Es importante resaltar que para cuando estos esfuerzos se realizaron la IAMCP apenas empezaba a trabajar con iniciativas a favor de la comunidad, por lo que se espera que para esta ocasión se pueda hacer algo con la participación de todos.

Good evening Pam, Lisa, and Akhtar,

As you are aware, the devastation in Mexico this past weekend has left the area around Tabasco in utter chaos. There are more than 1,000,000 people without homes; the complete city is underwater.  This destruction is said to be on scale with Katrina.

We felt the need to communicate with you to get your guidance on how to best coordinate efforts to alleviate some of the misery that has been inflicted on this area.  More to the point, we feel that partners the world over should have the opportunity to offer whatever assistance they can, technologically or otherwise.

As of Monday Ulises Nahle, a member of my IAMCP Global Community and Corporate Citizenship, has reached out to Ruben Illoldi, responsible for Community Affairs, Microsoft Mexico, to coordinate any immediate technology needs.  It is also known that in the area of “human” needs, the Red Cross has already stepped in to start the relief efforts. But again, where and how do partners, the world over, fit in?

This leads me back to the discussion we had that I believe validates the need to look at using the I’M program as a launching point, as we discussed during my recent visit to your offices, to target the Microsoft partner community globally to participate in giving back to the community.  As you know IAMCP offers support, on several levels, as part of our community pillar (as outlined in our PACE brochure). We can and will advise our members worldwide via our site (especially when the new one gets under development) and email, however the need to reach all partners is the ultimate goal, and in turn will significantly increase I’M participation.

The I’M initiative would achieve two important goals. It would kick start the I’M program participation with ALL partners worldwide (with the next step to develop more P2P community events in tandem with Microsoft and IAMCP: effectively this should create positive results towards Lisa and Pam’s goals for 2007/2008 ) and would have the immediate benefit of increasing funding to the Red Cross, with this unfortunate event as a good example of why and how their participation can make a difference.  It raises partner awareness as to Microsoft’s programs, something I think needs to be emphasized as a way of encouraging your partner community to follow your lead.  I personally believe your good works deserves the acknowledgement of and the participation of all your partners.  This would open the door to developing a permanent program wherein partners can work with their local Microsoft offices on events/programs that create more solid Microsoft to partner relationships and increase P2P relationship development. Rolling up ones sleeves to help out the community has a way of making for interesting relationships that otherwise might not happen.  I have seen this firsthand.  

We recognize that the program focuses right now on charitable organizations in the U.S only and Lisa was quick to recognize that to be effective this would have to be modified to include organizations that would be recognized as addressing needs in partners areas in which they reside as much as possible.   As to developing this program so that it reaches all partners globally, IAMCP, which you all know has chapters established for the most part the world over, can help the I’M team establish which charities each partner chapter would like to see for their particular country.  Our members are already active in many organizations, so this task can ensure the I’M team can focus on the site development.    

Therefore we respectfully suggest the following Action Items:

·         The opportunity to escalate consideration of the I’M Program as discussed above

·         As Pam had mentioned, the creation of a v-team to coordinate the development of this Microsoft/IAMCP P2P initiative.

·         With Lisa look at how we can work with country chapters of Microsoft to utilize their communiqués in order to address particular disasters such as Katrina and Mexico.

Per suggested we include Mr. Turner as he is well aware of our past efforts and we sincerely appreciate Microsot’s participation to assist us in our community efforts, such as the $25, 000 award IAMCP received for Katrina and hope we can work towards a similar situation with funding in this trying time for our IAMCP chapter in Mexico.

Thank you for your consideration and assistance in this urgent matter,

Elisabeth Vanderveldt –Conamex International

IAMCP International – International Chair Community and Corporate Citizenship