[RTC List] RTC meeting Thurs 9/14

[Sean Connors]

Please pardon me; I'm just a lurker who still needs to pay his dues ( it's 
on my desk to be paid tonight though -- even before this -- blush ).

I honestly can't say I could disagree really with anything said here on this 
"flame" thread today. However, I'd have to say that Jill St Clair voiced the 
response I can most agree with -- most of us ( I hope ) are busy working.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to set up an online forum for discussions of 
this sort so that folks who are truly interested in a thread such as this 
can discuss while not bothering others who are getting something close to 
"soft" SPAM while they are trying to filter email immediately relevant to 
running their business. ( I frankly thought of removing myself from this 
listserv because of this thread today ).

As I've also clearly caught the "sub-thread" of ( paraphrase ) "if you 
aren't involved, then either get involved or cool it" . . . I'd happily 
volunteer to set up a discussion forum that this sort of discussion could be 
"deflected" to and hopefully addressed more appropriately as a discussion 
forum rather than having it on a listserv.

I'm also thinking of folks like Jeremy Hansen who is now getting all of this 
and maybe thinking that finding a way to migrate his talent "up in here" 
wasn't such a great idea if this kind of "flaming" in any way exemplifies 
our IT community -- which we all know it does not, but what about Jeremy 
Hansen?

If this makes any sense, I'd be happy to take point on hosting a forum.

I'd also like to say that while I've been watching/lurking and meaning to 
get involved for many years, this thread has motivated/goaded me to into 
action; I hope that it has the same affect on others like me.

All the best,

--  Sean

Sean Connors
WebMerchant Services
www.WebMerchantServices.com
Sean at webmerchantservices.com
1-877-569-6584 (sales and fax)
1-707-443-4447 (support)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "AllianceIT Tech Services" <dave at aldatas.com>
To: "'Gregg Foster'" <rredc at northcoast.com>; <list at redwoodtech.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 8:25 PM
Subject: Re: [RTC List] RTC meeting Thurs 9/14


>I am just back in from another long day running my business and 
>volunteering
> time tonight coaching two youth soccer teams....with that said this has 
> been
> quite the e-mail thread.
> Gregg- Spot on brother with your thoughtful feedback.....Thank You to 
> Rene,
> Jim ChrisC, TinaN, and many others who have GIVEN of THEIR time 
> volunteering
> to make things happen(rather than sit around the water cooler complaining
> about how awful things are).
> One could only imagine had you all had that mindset, RTC wouldn't even 
> exist
> for folks to spend time telling those who are volunteering- how THEY need 
> to
> do things better.
> As I referenced soccer, I too, also server on two volunteer boards- with 
> an
> average of six to eight people- like the RTC board, we are doing the best
> they can too make a positive difference in the community. Are things
> perfect, no. Can things be done to improve, yes, and we are working 
> TOGETHER
> to make things better. Taking it to an extreme, If these volunteer youth
> athletic board members were each waiting to have the perfect club or the
> perfect organization to give of their time before joining then there would
> be no boards, no clubs, no teams, no kids playing.
> For anyone to arm-chair quarterback without offering to get involved, is
> just wrong.
> So what if you talked with IT manager this, IT owner that,,blah, blah
> blah....if you have the expertise, GET INVOLVED.
>
> Dave Breyer
> AllianceIT Tech Services
> RTC Member
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: list-bounces at redwoodtech.org [mailto:list-bounces at redwoodtech.org] 
> On
> Behalf Of Gregg Foster
> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 5:39 PM
> To: list at redwoodtech.org
> Subject: Re: [RTC List] RTC meeting Thurs 9/14
>
> Well, it's great to see such passion.  Some quick thoughts:
>
> 1. I'm on the board, but not a tech related business.  RTC has
> been very helpful for me in efforts over the years to improve the
> telecommunications infrastructure here.  When everyone was dragging their
> feet on the fiber optic install, it was RTC leadership that helped push 
> that
> forward.  When everyone was patting themselves on the back when it was
> complete, it was RTC leadership that pushed the fact that one fiber was 
> not
> enough.  We have both infrastructure risk and no price competition and we
> all suffer.  The redundant fiber project continues with work being done
> every day.  RTC is a vital part of that and when (and I mean when) the 
> deal
> is struck that brings us redundancy, you'll be able to thank RTC for 
> pushing
> it.  I won't go into efforts, again mostly voluntary, to bring wireless
> coverage to public facilities and unserved areas, but we're helping with
> that too.  Thank us when you are on your browsing on your laptop at the
> airport.  That will be coming too, again thanks to the VOLUNTEER efforts 
> of
> RTC leadership.
> 2. You seem to think that there's some sort of magic and/or big
> infrastructure to RTC.  Its five volunteers, giving freely of their time,
> not being paid to do so (in fact, I'm the only one whose job sort of
> intersects my involvement).   My challenge to the members is that if you
> don't feel that that programs are relevant, then devote the hours to 
> finding
> a relevant speaker or developing a program that people want to hear.
> 3. The same goes for other efforts outside of the monthly
> meetings.  If you want something, help create it.  Commit the hours. 
> Commit
> the effort.  Opinions are not unique, but commitment too often is.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Gregg
>
> Gregg Foster
> Executive Director
> Redwood Region Economic Development Commission 520 E Street Eureka, CA
> 95501
> 707-445-9651
> 707-445-9652 (fax)
> rredc at northcoast.com
> www.rredc.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: list-bounces at redwoodtech.org [mailto:list-bounces at redwoodtech.org] 
> On
> Behalf Of John Abela
> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 5:13 PM
> To: list at redwoodtech.org
> Subject: Re: [RTC List] RTC meeting Thurs 9/14
>
> Ah, the joys of feedback when some people want to hear what they want to
> hear, and some people don't want to hear what others want them to hear.
>
> You know, week after week I read on local websites, hear at local IT
> meetings, and have meetings with fellow business owners, that the RTC is
> just miserably failing to continue walking in their quest to be "the 
> primary
> information resource on issues related to the technology industry on
> California's North Coast" -- and for a long time I did not agree with the,
> yet recently month after month I am beginning to agree with them.
>
> Yes, we here on the North Coast have a number of things of which to say
> "Thank you" to the RTC - but what my previous email was about was not the
> ancient past, but rather the distant past, the present, and the future, in
> which month after month after month we are told about topics at the RTC
> monthly meetings that makes one really stop and ask themselves, "what in 
> the
> world does this have to do with IT in Humboldt County?"
>
> (you'll notice nobody has yet to actually addressed that issue yet, 
> instead
> either agreeing with me, or flaming at me, such as the case may be)
>
>
> Do anybody remember that meeting where we all got to learn how to stack
> boxes and organize our offices? Oh-boy!!  (sorry if the person who 
> presented
> that is reading this... I think it's a great topic to talk about, but in 
> the
> context of the RTC being "the primary resource on issues related to the
> technology industry on California's North Coast", well I just don't see 
> that
> being a worthy topic for a monthly meeting, considering what the RTC 
> claims
> to be)
>
> Let me address some of these comments that have been posted since I did:
>
> -----------------------------------------
> -- Timmons, Julie A. <JTimmons at dor.ca.gov> Disagree and please don't 
> burden
> everyone on the list with your personal thoughts. Take it up with the 
> Board.
> -----------------------------------------
>
>
> Hey Julie, I am taking it up with them - and everybody else!  A good many 
> of
> whom seem to agree with me both on-list and off-list  ;-)
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> -- Rene Agredano <bikerat69 at aim.com>
> Regarding your comments about the RTC's agenda this week... It's very easy
> to criticize and flame from afar. But if you feel so strongly that RTC is
> not contributing to the North Coast in the way that it should be, then
> perhaps you might become actively involved and participate. I've been
> closely involved with RTC since 1998, and I can honestly say that I have
> never seen your name listed on any volunteer rosters. If you don't like 
> what
> we are doing, then please, get involved. If you don't want to get 
> involved,
> then keep your flames to yourself.
> -----------------------------------------
>
> I believe you've hit the nail on the head!
>
> Why *should* I become involved with the group that claims to be the 
> leaders
> of the IT world in Humboldt County when their primary monthly topics are 
> of
> very little relevance to the IT of Humboldt County?
>
> You are correct, you've never seen my name on any paper work - that is
> because so-far the RTC has done very little to justify the valuable time 
> and
> resources I have to offer, nor that of my business. Do I really want to
> invest my time into the RTC when they are talking about stacking boxes in 
> my
> office, or learning about rockets and JPL? Ummm, No!
>
> I would tend to ask you, "How many companies in Humboldt County that are
> primarily focused on the IT sector and are involved in the RTC on a
> volunteer basis?" You being the long-standing member of the RTC that you
> are, you should be able to answer that one. I happen to know that a good
> deal of them are not, so along with this question, let me ask you, "Why
> aren't they?"
>
> When the leading companies of Technology in Humboldt County are not 
> involved
> in your organization, how in the world can you sit here and expect myself
> and those not involved to "become involved"? -- Perhaps the answer to this
> is that the RTC has simply lost it's drive, it's focus, it's outreach to
> those people who ARE leading the way in technology in Humboldt County. I
> might be right, I might be wrong -- but when I ask my fellow business 
> owners
> and their staff if they are involved in the RTC, most of them either 
> chuckle
> or shrug their shoulders.
>
> My questions to the RTC would than be:  (a) why is that, and (b) could 
> your
> monthly topics have anything to do with this?
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> -- Jonathan Speaker <jspeaker at streamguys.com> Well stated.
>
>
> -- Jason Woods <jason at biztechinfo.biz>
> My thoughts exactly!
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
> Why thanks guys! It's nice to know that two folks from some well-known IT
> companies in Humboldt Country are in agreement with me!
>
>
> (** insert over a dozen other off-list emails I've gotten that are 
> identical
> to the above two **)
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> -- Jim Nelson <jcnjr at agreda.com>
> Why don't YOU do something about it then!?!?!? Or, take your personal 
> peeves
> up directly with the RTC Board (board at redwoodtech.org)? Instead you rant 
> to
> the entire list-serv, disrespecting the group and perpetuating the myth 
> that
> the RTC does no good for our community. You obviously have no idea what
> we've actually accomplished. Daria's presentation sounds like another
> perfect example of how technology can help salvage our dwindling
> resource-based economy -- she works for JPL from Humboldt County. Get off
> your ass and participate or quit your bitching.
> -----------------------------------------
>
> Hello Jim,
>
> Read my statement above.
>
> I mean no disrespect toward anybody - but I do mean to seek an answer to 
> why
> the RTC which claims to be the leader of technology in Humboldt County is
> using their precious monthly meetings (the very meetings they want to 
> charge
> me a fair amount of money for, and expect me to devote my time to) to talk
> about things that in the opinion of 95% of the people I encounter in
> Humboldt County could pretty much care less about, and they simply see as
> further cause to distance themselves from the RTC because of it.
>
> Jim, everyone... this is about trying to wake up some people - both those 
> at
> the RTC and those I encounter (who are probably lurkers, like I am, on 
> this
> mailing list).
>
> As I stated above:
>
> I am a business owner. (I have a fair sized business which I operate out 
> of
> Humboldt County.) My business is 100% technology based.
> I read about the RTC and their monthly meeting topics and simply shake my
> head.
> I talk to people in the community to see if I'm the only one who thinks
> this, and the majority agree with me.
> I talk to other IT Business owners, and they agree with me.
> I talk with local IT Mangers, and they agree with me.
> I talk with IT Tech Support employees and they agree with me.
> (hey, the two guys I posted above agree with me, plus many more who've
> emailed me off-list!)
>
>
> My points here RTC'ers, are:
>
> It seems like you are claiming a lot ("the leaders of the IT in Humboldt
> County") yet your monthly meetings are not focused on present IT issues in
> Humboldt County.
>
> I read you are increasing your prices for membership, yet what is coming
> with it? -- More monthly meetings about topics that have very little in
> relationship to those people you NEED to be members of the RTC.
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> -- Daria Topousis <dariat at cox.net>
>
> I understand your concern about my talk not relating specifically to RTC
> functions.  I do, however, think the talk is useful to the RTC in that 
> what
> I'm focusing on is not so much the technical makeup of rockets but what 
> made
> that period of innovation possible, something that I think those of us
> trying to make technological changes on the North Coast could learn from 
> or
> be inspired by.  That's my intention, anyway.
> -----------------------------------------
>
> Daria,
>
> I do sincerely hope you do not take this topic personal -- I really, 
> really,
> really do mean that!
>
> This was in no way related to your presentation, but rather a continued
> digression away from
> present-day-pushing-forward-with-technology-in-humbolt-county, which is 
> what
> the RTC claims they are all about, yet appears to be doing very poorly
> recently. I operate a fairly moderate size operation and have thought 
> often
> about joining the RTC, yet they continual seem to be focused on topics 
> other
> than what *I* see is within their mission statement, and it is that very
> issue that has lead me to post this message. By no means are you are apart
> of this issue!! Please know and understand this... pretty please :)
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> -- Jason Woods <jason at biztechinfo.biz>
>
> Isn't it my right as a paying member to express my views on the list-serv?
> We'll discuss results later
> -----------------------------------------
>
> One would hope so ;)
>
>
> -----------------------------------------
> -- Andy Alm <andy at almlet.net>
>
> My assumption was that the factors that fostered heightened creativity and
> innovation in the past in one high-tech sector in California might be of
> relevance to us here. I hope others don't make a judgement based on what
> they haven't heard yet, and preserve us from flame-wars on this list.
> -----------------------------------------
>
> I agree Andy. I'm simply after answers to my previous answers. I didn't
> start the flame-war. All I did was present a perceived problem with the 
> RTC
> and sought for clarification -- they say if you throw a rock into a pack 
> of
> wolves, the one that whelped is the one that got hit. Well, I've obviously
> hit upon an issue that needed further addressing and possibly 
> clarification
> by people other than just myself.
>
>
>
> I'm going to close this message now. To you RTC Board Members... I both
> request you to answer my questions, and ask yourself these questions I've
> asked -- as there are a great deal of IT Business owners, managers, and
> employees who are really wondering what the RTC is doing to fulfill your
> mission statement, what you are presenting to your members on a monthly
> basis, and what you are (or are not) doing to continue to push forward the
> technology of Humboldt County. I am not against the RTC by any means - 
> yet,
> if you want my support and money, and the support and money of other local
> business, and that of the large group of IT'ers I meet with on a weekly
> basis, I truly do feel you need to take to heart what is being said here.
>
>
> John B. Abela
>
> _______________________________________________
> List mailing list
> List at redwoodtech.org
> http://redwoodtech.org/mailman/listinfo/list_redwoodtech.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List mailing list
> List at redwoodtech.org
> http://redwoodtech.org/mailman/listinfo/list_redwoodtech.org
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List mailing list
> List at redwoodtech.org
> http://redwoodtech.org/mailman/listinfo/list_redwoodtech.org
>