[LINK] Red Cross says no more tech please...

[Chirgwin, Richard]

http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/170125.html
By Brian McWilliams, Newsbytes
NEW YORK, N.Y., U.S.A.,
14 Sep 2001, 4:27 PM CST

The Red Cross in New York has all the technical help it needs, and then
some, according to a message today from the agency.

In response to a widely forwarded e-mail from an unidentified author that
stated the Red Cross is in "dire need of technology equipment and services,"
thousands of individuals and organizations have come forward with offers of
support, according to Joe Leo, assistant director of business applications
for the organization's New York field office, in an e-mail to Newsbytes.

"Please forgive us if we can't respond right away and please don't forward
our message at this time," said Leo, in the e-mail, which was generated by
an autoresponder to any messages to his address.

Attempts to reach Leo by telephone were unsuccessful.

The original request, reposted to numerous e-mail lists and published by
several news organizations Thursday, claimed that Red Cross field workers
"have little, if any, means of communication and the central office is
processing way too much on completely paper systems."

Information technology management at Red Cross national headquarters were
not immediately available for comment.

The e-mail included a detailed list of computer equipment and encouraged
individuals and organizations to contact Leo with their donations.

"What we thought would be sent to five or six people has made it from sea to
shining sea, awesome is the power of the Internet. What we really need most
at the moment is time... time to sort through what has been offered and to
reassess our needs," said Leo in his canned response.

Besides having fulfilled its current need for technical help, the New York
field office has also assembled all the volunteer staff it needs.

According to a message at its site, "the American Red Cross in Greater New
York is currently at full staff and does not require any more human resource
at this time."