This is a public document that may interest anyone in the Ottawa area concerned about y2k, or the social consequences of the year 2000 computer problem. Attendance was mostly by non-Centretown people, many of which agreed to either help Centretown or take action where they live.

Transcribed from meeting minutes and revised by Terry Cottam, President, Y2K Centretown Preparedness Group 236-6433. Includes updates. (I'm back from holidays in Jan. - TC)

Y2K Meeting, Thu. 9 Dec. 1998 ----------------------------- PSAC Building, 233 Gilmour, Ottawa

7:30 -- General information meeting 8:30 -- Centretown planning meeting

General Information Meeting ---------------------------

Don Dean --------

Introduction: ------------- Don thanked participants for their attendance and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) for providing the room for free (on a one-time basis).

Terry Cottam ------------

What is y2k? ------------ Terry asked if any were not familiar with y2k, but all present were. He then discussed the implications of y2k to citizens at large.

He mentioned that the expected closed meeting of area governments on y2k had been cancelled for unspecified reasons (probably because the head of the Regional Government's Year 2000 Program Office, Greg Geddes, had to leave town). Its purpose was to ensure consistent public relations on y2k by the various governments. The latest quarterly regional report highlighted 911, water and sewage as areas of concern. See "Ottawa" page of our website, http://y2k.inode.org for this report. UPDATE: Regional Police says 911 is in good shape, despite the brief breakdown recently experienced (this arguably helped matters by forcing early improvisation and contingencies.)

Terry and Don said that kits were available from Industry Canada (by diskette or hard copy) to assess y2k compliance of computer systems in businesses, and that since much was pertinent to home situations (e.g. letters to landlords on the state of their building systems) they urged people to get a copy (see "Canada" page of our website for Industry Canada)

What should we do? ------------------

The first step has been taken -- establish a Centretown Group. It will act as a model for groups to be set up elsewhere. UPDATE: we've decided to create a kit for sale, with the Utne y2k Guide and video (see below), to expedite the process. We also propose to merge y2k preparedness groups with Community Associations all over Ottawa.

It is prudent to start preparing now -- as individuals and as communities, taking precautions in cooperation with our neighbourhoods.

Psychological as well as environmental preparedness is necessary (see Utne Guide)

There are now some 200 y2k preparedness groups across North America (see Prepareness page of our website). The work being done by y2k groups in Boulder, Colorado (see Utne guide) and Nelson B.C. was mentioned as good examples.

Utne Guide ----------

We have ordered 200 copies to start. UPDATE: Our shipment finally arrived, these are now available in handy compact format at just $3 picked up from Don Dean, 565-1803. Future shipments will be expressed or couriered.

We are looking at translating this document into French. UPDATE: several volunteers are now doing this but the task is both quite large low priority until a coordinator can be found.

Greg Geddes with the Regional 2000 office and our Regional Councillor Diane Holmes will meet with our group in January 1999. UPDATE: Greg must seek approval for this but as a first step plans to address our next public meeting (see below for time, place) on Regional government y2k readiness. (This too needs to be confirmed.)

Various problems related to y2k were brought up, i.e.:

* indifference of people to accepting the probability of y2k problems. Lack of motivation for preparation. Elderly people would experience special difficulties.

* a direct approach is needed. A video would be helpful (see below).

* We need to put pressure on government. We cannot trust any figures that have not been independently audited. The Auditor General's federal y2k report is recommended reading (see homepage of our website)

Arbour Recycled Products ------------------------

Sean Toomey briefly demonstrated a variety of survival-oriented products available in his store on Bank St. in the Glebe.

----

Planning meeting ----------------

1. Terry suggested meeting next week informally to set next public meeting agenda for early January (see below). Time, place was set to Second Cup, Elgin and Lisgar, Tues. 5pm. UPDATE: cancelled after video arrived, see video meeting below.

2. Don suggested Info Gathering Committee (e.g. news clippings for "day 388" before year 2000). Kevin, Terry to follow up. Have clipping box for next public meeting.

3. Louie again urged us to propose that universities and malls be converted into emergency shelters.

4. Terry suggested we all try to meet our neighbours as per suggested steps in Utne guide before Jan. 1999.

5. Anton spoke about his survival network, handed out survival kit: - Tom Brown's Field Guide to City and Suburban Survival - Family and Personal Preparedness Guide Terry mentioned columnist from Westergaard 2000 website Susan Conniry who has offered to assist in survival training (she recommends Tom Brown).

6. Terry and others suggested making master copy of all info gathered and make it easily accessible for distribution.

7. Greg Geddes with the Region agreed to join us at our next public meeting. We will formulate a letter with our concerns. UPDATE: Spoke to him verbally, he agreed that a strictly internal approach is inadequate but since his office has no external mandate, he foresees an alliance of several entities, including his office, spearheading an external response. He agrees this needs to happen quickly.

8. Concerns expressed re. media causing y2k "psychoses" (see today's "Betty" comic strip, 26 Dec.) - Terry suggested writing letters to Editor asking for good media coverage of neighoburhood groups that are preparing for y2k locally, could site Boulder, CO as good example - also contact media that we are comfortable approaching UPDATE: Rogers cable community channel may be interviewing us (below)

9. Sukhenda's door-to-door approaches yielded "two kinds of people: totally unaware, "what's y2k?" or "everything's OK, I understand computers." ----

Next meetings were:

1. Y2k information meeting, 10 Dec., 7:30, Ottawa East, Wesley United Church, Graham and Main St. About 15 attended, largely from local churches, and agreed to meet again in January to learn more and help start an Ottawa East group. Contact: Sukhenda Das, 567-7814, sdas@magma.ca.

2. Review of y2k video, 19 Dec. 1998, 3pm, 125 MacLeod St., Don Dean's seniors highrise apartment, TV Lounge. Verdict: excellent, credible information, many experts well-known in y2k circles, including Ottawa's Joe Boivin. It is very long (2:40) but nonetheless many viewers eagerly took notes throughout. It is divided into "Awareness" and "Preparedness" which in turn can be split between meetings. It would also be easier for Francophones than the Utne guide. It concludes with an ad section with 10% discounts. These were welcome but loud and tiresome. Unbiased consumer reports would be better. UPDATE: The producer says the discount is not intended for those who dub rather than buy the video. They discourage dubbing but are more concerned with "getting the word out" on y2k. This also explains the over-long format, which allowed them to release it early. We've ordered 12 more at about $35 each. A Canadian 800 order number is coming soon.

Next planning meeting: Mon. 4 Jan. 1999, 7pm (to be confirmed) 125 MacLeod, first floor video lounge Rogers cable could not make our video showing, so we are trying for this date, those who watch video are asked to return so you can be interviewed for their program "In Tech" to be aired 17 Jan.

Next public meeting: Thu. 14 Jan. 1999, 7:30 pm McNabb Community Centre 180 Percy between Gladstone and James. Community Associations, many of whom have already been making inquiries to Region about y2k concerns, are invited to this and future meetings.

---- Thanks to our wonderful volunteers, and very best wishes for a "prepared" 1999!

Terry Cottam, 236-6433 (after 1 Jan.) President, Y2k Centretown Preparedness Group y2k-ottawa@inode.org http://y2k.inode.org

-- Terry Cottam (y2k-ottawa@inode.org), January 02, 1999