<<October 7, 1999>>

Mr. Larry Forgy <Lforgy@worldbank.org>

P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D, Professor <tapio.varis@uta.fi>

Kimberly K. Obbink <kobbink@montana.edu>

Mr. Myron Nordquist <myron_nordquist@burns.senate.gov>

Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP <daj@utk.edu>

Yolanda Gayol, D.Ed. <ygayol@worldbank.org>

Renee Ebert, MPH <sathealth@aol.com>

Dear Larry:
===========

(1) As I left my voice mail in your phone this afternoon, I would like to
visit you at 1:00 pm (till 2:00 or 2:30 pm) of October 19th (Tuesday)
with following persons;

1. Kimberly K. Obbink (see ATTACHMENT I)
2. Myron Nordquist
3. David A. Johnson

Our visit is to express our sincere thanks for your generous support to
our highly successful Tampere event, and to hear of your suggestions for
our future directions.

Pls confirm this visit by your email at your earliest convenience.
Thanks.

(2) Pls visit the web site of our Tampere event at <www.uta.fi/EGEDL/> and
click Roger Boston's web site to view photos and videos of our event,
and also the conference outline web site in the home page.

(3) To meet with the agreement with your InfoDev, we formed pilot project
teams in the major regions of the Asia/Pacific, North, Central and South
America, Europe and Africa regions -- see Proposed Global University
System Structure at
<http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Excerpt_frm_Agreement/Excerpt_frm_Agreement.html>.

The team leaders are now constructing their draft of pilot project
proposals which will be included in our final report.

Meanwhile, Tapio Varis (General Chairman) and I (Program Chairman)
will submit you an interim report soon.

(4) The preparations for the follow-up workshops have already been
initiated.

(a) Asia/Pacific Group with Tokyo Workshop (Spring 2000): Proposed
Conference Activities -- see
<http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Excerpt_frm_Agreement/Excerpt_frm_Agreement.html>

(b) Europe Group with Ukraine Workshop (Spring 2001): -- see
<http://www.lim.lviv.ua/english/de/workshop/index_uk.htm>.

Dear Yolanda:
=============

(5) Pls feel free to join in our mtg with Larry, if you have time.

Dear Renee:
===========

(6) RE: ATTACHMENT II:

Yes, pls feel free to write your msg to Yolanda.

I am sorry I do not know about the WHO global education initiative.

You may ask following person;

Salah H. Mandil, Ph.D.
Director-Advisor on Informatics
World Health Organization
20, Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
SWITZERLAND
+41-22-791-2426 (direct)
+41-22-791-2111
Fax: +41-22-791-4702
mandils@who.ch

Best, Tak
****************************************
ATTACHMENT I

International News

BTC Participates in Finland International Distance Learning Conference

Cybertimes
Burns Telecommunications Center
Vol. I, Issue #2
http://btc.montana.edu
Fall 1999, Page 6

In partnership with Dr. Tak Utsumi of GLOSAS and Mr. Ben Haraguchi of the
Foundation to Support the United Nations, the BTC recently had the honor of
participating in the Emerging Global Electronic Distance Learning (EGEDL)
Conference held at the University of Tampere in Finland. The purpose of the
EGEDL Conference was to establish the Global University Project.

The Global University will bring together decision-makers from under- served
countries and leaders in distance learning and telemedicine to discuss
practical solutions for the implementation of affordable global electronic
distance learning across national boundaries. The international interactive
workshop included practical workshops, discussions and demonstrations.
Participants drafted funding proposals to establish global broadband Internet
in three major global regions: in Pacific/Asia, North/South America and
Europe/Africa.

The demands for distance learning and tele-health capabilities are great.
People recognize that access to education and resources through
telecommunications will allow them to maintain communities that are
competitive and economically viable. In spite of its exciting promise and
economical advantage, distance education technology has difficulty reaching
those who need it most in rural areas. Challenges to effectively utilizing
this opportunity include lack of technical infrastructure, political unrest,
excessive costs, lack of skills, and forming collaborative partnerships for
establishing successful pilot programs.

The BTC was represented at the conference by Kim Obbink; Matt Raymond,
Communications Director for Senator Conrad Burns; Jack Hyyppa of MSU/KUSM
Public Television; and Nels Sanddal of the Critical Illness and Trauma
Foundation. Ms. Obbink and Mr. Sanddal conducted a presentation at the
conference on Montana test-bed applications for global distance learning and
demonstrated a real-time IP video conference using the new Internet 2
connectivity from Finland to the BTC. Touch America was integral to
completion of the Internet 2 connection and the success of the demonstration.
In addition to conference representation, the BTC offered support by obtaining
a $40,000 grant from The National Science Foundation (NSF) to support American
participation. The BTC will provide NSF with a report on conference
activities and recommendations. BTC follow-up activities include ongoing
discussions with the project leaders, identification of partners and content
for pilot programs, and preparations for a working meeting of the Pacific/Asia
partnership to be held in Tokyo next spring.
****************************************
ATTACHMENT II

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 12:42:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: Sathealth@aol.com
To: utsumi@www.friends-partners.org
Subject: Re: Distance learning activitites in Arab Region

Dear Tak:

Thank you for the up-dates. I would like to ask you more about the WHO
global education initiative. I would like to write directly to Yolanda. Is
that permissable?

Renee Ebert, MPH
UCLA School of Public Health.
Coordinator Distance Learning to Developing Countries
****************************************
List of Distribution

Mr. Larry Forgy
Work Program Administrator
infoDev Program
Information for Development
The World Bank, F3K-268
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433
U.S.A.
202-473-7462
202-458-5153
Fax: (202) 522 3186
Lforgy@worldbank.org
infodev@Worldbank.org
http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/infodev

P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D, Professor
Acting President, Global University System
Chairman, GLOSAS/Finland
Professor and Chair
Media Culture and Communication Education
Hypermedia laboratory
University of Tampere
P.O.Box 607
FIN-33101 Tampere
FINLAND
Tel: +358-3-215 6110
GSM: +358-50-567-9833
Fax: +358-3-215 7503
tapio.varis@uta.fi
http://www.uta.fi/~titava

Kimberly K. Obbink
Director
Burns Telecommunications Center
128 EPS Building,
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717-3860
USA
Tel: +1-406-994 6550
Fax: +1-406-994 7856
kobbink@montana.edu

Mr. Myron Nordquist
Legislative Counsel
U.S. Senator Conrad Burns' Office
187 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2603
202-224-6808
Fax: 202-224-8594
Cell: 301-646-8153
myron_nordquist@burns.senate.gov
http://www.senate.gov/~burns/
804-924-7573 -- at the U. of VA.
Fax: 804-982-2622 -- at the U. of VA.

Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP
Former President of Fulbright Association
Professor of School of Planning
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Tenneseee
108-I Hoskins Library
Knoxville, TN 37996-4051
USA
Tel: +1-423-974 5227
Fax: +1-423-974 5229
daj@utk.edu
http://web.utk.edu/~djohnutk/

Yolanda Gayol, D.Ed.
Distance Learning Consultant
The World Bank
World Bank Institute for Distance Learning
701 18th Street NW, Room 2-171C
Washington, D.C., 20433
(202)458 7506
Fax: (202) 522 2005
ygayol@worldbank.org

Renee Ebert, MPH
Coordinator
International Distance Learning
School of Public Health
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
949-642-4650
310-794-2886 at Media Center (Tues/Thursday)
sathealth@aol.com
**********************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* Founder of CAADE *
* (Consortium for Affordable and Accessible Distance Education) *
* President Emeritus and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of *
* Global University System (GUS) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) *
* Email: utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 *
* http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/ *
**********************************************************************

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