[RTC List] FW: RTC meeting Thurs 9/14

[Robert Morse]

I'm a board member. Forgive the long treatise. Delete if you want.

What is a tech company? Which businesses are "leading" tech companies?
I think what members of RTC have realized is there are few companies, if
any,  that are not involved with technology in one way or another. So, that
makes defining what is a more, or less, "leading" organizational member or
interested participant in RTC activities rather difficult. If Mr. Abela
believes his business is one of the "leading companies of Technology in
Humboldt County" or he somehow has defined what those are, it would be very
helpful to have that list so we may solicit their input. If RTC is
disappointing those companies in some way, why, given all the opportunity to
participate in the direction of RTC have none of these companies or their
employees spoken up? Instead, when asked about RTC they "either chuckle or
shrug their shoulders." That's really helpful.
 
A little history: After the successful fiber optic campaign, RTC went
through a pretty thorough self-analysis. Early on it was recognized that the
fiber optic initiative drew a lot of attention to RTC and made some of the
meetings very exciting as they tended to focus more on RTC's (and other)
efforts to get the fiber line completed and not so much on the 'program'.
Meeting attendance grew. People like the 'fighting the man' kind of thing.
Gets the blood moving after sitting all day in front of a computer, like I
do, I guess. We realized the challenges facing us were harder to crystallize
into public advocacy, and were more diffused. We realized we needed to
examine the organization to keep momentum going.

One of the efforts during this self-analysis and re-imagining was an effort
to push the running of RTC down to the membership. It was clear to many of
the core members (the ones doing all the work, not the self-defined tech
leaders) that sustaining all the effort by a few people was not feasible
over time. A number of committees were created and people were invited to
join those committees...even to suggest new committees. What was the result?
For the most part, the same people who had been volunteering joined the
committees. Announcements and appeals were made on this list and at the
public meetings. People who often felt free to shoot off an email or two did
not volunteer to do any actual work. Mr. Abela appears to have been one of
the silent ones. Now he uses the tautological argument that if something
doesn't work the way I want, I won't volunteer to help make it work the way
I want because it doesn't work the way I want.

Many, many other opportunities have been offered to members and non-members
alike to influence the direction of the organization. Precious few have
offered.

So the board has decided to take another approach. We decided to stop, for
now, presenting Tech Expo as it had become too big a drain on a few who no
longer had the time or energy to offer. It was also a huge drain on the
budget.

We decided instead to work with smaller, more targeted projects. In general
that means a lot less public display and more behind the scenes efforts,
meetings with necessary people, directed email, etc. mostly to keep pushing
the general idea of improved telecommunications infrastructure for the
region. Some of these things are reported in this list, on the web site, and
announced in meetings. A failing has been that this communication has not
been consistent. We're working to improve that.

Regarding the programs offered at RTC meetings: Mr. Abela (and, I guess
others) seem to think this is what RTC is all about. In fact, it's just one
of the many functions. It's not always an easy job. We have, once again,
asked for suggestions. Few offered ideas and fewer still offered to present.
So, we do what we can. RTC is not made up of just high tech companies. And
the public meetings are just that, open to the public. That public may or
may not be interested in Ubuntu. But it appears that public is interested in
things like the best use of PDFs and "stacking boxes in my office". Analysis
of recent meeting attendance clearly indicated these were the most popular
meetings in years. So, what are we to do? We try to find a balance in our
programs and our meetings. If you come tomorrow night you will hear (and can
comment on, even influence) a general idea for next year's meetings.

As far as the specific program for Thursday. Are we so narrow minded that we
cannot find inspiration from the past to help lead us toward future
achievements? Because these tech advances happened outside of Humboldt
County can we not apply the ideas here?

What else does RTC do? It offers an article published in the Times-Standard
and other papers each week that any member can contribute to. This is a
great way to inform the general public about particular tech issues and
expose them to your expertise. Managing this takes time and effort to
organize, schedule and edit. Who does this?  Volunteers.

We offer a scholarship each year to a local student continuing their
education at CR or HSU.

We interact with a variety of regional, state and national organizations and
individuals who keep us informed and give us a forum for expressing the
needs of our region.
 
I'm leaving out some details. But sure, we could do more. But not alone. In
any case we await your constructive suggestions on what RTC should be.
Better yet, we await your active participation. Suggestions are easy. Work
is harder.
 
On 9/13/06 9:05 PM, "Gregg Foster" <rredc at northcoast.com> wrote:

> FYI...
> 
> 
> 
> 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: John Abela [mailto:jabela at gmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 5:50 PM
> To: Gregg Foster
> Subject: Re: [RTC List] RTC meeting Thurs 9/14
> 
> Hello Sir,
> 
> Thank you for taking the time to address these issues.
> 
> We have meet before and I am aware of your involvement here in our
> Community - you should be commended for your efforts.
> 
> I will by-no-means dispute what efforts the RTC has done previously!
> 
> I do, however, have to ask you (as a board member) the very question
> I've been asked all day. What is the RTC presently doing - both as an
> organization and within their monthly meetings - to *continue* to push
> forward IT Development here in Humboldt County?
> 
> Yes, I am aware you guys have tried and tried and tried to get the
> wifi thing going, yet still nothing to show for it. Yes, I'm also
> aware that a group in Arcata tried to get it going and so far nothing
> to show for it. And, yes, I know that another group here in Eureka is
> trying to get it going... and, oh-my-gosh, they are almost done! As I
> understand it a group of guys who are just tired of waiting, are
> putting together a nice sized mesh and already planning on expanding
> out. So, while I understand you guys at the RTC are working on it, it
> does appear that a grassroots group is beating out the "leaders of
> technology in humboldt county", when it comes to this topic. For me
> and my business, we will *never* use a wireless network, so that is of
> no importance to me personally, however, it is a PUSH FORWARD of
> technology -- and that IS what is importance.
> 
> Sir Gregg, it really all just comes down to the fact that I've thought
> a LOT about joining the RTC, yet nearly every business owner I know of
> here in Humboldt County says they have nothing to do with the RTC, and
> don't really want to. As a prospective member, I simply have to
> question why that is. -- Thus my message to the list earlier today.
> 
> John B. Abela
> 
> 
> On 9/13/06, Gregg Foster <rredc at northcoast.com> wrote:
>> 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
>> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Bob Morse
Morse Media
http://www.morsemedia.net
707-444-9566