[SLUG] Fw: IT Experts needed in New York

From: edoc (kd4e@arrl.net)
Date: Mon Sep 17 2001 - 20:58:14 EDT


Here is an opportunity for every LUG in America!

Doc

> http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/print_story.asp?story=24689773
> >
> > Wired.com, 09/14/2001 02:00
> > The Call Is Out for IT Experts
> > by Michelle Delio
> >
> > NEW YORK -- Techies of the world, New York City
> > needs you.
> > Red Cross workers at the scene of the disaster
> > desperately need computer
> > equipment and technically skilled volunteers to aid
> > in the recovery effort.
> > And soon, many businesses in the downtown area will
> > need help and hardware
> > to get back on their feet.
> > "The New York American Red Cross is in dire need of
> > technology equipment
> > and services," said Joe Leo, assistant director of
> > the American Red Cross
> > in New York.
> > "The field workers and rescue sites have little, if
> > any, means of
> > communication, and the central office is processing
> > way too much on
> > completely paper systems. Any help in acquiring
> > these resources would be
> > greatly appreciated," Leo said.
> > Leo said there is a specific and immediate need for
> > Citrix server engineers
> > and Microsoft-certified consultants to help in
> > setting up systems that will
> > assist rescue workers in communicating and
> > coordinating the recovery effort.
> > The New York Red Cross also needs laptops, wireless
> > networking cards,
> > printers, CD burners and other equipment.
> > "Essentially, anything you can give us, we can use,"
> > Leo said.
> > Leo can be phoned at (212) 875-2409 or e-mailed.
> > Donations of equipment can
> > be sent to his office: 150 Amsterdam Avenue, New
> > York, NY 10023. Leo said
> > that his e-mail, and the Red Cross servers, has been
> > hit with heavy traffic
> > and asked that only those who wish to volunteer
> > contact him directly.
> > Fredrick Addorama, a recently laid-off network
> > administrator, volunteered
> > his services, on Wednesday, at the Family Services
> > Center that has been set
> > up in New York's 29th Street Armory.
> > The center is assisting families who are searching
> > for missing loved ones.
> > Addorama said he was told there is an urgent need to
> > develop a single
> > system that can track missing people, and the city
> > is attempting to set up
> > a database containing pictures, dental records and
> > descriptions of the
> > missing.
> > "If you are a geek in New York, I'd strongly suggest
> > that you head over to
> > the nearest police station, Red Cross office, or
> > emergency center and
> > volunteer your time and expertise," Addorama said.
> > "And if you are not
> > here, please come if you can. If you don't have
> > skills, send computer
> > equipment. If you don't have equipment, sponsor a
> > techie. Get them here. We
> > need them."
> > A spokesman at New York City Mayor Rudolph
> > Giuliani's office said the city
> > welcomes donations of computer equipment and
> > technically skilled people's
> > time.
> > "Whatever you have that you can spare, you can bet
> > this city needs it," the
> > spokesman said.
> > Those who wish to contribute can get further
> > information at the New York
> > City Government website.
> > Some technology companies have already responded to
> > New York's need.
> > Nextel, a wireless communications company, has
> > loaned more than 12,000
> > wireless phones with digital two-way radio service
> > capabilities to
> > government agencies and the American Red Cross in
> > New York City and
> > Washington.
> > The twin towers were a major communications hub for
> > Manhattan, and
> > equipment and antennas that transmitted millions of
> > calls each day now lay
> > buried under a mountain of smoking rubble.
> > While it's difficult for city residents to be
> > without regular phone service
> > during the crisis, the real issue is that emergency
> > workers are struggling
> > to communicate with each other through cell phones,
> > which more often than
> > not are unable to pick up a signal.
> > "Communication is beyond crucial in a time like
> > this. We --all the rescue
> > workers -- need to have immediate access to each
> > other," fireman Dan
> > McCormick said.
> > Microsoft announced Thursday it is giving $5 million
> > in cash and $5 million
> > in software and services to help relief groups and
> > government agencies.
> > Microsoft is also assembling response teams to help
> > customers in New York
> > and at the Pentagon rebuild their computer networks,
> > spokesman Rick
> > Belluzzo said.
> > A spokesman for Dell Computers said that the company
> > is in discussions
> > about donating equipment and that Dell is giving
> > first priority to building
> > and shipping supplies needed by rescue and emergency
> > workers.
> > There is no official agency handling requests from
> > New York businesses for
> > technically skilled volunteers at this time. Most of
> > the attention and
> > effort is still being directed to the rescue
> > efforts.
> > "It'd sure be easier if there was one number to
> > call," said Jeff Carter, a
> > programmer who wants to help local businesses
> > recover. "But right now I
> > suggest that people make calls to agencies and
> > companies in New York. Or
> > just show up at crisis centers prepared to work. At
> > first, until the
> > efforts here are more coordinated, you may be asked
> > to hand out water
> > bottles to the rescue workers. It doesn't matter.
> > Just show up."
> > Tech publication Computerworld is attempting to
> > organize a volunteer corps
> > of techies to assist those in need of help.
> > Information on Computerworld's Volunteer IT program
> > is available on the
> > publication's website.
> > Mike Lackey, with AIT Global, a technical workers
> > association, has asked
> > all AIT members, and the entire tech community, to
> > sign on at
> > Computerworld's site.
> > "The businesses that are still somewhat intact, or
> > who have hope for
> > rebuilding themselves, will soon be looking for help
> > with their IT
> > infrastructure," Lackey said in an e-mail. "Let's
> > all pitch in together to
> > make the rebuilding of downtown NYC as successful as
> > possible."
> >
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> > David Foster National Center for Microscopy
> > and Imaging Research
> > Programmer/Analyst University of California,
> > San Diego
> > dfoster@ucsd.edu Department of
> > Neuroscience, Mail 0608
> > (858) 534-7968 http://ncmir.ucsd.edu/
> >
> >
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=



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