Joe Szwarckop: Re contractors, that is still to be worked out 
through a public private partnership.

Avagene Moore: Jack, your question, please.

Jack Long: Is GDIN focused strictly on disaster response, or can it 
serve as a medium for sharing preparedness information as well 
(sharing best practices and lessons learned, for example)?

Joe Szwarckop: It is what the community wants. The idea is to make 
the process better for accessing info from all sources.

Avagene Moore: Amy, you are next.

Amy Sebring: What happens to Executive Orders when the 
Administration changes? and has any funding been approved for 
FY2001?

mohan: ?

Steve Detwiler, MNG: ?

Joe Szwarckop: No funding approved. Executive Orders stand unless 
revoked by the incoming.

Avagene Moore: David Crews, your question.

David Crews: The GDIN Website URL is www.gdin-international.org  
There is a lot of new information been posted on the Working Groups 
and the GDIN Initiatives in the past three weeks.

Amy Sebring: ?

Avagene Moore: Mohan, you are next, please

Louise Comfort: ?

mohan: I would like to know how international organisations could 
participate  in GDIN?

Joe Szwarckop: I need to explain something about the program ...

Joe Szwarckop: the US GDIN program is made up of two parts ...

Joe Szwarckop: the national and what I call IDIN...

Joe Szwarckop: the goal was to first establish an NDIN...

Joe Szwarckop: then go on to expanding the concept to an 
international activity...

Joe Szwarckop: the international side jumped ahead because other 
nations saw the value right away...

Joe Szwarckop: Because of some politics, the national side wasn't 
funded....

Joe Szwarckop: so hasn't moved as far as the international.

Avagene Moore: J. D. did you see Mohan's question about how 
International organizations can participate in GDIN?

Avagene Moore: (Steve, Amy, and Louise. Please have your questions 
ready.  We are going to have to move quickly.  We are running out of 
time.)

Joe Szwarckop: no.

Avagene Moore: Do you have a response?

Joe Szwarckop: We have another International conference coming up in 
March...

Joe Szwarckop: in Australia; that is a good time to join in.

Avagene Moore: Thank you, J. D.  I will ask Steve, Amy and Louise to 
submit your questions now so we can cut down on the lag time, 
please.  I will help track the questions.

Louise Comfort: J.D.: At the Ankara Conference, there was discussion 
about changing the name of GDIN to GDIN-USA, to make it consistent 
with other national DINs.  Has this been done?

Amy Sebring: The Website David mentioned is focused on the 
International GDIN effort.  Is a Website being planned for the 
domestic effort?

Steve Detwiler, MNG: Will the network be a collection of individual 
knowledge (such as so-so is an expert in mitigation, then provide 
that person's contact info) or be a collection of raw data (EOP'S 
disaster mitigation info, etc.)?

Avagene Moore: (This will be all the questions we have time for 
today.)

Joe Szwarckop: Ref web site...

Joe Szwarckop: a GDIN-USA is being constructed to address the 
national activity...

Joe Szwarckop: GDIN-Int will continue to reflect the program as the 
international community sees it.

Avagene Moore: J. D. I am afraid we are out of time. Sorry.

Avagene Moore: Thank you again, J. D. for your time and effort in 
the Virtual Forum.  Please stay with us if you can afford the time.  
Audience, thank you for your fine participation.

Avagene Moore: Before moving to the remainder of our anniversary 
party, I must inform you that our session  next Wednesday August 16, 
12 Noon EDT, is one you don't dare miss.

Avagene Moore: Everyone in this business needs to be aware and 
supportive of the Congressional Natural Hazards Caucus, co-chaired 
by Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and John Edwards (D-NC). The kickoff 
event for the Natural Hazards Caucus was June 21 in Washington, DC.

Avagene Moore: David Applegate, Director of Government Affairs at 
the American Geological Institute, and Peter Folger, Public Affairs 
Manager for the American Geophysical Union, will bring us up to date 
on the Congressional Natural Hazards Caucus on August 16. Make it a 
point to join us on that date.

Avagene Moore: Amy, I turn the floor to you now. It's party time!

Amy Sebring: Thanks Avagene, and Let the Party Begin!

Amy Sebring: Put on your //hat

Paul Bourget: Happy Birthday, EIIP!

Amy Sebring: blow up a //balloon

Amy Sebring: grab some //cake

peter buchner: In Germany it is 7 PM now. Time to have a drink for 
the birthday party?

Amy Sebring: raise your //glass

Amy Sebring: and please sing along with the Prairie Dogs at 
http://www.justfree.com/mrsg/pdbirthday.html

Amy Sebring: (Notice the cake with 3 candles at the top of that 
page!)

Tim Murphy:  //hat ...

Amy Sebring: Now we would like to share some birthday cards with you 
...

Amy Sebring: This first one is from one of our partners in Peru, 
Antonio Ramirez at the University of Piura

Amy Sebring: http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/bday3/Running.htm

Amy Sebring: And here is one from our friend and partner Jan Zastrow 
in Hawaii where it is VERY early at the moment ...

Gil Gibbs: . //glass

Amy Sebring: 
http://www3.bluemountain.com/cards/box4287h/xja9rpmxmjmuit.htm

Amy Sebring: And here is one from Isabel ...

Amy Sebring: 
http://www3.bluemountain.com/cards/box4287a/xxd6jmwehcyhsv.htm

Avagene Moore: (The cards are neat!)

Amy Sebring: We have run way over time ...

David Crews: Thanks to the EIIP staff and all their volunteers!

Gil Gibbs: Got to run, enjoyed the exchanges!

Amy Sebring: we had a game prepared ...

Rick Wood: Some of us survived.

Amy Sebring: does anyone want to play?

Terry Storer: EIIP Staff and Partners : Thanks for all you do !

Avagene Moore: I do.

LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: I do.

Amy Sebring: You can't play Ava!

peter buchner: I do

Kevin Farrell: sure

Amy Sebring: Thanks Terry.

Avagene Moore: I guess I can.  I just can't win.

Amy Sebring: Right Ava...

Avagene Moore: Thanks Terry.  Tell someone else about us.

Amy Sebring: Ok, I will carry on.

Amy Sebring: this is just for fun, so you are on your honor for 
scoring, there are no prizes!

Amy Sebring: We are going to play an adaptation of Scattergories.  
Don't worry if you have never played it before; it is very easy.

[Whereupon 4 rounds of on-line Scattergories ensued.]

Amy Sebring: That's it for our party this year.  Let's hope we make 
it to celebrate year 4!  Please tell your friends and co-workers 
about us and invite them to check out the Virtual Forum.

Amy Sebring: I would also like to thank our partners Monty Gearhart 
and Pat West for supporting the EIIP with server support!  They are 
great to work with and make it all possible!  Support the VFRE and 
watch for firefighting.com!