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

[John Abela]

Good Morning All.

You all will have to forgive me... I figured if this listserver
accepted an email from a member, it was a traditional two-way
listserv.


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-- Sean Connors <sean at webmerchantservices.com>

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.....
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One figures when they post to a listserv that they will either get
rejected (because it's a one-way listserver) or their email will be
transmitted (because it's an open listserver), so when my email went
out, I figured this listserver was for open and public discussion.

That however, does not seem to be the case, for which I do apologize
to everybody out there who doesn't normally see discussions taking
place via this listserver!

Your website states(ed) nothing about this being a one-way listserver,
so if that is what everybody excepted this to be... whoever operates
this listserv might want to go change your configs ;)

Again everybody -- I truly did expect this to be an open discussion
list when it accepted my email throughput - for those of you who
thought this listserv was simply a notification list... my apologies
for turning things upside down on you.


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-- Sean Connors <sean at webmerchantservices.com>

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.
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Good to hear!!



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-- Robert (bob) Morse <bob at morsemedia.net>

What is a tech company? ... if Mr. Abela 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.
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Hello Bob, thank you for taking the time to respond.

I think you have really addressed the main theme of mine in your
entire message Bob.

On one hand we have a large number of businesses that could be
involved in the RTC and which could offer a great deal to the RTC, yet
they are not involved in the RTC; as you made clear yourself by your
statement that "Many, many other opportunities have been offered to
members and non-members alike to influence the direction of the
organization. Precious few have offered."

To me, this indicates there is an underlining issue within the
organization that makes people not want to become involved, to offer
their times, money, and services. That might be the case, or it might
not. But as an outsider looking to join, that is what I and others I
speak with all seem to be thinking.

I am sure this is something all of you have spent a great deal of time
asking yourselves "Why isn't the community behind us more?". Some of
us potential new members would like to know the boards answer to this
question. (i.e: is the organization a dyeing horse, or do they need to
refocus, or do they need more support, or do they need this or that)
This, Sir Bob, is the issue I've been trying to get at. Why is it the
RTC is becoming less and less affective as it once was? (or, appears
to have become less affective??)

My purpose behind this discussion the last few hours has not be to
case a flame-war -- it has been to try to figure out why I should join
my business, and why I should petition other like business, to
presently join the RTC in the new year. Sure, we all know what you've
*done*, but very few of us have seen or read about what you are
*working on* and continuing to do to assist IT Development here in our
region. Myself, and other business owners (I'm sure) would really like
to know what you are doing to warrant us investing into the RTC for
the future of the RTC. Please read nothing more into this two day
mailing.


-----------------------------------------
-- Robert (bob) Morse <bob at morsemedia.net>

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.
-----------------------------------------

Yes, I think everybody that was behind the Tech Expo deserves an
amazing pat-on-the-back!

Unfortunately, I think this was part of the downfall (as I see it) of
the RTC. Many business had come to know the name "RTC" and associate
it with Humboldt Technology. Than it's as if the tech expo and the RTC
simply drops off the face of the earth (not that we already aren't
here in Humboldt) and left a lot of us wondering "Hey, what happened
to the RTC? Oh, they are still around, wow I think I'll join! Oh,
they're talking about *what*??!!"

That said, I've spent my time as both a vp and xp on boards of
non-profits and for-profits, and they can both be a drain on ones
lives -- I very much understand the drain that the Tech Expo had to
have caused on a lot of peoples lives. Many of us (myself included)
are grateful for having the Tech Expo here in Humboldt County and whom
I'm sure would be right along with me in saying it was a great event!



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-- Robert (bob) Morse <bob at morsemedia.net>

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.
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Thanks for explaining this Sir Bob. Explained movement forward is all
a lot of people have been asking for from the RTC in my talk with
people around town.


-----------------------------------------
-- Robert (bob) Morse <bob at morsemedia.net>

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.
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So to the RTC Board Members, I would have to ask:

As a potential new business member to your organization, who would be
joining to help the RTC push forward IT Technology here in Humboldt
County, if you guys have determined that "PDF's and stacking boxes" is
what your attendees want, than how specifically are you going to
utilize those new business members joining, their time at the
meetings, their resources throughout the year, and their dues, to
further the cause of IT Technology being pushed forward?


Your website states, the RTC exists "to serve as the primary
information and educational resource on issues related to the
technology industry on California's North Coast" -- So I am not asking
the above question in the sense of "Linux (Ubuntu), PDF's, and
stacking boxes", because the community already seems to have other
community organization to deal with those topics, so why even invest
your man-power into those topics, but rather, as I *love* what your
mission statement says, "Our mission is to diversify and strengthen
the economy and quality of life on the North Coast by enhancing the
technological capabilities of our region through advocacy, outreach,
and education."

That *makes* me want to become involved, to join my business to the
RTC, to recommended other local business to the RTC -- of this there
is no question! - yet, I'm still sitting here wondering "what have
they been doing, and what are they going to do, to meet their
statements and mission, and inspire myself and other businesses to
join?"

Inspire us, inform us, educate us! You have potential business
operates who really want to know yet are holding back because of not
getting this information from the RTC.

Humboldt County has a huge educational system... HSU, CR, ESD (to name
a few)... what is the RTC doing to assist them? Or, how is the RTC
utilizing the amazing IT Staff they have to help the RTC fulfill it's
mission?

We have more than a dozen businesses in Humboldt County that make
millions of dollars a year, why not invite them to present how
technology is helping them grow. Invite their IT staff in to speak.

It just seems to me that we've got a huge wealth of IT people that
could be speaking and educating that the RTC could draw from... and to
be talking about the topcis I've seen discussed these last few minutes
-- as a business owner, I just have to ponder why.


-----------------------------------------
-- Robert (bob) Morse <bob at morsemedia.net>

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

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That is awesome. Can you tell us more about this? These are the type
of things that business owners like to hear and read about when
considering joining a local organization - but I could not find this
on the RTC website (???).


Again, to everybody that thought this was a one-way listserver, my
apologies to you! I did not mean to "flood" everybodies inbox with 22
messages above-and-beyond your usual.   (now, you see... there would
be a great meeting topic... corporate and small business spam
filters!! -- hehehe)

Have a wonderful Thursday everybody.

John B. Abela