Professor Martin:

I am just ecstatic over the work you are putting into Opal’s House Computer Lab!  Everything looks really good, only correction needed is the Site Contact Information and that is the phone number. The “800″ number is our hotline number which is not
in use right now, and the “other contact number” should be: (xxx) xxx-xxxx, the (xxx) xxx-xxxx is my fax number.  I don’t know if you were using the ”800″ number for the future, but just in case you need a number for now you can use my home phone. Also, on Computer #1 tower, I think we agreed that internet access will be necessary for intake purposes.  Those were the only two concerns I had.

Thanks again for your assistance and hard work.

Love to all of you,

Essie Calhoun

Response

Hi Essie,

Thanks much for your reply.  You’ll see some revisions in the attached plans.  I’ve fixed your contact details and edited the Intake room needs a bit.   We understand the Intake room needs are most important, and will make providing an Internet accessed computer there the highest priority.

As with the arrangement with the basement computers in your office, we highly advise having a separate computer upstairs to store confidential files.  The information on this computer will be most protected if it is not on the network.  Security risks increase when computers are networked, and they increase further when they are on the Internet.

Are you comfortable with these plans?  Please note that some flexibility might be necessary downstairs to accommodate the needs for the Intake room.  It might mean one or two fewer computers in the basement.

We will strive to do our best to set you up for computer lab success.  Let us know at any time if there is anything you are curious about, or if you have any questions.

Response

Again, I wasn’t thinking clearly.  You are right, I agree with the arrangements.  As you know, confidentiality is of the utmost importance.  Thanks for everything.

Essie

Response

Not at all, Essie.  I remembered you emphasized the Intake room, and I think Martin suggested having a separate computer (and I didn’t retain that detail).  Laying out and refining the plans helps ensure we are on the same page.  Your communications have been very helpful.

Take care and be in touch anytime you have any ideas, questions; etc.

Response

Thanks,   Please feel free to contact me anytime.  I appreciate all you’re doing for Opal’s House.
Essie

I’m not sure whether or not I’ll be able to swing by lab today, but I’ll definitely try.  Anyway, in case I can’t make it, I wanted to let you know what I completed yesterday. I was able to scrub three computers, so I think there should only be two or three left; we can probably start loading windows tomorrow.  They were taking forever so I just left them plugged in with the scrubbing software in (I had to leave around 7).

I plan to attend open lab this Thursday from 3-5.  You mentioned you might do more scrubs on Wednesday.  If this is still the case, I can pick up where you might of left off, or begin with the next steps.

Meanwhile, I’ll field the call to the Security Camera co.  Should we keep each other posted via the confluence Wiki vs. email?

We should be hearing back from Essie soon re: the implementation plan.

When you have a chance, let me know your thoughts.

Response

Yes, I plan on going to open lab tomorrow…probably around 4 ish.  I can also stop by on Thursday, but that wouldn’t be until 4 again.  I’ll leave notes though, so you can know what computers I already scrubbed.   I think email would probably a better method of communication, because I check that multiple times a day, rather than just once.  Oh, and I was able to get a mouse for the computer.  I’ll test it tomorrow to make sure it works

Response

Sounds good.
thanks

Dear Essie,

We are sending along our plans to install the computer lab at Opal’s House.  Please take some time to review the plans carefully.  Take note that we are suggesting the possibility of adding (or swapping) a computer for the intake room.   This is contingent of course on your needs, security factors, and other variables.  The plans are attached in pdf format.

Just let us know of any concerns or questions you might have.  We can adapt the plans as needed, but would greatly appreciate your comments at your earliest convenience.  Meanwhile, we will be preparing the computers for delivery!

I look forward to your response.

Hi Martin,

When you have a moment, can you give our report a quick looksee? Ideally, I’d like to fax to Essie sometime tomorrow (Monday) if doable.

Can you also tell me:
1) if we are providing monitors and keyboards to the sites, and
2) if diagrams need to be included as part of the implementation communication?

I’ve copied Heather on this email. It would be helpful if you include her in your reply.

Looks good, other than I think it was founded in 2003 instead of 1993. The only other thing that comes to mind is whether there may need to be additional electrical in the basement if there turns out to be 6 computers down there. Perhaps mentioning that there needs to be at least one 20 amp circuit in the basement available to the computers and not used in a dedicated way by any other electrical device (e.g., light fixtures, dehumidifier, furnace blower)

We do provide monitors and keyboards to the sties.

You don’t need to include the diagram as part of this first communication.
- Martin

A bit of good news for all you scrubbers out there! I spoke with Paul regarding how long it was taking to scrub these drives. We considered the source of donations for the computers we’re using and decided that a single pass should be sufficient for these. If there was anything confidential on those drives, we believe the sites that donated the computers would have already wiped them.

That means when booting from the CD, instead of typing in ‘illinois’ as the login, which results in 10 passes, type in ‘zero’ at the login, which results in a single pass.

– Martin

I put up a bunch of info on the project wiki and thought I should let you know, so you can have a chance to double check what I wrote and what I may have missed.  Also, were you planning on doing the drawings of the room layouts?  I’d be happy to help or complete them myself, but I need the measurements for the room.

Response

Thanks for the heads up.

My plan is to work on this early tomorrow morning before class.  I’ll see what I can do about the drawings and let you know the status when we meet for class.

Bye the way, Martin has the fax from Essie.  We can get that from him tomorrow (Friday).

Good Morning.   It was a pleasure and a real joy meeting the three of you on Friday.  I am so excited about our “Computer Lab”, I know it will be awesome!!  Please tell Paul hello and a special thanks to him as I will fax the information to you via Professor Paul Adams.  Please check with him today, he should have it soon.  “I’m in touch, (so you) stay in touch” (Barbara Walters)   Love to you all,   Essie Calhoun

Response

Dear Essie,

Thanks very much for your message. I was unable to get the fax today but I will be by Paul’s office tomorrow to retrieve it. I’ll let you know as soon as I have it in hand.

It was a joy to meet you as well last Friday. We are fortunate to have a role in supporting the mission at Opal’s House and thank you greatly for this collaborative experience.

I estimate that we will have the lab plans to you in one week or less. I’ve copied Martin and Heather here to keep them “in the know”. ;0)

Bye for now!

Response

You are very welcome for the message and I mean every word. I will be waiting to hear from you. Thanks again for everything.

Essie

Response

I received a reply from Paul today. I hope that you have the fax and had a chance to look it over. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Have a wonderful evening. Essie

Hi Martin,

I went to Prairienet to retrieve Essie’s fax but staff there said none came (to their knowledge). Any chance you picked it up? Can you let me know either way so I’ll know whether or not to be back in touch with Essie?

Thanks

Response

Hi Essie,

I went to Prairienet today and missed Paul. Staff working at the time didn’t see the fax so I figured he or Martin must have had it. I’ll be in touch with them.

Thanks ever so much for letting me know.

Response

I didn’t pick one up. You might also have Essie fax it to the GSLIS fax at 217244-3302. If she makes it attention to you, then I think they’d deliver it to your student mailbox.

- Martin

Response

Martin,
Essie told me that Paul contacted her and said he received the fax.  I’ll try to contact Paul first before asking Essie to refax.
See you Friday

Response

Dear Paul,

I am enrolled in Martin Wolske’s networks class this semester.  I’m setting up a computer lab at the Opal House site in East St. Louis for our service learning component of the course.  Essie Calhoun, Director of Opal’s House, mentioned that you contacted her recently to let her know you were in receipt of a fax.

When we made the arrangement, she had your contact details already, so I asked her to send the fax to the attention of both me and Martin.  I hope this didn’t cause any undue confusion or stress.

Might you still have that fax?  If so, how can I secure it or a copy of it?  I can ask Essie to resend if necessary.

I understand that this is likely one of the busiest times for Prarienet.  I appreciate your help.

Response

I gave the fax to Martin this morning.

Paul

Response

okay, thanks.

Response

Paul handed me the fax this morning. If you were coming over to open lab this afternoon, I could give it to you then. Otherwise I
can hand it over to you on Friday.

- Martin

Response

Thanks Martin,

It would be great if you could bring it to class on Friday.  I had other commitments today preventing me from attending lab.