NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Simple self-sufficiency is the key to successful Y2K transition, particularly now that the millennium is less than six months away, a Nashville, Tenn., grassroots group advises.

Relying on federal, state and local governments, which may or may not be prepared, is not an option, said Andy van Roon, a member of the community group PREP 2000, which stands for Promoting Responsible Emergency Preparedness.

'It's too late in the Y2K curve to do anything at this point but organize clear, simple, effective plans of action to distribute practical information to the American public about how to prepare for whatever may occur,' said van Roon, a filmmaker who has produced a documentary, 'The Y2K Family Survival Guide,' hosted by Leonard Nimoy. 'I think the bottom line is that we, the people, need to take it to the rest of the people regarding Y2K awareness and preparation.'

The Y2K phenomenon is essentially an electronic glitch -- the result of software written to recognize years in only two digits. So on Jan. 1, 2000, some software will read it as 1/1/00, which the computer may interpret as 1900. If software isn't reprogrammed correctly, some computer systems may crash, possibly affecting utilities, retailers, financial institutions and government entities.

PREP 2000's plan of action is a Sept. 9 all-day town meeting in Nashville.

'The basic idea is to invite a couple hundred civic leaders, mayors from surrounding towns, groups like the Sertoma Club, church leaders and anyone who has a constituency,' said van Roon.

A simple Y2K Prep Sheet, which outlines steps on preparing for millennium glitches, will be distributed at of the town meeting.

'A lot of it is similar to what the Red Cross is putting out, like collecting food, water, alternate sources of heat and light and how to handle sanitation,' said Nell Levin, who heads up PREP 2000.

Leaders attending the town meeting will be given the prep sheets and encouraged to copy them, hold their own meetings for their respective constituencies and pass the sheets out en masse, van Roon said.

'It's kind of a spiraling network,' Levin said.

'This model could easily work around the country over the next several months,' van Roon said. 'We need to take the information directly to the people all across this country via a simple strategy to distribute easy-to-understand Y2K prep material that can be replicated and redisbursed via individuals, families and community groups.'