Skip Maine state header navigation
A Publication Featuring The Information
Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume VII, Issue 1 | January 2004 |
|
|
Everyone knows what happened on September 11, 2001. The images from that day are etched in each of our minds to some degree or another. We learned that day that our country was not nearly as safe as we'd thought; we learned the lesson the hard way. The feeling of vulnerability was stronger than it had been since another day of infamy in December of 1941.
Many people took a step forward that day and in the days following, raised their hands and asked, "What can I do?"
For those of us involved in the technology industry here in Maine, there is something we can do. In 1996, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) started a pilot program, with the purpose of creating a lasting cooperative relationship between the federal government and businesses of all sizes, called Infragard (www.infragard.net). The FBI knew that the infrastructure of the United States was becoming more and more dependant on all types of technology and that, as this happened, traditional methods of protection would no longer be enough to ensure its stability.
Infragard was created to establish a cooperative effort to focus on infrastructure stability and protection. Since 1996, 42 states have established Infragard chapters in which the government, private and public businesses meet and discuss all kinds and levels of threats to security, from cracker attacks on a single member to the potential for a terrorist strike against the United States Power Grid. Special guest speakers with expertise in various areas of security are often invited to speak.
A number of people dedicated to this cooperation are already traveling from Maine to monthly Infragard chapter meetings in Boston, Massachusetts. Many more are interested, but simply cannot afford the investment of time and money required to make the trip.
I've recently been working with Special Agent Jim Herbert of the Bangor, Maine office of the FBI, on a cracker case. In the course of our discussions, we both expressed an interest in seeing an Infragard chapter closer to home, but in a central enough location that techs from all over the state can participate without excessive travel or expense. To this end, I have created a mailing list dedicated to the creation of a Maine Infragard Chapter.
Take a look at the main Infragard website and consider if this is a program that might benefit you, your company, or your state. If so, please subscribe following the instructions below. Even if you don't feel this is something you'd be interested in, please consider forwarding this invitation to your friends and acquaintances that are also in technology fields. (And no, bad luck will NOT befall you if you do not pass this e-mail along, NOR will a certificate to Applebee's or Disneyland appear on your screen when you forward it to ten or more friends!)
To Subscribe:
Send an e-mail with a blank subject to Infragard_me_sub@telfordaviation.com. In the first line of the message body, put "SUBSCRIBE INFRAGARD_ME" without the quotes.
To Unsubscribe:
Send an e-mail with a blank subject to Infragard_me_sub@telfordaviation.com. In the first line of the message body, put "UNSUBSCRIBE INFRAGARD_ME" without the quotes.
Tim Martin
IT/IS Manager
The Telford Group, Inc.
458 Main Street
Bangor, Maine 04401
(207) 262-6098
tim.martin@telfordaviation.com
