CallTranscript for September 6
From Katrina Help Info
| Table of contents |
Katrina PeopleFinder web site call
6pm – 7:25pm PST
1-323-785-4156, PIN 62633
Notes by Aaron S. Pava and Nick Hatch
Attending
- Laura S. Quinn (website) laura [at] alderconsulting.com,
- Phillip Lamb (web presence), phillip.lamb [at] gmail.com
- Jon Plax (Salesforce.com) jplax [at] salesforce.com,
- Dan Robinson (CivicActions.com) dan [at] civicactions.com,
- Aaron S. Pava (CivicActions.com) aaron [at] civicactions.com,
- Ann (copy),
- Mary Wehmeier maryshelpmail@gmail.com,
- Carlos Miranda Levy (graphics), carlos [at] civila.com
- Ka-Ping Yee (PFIF XML spec) ping [at] zesty.ca,
- Jon Lebkowsky jonl [at] polycot.com,
- Nick Hatch (tech wiki) nicholas.hatch [at] gmail.com
- Mark Rauterkus, Mark [at] Rauterkus.com
others...
Agenda:
- What Salesforce.com is doing
- Talk about plan
- What we need going forward
- Need for volunteers
Discussion
Dan was asked to moderate the call, deferred to Laura. Jon was asked for a summary of what Salesforce was doing.
Dan: There is a lot of trust, should begin making decisions and assigning responsibility.
[Unknown]: Agreed.
Salesforce Summary
Jon: (Salesforce.com) As things are finished, they will be delivered. Won't be as specific "about that."
Jon: Friday night, started to talking to David at Salesforce foundation. See him as primary communication, most coordination has gone through him. Saturday worked with Ping on spec for PFIF. Sunday, created form. 85,000 hand-entered data records so far.
Jon: Deliverables: Website is at heart of what we want to get out. Search is functional right now. New version tonight (Tues) with XML upload support. XML import planned for tonight. Work has been done all day. XML import is absolutely planned for tonight. The feed crawler is also planned for tonight. Earthlink has a PFIF feed, several others as well. Registaration of feeds is a manual process for now. Data entry form is planned for integration.
Jon: http://www.katrinalist.net/ is the current location, but it is not yet ready for the general public.
[Unknown]: Part of the reason for everyone being so quiet is becuase of productivity and current work.
Usability
Mary W: Please keep search simple! Many people who may be looking will not be computer saavy.
Jon: Will do. This will be a single field search.
More Tech Details
Jon: Ping wrote the PFIF XML spec
Jon: HTML front-end that links to Salesforce.com API. Form post directly to salesforce.com application.
Dan: What about integration with other websites?
Jon: Will have uploader for sites in XML. Outbound feed is targeted for tomorrow. Salesforce is providing the central repository. It is all authentication driven. In order to open it up, there needs to be another public website to provide access to the backend data. XML --> web service call --> outbound feed & public website.
[unknown] There is a need for the DB to stay clean. Strict XML checking for data from affiliates.
Ping: Example document is up on the wiki for validation.
Laura: Have the sense the front-end is an after-thought. Potential to allow better searching, emailing, etc?
Jon: Focusing on back-end. Will see what’s next. The frontend search should be rather robust. Waiting for feedback. Want to get it out the door. Need to tighten standards and alliances with other large sites.
Other people who are also working on this stuff. David talked to several people for voice-data trivial, etc. So much going on.
Dan: Who is responsible for data entry efforts?
Jon: Old data and new data go directly into the Salesforce.com database.
Jon Lebkowsky: No edit ability, so lots of errors in data.
[unknown]: There is a concern about errors in hand entered data. People are looking into commercial de-duplication tools.
Jon: “Notes� form being added tomorrow.
On Communicating
Jon Lebkowsky: Need to have call announced in advance.
Dan: We don’t have a clear line of communication.
Laura: Let’s establish clear lines of communication.
Jon Lebkowsky: Dev list is for development. People Finder list is for volunteers.
Dan: Goal of this call is to see what needs to be handled.
Dan: Ethan is dropping off project as of Sunday.
Jon Lebkowsky: What’s the status of the broken form?
(no responce)
Aaron: Let’s go over each issue one-by-one on the agenda.
Jon Lebkowsky: Thanks everyone. (left call)
Website
Laura: Defining where we are. Website: Search for data, post, front end, media contacts, clean front-end, etc. Anne is working on public text. Salesforce stuff will be pulled into a frame. Working with Drupal. Working with someone for graphic design. Up tomorrow night.
Dan: Missing pieces? Graphics. Carlos?
Carlos: Willing to do graphics. [Ed: mentioned something about the Drupal theme being based of spread firefox.]
Hosting
Laura: Server space? We have a dev server, not something we can make live.
Philip: looking up an email. Running on dev server. Godaddy. Talked to Kieran, he said Scott Verten (Open Source Labs) asked for what we need.
Laura: Who could take point in coordinating server/bandwidth for this project?
Dan: HE might just donate server request. If asked the right way.
Aaron: ACTION: Volunteered to get donated server space with Philip. Recommend Scott at Open Source Labs.
[Ed: There was also talk of Hurricane Electric providing hosting]
Dan: What other issues?
Carlos to manage Drupal coordination. Aaron can help.
Philip: Website is front-end. Still will point to wiki.
Nick: ACTION: Will clean up the wiki some. Mary will give back-up.
Mark: ...
Dan: Carlos, when can we see the Drupal frame?
Carlos: Where...
Philip: Do you have credentials for where the Drupal is now? (no) Philip will email Carlos with them.
http://dev.katrinapeoplefinderproject.org
Nick: Will there be a direct link to the wiki from Drupal?
Laura: 2 points of entry. Tech or Data entry entrances.
Ping: Not sure Salesforce.com is planning to have their site “framed� within Drupal.
Contact at Salesforce.com? (missed first one)
Nick: Steve Wright is a good contact. swright [at] salesforce.com
Laura: Do people have contact information?
[unknown]: Andrew on the call? Help with chucking process?
Andrew Hopkin: Have some code, might be applicable. Need to know PHP.
PFIF is frozen at 1.1. Is there a new version coming later? (no one knows)
Nick: Keep an eye on the future.
Mary: People keep moving. No way to update yet. Perhaps work with FEMA, relocation people, etc. Could be a problem. People are scared of this technology. Need clear instructions or volunteers to help search.
Laura: Update is going to be in a new version.
Mary: In a few weeks we will need volunteers to help people search.
NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT PRIVACY.
Do we have a volunteer list on wiki? Will get it up tonight
Nick and Aaron to post notes to wiki.
END OF CALL 7:25pm PST
