Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:56:55 AM: Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:04 AM: Avagene Moore: Today is a very special day -- a proud and happy day! The EIIP Virtual Forum was launched 3 years ago. Through trial/error, a lot of work, and with the help of you all, we provide a means of staying on top of the disaster business from your desktop regardless of location or time zone. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:16 AM: Avagene Moore: We appreciate you being here with us to celebrate and hopefully encourage the continuation of online interactive discussions with subject matter experts from the disaster/emergency management community. Your presence and words of support are the reasons the EIIP Virtual Forum is alive and well today! Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:30 AM: Avagene Moore: This past year has been phenomenal in its own way. We continue to grow a credible reputation and following for this type of global sharing of information and networking. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:40 AM: Avagene Moore: One of the highlights of the year was the December '99 WEBEX II exercise in conjunction with the Virtual Fire & Rescue Expo (VFRE) --- WEBEX is another example of the EIIP pushing the envelope and creating an opportunity for new Internet experiences and learning. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:49 AM: Avagene Moore: (If you are unfamiliar with WEBEX, please see http://www.vfre.com/presentation26/ for further information after today's session.) Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:57:58 AM: Avagene Moore: We were also pleased that we were able to be part of the GDIN Conference in Ankara, Turkey in the spring. We had a remarkable 2-hour connection and did 3 workshops that connected folks in Ankara and around the world. A wonderful global experience! Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:09 AM: Avagene Moore: However, our Wednesday sessions with experts and our audiences that make them so successful are our real pride and joy. This year, the number of participants each week has at least doubled; we have averaged 40-45 per session for the year 2000. It is so rewarding when you, the audience, take the time to be with us. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:23 AM: Avagene Moore: Another big change this year is that speakers are coming to us in many cases and asking for an opportunity to do a presentation. If you have looked at our Presenter Hall of Fame for the year, you know the lineup of speakers was great! A veritable "Who's Who" in the Emergency/Disaster Management field! Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:33 AM: Avagene Moore: We thank each and every speaker for their time and effort on behalf of the EIIP Virtual Forum. Please review this year's Presenter Hall of Fame when convenient -- http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/000809.htm#FAME -- our hat's off to each one of them! Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:43 AM: Avagene Moore: As far as next year, we have plans for moving into distance learning. This has been part of our dream for the past 3 years. We hope to continue the EIIP Virtual Forum -- at the moment, we are working hard to find funding to keep us going. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:58:54 AM: Avagene Moore: If you value the EIIP Virtual Forum and want it to continue, please let us know. Send us a 'rave' about what it means to you -- perhaps that will help and it will certainly lend moral support to Amy and me. The EIIP Virtual Forum is truly a labor of love for both of us. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:04 AM: Avagene Moore: I would be remiss if I didn't express publicly how much I personally value the friendship and expertise of Amy Sebring, EIIP Technical Projects Coordinator. Amy provides so much to the EIIP Virtual Forum and she is a true professional. Thank you, Amy! Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:12 AM: Avagene Moore: And now it is my pleasure to ask Amy to tell us about the EIIP Pledges --- the Friends of the EIIP. Amy? Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:20 AM: Amy Sebring: Thanks Ava .. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:27 AM: Amy Sebring: and the same goes for me ... Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:37 AM: Amy Sebring: I am going to review where we stand to date on our filled pledges, but I need to do some clarification first. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:46 AM: Amy Sebring: First, not all the pledgers that I am going to mention pledged 12 months ago. Some may have pledged after August last year, so they may be still working on perfect attendance at this point. Wed Aug 09, 2000 11:59:57 AM: Amy Sebring: From here on out, we will recognize each 12 month fulfillment as it occurs. Amy Sebring: Second, we gave pledge credit for showing up at least part of the time, that is, if for some reason a pledge tried to attend, and could not stay connected, we counted them anyway. Amy Sebring: Third, "pledges completed" does not take into account how many sessions were completed -- only that the pledger met his particular pledge level for that month. Amy Sebring: Also, some pledgers attended more than the pledged amount in a given month. We are only counting up to the pledge, however, we certainly commend those who did the extra time! Amy Sebring: I am going to start with those who have completed 6 months of fulfilled pledges at this time, and work our way up to 12 months. Please hold your congratulations, (or send them privately), until the end. Amy Sebring: Here we go ... 6 individuals have completed 6 months of fulfilled pledges ... Amy Sebring: Dennis Hicketheir, Tim Murphy, Jan Kimmell, Chip Hines, Steve Smith, and Christopher Effgen Amy Sebring: 5 persons have completed 7 months of fulfilled pledges ... Amy Sebring: Terry Storer, Jim Cook, Rick Wood, Isabel McCurdy, and Roger Kershaw Amy Sebring: 3 persons have completed 8 months of fulfilled pledges ... Amy Sebring: Kevin Farrell, Don Hartley, and Leslie Little Amy Sebring: 4 persons have completed 9 months of fulfilled pledges ... Amy Sebring: Claire Rubin, Ray Pena, Burt Wallrich, and Rick Tobin Amy Sebring: Now we come to our top 3 categories ... drum roll please .... Amy Sebring: Those completing 10 months of fulfilled pledges are ... Amy Sebring: Cam King Amy Sebring: Darryl Spiewak Amy Sebring: and Linda Underwood Amy Sebring: We have one individual who has completed 11 months who is .... Amy Sebring: Gilbert Gibbs! Amy Sebring: And we do have one person who has completed, (or at least attempted to complete) 12 months .... Amy Sebring: .... Amy Sebring: David Crews!! Way to go David! Amy Sebring: Now can we please hear/see your congratulations to ALL our pledgers! Jim Acosta: Way to go! Louise Comfort: CONGRATULATIONS!!! Avagene Moore: <<<