(The following is the original timeline in the original "Informal Proposal." Please feel free to add your ideas about timeframes by clicking the "Contribute an answer..." link below.)

Summer 1998 -

At least 3 meetings in IPAC (next one June 10) but could evolve into weekly, or whatever the interest level stimulated - technical orientations; assistance tools and site development, etc. IPAC (8 web capable machines and a T1 connection) is currently available - free to Eugene residents - and relatively unused 5 mornings a week. LCC also has T-1 and net resources. An LCC summer class on y2k is currently scheduled - material mainly draws from Gary North Forums and doesn't necessarily lead to a coordinated community approach.

September 1998

Paul Berger of Lane County SAO has already proposed large community awareness meeting sponsored by SAO: participants - Pacific Continental Bank, SELCO, EWEB, infrastructure partners like railroad, gas, telecom, - etc. I suggest we go with this, coupled with the results of this proposal (if any) and its summer work. EWEB and SELCO (Randy Harrington) have already indicated interest in communicating with the community.

Fall 1998

In-school project on community assistance site's development and use; High level readiness campaign for first anticipated glitches that are program based, and roll in with 1999-01-01.

Winter 1999 - 2000

Ongoing - mitigation, remediation, and contingency, simultaneously. Includes community-wide testing of various systems; infrastructure interruption days (power out - phone out - coordinated new systems functionality tests, etc.) In full swing with testing, feedback, and highly responsive volunteer coordination tools.

January-June 2000+

Prepare to either disband in June, 2000 because project is finished, or evolve to next stage.

The group can have an 18 month focus - get ready - then a 2+ year mission following y2k - remediation/continuity assistanc. For the next 18 months, all participants basically become the trainees that will eventually work continuity/remediation issues. They may find themselves employable by other companies. They may keep their family businesses running. They'll certainly have useful skills.

If y2k is a small glitch, we'll just save a LOT of money by having fewer problems. If it's a large glitch somewhere else, we'll be able to help. If it's a large glitch here, well - you know....

And, in the meantime, it gives people something positive and pro-active to do. Given the circumstances of the past week, I can't think of anything more useful for our community right now than something that focuses kids and parents on a task that might mean so much for all of us. Becoming more resilient as a community can't have too many downsides, can it?

-- Cynthia (billdale@lakesnet.net), May 30, 1998