[Katrina-IT-Volunteers] Message from Ann Staffor, AMD

[AnaS]

Hi Everyone, 

We received the following from Ann Stafford at AMD. Please consider sending some of your stories or giving her permission 
to share them with her team. Thanks, Ana Sisnett/Executive Director, Austin Free-Net

Here is what Ann has to say:

"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 intact."

 Ann Stafford
 AMD Community Affairs