<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">While I understand and share some of
Jim's concerns, I need to point out the stated purpose of the listserve,
beautifully written by me some years ago:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Lucida Grande">The purpose of the group is twofold.
First, it is to exchange ideas on the reduction of earthquake hazards through
the discussion of earth science, engineering, emergency management, and
planning topics. Now that most people involved in these topics have access
to e-mail, we feel that the group can provide a simple and effective means
to disseminate ideas to a broad range of people, including those outside
of our own fields.<br>
<br>
The second purpose of the group is to provide a means of distributing news
and announcements of meetings, workshops, requests for proposals, etc.
We know from first-hand experience that it is often impossible to remember
everyone who ought to be informed of such information. We hope that this
mailing list will allow most interested parties to get the information
they need. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I know that some people have been annoyed
by the quantity of e-mails, but it is not that hard to delete them while
the debate is ongoing. Some of the participants in the debate have
been the usual suspects on both sides, but others have not participated
in the past. Although I am no longer the moderator in chief of this
list, I would ask that anyone who submits or responds be sure that what
you are saying is important for the whole list to know or should just go
to a select group of your colleagues. Also, try to not send large
attachments. Delete as much of the "History" part of your
message as possible. Finally, just send the email to ceus-earthquake-hazards@geohazards.usgs.gov;
if you reply as well to the originator, he or she will get multiple copies.
Thanks!</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Buddy Schweig</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">__________________________________________________________________<br>
Eugene Schweig<br>
Chief Scientist<br>
Earth Surface Processes Team<br>
U.S. Geological Survey<br>
___________________________________________________________________<br>
</font>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>"Jim Wilkinson"
<jwilkinson@cusec.org></b> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: ceus-earthquake-hazards-bounces@geohazards.usgs.gov</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">02/15/08 04:36 PM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">"Emitt C Witt" <ecwitt@usgs.gov>,
"Allen Jones" <jonesal@myuw.net></font>
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<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">ceus-earthquake-hazards@geohazards.usgs.gov,
ceus-earthquake-hazards-bounces@geohazards.usgs.gov</font>
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<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Re: [CEUS-earthquake-hazards] reply
to Joe Tomasello; buildings codes and
earthquake hazard</font></table>
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<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">I would like to offer a point
of support to the discussion, while at the same time a word of caution.
</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">The discussion surrounding
the hazard is important and needs to be addressed. From my perspective
these issues are fundamentally research based and as such should be debated
within the research community. This list serve, while sponsored by
USGS and designed to allow such discussion among professionals, it is not
exclusive to the scientific community, meaning any and everyone who wants
to join can, i.e. elected officials, media, emergency management, business
owners, etc., most of which have an interest in the hazard in the central
US but no seismic research/engineering background. This mix can be
unintentionally problematic with discussions like these currently taking
place, because it breaks from what I would consider the proper forum to
be in resolving such an issue and adds to the overall confusion. </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">There is a “time and place
for everything” as the saying goes and I don’t feel this list serve is
the place for this discussion. The topic is to technical and the
end results of the debate, whichever way they may go, need to be decided
off line and within the scientific community. </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Jim Wilkinson</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Executive Director</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Central United States Earthquake
Consortium</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
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