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Y2K Awareness Days and Holidays



Special days can be declared -- organizationally, locally, regionally, statewide, nationally, or internationally -- to help people learn about and creatively relate to Y2K. The first such day to be declared was the August 19, 1998, "500 days left" International Y2K Awareness Day. But any day can be chosen and worked with by citizens who want to prepare their communities. We will soon be dealing with 400 days left, 52 weeks left, 200 working days left, etc. These can be geared to remediation, testing, contingency planning, preparedness, whatever. There are practical things to be done on such days, some of which are listed below.

Perhaps even more intriguing to me are the possibilities for highlighting Y2K-transformational issues using traditional holidays. For example:
Halloween
Is Y2K scary, or what?! (Even adults are scared of this ghost!)
We can either view it as a trick or a treat.
This is a time to confront our fears, laugh in the face of death and, in the spirit of the Trickster, dance our way creatively through the dark
Thanksgiving
Thank you, Y2K, for offering us this opportunity to reflect on our lives and what's really important.
This is a time for poor people and middle and upper class people to talk about life in the Y2K era, and reflect on the nature of wealth, sharing, and community
This is a time to be mindful of what it takes to have a good harvest, and of the need to prepare for lean times and tomorrows' harvests.
Yom Kippur
This, too, is time for reflection. How have we honored or abused the sacred laws of life? What can we learn together to heal and renew the world? How can we atone for our failures and become at one with Life and Spirit?
Christmas
Christ's birth is a symbol of newness and hope, the Good News. The power of Y2K to transform us and our world is also Good News, if we have the generosity to give that gift to future generations.
It is also a time to remember Christ's story of the Good Samaritan, the outsider who helped a suffering stranger when the more upright citizens passed him by. We all face this challenge and will probably face it further thanks to Y2K.

Community Awareness Activities


1. Have the city and state leaders proclaim a certain day Y2K Awareness Day (read How to get a Mayor's or Governor's Proclamation about Y2K)
2. Do press releases and have each and every magazine, newspaper, etc., have special reports on that day.
3. Distribute packets of information to all the libraries. Volunteer to help them setup special displays. Provide them a list of books and resources that will aid the public in seeking knowledge.
4. Have a community meeting or barbecue and start a discussion group - consider churches, associations, community activities etc.
5. Call up your favourite non-profit or community support agency and volunteer to help them fix and prepare.
6. If you have materials or products donate them to your local schools, non-profit and library groups.
7. Send an email of resources and information to all your electronic friends and family and ask them to forward.
8. Ask your employer what the status of their Year 2000 program is and offer to assist in some manner.
9. Offer a workshop or share material with all of your employees on your status and what their roles are.
10. Offer your customers and your suppliers assistance with their programs.
11. Add Y2K facts and tips to payroll slips, newsletters, email responses, voicemail hold messages etc.
12. Call on your elected representatives to share publicly Y2K priorities, status and plans. Advise and assist them if they need guidance!


leille v. sussman
president, sussman inc
lsussman@teleport.com, (503) 641-2906
Portland, Oregon USA




LIBRARY LIST - thanks to Nancy Mckibbin, Sally Chew and Norman Kurland!! _______________________________________________________