NEWS - UPDATE

EDITORIAL The Centre for information Technology and Development (CITAD) wishes to respond to you advert calling me memorandum on the A NATIONAL AUDIT OF SKILL AND COMPETENCIES IN THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY and submits this calling memorandum. he emerging Information society has brought its revolution in the society. One of the basic characteristics of this revolution is that it is producing the knowledge based society, where knowledge, is the most factor of production. The country has respond to this challenges. Already we have sectoral shortages of some critical skills while experiencing a huge unemployment in the country. Nigerian cannot plan to meet shortage and the challenge of the information age without a National Data Base and Skills and competencies. This is we hope is what the National Audit of Skill and Competencies in the Nigerian Economy will achieve. The information revolution, which is also characterized by a deep penetration and application of information system, has also provided society with the tools for rapid collection and collation, processing storage and retrieval of information. It also facilitate easier transmission and sharing of such information and data. This means that it is now easier to build up a national data base of Audit of Skills and Competencies in the Nigerian Economy. Part of the crises of the Nigerian Economy on the National Bases, we do not know what is available, where and at what quantity. It is those very urgent for such a national data base be started. No country can hope to make progress adequate and reliable data on which to base plans and execution. Information and Communication (ICT) have not only become measure engine of development and economic growth but has also alter the education landscape so that information technology (IT) or computer literacy is today a necessary component of the minimum education that every one need in order to live a meaningful, productive and socially fulfilling live. Yet, IT education is still to be fully mistreamed in the education curriculum in the country. Many graduates come out of the universities or collages without the requite IT skills required today’s work environment. In the country today, we do not have reliable data as to which institution/schools are producing what, which products of what institution/school have IT skills, what is the national capacity for the production of IT skilled manpower, etc. Even baseline statistics as to national school intake and graduation list of institution is nit readily available in the form that it is ready for sharing at the wider level CITAD welcome this new initiatives put up jointly by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Nigerian Employers Consultative Associations (NECA) and wish it to succeed NATIONAL NEWS Diamond Development Initiatives Marks Two Years Programming in Northern Nigeria. Kano, Nigeria. November 1, 2004 Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI) a famous not – for profit organization based in Kano is marking two years of programming in Nigeria. DDI is the implement partner of the African Development Foundation (ADF), a Government Agency established by the United State Congress in 1980. ADF and DDI entered into partnership for the promotion of Community Level Development. Under the partnership, DDI provide technical assistance and advise to ADF guarantees in Nigeria in such as developing proposal for founding, designing business planning, providing technical assistance and the training for approved project, monitoring project implementation while also providing remediation sports, and evaluating projects success in meeting development objectives. Diamond Development Initiatives is committed to the concept that development project are most likely to succeed when there is active involvement and commitment of those people who will be affected by, and have a vast interest in the activity to be pursued. Project should therefore be initiated by, reflect the priorities of, and present the ideas put forward by members of an implementing groups. Such projects are the result of a self directed effort based on share vision of, and commitment to, solving a problem that affect them. Diamond Development Initiatives acknowledge the right of groups and communities to control their lives including the decision over what and how development activities should be pursued. DDI also strives to ensure that development projects have a clear evidence that they have been initiated by an organization or group that has brought based participation of its members in the decision making process. All members of the group will then see themselves as the owners of the projects, with vested interest in, and commitment to undertake the task require for the project to be successful. DDI currently support 19 projects across Nigeria, including 4 pilot housing projects in Jigawa State, 13 micro finance projects that assist primarily women in obtaining financing for small business development, and HIV/AIDS projects in Ogun State and a life skills training and HIV/AIDS prevention pilot project for secondary schools’ students in Plateau State. The Director, Mr. Adamu Garba gave four reasons for the success of the organization: “First and foremost, the founders of DDI had a very clear vision and for the onset we have been determined to remind focused in our areas of expertise. Second, we have a strong and reliable partner (ADF) that is always willing to support us by building our capacity. Third, the board members of DDI are selfless and defendable, providing policy direction and monitoring the progress of the organization. And finally, we have a team of committed and hardworking staff whose knowledge and experience are a cutting edge that can hardly found in Northern Nigeria. Communique issued at a Legislative Roundtable on Oil Revenue Management in Niger The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) in collaboration with the Ondo State House of Assembly (OSHA), with support of Heinrich Boell Foundation (HBF) Nigeria, organized a one-day roundtable on the Management of Oil Revenue in the Niger-Delta on Thursday November 25, 2004 at the Ondo State House of Assembly Complex Akure. The Meeting focused on the Ondo State Law on the management of 13% Oil Derivation Revenue, which established the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), and how this model can be shared among other Niger-Delta States. Participants were drawn from the Ondo and Edo State House of Assembly, Civil Society Organizations, Ondo State Governors Office, Media, Youth and Academic Organizations. Also in attendance were the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, the Executive Chairman of OSOPADEC, Chief Ibukun Omotehinse, represented by Mr. Ayo Igbasonmi. The roundtable observed that there is need for better management of the 13% derivation revenue flowing to the Niger-Delta States. Participants commended the efforts of the Ondo State Government and the Ondo State Hose of Assembly in the creation of OSOPADEC. Participants noted that the Ondo State model could be replicated in other Niger-Delta States. Recommendations: Participants at the meeting recommended as follows: Communiqué That the states in Niger-Delta Region should ensure good governance and transparency in Oil Revenue Management. That delegates commend Ondo State Government for the creation of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas development Commission (OSOPADEC) by the OSOPADEC Law, 2003. See under paragraph 2 That all the states in the Niger-Delta Region should use OSOPADEC Law, 2003 as a model to enact their own Laws to govern the management of the 13% derivation oil money from the Federation Account. That the Nigerian Federation should diversify her revenue base and reduce her over dependence on oil revenue by harnessing other national resources. That the people are important stakeholders in the development process and should be actively engaged in the decision making process. That the oil producing states should effectively and transparently manage the 13% derivation fund and the Federal Government should increase the derivation. Percentage to 50% as in the 1960 and 1963 constitution to enable oil-producing states have more money for development. That ANEEJ should continue the current effort of informing and raising awareness on the issue of transparency in oil revenue management in the Niger-Delta Region. That State Governments in the Niger-Delta Region should publish what they receive as oil revenue, how they spend them and the project on which they spend them. That State House of Assembly in the Niger-Delta Region should continue to play their constitutional oversight roles to monitor the management of oil revenue. That Oil Companies should compliment the Federal and State Governments to develop the Niger-Delta Region to ensure peace and tranquility. That oil companies must have offices in their operational states. That section 5 (vi) of OSOPADEC Law, 2003 that compromised the independence of OSOPADEC and Section 11 (vii), 19 should be amended to give the House of Assembly the oversight role. EVENTS 1. Sino – Nigeria Information Technology Conference Organizers: NITDA and Chinese Ministry of Science Date: 5 – 9, December 2004 Venue: Shanghai, China For more information, contact 2. The African VoIP Forum Organizers: Global VSAT forum and AITEC Date: 14 – 15, December 2004 Venue: Hilton Hotel, Nirobi Kenya For more information visit www.aitecafrica.com or contact seanm@aitecafrica.com 3. National Conference on Women in E-Governance (WIT 2004) Organizers: Annamalai University and Anitra Trust Chennai Date: 20 21, December 2004 Venue: Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, India For more information, contact ausuriyya@rediffmail.com or ausiriya@hotmail.com 4. International Conference on Information Technology (ICIT 2004) Organizers: International Conference on Information Technology Society Date: 17 – 19, December 2004 Venue: Istanbul Turkey For more information visit www.ijit.org/samplepaper.doc 5. World Social Forum Organizers: World Social Forum Organizing Committee Date: 26 – 31, January 2005 Venue: Porto Alegre, Brasil For more information, visit www.worldsocialforum.org 6. Six Annual Global Development Conference Organizers: Global Development Network (GDN) Date: 24 – 26, January 2005 Venue: Dakar, Senegal For more information, visit www.gndnet.org 7. Using ICT to enhance the capacity and Effectiveness of Trade Union Organizers: TEPEX and CITAD Date: 26 – 28, January 2005 Venue: Arewa House Kaduna Nigeria For more information, contact itepex@hotmail.com or info@itepex.com 8. Third ICT for governance conference Organizers: Techgov and Ministry of Communication, Ghana Date: 27 28, January 2005 Venue: Accra International Conference Center, Accra, Ghana For information, visit www.techgov.gh 8. The 4th African Internet Summit and Exhibition (Afrinet 2005) Organizers: Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) Date: 22 – 24, January 2005 Venue: Sheraton Hotel and Towers Abuja, Nigeria For information contact afrinet2k4@ncc.gov.ng or cpr@ncc.gov.ng 9. Newcom Africa 2005 Organizers: Global VSAT Forum and AITEC Africa Date: 15 – 17, March, 2005 Venue: Chelsea Village, London For more information, contact seanm@aitecafrica.com or pauls@aitecafrica.com 10. Global Education Research Conference Organizers: Education Research Network Date: 31st March – 2nd April, 2005 Venue: Prague, Czech Republic For more information, contact educationresearch@thedialogue.org 11. Eyes on International Collaboration: Promoting health from Campus to Lab to field Organizers: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Date: 2 – 3, April 2005 Venue: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA For more information, visit www.uniteforsight.org/2005 conference 12. Enhancing Human Resource Development through ICT Organizers: IFIP Date: 25 – 28, May 2005 Venue: Abuja Nigeria For more information, contact aobada@gwu.edu CITAD’S NEWS Visit by Students of FMGGSS On Monday, 29, the students of Fatima Mohammed Government Girls Secondary School (FMGGSS) paid a visit to the Training Centre of CITAD. Companied by their Science Teacher, Mallam Ishaku Garba, the students said they were at the centre as part of their effort to boost their IT awareness. They said they were preparing for the Inter Secondary School IT Quiz that CITAD was organizing. The students were received by Programme Officer (Training), Nura Rabiu who took them round the training centre as well as the Computer Refurbishing Workshop. Career Talk In continuation of its career talk programme, CITAD conducted three rounds of the talks tin November. The talks were conducted at Government Secondary School, Maikwatashi, Nasaarawa Local Government on Tuesday, 13th November, Government Secondary School Arabic (Boys), Kawaji on Tuesday, 27th November and Government Secondary School Sharada in Gwale Local Government on Tuesday 30th November. The talks were conduced by Mallam Nura Rabiu, Abubakar Idris and Malama Aisha Ahmed. Kano ICT Awareness Week As part of the continuing efforts to raise awareness about Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the state, the Office of the Special Adviser to The Executive Governor of Kano State, on Education and Information Technology, the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) and Volunteers in Information Technology Education (NYSC) are organizing the First Kano ICT Awareness week from the 6th to 11th December 2004, at the Conference Hall of Murtala Mohammad Library Complex. Activities planned for the week include a series of lectures, Internet fair, Technology Exhibitions and Inter- Secondary Schools IT Quiz Competitions, Schools ICT Exhibition among others. The objective of the week is to sensitize all stakeholders, including government officials, business community and the general public on the importance of ICTs and how they can empower themselves using ICTs. The week long programme will commence with an Opening Ceremony on Monday 6th December 2004 at the Murtala Mohammed Library Complex by 9.30. The Executive Governor of the State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau will be the Guest of Honour while His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano is Royal Father of the Day. The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdullkarim Hassan will chair the occasion. The Governor will also on that day flag off both the Internet Fair and ICT exhibition. Members of the public are cordially invited to utilize the opportunity offered by the free Internet browsing as well as the free training on Internet utilization at the venue. Call for Proposal: Grants for Developing Country Researchers Studying Poverty The Poverty and Economic Policy (PEP) Research Network provides support to developing country researcher working to reduce poverty. PEP is composed of three tightly linked constituent networks. The first , Community-Based Monitoring Systems (MCMS), the second, Poverty Monitoring, Measurement and Analysis (PMMA), the third, Modeling and Policy Impact Analysis (MPIA). This call for proposals concerns the PMMA and MPIA networks and targets researchers residing in developing countries. The PMMA network currently focuses mainly on multi-dimensional poverty analysis, public spending and intra-household allocation. The poverty impact of growth, public spending and agricultural policies are priority themes for the MPIA network. For further information contact, the Co-Director, John Cockburn (exec.dir@aerafrica,org) or visit the website www.pep-net.org. Scholarships for Research on Globalization, Violent Conflict and Peace Building The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has call for proposal for its research programme on Globalization, Violent Conflict and Peace Building. The IDRC competition will support research on the various conflicts and their impacts on globalization. Up to two grants of a maximum of CAD $400,000 will be awarded. Closing date for submission of application is 17th December 2004. For further details see www.gdnet.org Yale World Fellows Programme The Yale World Fellows Program is looking for non-US citizens from a range of fields and disciplines, business, government, media, military and non-governmental organizations, who although at an early mid-career stage have made substantial accomplishments to their names, are on clear trajectory of continued success, and would benefit from an intense 17-week leadership programme at Yale University. For a full description of the programme, visit www.yale.edu/worldfellows or email world.fellows@yale.edu. Dateline for nomination is 31st December. Global Competition Launched for the Second Development Gateway Award $100,000 Award to Recognize Information Technology’s Role in Development Washington, DC, November 29, 2004 -- The Development Gateway Foundation is seeking nominations for the second Development Gateway Award. The $100,000 award will recognize outstanding achievement in using information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve people's lives in developing countries. ICT has become an increasingly important tool for development. The field is young, however, and the promise of using ICT has yet to be realized in much of the developing world. In launching the 2005 competition, the Development Gateway aims to help advance the use of ICT for development by recognizing leaders and innovative initiatives in the field. The 2004 award, then called the Petersberg Prize, was given to Grameen Bank-Village Phone, through which women entrepreneurs can start a business providing wireless payphone service in rural areas of Bangladesh. Grameen was chosen from over 200 nominations for its significant impact in creating a new class of women entrepreneurs who have raised themselves from poverty while serving their communities. An independent foundation launched by the World Bank, the Development Gateway operates a global web portal of development information, and it supports similar information service enterprises around the world to advance development locally. Nominees’ stories will be shared on these portals, to advance understanding of their work and of ICT’s role in development. An international panel of independent jurors will review and select the finalists and winner, who will be announced by June. For information, rules, and to access the online nomination forms, please go to www.developmentgateway.org/award. The deadline for submission is February 28, 2005. Researcher: Free and open source software innovation in Africa Applications for the above post with the University of the Western Cape, starting in December 2004 or January 2005, are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons. The candidate will be qualified in a social science discipline to research organizational principles and practices for supporting Free Software (open source) development in the context of the AVOIR project. The AVOIR (African Virtual Open Initiatives and Resources) project is a collaborative initiative among several universities in South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique, with the project management and research components based at UWC. You will be based at UWC in Cape Town, but will be required to make short trips to the other institutions from time to time. You will be employed within the Free Software Innovation Unit of Information and Communication Services. Core functions The successful candidate will research and improve practices within the AVOIR project, conduct research within a knowledge ecology framework using the artefacts produced within the project, including source code, email discussion lists, etc. You may also conduct research on how the AVOIR software is applied in education using data gathered within the software itself. You should be familiar with social network analysis, computer mediated discourse analysis and related techniques, as well as a broad basis of techniques used in social science research. Depending on the outcome of funding, you will also supervise a part-time researcher conducting a study as part of a worldwide research initiative on Free and Open Source Software. Qualifications The qualifications are a Doctoral degree (a Masters degree will be considered if the candidate has sufficient experience) in a relevant discipline, a minimum 2 years research experience with conference papers and at least three academic publications in accredited journals. Application To apply, please email a covering letter, your CV and the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of at least 3 contactable referees, in assured confidence to Denise Loubser via email at dloubser@uwc.ac.za. Please note that paper applications will not be accepted. Closing date: November 22, 2004. Please CC applications to dkeats@uwc.ac.za as December is a time when a lot of support staff take summer holidays. In line with the University's commitment to diversifying the workforce, applications from designated groups will be given priority consideration. The University reserves the right not to make appointments. DOCUMENT Nigeria : Silicon Valley Transplant By Femi Oyesanya Yeyerolli1@aol.com Sunday, November 21, 2004 A recent Nigerian Newspaper article cited the Nigerian Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai, as saying that the Nigerian Government has given the approval for the building of a Technology Village . Nigeria will be building its own Silicon Valley on a 650 hectare property, located in a suburb of the Federal Capital city, Abuja . The Newspaper article quoted El-Rufai as saying, “we want to create a city of knowledge in Abuja . And on the way to the airport, we have got about 650 hectares of land we have reserved out of the Abuja master-plan. What we hope to do with the technology village, which is going to cost us between $300 to $400 million is to have the highest quality infrastructure attracting the best brains in information and bio-technology, pharmaceutical and Information Technology (IT) research to work in Abuja ” [1] The decision to build a Technology Village must be the Federal Nigerian Government solution to addressing gaps that exist in Technology growth. Several studies have noted that Nigeria lags behind in most Technology development. A formal study conducted in 2003, by the Economist Intelligence Unit and IBM, concluded that “E-business in Nigeria faces serious obstacles: inadequate telecoms infrastructure, unreliable power supply and authorities who, by and large, lack the means to push e-business forward” [2] In short, there are two primary reason for Technology Development failures in Nigeria; A) Lack of Technology Development supporting Infrastructure, such as Power Supply, Water Supply, Fiber Optics Telecommunications Network, Transportation, etc. B) Lack of appropriate Technology Development and Technology Growth Acceleration Policies. The proposed Nigerian Silicon Valley sounds impressive at first analysis, given the problem with basic Infrastructure; one can argue that a Technology Village can isolate itself from some of the infrastructural problems. For example, the Village could have its own Independent Power Plant, Water, supply, and Transportation System. A Nigerian Silicon Valley could be an artificial Technology Oasis. This Technology Oasis would be home to Nigeria ’s Technology Development, Technology Research, and Technology Service Industries. The Oasis would serve as the nerve center for Nigeria ’s Technology research and innovation. Venture Capital entrepreneurs would pour Investment Capital into the Oasis, product development would create jobs, and Nigeria would witness a Technology growth revolution. The above wishful thinking, has to be the line of thoughts that went into the decision making process, that now has the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory . Wanting to dish out 650 hectares and spend $400 Million on a venture that has key. Success factors of business clusters like Silicon Valley , California , missing. Silicon Valley is not just hectares of Land. “ Silicon Valley is a special habitat for innovation and entrepreneurship. It consists of dense, flexible networks and relationships among entrepreneurs, investors, university researchers, consultants, skilled employees… connecting people to ideas.”[3] Abuja and its surrounding satellite towns, do not yet have the supporting underlying Technology readiness capacity, needed to transplant a Silicon Valley clone. The first missing element of success, which arguably might be the most important, is that Abuja does not have a major research oriented University. Outside of governmental affiliated research bodies, such as ; National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), and a few others, Abuja lacks the Research and Development composition that we see often around California’s Silicon Valley. For example, Abuja University was founded only in 1988, and has not yet matured into a research oriented academic institution. On the other hand, Silicon Valley , California , is the home of University of California , San Francisco , Stanford, and the University of California , Berkeley . According to an article written by Andrew Issacs, Executive Director, Management of Technology Program, University of California, Berkeley, “In Silicon Valley, there were many contributing factors: A) gradual development of the Venture Capital industry, B) gradual improvement in local universities, C) gradual influx of technically strong labor , D) gradual growth in government investment in R&D. These factors reinforce each other, over time making it more difficult for it to happen anywhere else” [4]. It is also shocking, that the recently released, National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) did not have a provision for building a Technology Village . Understandable, the national economic plan, can be revised to include “EL-Rufai’s Valley”, it is still rather shocking that the national Economic planning process missed a whole Village. Furthermore, $400 Million capital investment expenditure allocated to the building of a Technology Village , might be the single most expensive Technology project in the Country, while the impact on other technology projects is yet to be determined, one can begin to speculate, that Technology investments in other areas such as Technology Education, will witness cutbacks. Creating a “city of knowledge's not a totally artificial process, if one could uproot Silicon Valley , its people and its business culture and plant it on the 650 hectares of Land in the suburb of Abuja , it might not be a successful endeavor. There are Nigerian specific environmental factors, which could make survivability of the Valley in Nigeria unsustainable. With problems such as erratic supply of electricity, poor water supply, inadequate Telecommunications access, Abuja is just not high-technology friendly. Another critical Silicon Valley success factor that is missing in Abuja , is that of a skilled labor force that would be required to provide supporting services for the High-Technology Industry. The issue here is not that Nigeria does not have a highly educated work force, it does. The problem is that a majority of the technically educated Nigerians have never spent a day of gainful employment in their respective area of expertise. Essentially, the work force will have to be re-trained, because many Nigerians educated in Technical disciplines are becoming obsolete, as they are yet to apply their education to practical hands-on work experience. For Example, you have Electrical Engineers and Computer Programmers that have graduated many years ago, but are yet to do a days work in their potential area of expertise. Unemployment and under employment are just too rampant. Another lacking success factor missing in Abuja , is that of Venture Capital. Simply put, Venture Capital is “a fund raising technique for companies who are willing to exchange equity in the company in return for money to grow or expand the business.” [5] Again, the type of Venture Capital Funding that we see in California ’s Silicon Valley does not yet exist in Nigeria . At the very best, Nigerian Capital Markets are still at infancy stages. Then also, there is the issue of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The planning process of building Nigeria ’s Technology process, is now championed by representatives of the office of the Minister of the Federal Territory , and NITDA. . To his credit, the Office of the Minister Of the Federal Capital, is know for phenomenal success in matters relating to managing the Federal Capital. NITDA on the other hand, is a Nigerian disappointment. A none-performing entity. Furthermore, NITDA does not have the qualified human resource that will be required to supplement the planning and Implementation of a $400 Million project. NITDA employees only sixteen full time workers, and has failed woefully in implementing the National Information Technology Policy. It is almost reckless, that an Agency that is now struggling with taking over the technical management of the .ng domain will be at the forefront of building a whole Technology Village . NITDA that is yet to produce a Nigerian Keyboard, will spearhead the cloning Nigeria ’s Silicon Valley . What Nigeria needs to do, rather than expend resources on yet another White Elephant project, is to place more emphasis on basics. Electricity, Water, Transportation, and Science Education, all need to be at acceptable standards before we begin to think of building Technology Villages. CITAD: the Organization CITAD was established to serve as both a research and think tank and an action oriented centre for both the study and the use of ICTs for development purposes. Its overall aim is to provide guidelines informed by both research and practice on how ICTs could be properly deployed in the efforts to promote sustainable development. Its specific objectives include: 1. Raise awareness about the use of ICTs in development 2. Campaign for an appropriate national policy on ICTs 3. Conduct research on ICTs in development 4. Propagate best practices in ICT applications in development 5. Use ICTs as tools for the promotion of democracy and good governance 6. Run community computer resource centres for people to have access to computing facilities 7. Conduct advocacy on the need to integrate ICT skills in the country's education systems 8. Monitor the application of ICTs in the society 9. Provide training to disadvantaged groups such as women, children and other marginal groups on ICTs. In pursuing its aim and objectives, the organization conducts its activities through education, campaign and publicity, advocacy, and research. It has five thematic units, namely, Computer Literacy Project (offers free training to targeted groups), Community Access Network (provides information to community), Schoolnet Project, IT Research and Adaptation Project (IT-TRAP) and Trade in ICTs Monitor. Contact Address: Flat 3, First Floor, Zumunchi Stores Building, BUK Road, P. O. Box 10210, Kano, Nigeria. You can send contribution or reaction to any item published in this newsletter to either citad@citad.kabissa.org or citad2@topica.com. To subscribe, send a blank message to citad2-subscribe@topica.com. For more information on the organization, visit our website at www.citad.interconnection.org.