Photo courtesy of Gyda Sears
At the OWL Launch Open House Jan. 21 Kate Thomas shows off appetizers to Linda Thibideau and Aja Razumny in Juneau thanks to the new video conferencing equipment provided by the OWL project.
By Susanna LaRock
Turnagain Times
Cooper Landing Correspondent
OWL Launch Open House Shows that Community Gives a Hoot
The OWL Launch Open House at Cooper Landing Community Library Saturday, Jan. 21, was well attended by the community. There was a video conference with Valerie Oliver, E-Rate Coordinator, and Shane Southwick, Owl project manager in Anchorage. Linda Thibodeau, head of State Libraries, and Aja Razumny, Libraries Coordinator also joined the video conference from Juneau.
The conference served as a virtual ribbon cutting for the project and a demonstration for the community of the new equipment and its many uses. Kate Thomas, Cooper Landing Community Library Director, cut the ribbon, and Shane Southwick said a few words about the project. Shane thanked the organizations funding the project, including U.S. Department of Commerce, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, and the Department of Education and Early Development. Southwick also spoke about the OWL project, which aims to supply over 100 libraries in the state of Alaska with professional quality video conferencing equipment and high speed internet access.
Shane also mentioned that Cooper landing Library was the first in the state to receive all of its equipment and have it up and running, and he thanked Kate Thomas for all of her hard work to make the OWL Launch Open House possible. The Community members attending the open house had a chance to ask questions and many were curious about the uses of the video conferencing equipment.
It was mentioned that the equipment could be used to communicate with any organization, which had compatible equipment from other libraries to representatives in Juneau. The Fire Department is planning to use the equipment to do some training, and the options are limitless for any organization in the community to be connected to other organizations around the world. All one has to do to set up a video conference is talk to Kate Thomas and tell her the organization they would like to be connected with, and Kate can speak with the people at the OWL project to have a conference set up. When asked why this couldn’t be used like Skype to call anyone anytime, Valerie Oliver pointed out the professional quality of the conference.
There was a notable difference between a Skype conference and the one that was set up for the day of the OWL Launch Open House, there was no delay, the picture and audio were very clear, and the picture switched from Anchorage to Juneau as people from each city were talking. Linda Thibodeau mentioned that she wished she could be at the open house for refreshments, and Kate Thomas showed her our snacks via video. Shane Southwick said, “The next step in this technology will be to make it possible to share that snack.”
All who attended enjoyed the Open House, and Linda Thibodeau did miss out on some scrumptious snacks.
Introducing Cooper Landing’s New AmeriCorps Members
Cooper Landing has two new AmeriCorps members for the year of 2012. Cooper Landing Community School is hosting Kristin Troxclair Fuller the new BIRCH member. And the Chamber of Commerce is hosting Krissy Route the new RAVEN member. Both the BIRCH and the RAVEN positions are AmeriCorps positions. BIRCH concentrates on health and wellness in the community and in past years has been responsible for the starting of Community School and the annual Health Fair.
RAVEN concentrates on environmental awareness in the community and in the past years has been responsible for the starting of the recycling center, and the annual Earth Day Fair. Both of our new AmeriCorps members are looking forward to serving the community in the areas of health and wellness and environmental awareness.
The support of the community in any and all of the projects that our new AmeriCorps members undertake is essential. Projects that serve the community are always a huge undertaking and the more volunteers the more fun the work can be, so find out what you can do to help our new AmeriCorps members and support your community. Call Virginia Morgan 595-3094 with questions about BIRCH and Carrie Williams 595-1633 with questions about RAVEN.
Beading and Crafting Through Community School
There will be a beading and crafting evening every other Wednesday starting February 1 from 3:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cooper Landing School Gym. Tables will be available for crafters to set up and work at. This is not a class, but rather a time for people to get together and share crafting skills and experiences. Anyone attending should bring something to eat and drink. There is no charge for use of the gym, but donations to Cooper Landing Community School are appreciated. Call Sue Sloan with questions 595-1811.
