I just received a phone call from Dr. Virginia Hirsch, who is the Chair of Milwaukee Connection for Y2k Preparedness. She informed me that there will be a Y2k Community Conversation this evening in Philadelphia, headed by Koskinen, which will be broadcast live by satellite in Milwaukee and 4 other communities (sorry, don't know which ones). Time is 6-7 p.m. Eastern (5-6 p.m. Central).

In Milwaukee, there will also be a local "Community Conversation" from 5-7 p.m. at the Plankinton Building, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave, 7th Floor (use the Grand Avenue Mall entrance). Representatives from the utilities, banks, phone companies, water, gas, City Hall, etc., will be on hand (similar to July "Conversation"). No broadcast media will be there, apparently. This was hastily thrown together (or so it seems) and there has been NO public notice given of this meeting to my knowledge.

She also informed me of a Y2k Preparedness Fair to be held this weekend, 11/20-11/22 at the Waukesha Expo. Hours are: Saturday 9-9, Sunday 12-12 ("Y2k: The Movie" will be shown on a 9'x12' screen, with discussion to follow), and Monday 11-9.

In addition, all Wisconsin Public Libraries should now or soon have available a 60+ page booklet, free for the taking, put out by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Administration, entitled "The Prudent Badger's Y2k Almanac".

E-mail me if you need further information.

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 17, 1999

Answers

Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend tonight's meeting due to a scheduling conflict. I hope someone in Brewtown or Philly or elsewhere is able to attend, and can report their observations back here.

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 17, 1999.

I heard about this meeting scheduled in Philly only last night for the first time at the 11 oclock news. This morning's Philadelphia Inquirer had a small ad blurb about it burried in the paper ("Tonight the Drexel University hosts a Y2K Community Conversation from 6 to 8 PM.)

Definitely Koskinen is not interested is advertising this meeting too lowdly. Any other community events are advertised at the minimum a week in advance. Why a day in advance for Y2K? To ensure people with busy schedules can't attend perhaps?

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), November 17, 1999.

All they have to do is document that they came to have the conversation. If you failed to find out about it, or failed to do as they suggest and inquire personally of your banks, utilities, businesses etc. to assertain their readiness status, then it ain't Kosky's problem. As Kosky says of small businesses... this is America and you have the freedom to fail. The Community Conversatons are just CYA "due diligence" stunts in lieu of any serious messages conveying the very real risk of "glitches" and the need for citizens to make "contingency plans" as businesses and gov't agencies have been urged to do. THEY get a $50 million bunker, YOU get a last minute invite to a mealy-mouthed "conversation".

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 17, 1999.