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Oct. 6, 1999
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^NatconaL ¿M inority 'business 'W eek
Wfye P o rtla n d (M eeruer
AREY0UY2K OK?
HERE ARE SOME QUICK
STEPS TO BEING READY
FOR Y2K AT YOUR
BUSINESS.
S te p 1:
G et a FREE
Y 2K
J u m p s t a r t K it fro m th e
U .S . S m a ll B u s in e s s A d ­
m in is tr a tio n by c a llin g
5 0 3 /3 2 6 - 2 6 8 2 o r e m a ilin g
y o u r n a m e / a d d r e s s to
p o n e e d h e lp @ s b a .g o v . T h is
k it i n c l u d e s a C D -R O M to
h e lp you p r o je c t m a n a g e ­
m ent the Y2K e ffo rt and p ro ­
v id e s d o c u m e n ta tio n s h o w ­
ing you took “ due d ilig e n c e ”
as a s a fe g u a rd against p o ten ­
tial su its. T his kit p ro v id es
the e ssen ce o f g u id in g you
th rough the in v e n to ry , risk
a sse ssm e n t, re m e d ia tio n and
co n tin g en cy plan n in g steps.
At the sam e tim e, req u est
the O regon Y2K S tatew id e
Task Forces Y2K Kit as w ell.
It com es w ith an IBM co m ­
p a tib le h ard w are te stin g d is ­
k e tte and a great deal o f in ­
fo rm atio n on how to get help
from v a rio u s w eb sites.
Step 2:
U sin g th e ju m p s ta r t k it
a b o v e ,b e g in the inv en to ry o f
h ard w a re , so ftw a re and em ­
bedded sy stem s w ith in your
b u sin e ss. T hen co m p lete the
sectio n on c ritic a l b u sin e ss
fu n ctio n s needed to stay in
b u sin e ss w ith o u t “ going u n ­
der.” Then determ ine the risks
based on le tte rs sent out to
b u sin e ss p a rtn e rs and e x te r­
nal th re a ts (lik e u tilitie s ) .
Then begin the rem e d ia tio n ,
rep lacem en t or u p g rad in g o f
system s that pose the g re a t­
est risk . L astly , p rep a re your
contingency plans to keep the
business alive no m atter what.
Step 3:
If d u ring the p ro je c t m an­
agem ent e ffo rt o f Y2K you
find that your k n ow ledge o f
w hat to do or how to proceed
is lim ite d ; then use the h ttp :/
/y 2 k .o m ep .o rg w eb site to r e ­
q u est a s s is ta n c e now . Som e
h elp is fre e . Som e is fee
b a s e d ...b u t at red u c e d ra te s.
C o n ta c t Pat K ra ft, O M EP
Y2K P ro je c t O ffic e r, at 503/
9 9 7 -8 1 4 5 o r v ia e m a il at
p k raft@ p cc .e d u .
S tep 4:
I f d u rin g the p ro je c t m an ­
ag em en t p h ase you find that
he Bureau of Environmental Services
provides city residents with water quality
protection, wastewater treatment and collection,
and sewer installation, and oversees solid waste
collection and recycling services.
The Bureau of Water Works provides high
quality drinking water to 840,000 Oregonians in
the metropolitan region.
Each year we contract with a number of private
businesses. We are committed to providing equal
opportunities for employment and the awarding
of contracts.
For information regarding Minority Business
Enterprises contract opportunities, please contact
the City of Portland Bureau of Purchases
at 503-823-6855.
T
Bureau of Water Works,
1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Room 600
Portland, Oregon 97204
the re p la c e m e n t o f e q u ip ­
m ent, softw are and em bedded
sy ste m s or that you need e x ­
p e rt help and y our c u rre n t
b u d g et cannot affo rd it; then
c o n ta c t the SBA at the em ail
or te le p h o n e num ber n o ted
ab o v e for m ore in fo rm a tio n
on the Y2K A ction Loan P ro­
gram.
S tep 5:
Stay tuned to new d e v e lo p ­
m ents th ro u g h o u t th is year
via w e b site s. M any softw are
and h a rd w a re ite m s w ere
o rig in ally com pliant and now
are e ith e r n o n -c o m p lia n t or
h av e issu e s you need to deal
w ith .
“ O ff
th e
s h e lf
rem e d ia tio n p roducts can o f­
ten help m ore re a d ily id e n ­
tify th ese p ro b lem s.
Step 6:
P re p are and p ra c tic e that
C o n tin g e n c y Plan now . In ­
v o lv e y our e m p lo y ees and
y o u r b u sin e ss p a rtn e rs. C o r­
re c t w eak sp o ts and do it
ag a in u n til you know how to
sta y in b u sin e ss in the Y ear
2000. Let everyone know that
you ARE PR E PA R E D or
_
READY and th at you ex pect
them to do the sam e level o f
e ffo rt. C heck all su p p lie rs
and th re a ts. If you need help
ask the m em bers o f the O r­
egon Y2K S ta te w id e T ask
Force.
If the polls and p red ic tio n s
are cu rrently accu rate, nearly
1 1 p e rc e n t o f sm all b u s i­
nesses w ill e ith e r lo se m a r­
ket share or go out o f b u s i­
ness b e c au se th ey are not
w illin g to do all the d e ta ils
noted in the Ju m p sta rt K it.
T hat am ounts to over 8,500
firm s in Oregon and over 1000
in SW W ashington S tate. If
they em ploy ju s t 3 e m p lo y ­
ees each, som eone m ay be out
o f a jo b and you know what
that does to our econom y and
yours.
Still not sure w hat to do or
w here to find help, call the
P ortland C hapter o f the S er­
vice C orps o f R etired E xecu­
tives (SC O R E) for eith e r a t­
tendance at th eir Y2K Friday
“ HANDS ON” training session
or for o ne-on-one counseling
by ca llin g 503 /3 2 6 -3 4 4 1 .
Experienced employees are carefully screened
& unconditionally guaranteed.
■ No surplus labor
■ No interviewing
■ No insurance costs
■ No tax records
Simply sign the temporary employee's
weekly time card. You will receive an
itemized invoice, that's it! We give you
the individualized attention you deserve.
Call, to start saving
(503) 284-7930
1130 ME Alberta Street
Portland, Oregon 97211
FAX: (5 0 3 ) 2 8 4 -7 9 7 7
h ttp ://w w w .s b ro o k s@ sb ro o ks.co m
E-m all: sbrooks@ sbrooks.com
I
Environmental Services,
1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Room 1000
Portland, Oregon 97204
The City o f Portland is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
Saluting Minority Enterprise
Development
9 Soon to be
Where Temporary Staffing
leads to Permanent Satisfaction
I
The City Of Portland's
Bureau of Environmental Services
and Bureau of Water Works
Support
Minority Business Enterprises.
0 NO W TAKING APPLICATIONS 1!
Now available: 1,2, 3 Bedroom Houses
And Apartments
Income Restrictions Aplly
Maximum Annual Income Ranges From
29,350 for one poerson to 55,350 for eight people
Apply Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00PM
PCRI
4829 NE MLK Blvd./Wygant
Portland, Oregon 97211
(503) 288-2933
Other Properties Soon To Be Available
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
I
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