Salsa-DR Working Group Conference Call
July 20, 2007
 
**Attending**
Don McLeod, Cornell University (chair)
Rodney Peterson, Educause
Joe St. Sauver, University of Oregon
Shannon Meadows, NTI Group
Anthony Maszeroski, University of Scranton
Steve Olshansky, Internet2
Dean Woodbeck, Internet2 (scribe)
 
**Action Items**

[AI] {Shannon} will mail a PDF of her emergency messaging presentation to SteveO and Don and Joe and Rodney

[AI] {Shannon} will provide a link (if possible) to a presentation about a mutual back-up/recovery site by Erin Griffin and Mitch Davis, given at an regional EDUCAUSE meeting in Austin.

[AI] {Shannon} will send a link (if possible) to a presentation she attended in Chicago, given to by a public health doctor.
 
[AI] {Joe} will explore the possibility of connecting with any European disaster recovery efforts.

[AI] {All} are asked to help develop a list of specific DR topics for sessions at future appropriate conferences, including Internet2 Member Meetings and Joint Techs conference.

[AI] {All} are asked to visit the DR matrix on the wiki and provide information
(https://spaces.internet2.edu/display/salsadr/DR+Exchange+Matrix)

**Institutional Priorities**
 
The first agenda item asked for current disaster recovery priorities at institutions. At Cornell, the priority is to get an emergency messaging system in place before students arrive for fall semester. At Scranton, priorities including investigating emergency messaging systems, web site hosting/web presence for use by key personnel in a disaster situation, and beginning to plan for pandemics.
 
**Topics for DR Working Group**
 
Joe suggested the working group develop specific topics of interest for the purpose of inviting presentations at Internet2 member meetings, Joint Techs conferences and other appropriate meetings. Experts from universities or companies would be welcome.
 
Shannon reported that her company focuses on mass notification systems and that she has a “vendor-neutral” presentation. She will send a PDF of the presentation to SteveO and Don and Joe and Rodney for review. She also has attended a presentation by Erin Griffin and Mitch Davis about mutual back-up and recovery cooperation at their campuses: Loyola Marymount and Bowdoin. She will send a link, to any materials that might exist from their presentation at an EDUCAUSE regional seminar in Austin earlier this year. Shannon also knew of someone at the University of Iowa who may be another good resource.
 
Rodney mentioned two resources:
 
Emergency Notification Systems (EDUCAUSE Resource Page)
http://connect.educause.edu/term_view/emergency+notification+systems
 
Integrated Communications Strategies Working Group of Net@EDU
http://www.educause.edu/IntegratedCommunicationsStrategies/930
 
(Note:  this group is researching issues related to emergency notification systems at colleges and universities.)
 
Joe mentioned that Dan Magorian at Max Gigapop did a survey of disaster recovery locations in the DC Metro area. He included many variables and had a hard time finding a place that scored well on all fronts. For example, a location might have good connectivity but no power, or it might have power but no space. Joe suggested inviting Dan to one of these calls to hear his report.
 
Joe also mentioned Tim Lance of NYSERNet as another potential resource. NYSERNet has been involved in building out an entire regional facility. This might provide interesting case study opportunities.
 
There was a discussion about whether there has been any outreach to European (or other international organizations) concerning efforts in disaster recovery and business continuity. [AI] {Joe} will explore the possibility of connecting with any European disaster recovery efforts.
 
Shannon suggested reaching out to campus safety organizations and emergency management organizations to search for overlap. The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators might be a good place to start.
 
**Pandemics**
 
Joe reviewed a presentation he did at the Joint Techs conference on planning for a pandemic flu outbreak. This is an event that has a high probability of occurring, but for which there has not been much planning. The University of California-Santa Barbara has looked at a variety of scenarios and developed a spreadsheet with information about what would happen if different percentages of employees were unable to work (10 percent, 40 percent, etc).
 
Shannon heard a good presentation on this topic from a public health dept doctor at a conference in Chicago and will look for a link to materials.
 
**DR Matrix**
 
The matrix on the wiki was originally designed for help in match-making, providing institutions with potential partners based on similar interests, hardware and software. Now, though, the effort is to use it as a way to gather information and help everyone become acquainted with the other institutions. [AI] {All}Please take some time to fill out information about your institution.
 
**Call frequency**
 
There was a discussion of the frequency of calls. The consensus was to move to once every four weeks, rather than every other week. Friday at 1:00 pm (EDT) will continue as the time. The next call will take place August 17. When more participants are on the call, perhaps when the fall semester begins, we will have a discussion about the date/time of the calls.
 
**Next call—Friday, August 17, 1:00 p.m. EDT**