[Katrina-IT-Volunteers] Fw: [Afn-collaborative] AFN and Katrina

[Dale Thompson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Stafford, Ann 
To: Dale Thompson ; Afn-Collaborative at Austinfree.Net 
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 1:47 PM
Subject: RE: [Afn-collaborative] AFN and Katrina


We were thrilled to be able to install the Personal Internet Communicators at the Austin Convention Center, and it is really gratifying to hear that they are being used so well.  If anyone has a story they would like to share, I would love to pass it along to the rest of the team that has been working on this project. 

 

I want to extend our thanks to the volunteers - many of whom are on this list - who have shown guests at the shelter how to use them and reset them when they need a refresh.  I have been amazed at how many of the guests have never used a computer of any sort, and how quickly they are becoming proficient enough - and patient enough - to file their FEMA applications and check back on the status, register with the "Safe" sites, read news from their home communities, and of course, just combat boredom with a game of solitaire. We have also deployed them to San Antonio and Houston and are hearing good things about those projects as well, but the volunteers here are the best.  (I am admittedly prejudiced)  

 

I am proud that our community has rallied to make these folks feel welcome, comfortable (or at least as comfortable as you can be on a cot at the Convention Center) and safe with their dignity in tact.  

 

Ann Stafford

AMD Community Affairs

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: afn-collaborative-admin at austinfree.net [mailto:afn-collaborative-admin at austinfree.net] On Behalf Of Dale Thompson
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 11:51 AM
To: Afn-Collaborative at Austinfree.Net
Subject: [Afn-collaborative] AFN and Katrina

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: afn-board-admin at austinfree.net [mailto:afn-board-admin at austinfree.net]On Behalf Of Dale Thompson
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 11:35 AM
To: Afn-Board at Austinfree.Net
Subject: [AFN-Board] AFN and Katrina

We have put up a web page to help computer volunteers sign up for a shift at the public computers at the Convention Center shelter at:  http://www.austinfree.net/katrinavolunteer.htm

 

There is a forum for volunteers to talk to each other thanks to UT at: 

http://austinhelpingneworleans.org/index.php/forums/

 

There is new mailing list for these volunteers thanks to Chip Rosenthal.  See: 

http://soaustin.net/mailman/listinfo/katrina-it-volunteers

 

We need to issue a really big thank you to AMD for putting those public computers in there.  I hear such great stories from the volunteers every day.  It is really rewarding to connect someone with their family using the people locator web sites.  Many relationships with the evacuees have sprung up with the volunteers.  One actually organized a benefit put on by musicians living in the shelter (evacuees) which will take place this Sunday at 1 p.m. at at the Nubian Queen Lo-La's Cajun Soul Food and BBQ Kitchen and the church next door to the restaurant, 1815 Rosewood.  For more info: 542-9269 (Lola), or Dean Graber  deangraber at mailutexas.edu

 

 

Dale Thompson, Financial Manager
Austin Free-Net
2209 Rosewood Ave
Austin, TX  78702
512.236-8225 x10
Fax:  320.8240
dale at austinfree.net
www.austinfree.net
www.austinfix.net

 
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