Southeast Central Executive eTeam Meeting

• January 19, 2012, 1–2 pm
• Lakeland College, Neal Hall, Mattoon, IL
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• Related to: Southeast Central eTeam

Attending – Jean Anne Grunloh, Pam Crisman, Lee Spaniol, Brett Gillsinger, Colleen Wright, Chris Watkins, Travis Farley, Tiffany Macke, Mike Sullivan, Mike Rudibaugh, Andrea Lester, Barbara Webster   
A brief update was given on PCI Developments.  Roxanna Ryan was hired as a Journalist to help with promoting the project and other key tasks.  Roxanna is from the region and was a volunteer at the downstate summit.  Jean Anne spoke highly of her skills.  The eTeam was pleased with that development as the need for marketing of the project is a priority. There have also been two GIS people hired.  One was Mike Rudibaugh's GIS graduate.      
Barb mentioned that she has been working 2-3 days a week on statewide projects, but that may reduce in the future.  Mike R explained about a project that he has been developing called the Digital Training and Awareness Program.   Part of the project entailed mapping low-income areas, higher than normal elderly concentrations, low educational attainment areas, and high minority areas of state.  Those categories usually have lower adoption rates and so he suggested those be considered when planning adoption activities such as training and marketing.   Discussion ensued.    The data will be utilized in a variety of ways. Mike will send a colored map to the eTeam for review.  The Community Awareness Committee will work to determine best practices for training and marketing.   
Brett G. was asked about the use of the data for his company, and although he did find it useful, he also indicated that they already have a lot of demand, but the current problem is finding the resources to meet that demand while still getting a valid rate of return.   Frontier is currently expanding into several areas and they want 100% of their customers to have access.  Brett also mentioned their new technology that allows signal to travel up to about 10 miles.  Again, funding is a hurdle for any provider.       
The USF was mentioned.  Brett and Colleen indicated that there were funding changes and that both wireline and wireless will get funding.  Wireless will get a smaller portion of the funding.  Barb mentioned that she needed to learn more about the USF.   
Colleen W. mentioned a problem they had with a rural road commission who would not allow them to complete a build project due to some issues he had with how much taxes they were paying.  Several officials around the state had to be notified and the project was stalled for days.  She mentioned that some training or information to local officials would be beneficial.  Barb stated that she would work something in to the U of I telenet that will be happening in February for county and city leaders around the state.     
The free senior citizen training in Marshall has several signed up for it.   The training stemmed from needs expressed at the Senior Expo in Clark County.  Barb and Tiffany will do the training in Marshall.   
Johnna Morecraft with Lakeland has been contacted and she has training that can be set up for the public.   We do not wish to duplicate training and can likely help to promote what is already available.  Discussion ensued and it was decided that short sessions were needed - 2 hour one-time sessions, which Johnna can set up.  Eight hour sessions are good, but will not meet all markets.    Brian Haskens from Lakeland also has some DCEO funds that can be used for training.  Lee asked if we could come up with some kind of partnership where, if a student takes a class and then signs up for Internet service, the provider reimburses them for the class fee.   We might be able to do  two or three training sessions a year.  Barb mentioned she thought Johnna quoted about $30 per student for non-credit.   Brett mentioned that they had, in the past, supported incentive programs.  It was asked if providers might include training class information in their mailers - Brett said they might be able to print it on the bill, but were not able to do a separate flier.  Barb will research and Community Awareness Committee will decide on a plan.   
One interesting piece of information was from Lee - he said that they had found 90% of the students taking online classes log in at campus.  Discussion ensued as to why, and there were a variety of comments - more flexible schedule to accommodate work, sleep, another class, etc.  Also, maybe they don't have as good of access at home or they just work between classes and get it done.   
We discussed high school needs and uses.  Pam mentioned that many high schools focus on using Internet for research.   A few schools were mentioned as being progressive with technology - Altamont, Mattoon, Windsor.  Barb will be presenting to some region superintendents and it was wondered if they would really promote the project.  We also discussed dual credit classes which allow for high school students to earn college credit.  Ron S. suggested Barb explain how we can help schools to get more parents to find access and adopt so that their students have access.  Web site and how we can help will be explained during the superintendents meeting. 
  
Jeane Anne also mentioned the volunteer hours that some high schools require for students.  Effingham is one school.  Barb will mention to superintendents that we can utilize those volunteer hours for community training, marketing, surveys, etc. 
  
Barb acknowledged a need for marketing.   It was mentioned that Farm Bureau and COOPs can help market to thousands. Barb will work with Andrea, Roxanna, and Community Awareness Committee to get more marketing done in the coming months.  
  
Community Awareness Committee will continue action items.  

• January 11 Community Awareness Committee Meeting
• January 13 BDC Agriculture Adoption Sub-Committee Meeting.  Worked with team to develop proposal for governor's office in December.
• January 23  Presenting at Shelbyville Economic Development Group Meeting
• January 26th Senior Citizen Training at Marshall Lakeland Office (11 signed up)
• January 31  Informational table at University of Illinois Extension Garden and Foods Workshop
• January Press Releases - Senior Citizen Training, Edgar County Meeting, Broadband 101 in process
• February   Illinois Country Living Magazine will print a technology article which will include information on Broadband Illinois.
• February 7  Presenting at Region 12 Superintendent's Meeting
• February 8  Assisting with Edgar County Meeting to review ICN Information
• February 16  Presenting at Telenet with U of I Extension
• February 23 Community Awareness Committee Meeting
• March 7  Presenting at Career Day at Lincoln Trail College
• March 16  Presenting at East Central Illinois Technology Conference at EIU (K-12 Schools)
• Misc:  Working with Mike Rudibaugh to determine egovernment activities to possibly market to Shelbyville and other towns in region.  Continuing to express need for feedback feature - I Want My Broadband. Working with Mike Rudibaugh and Ed VanHoose to develop possible training activities.

  Below are a list of some access activities. 

• Working with provider to find tower to serve area near Hutsonville.
• Working with providers to find solutions for Mill Creek Park.
• Working with multiple citizens who need access, but do not have at present time.
• Working with PCI to see how state can partner with COOPs to create a bigger project than COOP funds can allow.  In turn it is expected that Coops will look at partnering with other providers to give service to their customers.
• Working with U of I Extension to determine how to let interested parties know about ICN build affecting their areas.
• Continuing to report any problems with maps - areas that show coverage but do not have it.

The group discussed the Goals and Action Items that were not already discussed earlier.   Telehealth was one of the first topics.  Rural Healthnet was discussed.  Lee mentioned "feeds and speeds."  Mike R mentioned radiologists and primary physician use.    Barb asked about data transfer for things such as MRIs and it was discussed that is likely a special process.   Chris mentioned there were some issues in Olney with figuring out what RuralHealthnet offered.  Barb will research. 
  
Telehealth was mentioned as a variety of things - sending MRIS, videoconferencing.  Ron mentioned that the VA Hospital in Mattoon uses telehealth.   Some is through live video feed with Indianapolis. Barb will research. 
  
egovernment was discussed and Barb asked for examples.  Charleston uses the Internet for some government functions such as parcel maps for tax questions.  Crime data is also available from several government entities.  Paying some bills online is utilized by some.  Not a lot of examples were readily apparent in our region.   
The December 1st Broadband Summit was the next topic.  It was decided to go ahead and set the date for the 2012 Summit.  It will be December 6, 2012.  Jean Anne has already reserved the room.  Providers agreed that the lunch provider meeting was a good idea and will be continued.  We discussed need for more to fill out survey.  Maybe tie to a prize drawing. Community Awareness will work on project later this year.   
The training needs for Charleston's Lakewood Village Assisted Living Facility was discussed.  Mike R. has a portable lab, but they would have to have wifi.  Using another facility was mentioned.  Barb will work with Johnna Morecraft to see if we can find a solution. 
  
A couple items were discussed as priorities: 
Training game plan and research including looking at TRIO students at Lakeland.  TRIO is first generation college students and low income.  Formalize. Use Lakelands program as a model.   Marketing.  Barb and Community Awareness will pursue. 
  
Brett asked for any particular access needs as he just received an email regarding USF funds.  We discussed a few. 
  
It was decided to meet on Thursday, March 22 from 1-3.  Community Awareness Committee will meet before that date. 
  
Meeting dismissed at 3. 
 SPECIAL NOTE:  This recap was typed from my notes and memory.  I admit that I did not document all discussions, and I apologize if I missed anything significant.  If there is anything that you feel should be included in the notes or if there are any corrections, please feel free to email me.  Thank you!  Barb Webster

Posted in eTeam Regional Meetings