International Community Outreach

1. Tore Jorgensen, Professor, contacted me from Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim Norway, regarding a visit at La Plaza. Mr. Jorgensen is bringing a study-tour of 25 Norwegians to USA in November 1998 and the main objective is to study how Information Technology can be utilized for electronic commerce, product design, distance work, community development and learning.  The group will visit Las Vegas, Nevada, Arizona University, Durango Colorado, Denver Co., and Taos.

 

 

Mr. Jorgensen has requested a visit at La Plaza on November 24 to learn about building a community network.  He also requested a meeting with public officials and others that decided to establish the Telecommunity.

We will develop a presentation of the vision and implementation of La Plaza.  We will also develop an agenda for public input; City manager, School officials –- Questa, Penasco, Taos, health care providers, youth and family members, business owners, lab users, etc.  I am planning a reception with the PMS Foundation director for the group at the Fechin Inn, (to be underwritten by a private source.)

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Community Outreach

1. Computer Camp:  Five campers, ages 12 – 14,  3 boys and 2 girls during the week of  August 10 – 14.  Each camper developed one web page during the week.  Nancy Montano and Loretta Suazo managed the camp and lessons learned will be valuable in planning for the future.

 
2. I am working with a group of business people representing the Chamber of Commerce, Lodgers Association, Taos Ski Valley, and Town of Taos.  This group has developed a strategy, Destination Taos, to provide marketing collaboration for  the above mentioned  4 entities.  La Plaza will assist with a list serve for the group of participants and each committee.  La Plaza will also provide training to the businesses that want to design their own web site, rather than pay a professional web designer.

 
3. Questa Project:  presentation by Chris Gillespie, State Division of Communications at the Board meeting.

 
4. Presbyterian Medical Services Foundation:  I have met with Jeff Morgan, PMS Foundation director, and discussed two projects:

 
1. a collaborative project involving the Questa Youth Center’s programs and services, including public access costs.  A funding request will be developed for the Turner Foundation once the specifics are known with the project;

 
2. a collaborative project to host the group visiting from Norway in November.

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Remote Site Collaboration

1. Nancy Montano  and I met with Amos Atencio, Director of  Sciente de Norte a nonprofit community based organization located in Embudo.  We discussed collaboration with the agency to develop a public access site for the Dixon, Embudo, and Vadito communities and to develop La Plaza’s presence as an ISP.

 

 

I am tasked with discussing with USWest the possibility of service into Embudo as it is in GTE service territory.  We will also meet at Embudo Rio Grande Center and visit the offices for possible public access.  We will also begin discussion with funding sources implementation dollars of such a project.

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Personnel Changes

1. Field Support Technician:  Tim Corcoran was hired effective September 14, 1998 as the part-time FST.  Tim has a BS in Computer Science from Purdue University and is experienced in programming, UNIX, both PC and Mac platforms, and the Internet.

 
2. Bookkeeper:  Rose Concha was hired and will begin the job October 4, 1998.  Rose has 18 years experience as a bookkeeper and is completing her Associates degree in Accounting at Northern New Mexico.  Pamela Alfred supervised her, the CPA La Plaza engaged for the 1997 audit.

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August Monthly Statistics

Public Access Users

Questa public access was not open.

Classes

Registrations

Closed Accounts

Net Change In Accounts: 88 gained

Telephone Statistics

Dial-in Statistics

Judith Pepper, Executive Director, La Plaza Telecommunity