PMINYC's September 11th Memorial will serve as a permanent tribute to those taken from us as a result of the horrific events which took place in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001. To those who have lost someone in this tragedy, please accept our deepest condolences. PMINYC will continue to use our logo, which prominently displays the Twin Towers standing proudly, in memory of, and in tribute to, those who perished on that awful day.
In response to this tragedy, PMINYC formed the September 11th Committee whose purpose was to provide PMINYC a single source of focus and coordination for all actions associated with the events of September 11, 2001, in order to effectively serve our community needs. Along with the efforts of the committee, PMINYC made two contributions of $1,500 each to the Twin Towers Fund to assist the courageous victims of our uniformed services and their families, and to the WTC School Relief Fund to assist the school children and schools affected by the World Trade Center tragedy.
PMINYC mourns the loss of member James E. Potorti, Assistant Vice President for Technology and Information Services at Marsh & McLennan. Jim was a member of the New York City chapter, Information Systems SIG and College of Performance Management. An article appeared in the December issue of PMI Today announcing his loss. Nikki Stern, his wife of 11 years, said that in talking with his co-workers, she found that Jim exhibited endless patience, a mastery of details, a strong desire to do a job well and see it through, and an ability to facilitate the process - traits that embody Project Management. Hopefully these traits will be used by many to guide their professional and personal lives, and may that serve as a fitting legacy.
PMINYC also mourns the loss of member Nina Patrice Bell, PMP, (she provided the nickname "NiPaBe" on her PMI membership form, understood by her friends and family to be part of her tag line !love!laugh!play! - nipabe). An article appeared in the May 2002 issue of PMI Todayannouncing her loss. Nina, a fighter pilot's daughter, was born in the Netherlands, the first stop in a nomadic Air Force childhood. She was a University of Colorado graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, who had just begun a new career as a Senior Project Manager for Technology and Information Services at Marsh & McLennan, tragically, the week before September 11th. Nina had previously worked a number of years for the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), and was also a member of Mensa, having scored in the top 2% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. The youngest child of Pat and Lowell Bell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Nina was an avid athlete and enjoyed working out, playing volleyball and running. She loved her Yorkshire terrier, Mere-Mere dearly. Nina was thrilled with her new position at Marsh, commenting to a friend that she was "on top of the world" and had never been happier. Through the efforts of her parents, the Nina P. Bell Scholarship Fund, managed by the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, has been established. Described as "confident, smart, positive and beautiful", Nina and her zest for life, happiness, energy and enthusiasm, will hopefully serve as an example to us all.
Plaques commemorating PMINYC's permanent web memorial were presented to the families of Nina Bell and James Potorti on September 11, 2002, on behalf of the membership of PMINYC.
Behind the staggering number of deaths are the individuals, each of whom left behind family, friends and coworkers who feel the national tragedy on a personal level. The heart of the viewing wall exhibit at the WTC site is a commemorative memorial roster
of the names of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the terrorist bombing on February 26, 1993.
CNN.com has established a Memorial web site as an evolving record of those who died, and a place for readers, to build a living memorial for them. Also, one of the most meaningful features to appear in The New York Times and on NYTimes.com is Portraits of Grief. This feature first began running on September 15 and presented brief profiles of World Trade Center victims. VOICES OF SEPTEMBER 11th was founded in October 2001 to provide resources, support and information to all those affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. VOICES is a non-profit organization led by Founding Director and President, Mary Fetchet, a clinical social worker who lost her son Brad in the attacks. The organization provides a wide-range of community-based services, programs and special events including support groups, lectures and forums. VOICES acts as a clearinghouse by distributing 9/11 related information through the VOICES website, newsletters, and mailings.
Following the World Trade Center tragedy, and to the unprecedented flood of images that have resulted from it, a unique exhibition was displayed in a store front in downtown Manhattan and its website. "Here is New York" is a photographic exhibition tailored to the nature of the event, and to the response it has elicited. The exhibition is subtitled "A Democracy of Photographs" because anyone and everyone who has taken pictures relating to the tragedy was invited to submit their images to the gallery, where they were digitally scanned, printed and displayed on the walls alongside the work of top photojournalists and other professional photographers. It is important to remember this day as we go forward and the emotions that these pictures inspire truly reminds us how fragile and strong we really are.
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, an independent, bipartisan commission was chartered to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including preparedness for and the immediate response to the attacks. The Commission was also mandated to provide recommendations designed to guard against future attacks. On July 22, 2004 the Commission released its public report, which is available for download.
May those lost find peace in eternal rest, and may those who are left behind, find a way to draw strength for the future, from the memories of them and all the wonderful days which came before 9/11/2001.
Tribute in Light -- Image © Charles Nesbit/The Municipal Art Society
