ITAC Teleconference - September 8, 2006 -- 11:00 am -- 1:00 pm ET

Below is the "connect" information for the ITAC teleconference/WebEx session. Please forward it to anyone else who should be invited to participate in the meeting:

WebEx Connect Information:

Per your request, the following conference has been confirmed. I have also reserved the Office of Water Quality conference room 5A-334 for Friday, August 11, 2006 at 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. If you wish to change your meeting time or day, please let me know in advance.

Conference: ITAC
Software Application: WebEx
Host: Kym Burns - 703-648-5609
Date: Friday, September 8, 2006
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Eastern
Dial In Number: 1-888-790-8923
Conference Code/Passcode: 57627#
OWI Coordinator: Dottie Harris - 703-648-5257
Conference Room: 5A-334

ITAC membership email abbreviation:   GS-W ITAC

Attendees:

The following members attended today's cyber conference call:

Invited Guests:

Agenda and Discussion Notes:

1. Roll Call

2. Paul Exter on “New Encryption Requirements for FFS, FPPS and IDEAS”

   Paul has reported NBC is using a technology called “Blue Zone”. They were talking to the people in the National Center. There is some miscommunication in the meetings. It was assumed that the software could be pushed via AD and this is incorrect. Paul is in the process of trying to fix this. Things cannot be “pushed” via AD. The Science Center may have a new software package that will need to be implemented/installed. Blue Zone will replace the X3270 software. Not sure at this time if Blue Zone is multi platform, also if it is a software package or a portal, Paul is checking into this also. Paul will talk with Tom or Kevin on the best approach to clarify the implementation of the product. Jim can send out an email to Center Directors, it was suggested to keep it simple, explaining that it is something that their AO’s and SA’s need to be alerted of and we will keep them updated as we receive the information. This change will impact the AO’s if not done correctly. ITAC is advocating and making their concerns known, but we cannot ensure anything. Paul will try to get something to Jim by the middle of next week.

3. Communication from WI meeting (http://water.usgs.gov/usgs/itac/minutes/madison060620/index.html)

   1. Web framework (templates)
      

      Katherine and Jim have been working with Chris on communication to the Directors, included in this is feedback. Jim asked the question if the ITAC would like to see the feedback or just send it to the GA district. It was decided that GA will receive all the feedback.

   2. WebEx presentations
      

      The WebEx presentations need to be communicated to the Center Directors. Jim will speak to Chris in reference to the first presentation date.

   3. Minutes distribution
      

      Jim will send out the minutes to the Center Directors with highlights on the Webex and he will look through the minutes for other highlights

      Jim asked Jim S. to update on the Power outage issue. Jim S. reported that a memo had gone to the Western Region. The update from the RGIO is that this was a work in progress and they are not looking for any further guidance from ITAC at this time.

      Jim asked if the ITAC committee would like to see the response from Bob Hirsh in reference to the ITAC Prioritization of OWI/Water Issue/Projects. ITAC would like to see what was and was not funded. Jim has asked Katherine if we could get a list of what was funded.

      Stream-mail – Bob Hirsh has an interest in this; however Katherine was does not think it was funded this year.

4. Follow-up on a few WI minutes
   

   ITAC’s role in IT projects (skunk works) was agreed upon at the last face to face that this would be a topic for the next face to face. Jim will speak with Chris in reference to this topic and possible presentation/discussion at the FT Lauderdale meeting.

   Membership in ITAC

   Sandy and Jim’s memberships will be rolling off at the end of this year. Sandy is available; we need to finalize this at our next face to face meeting. Sandy will send an email to the discipline in reference to serving on ITAC for another session.

   The next lead should come from Western Region per the rotation.

5. Action Items
   
6. FT Lauderdale Face to Face Meeting - Gail Kalen supplied us with the following draft schedule for Tuesday October 24, 2006.
   

   Tentative Agenda from Gail

   Tues., Oct. 24:

   9:00 - Ft. Lauderdale IT
   9:30 - FISC IT
   10:00 - Break
   10:15 - Facility Tour
   11:00 - Town Hall
   noon - Lunch (might be the best day to order in)
   1:00 - Well Logging
   1:45 - Manatees
   2:30 - Break
   2:45 - SEAWAT Model
   3:30 - Water Conditions Web Site
   4:15 - NWIS Merger
   5:00 - Video on Red Dye Project, if time permits (put USGS in the news (TV, radio, newspapers)
   
   Jim will touch base with Dave and Gail on the agenda. Typically Center presentations are between 1-3, so that Town Hall meeting topics can be discussed and/or go on a field trip. The facility tour would be nice, but not before the Town Hall meeting, maybe in the afternoon.

   Jim has asked ITAC members to bring forward ITAC Face to Face meeting agenda Items.

   Webex presentations – discussed more at the face to face.

   Jim will speak to Chris in reference to pushing back the presentation to the Nov/Dec timeframe. Tim will check about an email from the office of communications doing something similar – he will report back on this.

   Jess received a message in reference to DOI LEARN – he will define it more, but would like to have it discussed at the face to face.

   The Enterprise publishing network. Updating the latest status on the Enterprise publishing system. (There used to be a publishing rep on ITAC.) If people want more information, but ITAC should be aware. Katherine will ask Greg if he feels there are subjects that would be of interest.

   Presentation on the Enterprise Arch and the implications on the Bureau. Is there a need for ITAC to be more knowledgeable? This has not been discussed with Paul, but Jim S has spoken to Stu Dozier. This is part of the Presidents Management agenda. Jim S will send an email to Paul and Stu and see what can be arranged.

   National Map and NAWQA data – Jim asked Sandy to try to set up a presentation on this.

   NAWQA is developing a photo tagging application – Sandy would like to do a demo. It allows you to catalog pictures. The demo will take about 15 minutes for the presentation and extra time for discussion (1 hour).

   Network performance to Field Offices and Science Centers –

   Jess will present VLAN and what their office is doing. Send Jim a note with topic name and time frame.

   Tim will contact HQ (Elaine Stout and Bob Wakeley) and ask them to present on the future plans are to build the capacity.

   *ITAC members will check with the SA’s via an informal email to inquire about the current issues. Send the findings to Tim McElhone.

Guest Speakers

(Call in times need to be defined)

Daniel Stoll – Enterprise VPN

Wednesday October 25, 2006 – Terri will work out the time and Jim will work the agenda around it.

Patty Damon – EMS Enterprise Messaging Service

Terri would like to get a time on Wednesday in the AM ( 8-9am). Patty inquired on how much detail and does ITAC want another update to the consolidation. The presentation with everything would be about an hour.

Draft FT Lauderdale Agenda to be out in about a week in a half

• Next conference call - October 13, 2006 – 11am

Action Items:

Sept2006.cc.1: Jim asked Katherine to obtain a list of the items that were funded off of the ITAC Prioritization OWI/Water Issue/Project list that was presented to him by the ITAC.

Sept.2006.cc.2: ITAC members were asked to provide Jim with agenda items for the October Face-to-Face in Ft. Lauderdale

Sept2006.cc.3: Tim will investigate correspondence received from Office of Communications on their alternative to Webex.

Sept2006.cc.4: Jess will come up with an agenda topic for DOILEARN.

Sept2006.cc.5: Katherine will talk to Greg Allord regarding latest status of the Enterprise Publishing System for October face-to-face.

• 01-12-07 - On Hold

• 12/8/06 - Pending

• 10/26/06 – It would be valuable to see the demonstration on the new system. We could put it on as an agenda item. Send an email to Greg and ask them to put on a WebEx for ITAC face to face.

Sept2006.cc.6: Jim S. will speak to Stu Dozier and Paul Exter about briefing ITAC on Enterprise Architecture and implications on the Bureau.

• 3/15/07 - COMPLETE

• 2/9/07 - Jim has talked to both Paul and Stu and has provided him with a draft that was presented at ITEM 2005. He will request that Paul provide an update. There has not been an agreement on what to present. Jim will try to trim it down to make is presentable. Jim will give an update on Monday or Tuesday of next week.

• 01/12/07 - Jim will prepare by January 30, a draft for Paul and Stu to review. If satisfied, Jim will present with Paul and Stu being available via conference call to participate. Plan to address at the next Face to Face in San Diego if ready.

• 12/8/06 – Kym will talk to Jim prior to next meeting, to continue at the next face to face.

  10/26/06 – There is a draft presentation to be done at the next ITAC face to face. Jim will communicate with Paul about the presentation.

Sept2006.cc.7: Sandy will contact National Map and NAWQA data ataff to try and set up a demo for October dace-to-face.

Sept2006.cc.8: Sandy will set up a demo for the face-to-face.

Sept2006.cc.9: Jess will send Jim a demo on NAWQA photo tagging to present at the face-to-face.

Sept2006.cc.10:Tim will contact Elaine Stout and Bob Wakelee in reference to giving a presentation on the future plans of the network at the October face-to-face meeting.

Sept2006.cc.11: ITAC Members will query SA's in their region asking about network performance and any current issues they may be experiencing. Send all findings to Jim.