The primary purpose of the Millennium Assistance Project is to provide assistance to the community of Palatine Illinois in dealing with the problems arising from the life disruptions associated with the year 2000 millennium computer bugs.

This project is one of crisis management, similar to situations like a major flood, hurricane, or recession. While the primary damage is likely to be economic and loss of life minimal, disruptions may be quite severe and call for both preventative and respite action. Explanations follow of probable life disruptions, but since there are likely to be many unanticipated situations, this project has an extended investigatory phase. Regardless, our foresightful preparatory actions can serve to demonstrate and further enhance our community leadership and management abilities.

The term "Y2K" = "Year 2000". It is generally acknowledged by well-informed people that the year change from 1999 to 2000 will cause at least significant and probably quite massive disruptions in our economy and daily lives. These problems center on malfunctioning computers, software, and other automated systems that depend on a correct date. The disruptions will probably begin several months before the year 2000 and continue afterwards for at least several weeks.

These problems can have ripple effects on our basic life necessities. If the power goes out, the public water supply pumps also go out, as do computers everywhere. Even as the power returns, it may do so intermittently. Over 20% of electrical power in the U.S. is from nuclear plants, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will most probably shut down these facilities as a safety measure (shutdown being better than meltdown). The loss of the nuclear plants' generating capacity is far from the most important issue; other power plants, distribution equipment, fuel delivery, and billing systems are quite vulnerable due to their extensive use of automation.

The ripple effects from power loss are relatively easy to predict. Almost all home furnaces depend on an electric blower fan and thermostat. Many people will use propane or kerosene space heaters instead and burn down their houses. Banks and ATMs use power and telecommunications (another large system that will probably have at least some interruption). Money as cash will be scarce because everyone will withdraw it anticipating banking malfunctions. Banks depend on deposits to remain solvent and therefore there may be a banking crisis.

These are admittedly dour thoughts and an optimist would be tempted to discount them, or, fearing great harm, be immobilized into doing nothing. However, true leadership includes anticipating needs, mobilizing resources, inspiring personnel, and maximizing outcomes. This provides an excellent opportunity for us, the Palatine Jaycees, to positively demonstrate our capabilities.

Some simple tasks can have large payoffs; the 'ounce of prevention' concept is quite applicable here. Buying bleach or iodine tablets to sterilize water is a simple thing, yet people need to be informed to do so. A business that serves vital interests (e.g. a grocery store or pharmacy) may be prevented from working by a simple thing - a computerized cash register, which can be run with a small $500 generator. Keeping local businesses open means paychecks keep coming, and that the people in our community can continue to provide for their loved ones.

Education is primary, and that includes both the public and our public officials. The goal of this project will be better served by education than by purchasing any specific items, but if a funding source can be found to provide the needed equipment, this would greatly enhance our effectiveness.

The Palatine Junior Chamber has a long history of public-spirited philanthropy. We have provided leadership in many crises, including wartime and times of economic crisis, by making assistance available in the form of volunteer labor, expertise, and leadership.

This impending crisis presents an ideal opportunity to demonstrate that public-spiritedness by displaying foresightful leadership that will make a real difference in people's lives.

Even if nothing happens, if (by some miracle) the power stays on, if the banks stay open, and if only a small number of companies go bankrupt, we will be providing reassurances to people that they are doing the right things in the right way. This peace of mind has its own value.

Now. Beginning this project early can significantly improve our chances of success. In most Y2K-related problems, the issue isn't one of money but of the time required to fix the systems affected. If we start asking our public officials now what they're doing to prepare, they'll do a lot of the work for us. Local disaster preparedness officials need to be alerted both privately and publicly to our concern over preparations. Political will to spend money on prevention may be required and assisted by this publicity. Furthermore, officials will need to know that the Jaycees exist, that we stand ready to provide assistance, and that we're prepared.

If we raise awareness in the local business community, we might really help them. Suggestions might include buying generators, stocking up on crucial items in case there are transportation difficulties, or just preparing to remain closed that first week.

This project must have specific and measurable goals, but the general goal of providing assistance is best split into two basic areas: Prevention [before] and Assistance [during/after].

1. Research into current preparedness levels
2. Education of probable effects
3. Cooperation with other organizations or persons
4. Independent action by Jaycee volunteers

1. Identification of individuals in need of help
2. Intervention providing the material of basic life necessities
3. Routing outside agencies to assist needy individuals
4. Management of volunteer and paid assistance

A few more words are in order about the forms of post-Y2K assistance we can render:

1. Shelter: If power is off, people will use portable heaters and set fire to their houses, or die of carbon monoxide poisoning.
2. Heat: The natural gas supply might also be out, as well as the power. Dec 31^st is in mid-winter.
3. Cash: Dollars for diapers, medicine, etc.; items not stocked by food pantries
4. Food: Those with no cash for food or a severe lack of available food due to problems with nationwide transportation
5. Power: Refrigeration if the winter is mild
6. Water: Filters, pumps, and purification must be arranged for. The city's water supply equipment could fail due to power failure or pump equipment problems. A boil order is difficult to publicize and even harder to implement with no power or gas. Other problems include water supply pollution due to industrial accidents.
7. Job Placement: People will be out of work due to bankrupted businesses in the pre-Y2K weeks, as well as immediately afterwards. The conservative Congressional Budget Office is predicting a 5% decline in real GDP for the fiscal year 2000.

1. Hospitals, clinics, group homes, and home-health users (professional caregivers may be otherwise needed in hospitals)
2. City services in Palatine or surrounding cities (Police, Fire, Public Works)
3. Industries with dangerously malfunctioning equipment
4. Metra and other commuter services
5. Local business owners with looting following the big Y2K party, or with quickly obtaining specific equipment to prevent their bankruptcy.

1. Professional programmers volunteering to fix critical public safety equipment
2. Technically capable individuals willing to help with mechanical backups to otherwise automated equipment (e.g. Metra railway crossings opened and closed by hand due to power outages or switch failures)
3. Medically trained personnel willing to provide local assistance both for immediate post-party injuries as well as ongoing medical problems (bad water supply causing dysentery; power outages causing non-refrigerated food spoilage)
4. Those willing to distribute or transport materials and equipment
5. Those willing to donate needed items
6. Those willing to provide housing to people displaced by the problems
7. Those willing to do manual labor to replace non-functioning vital equipment
8. Those willing to act as organizers for the volunteers
9. Those willing to act as coordinators between the Jaycees and other agencies
10. Everyone Else to help out wherever needed.

Untrained volunteers will probably be plentiful but we need to pre-identify people like Ham radio operators and those with resources they're willing to donate.

Note: Most of the following goals will be in cooperation with City of Palatine officials. However, they could also involve people from the State of Illinois and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The specific and measurable goals of this project are:

1. To lobby the city council of Palatine to direct city personnel to study Y2K effects on vital city services and respond with a tangible plan.
2. To run a seminar at a general membership meeting to inform our members as to what they can do individually to optimize their situations following Y2K.
3. To create and distribute information about Y2K preparations to all Palatine residents.
4. To create and prepare "emergency leaflets" should serious situations occur.
5. To set up cooperative communications between the Palatine Jaycees and other relief and emergency agencies.
6. To create contingency plans that coordinate crisis volunteers and implement them if called upon.
7. To establish a communications system whereby all Jaycee board members can contact with each other without the use of the telephone system.
8. To meet with at least 20 Palatine Business owners to educate them on possible effects on their businesses.
9. To write and submit a grant request for funding this project in its largest context.
10. To Inspire at least one other Jaycee chapter to undertake this same project
11. To have at least 10 Palatine Jaycees participate.
12. To have at least 2 of the participating Jaycees be new Jaycees.

These goals are ambitious, but achievable. Various subcommittees, each associated with one of these goals will probably be required.

This project relates to our Chapter Plan as follows:

• Community Improvement is obviously the primary goal of this project.
• Governmental Involvement is required in the contacting of city officials.

• Training individual Jaycee members on emergency management is a specific goal.
• Training Jaycees on public relations skills is required to handle the media.
• Helping Jaycees acquire increased business acumen

• Writing a grant request will require knowledge of the state Jaycee organization and our chapter's financial situation.
• Management of multiple organizations and personnel is required.

1. President of the Palatine Jaycees

Duties: Responsible for overall operations of the chapter.

2. Community Development Vice President

Ms. xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

Duties: Responsible for overseeing the activities of the project chairperson(s).

3. Project Chairperson(s):

Mr. Kevin J. Rice

Duties: Responsible for facilitating success of project.

4. Committee Chairpersons:

Various sub-chairs will be appointed as required.

A very necessary purchase item that we definitely should have: CB radios. Most experts say that phone services are quite vulnerable. CB's would solve our coordination issues nicely.

• Public address system
• Computer use for editing documents
• Printing services to distribute literature
• Nametags and info packets for all volunteers
• T-shirts for all volunteers
• Publicity mailings
• Photography
• Coordination with the Illinois Jaycees HQ, national USJCC HQ, and the JCI organizations
• Jaycees Banner

The following are not required for this project but may be advisable to purchase. Funding for these items has yet to be determined but is not required.

• Toilet Paper (it's the simple things that make the difference!)
• Non-perishable Food
• Blankets
• Propane room heaters
• Gas-powered electric generators
• Water filtration equipment - household and industrial-sized
• Flashlights
• Flares - car or flare gun
• CB radios
• Printing services
• Bullhorns
• Common household toolkits
• Website to publish information
• Books and reference materials on Y2K issues

Funding is a critical need and should be addressed in the earliest phases of project planning. Technically, no funding is required since this could be an entirely educational project with the printing costs being paid for by donated space in established press mediums. However, some purchases of emergency equipment would be highly valuable and donations providing for them should be pursued at the outset.

Non-tangible resources include contact information for the personnel from outside agencies such as the American Red Cross, various hospitals, other service agencies, as well as governmental authorities. This contact information is not limited to phone numbers; it must include developing close relationships with these individuals to assure them that we are competent and capable in doing what we claim to be able to do. That trust relationship is a non-tangible asset that will greatly enhance the functioning of both their organizations and our own.

American Red Cross

Salvation Army

Lutheran, Catholic, Jewish, and other religious social service corps

City of Palatine

Area hospitals and health care facilities and their auxiliaries

Cook County Social Services and Emergency Services

Surrounding counties' Social Services and Emergency Services

Palatine Township

State of Illinois

President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection (PCCIP)

Illinois Jaycees

United States Jaycees

Junior Chamber International

Rotary International

Kiwanis International

Lions Clubs

1. The Millennium Bug: How to Survive the Coming Chaos, by Michael S. Hyatt (a recent best seller, available at Borders and other area bookstores.
2. PC Week, Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, various articles weekly.
3. Info Week, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, various articles, weekly.

• This project can be run as a zero-expense endeavor if no external funding is found.
• All expenses shall come from donations; no chapter funds are requested or needed.
• Funding shall be solicited by donation from larger donors (foundations, larger businesses, and government institutions)
• All solicitations are to be approved by the President of the Palatine Jaycees or their proxy.
• No solicitation shall be made be made from people that already contribute to the Palatine Jaycees (thus preventing collecting on other donations).
• Printing costs may be alleviated by donation of those services by the Chairperson's employer.

For a complete budget, see the attached sheet.