News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 23, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Governor will use the Internet to communicate first international mission with schools

OLYMPIA -- Steve Kolodney, director of the Washington State Department of Information Services (DIS), invited the people of Washington and schools throughout the state to follow Gov. Gary Locke's upcoming international mission to Japan, China and Hong Kong via the Internet. At a press conference today, Kolodney described the technology the state will use to make this communication possible.

Marylou Flynn, the Governor's communications director, demonstrated the new features on the Governor's web site that will showcase the first-hand impressions and digital photographs Locke will send back to Washington as he meets with two of the state's most important trading partners and builds relationships with Washington's Pacific Rim neighbors.

Elementary through high school students in Lacey, Seattle, Mount Vernon, Vancouver, Pasco, Spokane and Yakima interacted with Flynn by videoconference and asked questions about Locke's historic mission. Through links from the Governor's web site, students viewed web pages on the Great Wall of China and took a virtual tour of the Forbidden City. The one-hour statewide press conference began at 1:30 p.m. at DIS' Washington Interactive Technologies videoconference sites and was broadcast via satellite from 1:30 to 2 p.m.

The purpose of Locke's first international mission Oct. 1-12 is to establish personal relationships with leaders of Washington's Pacific Rim neighbors. Locke hopes publishing Internet reports about his trip and providing links to educational sites will foster increased understanding of Asia and provide learning opportunities for Washington students.

DIS will provide the telecommunication services needed to support the Governor's mission and provide public access to his reports from abroad. "Our state is recognized as the national leader in providing access to state government through technologies such as the Internet," said Locke. "This will be the most educational gubernatorial mission in state history."

Links will include the recently launched AskAsia web site. AskAsia is a comprehensive web site offering news, activities for kids, gateways to other Asian-oriented sites and materials for educators.

"As the nation's gateway to the Pacific Rim and the nation's leader in implementing digital technologies," said Kolodney, "it is fitting that Washington will use digital technologies such as the Internet to provide citizens the opportunity to share the Governor's experience."

Click here to go to Governor Locke's website and then choose the "International Mission" link to view information related to mission.

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