Can we "use" the Community Conversations program?

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From: Mick Winter
To: civicprep
Subject: [civicprep] Can we "use" the Community Conversations program?
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 8:42 PM
My initial reaction to the Community Conversations program, particularly after reading the CC FAQ, was one of anger and dismay. I was particularly outraged over the phrase "Stockpiling and panic buying could create economic difficulties", not to mention the assurances that government, banks, utilities, airlines and anything else important would be all right, and three days of supplies would more than ample.

However, I assumed that if I calmed down, got a good night's sleep, and read the entire CC website the next day, I would feel better about the program.

I have now read the Guide Book, FAQ, press release, and other information. I do not feel better. I *do* support the stated goal, which is to give the American public "straight talk" about the Y2K status of their communities. I also think there's nothing wrong with the *structure* of the program. It provides information on exactly how to set up community forums and discuss the Y2K program. Nothing wrong with that either, and the step by step information seems helpful.

Where I *do* have problems is with the FAQ, which echoes the same bland reassurances we have been hearing for month after month. If the FAQ represents the "straight talk" that the President's Y2K Council wants to provide to the public, I want no part of it or the CC program. It appears that since John Koskinen can't get to every community to personally reassure its residents, he wants us to to do his PR job for him. I am not interested in being a "mini-Koskinen". I am interested in providing my community with full knowledge of the wide range of Y2K possibilities - most of them far more severe than Mr. Koskinen suggests - and letting it, armed with this knowledge, decide which scenario to prepare for.

To read the FAQ, one wonders why it is even necessary to hold "Community Conversations". The FAQ says that everything is fine. Why then bother holding public meetings to discuss this "fineness"?

The one way I could see working with the CC program would perhaps be more of a guerrilla approach. Let's put on the programs ourselves, trumpet them as being the will of President Clinton, and then stack the speaker list, as it has been stacked against us in numerous community meetings throughout the country.

Let's put on stage only those people who consider it a serious problem that requires serious preparation, no matter what their favorite scenario. Representatives of the banks, utilities, local governments, and other entities can sit in the audience and ask questions, if time allows and we feel like answering them. It might be a nice change.

Mick Winter
Napa Valley Y2K
Napa Valley Y2K
http://www.y2knapa.com
http://www.y2kdates.com

Napa Valley Online
http://www.napavalleyonline.com

-- Critt Jarvis (middleground@critt.com), May 25, 1999

Answers

Let's just for a moment assume that 3 days is good enough. It COULD be enough in some areas. However, the more I think about this, the more concerned I become that even at 3 days, I can't prepare enough.

Let's assume that there are 2 in your household. Let's ALSO assume that you may have grown children either unwilling or unable to prepare for 3 days. Let's even assume that you have an elderly parent that worries enough about waking up on this side of the grass tomorrow, so you don't want to expand on their concerns.

So you've done your part to prepare for what you felt would unfold for the 2 currently living in your household and the 3-4 that you would bring under the umbrella.

I just responded to an E-mail from Lilly expressing this same thought, but how do you plan for the OTHERS? As I told Lilly, my daughter lives with 4 other semi-adults. Their idea of dinner is searching the couch for change to buy some Taco Bell. I've told her and her friends about Y2k and encouraged them to purchase some extra food, water, etc. They did. Then they ate and drank it. Now as much as I have prepared to have my daughter stay with me if necessary, what exactly do I say when her boyfriend won't be included, or her 4 room-mates? What exactly do I say when my roommate's daughter (already in the plan) can't bring HER best friend?

Anyone who's a parent understands what will happen. There will be the "But...MMMMMOMMMMM!" There will be the "But, DADDY..." Ever notice how grown kids never call ya daddY unless they REALLY want something? Of course these friends of our children are kindof dear to US also, because we've seen our children glued-at-the-hip to them for several years.

To go even further, what about the 2-3 other old folks who have become dear to your elderly parent at the facility at which they live? How do you pick up your parent and leave the others behind? If you've spent any time with your parent at that facility, you've grown fond of these folks also.

We can bicker all we want about whether 3 days is enough or 1 month is enough, or 1 year is enough, but the truth of the matter is that unless SOMEONE gets the word out to communities world-wide AND people do something about it, those who HAVE prepared will have MUCH less than they'd estimated, simply because we won't be able to turn our backs on those that weren't originally included in the plan.

End of rant.

Anita

-- Anita Spooner (spoonera@msn.com), May 25, 1999.


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