From DSmith2361@aol.com Tue Aug 5 13:58:12 1997 Return-Path: Received: from ihig1.firewall.lucent.com by drmail.dr.lucent.com (4.1/EMS-L SunOS) id AA08187 for neal; Tue, 5 Aug 97 13:58:02 MDT Received: by ihig1.firewall.lucent.com (SMI-8.6/EMS-L sol2) id PAA22667; Tue, 5 Aug 1997 15:12:14 -0500 From: DSmith2361@aol.com Received: by ihig1.firewall.lucent.com (SMI-8.6/EMS-L sol2) id PAA22617; Tue, 5 Aug 1997 15:12:09 -0500 To: calebb@teleport.com, concepts@ix.netcom.com, crayton_berner@ccm.co.intel.com, dbergman@evolvnet.com, Gestaltt@aol.com, hillary@pdxcityclub.org, josborne@europa.com, KKrause105@aol.com, lfred@pps.k12.or.us, lhowe@smartstuff.com, lintobey@juno.com, marshas@canby.com, mulan@ix.netcom.com, nancy.stueber@omsi.edu, nealmcb@lucent.com, ROconnorii@aol.com, skoch@teleport.com, stand@straight-on.com, stephen.thompson@mci.com, sue_ridge@class.orednet.org, tbakke@informationage.com, viacalx@europa.com, vmegler@vnet.ibm.com Received: by ihgw2.lucent.com; Tue Aug 5 15:02 CDT 1997 Received: (from root@localhost) by emout14.mail.aol.com (8.7.6/8.7.3/AOL-2.0.0) id PAA07846; Tue, 5 Aug 1997 15:55:24 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 15:55:24 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <970805155307_1550218064@emout14.mail.aol.com> Original-To: calebb@teleport.com, concepts@ix.netcom.com, crayton_berner@ccm.co.intel.com, dbergman@evolvnet.com, Gestaltt@aol.com, hillary@pdxcityclub.org, josborne@europa.com, KKrause105@aol.com, lfred@pps.k12.or.us, lhowe@smartstuff.com, lintobey@juno.com, marshas@canby.com, mulan@ix.netcom.com, nancy.stueber@omsi.edu, nealmcb@lucent.com, ROconnorii@aol.com, skoch@teleport.com, stand@straight-on.com, stephen.thompson@mci.com, sue_ridge@class.orednet.org, tbakke@informationage.com, viacalx@europa.com, vmegler@vnet.ibm.com Subject: Tech & Biz-Agenda 8/14/97 & Minutes 7/24/97 Content-Type: text Status: OR Technology and Business Issue Committee Our Mission: Technology and change--exploring their effects on community and business Date: August 5, 1997 To: Tech & Biz Ctee From: O'Connor & Smith Re: NEXT MEETING: Thursday, August 14, 1997, 7:30-9:00 a.m., City Club Conference Room, 317 SW Alder, 10th Floor (If you cannot attend, please call (241-7809) or e-mail me--DSmith2361@aol.com--especially if you are on the Agenda or are Keeper of Minutes) AGENDA 7:30-7:40 WELCOME!. KEEPER OF YE MINUTES: Minuteman O'Connor * It's time to sign up for Minute Roulette ** We'll try again--Rock Band or Racehorse??? If you miss this time, you'll join Hercules at the Augean Stables. 7:40-8:30 Science Breakfasts--Kurt Krause will lead us toward our goal of developing at least 4 science breakfasts Desired Outcome: to line up some topics and to have some VOLUNTEER sponsors from the committee. Bring your ideas to the meeting. *** Topics we have bruited about so far: the Oregon wine industry (Kurt); earthquake codes for schools and other buildings (Larry); chip technology, high-tech industries, and the future of Portland (Kurt); ethics issues relating to cloning ("Hello, Dolly") (Kurt) *** Should we have a common theme for all four programs? *** Should there be any link to what we have done before--Leadership and Learning series about learning organizations in 1996; Telecommunications series in 1997; Web site development in 1995 and on-going; Rebuilding a Sense of Community (City Club); Dick O'Connor's new thrust with the Marshall Plan group ???? 8:30-8:59 Pete Heuser and Carol Stone *** What the Board does *** The Role of the Program Committee and Research Board *** Priorities for the Staff *** Role of the Issue Committees 8:59-9:00 A Blessing in Disguise Is Still a Blessing--O'Connor on Nirvana Technology & Business Committee Minutes of July 24, 1997 By Duncan Smith A feisty meeting was held at the usual time and spot. Guests included Pete Heuser, Board member and President-elect, and several people from the "Marshall Plan Group" as follows: John Prohodsky, Institute of Electrical Engineers; Bernadette Price, publicist in high-tech and initiator of the Marshall Plan Group; Jan Wierma, School to Work Program at Marshall; John Coady, tech teacher and head of the tech program at Marshall and author of the Regional Plan proposal; and Jose Campos, OEDD commissioner. The main question proposed to the group was: Is "On a Llama" a racehorse or a rock group? Many guessed racehorse and had to volunteer for music lessons in penance. We reversed the agenda because all guests were present early. So Dicky presented a bit of background on the so-called "Marshall Plan" and his proposal for Tech & Biz involvement under his enlightened leadership. He reminded us of the series of articles by Bill Graves on Marshall and the conclusion that more than half of the entering 9th graders would not graduate, based on past statistics. Many Marshall students come from damaged homes, some are homeless, many are subjected to child abuse. Dick said that the 18-24 year old group is most in trouble--drugs, street crimes, gangs, etc. Dick talked about "project learning" (John Coady's program is an example) and how it can "turn on" students and motivate them to stay in school. School to work programs use "project learning" techniques. Business people provide credibility in the sense that they can talk directly about the "relevance" of learning in their fields of endeavor. Project learning would represent the narrow focus of the Tech & Biz sub-committee. Dick acknowledged that there is a much larger picture that would require a systems analysis and a systemic approach for the entire community. (He mentioned the Leadership and Learning series put on by Tech & Biz last year and the making of "learning organizations.") John Coady said that Bill Graves' articles could have been written about any high school, not just Marshall. He said this group began with a meeting at Marshall on June 5 to talk about a Regional Plan proposal whereby a central area would provide 1/2 day of high tech teaching to all area students. However, there are no funds in the budget for this proposal. So money would be needed from business. Second, the School Board felt some sense of being driven by the Marshall Group and therefore may resist these efforts from the outside. He also noted the Oregon senate had killed a bill for establishing 4 regional high schools. He mentioned theSabin Center in Clackamas and the Capital Center in Hillsboro. Both have widespread support from local districts as similar regionl technology centers. John Prohodsky noted that businesses are reluctant to invest in "human capital." They want people already trained. He also said that the kids need a sense of ownership in any program developed. Jose Campos said that "learning organizations" are not instant pudding. They take 4-5 years or more to develop. He wants to see a statewide program in technology developed so that minorities will have access. He said a vision for a statewide program was needed, including partnerships with industry, foundations, associations, and schools. Marshall could be the showcase pilot program. Industry could donate old computers as a starter. John Coady noted that Sabin takes old computers, and the kids rebuild them. Linda Howe remarked on the lack of quality education in Oregon. There needs to be a complete upgrading, not just in high tech training, but also in general skills, including math, computers, communications, a willingness to work, and social skills. Companies can train people in their specific businesses, but they cannot develop the basic skills young people need to succeed in the workplace. Veronica noted that much "grunt work" is now being done by the older, more experienced people. Dick brought us back to focus on what Tech & Biz could do. He said companies are willing to help in the school to work area, but teachers have to be brought on board. That's where the reluctance is. Can we help make Marshall a model for the state? Social skills would be part of the program. Project learning demonstrates the need for those skills. Dick said the next steps would be: A meeting with Colin Karr-Morse, principal at Marshall, at Marshall--specifically, to see what teachers are ready to participate. Focus on planting the seed. Then start recruiting. John Coady said we need to involve the district and other interested stakeholders. Lew Frederick noted there is a program called "STRUT" that involves refurbishing old computers and that truckloads are coming in. He noted that the concerns of the district are training, getting the right people involved, getting it right the first time. There are many alternative programs, and they need to be started small so that they can develop appropriately before involving larger numbers of students. The DaVinci program is an example. The timing issue became a political question because it sounded like the program needed money just at the time a funding crisis was being addressed. It was noted that it would be a good idea to keep the reporters involved: Bill Graves of the Oregonian and Brian Santo of the EE Times. The Marshall Plan guests then departed, and we turned to Stan Davis to report on the rapid-fire series of events concerning the Web site. Stan gave a little background about the work by Tech & Biz on the Web site over the past two years, mostly by Floyd Gerstenfeld and Stan on the site and by Neal McBurnett concerning content. Thus far, everything has been done by this Committee, and Nancy Martin used to provide some updates when she was here. With Nancy's departure and the Club's focus on economics and other issues, the Web site became dormant except for whatever T & B did. So the Committee made it one of its primary goals to rejuvenate the Web site, to give it a new look, to expand the hosting services by the ISP (now Teleport). In this connection Stan was working with Transport Logic on a new hosting offer and a new, more dynamic Web site. Independently, Europa had approached Nancy Hedin with a proposal. She had contacted Stan and had basically requested information on what to ask for since she had no expertise in this area. Stan also told her about his dealings with Transport Logic and gave her a proposal along with his continued work on the Web site and training of staff. Nancy thanked him for his work and said she was going to recommend Europa to the Board. The Board approved the recommendation last Monday. So we are somewhat left hanging as a Committee. Neal commented that he sees a different perspective. The Committee's role would be to continue to give advice to the City Club. But we need to know the process. Linda noted that this seemed to be another end-run around the Committee. No one here was assigned to look at the Europa proposal. So the Club did not have the benefit of our expertise and advice. Marsha said that this was not the first time this had happened, mentioning the attempted preemption of the first program of the Telecommunications series by Nancy and Greg Jackson to make it a last-minute substitute Friday program without talking to Marsha or anyone on the Committee in advance. Pete Heuser gave us the perspective from the Board. He said that Nancy and Doug Marker (Issue Committees Co-Chair) had presented the Europa proposal. No mention was made of the Transport Logic proposal. Duncan was surprised that Doug Marker was part of that presentation since he knew of the Committee's major goals in developing the Web site. Stan said he had made his contribution and it was time to move on. Linda said she was resigning because of the preemption problems. Marsha also noted she was dropping out for these reasons, particularly because she felt there had been a lack of support by the Club for the series of Telecommunications programs she had put on with her subcommittee. Neal said the City Club is a wonderful place and that he wants to continue to contribute as an individual. He wondered what happened. Dick O'Connor noted that it was difficult without Nancy Martin. Time ran out. POSTSCRIPT: Duncan and Pete Heuser were supposed to meet with Nancy Hedin on Monday, 7/27/97. Duncan actually met with Pete Heuser and Carol Stone, Doug Marker's Co-Chair of the Issue Committee Chairs. Pete and Carol had difficulty understanding the preemption issues and why we were upset. We all agreed, however, that communication and coordination between our committee and the staff and the Board needed improvement. Apparently the other Issue Committees don't experience these same problems, perhaps because they have not taken on such high-profile projects. Pete and Carol will address our committee at the next meeting.