TELETECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY AWARENESS FORUM
Philippi Public Library
Philippi, NW
July 18,1996
Attending:
Linda Kay Wellings, MPL Corporation
Karen Weaver, City of Philippi
Daphne Walton, ST Dynamic Development, CARE, Philippi Public Library
Herbert W. Smith, MPL Corporation
Robert Abbott, Hard Ball Software
Carol Ervin, Writing For You Inc.
Barbara Bouldin, Hard Ball Software
Drew LeRoy, Broaddus Hospital
Sharon Harsh, Barbour County Schools
Doug Schiefelbein, Barbour County Vocational Center
Rosemary Wagner, Region VII Planning & Development Council
Karen Zinn, Barbour County Vocational Center
I. Brief Introductions
II. Overview of the WVRDC and the Initiative
III. Status of Barbour County
A. There are two levels of need:
1. Students and other individuals
2. Business and other organizations
B. The key issue: Who is the Forum intended to serve?
C. How do we get people to come out to the Forum?
1. The local Chapterof SoftwareValley has talked about a speakers' tour for local civic groups, but they have not been able to implement the idea
2. There have been seminars for businesses at the regional colleges
3. There must be a purpose for the meeting: The beginning of a process.
4. If we could get an organization(s) or an individual(s) to donate hardware or software, we could offer door prizes
5. One-on-one contact is the most effective manner to spread the word about the Forum; (along with free food!!!)
D. Event versus Process
1. We want this to be the beginning of a process,not just an isolated event
2. The WVRDC can add value to the process by:
a. Helping to develop community interest
b. Helping to develop a plan
E. What does the community already possess? There is a communication problem.
F. There needs to be collaboration among community members to make technology available and utilized
G. We need to make community members aware of how to use the services that technology provides
H. Barbour Community Network
1. There is a program that will allow communication and other services between the hospital and the school system
2. The City of Philippi owns the cable and is the delivery source
3. There currently is a grant application out to Rural Development (formerly known as RECD) for $25,000
I. This is a community process - it is not just about technology
IV. Next Steps
A. Education of what already is going on locally - we will bring together the big players in the community as the initial step
B. After leaming about what already exists, the idea will be to brainstorm what can be done together
C. We will hold another meeting on Tuesday, July 30, 1996, at 10:00 a.m. to do further planning; the WVRDC will notify everyone of where the meeting will take place
101 DEE DRIVE * CHARLESTON, WV 25311 * (304)558-1240 FAX (304)558-1241