[Katrina-IT-Volunteers] comments on this weekend

[Julie Newton]

Thoughts on working this weekend:

I am glad they are tightening security.  I was concerned about the way I
breezed into the center on Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday, I stopped
the volunteer check-in desk.  Once I made it clear that that I wasn't
with Red Cross but I was with another group, they had me sign in my name
and phone number (no ID check) and gave me a wristband.  Then I entered
without a problem just after the "Cheney security lockdown".   On
Sunday, I bypassed the volunteer check-in and walked into the center
with my previous day's wristband.

FEMA applications were frustrating because of lost connections.  I saw
several people try to fill in the applications time and time again to
lose the connection and the application at the end instead of getting
their confirmation and FEMA number.  I heard from evacuees that it was
easier to do it in person at the FEMA desk at the center.

Entertainment will be more important in the days to come.    I just hope
the volunteers that are there "just playing with the kids on the
computers" realize that it's a helpful and important thing to do.  There
was a fist fight between 2 young boys near the computer area and hope
that will be a limited occurrence.   Not being a parent, I was amazed
how well the reasoning of "because I'm the adult and I told you so" was
an effective tool for mediating minor conflicts with the kids.

The new kids computing center that started on Sunday in the lobby with
laptops was a welcome addition.  It had educational games for various
ages (no internet games - pre-loaded on laptop only).  I found the
younger kids need more 1-on-1 help from the volunteers.  I'd suggest
that area have 3-4 volunteers.  (I haven't had a chance to check to see
if that area has been added to the Free-net schedule).

Google Earth would have been a nice addition for the main computing
area.  What were the best sites for looking at satellite pics of New
Orleans?

Yea to AMD!  Their computers worked great and were very reliable.

Signage was helpful at the old location with the wall right behind the
computers.  Perhaps a couple of easels could be used at the new
location?  The big metal ones like the kind they use for meetings.  The
convention center probably has some in a storage closet.

I bought a stack of regular envelopes for evacuees to keep the slips of
paper together.  On Saturday, I taped the misc. slips to the back of the
FEMA info form.  The forms with all the info in the same place are a
great idea.  

Everyone I met was really nice.... volunteers, evacuees and City of
Austin employees!!

-Julie Newton
Systems Administrator
ETSS - The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
P. O. Box 2247
Austin, Texas 78768
512-472-4133
512-439-0377 direct
jnewton at etss.edu




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