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Doug Bechtel
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A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to observe first hand the new Interisland Video Network. This system connects the high schools on Orcas and San Juan Islands, along with the Skagit Valley Community College campus on San Juan, into an audio and video network that allows live participation in a meeting without having to travel between the islands. I understand that the Lopez High School was originally going to be part of the system but changed their mind. I was impressed by the quality of the system. Like any new technology, it is going to take a little getting used to.
During the demonstration that I attended, we were able to focus on something as small as a 35 mm slide and as large as the entire room. Several young people showed an aquarium with marine life that they had collected that afternoon. We were able to see into the fish bowl as the youngsters pointed out their treasures.
Sometimes it seems that I spend a good portion of my life riding ferries between the islands. Some of my best OPALCOGRAMS have come out of these trips. As I am writing this, we have sent our line crews from Shaw, Orcas and Lopez Islands to San Juan Island to attend a monthly safety meeting. With travel time, a two hour safety meeting will take five or six hours out of the work day for all of our linemen. It’s an obvious advantage in savings to OPALCO if we can use the Interisland Video Network for company training.
I have had several OPALCO members ask me to bring their concerns on an issue to the board on their behalf. They were unable to attend the meeting person due to the travel time involved. It really doesn’t seem worth it to spend half a day on a ferry to make a 10-15 minute presentation to our board of directors.
As most of our members know, we rotate our meetings between the three major islands. On August 18th, we will hold a regular board meeting in Room 14 of the Friday Harbor High School (beginning at 8:30 a.m.) and we will use the Video Network to transmit the meeting back to Orcas (Room 602 in the Orcas High School). Thus, if you live on Orcas and you want to attend the August board meeting, all you have to do is stop by the high school.
We are going to try this for a short while to see if many members take advantage of the opportunity to attend a board meeting by video.
Being a confirmed technology nut, I think this is a neat system and I hope it works out. I can think of all kinds of uses for the Interisland Video System.
Doug Bechtel
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