518 lines
22 KiB
Plaintext
518 lines
22 KiB
Plaintext
Volume 4, Number 39 12 October 1987
|
||
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|
||
| _ |
|
||
| / \ |
|
||
| /|oo \ |
|
||
| - FidoNews - (_| /_) |
|
||
| _`@/_ \ _ |
|
||
| International | | \ \\ |
|
||
| FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) |
|
||
| Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// |
|
||
| / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / |
|
||
| (________) (_/(_|(____/ |
|
||
| (jm) |
|
||
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|
||
Editor in Chief: Thom Henderson
|
||
Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings
|
||
Contributing Editors: Dave Lovell, Al Arango
|
||
|
||
FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
|
||
Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to
|
||
submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
|
||
standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
|
||
node 1:1/1.
|
||
|
||
Copyright 1987 by the International FidoNet Association. All
|
||
rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for
|
||
noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
|
||
please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Table of Contents
|
||
|
||
1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1
|
||
FidoNews Generator is Offline ............................ 1
|
||
2. COLUMNS .................................................. 2
|
||
3. NOTICES .................................................. 2
|
||
Special Notice ........................................... 2
|
||
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 2
|
||
Latest Software Versions ................................. 3
|
||
4. COMMITTEE REPORTS ........................................ 4
|
||
IFNA Status Report for October, 1987 ..................... 4
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-39 Page 1 12 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
ARTICLES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
Thom Henderson
|
||
FidoNews Editor
|
||
Region 13 Coordinator
|
||
Sysop, SEAboard
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews Generator is Offline
|
||
|
||
|
||
The system that creates FidoNews every week has suffered a
|
||
hardware attack. We are engaged in major surgery to revive it,
|
||
but the prognosis is not good.
|
||
|
||
In other words, my system died and I have been unable to get it
|
||
up and running reliably. Plans made long ago call for my being
|
||
away for the next two weeks, and I have no time left to get it
|
||
fixed before I leave. This unfortunate timing of events means:
|
||
|
||
1) It will be AT LEAST three weeks before I can publish another
|
||
issue of FidoNews.
|
||
|
||
2) The files mentioned in last week's FidoNews as being
|
||
requestable from 107/6 or downloadable from our BBS will
|
||
probably not be available for at least another two weeks.
|
||
|
||
3) Nodes in Region 13 may experience difficulties in getting
|
||
their node list updates in, or in receiving new node lists
|
||
over the next two or three weeks.
|
||
|
||
I will endeavor to get the problems fixed as soon as possible
|
||
upon my return. Until then, you have my apologies in advance for
|
||
whatever inconveniences may occur.
|
||
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
Substitute Editor's note: Rather than publish absolutely nothing
|
||
for a 3-week period, Thom has arranged for one of his underlings
|
||
to pinch-hit with this abbreviated edition.
|
||
|
||
However, we don't know yet what we'll do next week. Maybe it'll
|
||
be "The Best of FIDONEWS."
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-38 Page 2 5 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COLUMNS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
(Editor's Note: There will be no columns published until the
|
||
return of both Thom and his hard drive.)
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
NOTICES
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Many Happy Returns of the Day, Ken!
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Interrupt Stack
|
||
|
||
|
||
16 Oct 1987
|
||
Ken Kaplan's 40th birthday.
|
||
|
||
14 Nov 1987
|
||
The First New England Sysop Conference, to be held at the
|
||
Lederle Graduate Research Center, 16th Floor, University of
|
||
Massachusetts, Amherst. Contact Mort Sternheim at 1:321/109
|
||
for details.
|
||
|
||
7 Dec 1987
|
||
Start of the Digital Equipment Users Society meeting in
|
||
Anaheim, CA. Contact Mark Buda at 1:132/777 for details.
|
||
|
||
24 Aug 1989
|
||
Voyager 2 passes Neptune.
|
||
|
||
|
||
If you have something which you would like to see on this
|
||
calendar, please send a message to FidoNet node 1:1/1.
|
||
|
||
------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-38 Page 3 5 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
Latest Software Versions
|
||
|
||
BBS Systems Node List Other
|
||
& Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version
|
||
|
||
Dutchie 2.70a* EditNL 3.3 ARC 5.21
|
||
Fido 12 MakeNL 1.10 ARCmail 1.1*
|
||
Opus 1.03a Prune 1.40 ConfMail 3.10
|
||
SEAdog 4.10 XlatList 2.84 EchoMail 1.31
|
||
TBBS 2.0M MGM 1.1*
|
||
|
||
* Recently changed
|
||
|
||
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
|
||
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
|
||
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-38 Page 4 5 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
COMMITTEE REPORTS
|
||
=================================================================
|
||
|
||
|
||
Don Daniels, President
|
||
International FidoNet Association
|
||
FidoNet 1:107/210
|
||
|
||
|
||
IFNA Status Report for October 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
This is the first of what should be a monthly status report from
|
||
me to the membership of IFNA. It is my intention to publish
|
||
these reports here in FidoNews the first week of each month from
|
||
now until the end of my term in August. My apologies for this
|
||
report being a week late - this was due to technical difficulties
|
||
experienced with both my machine and the one supporting FidoNews.
|
||
|
||
I have requested that all of the Committee Chairmen provide me
|
||
with Status Reports outlining their Progress for the past month,
|
||
current Problems, and Prognosis for the coming month. My status
|
||
report to you, which will take the same general format, will be
|
||
based on their reporting and on additional material from the
|
||
various officers of the Association.
|
||
|
||
|
||
PROGRESS DURING THIS PERIOD
|
||
|
||
General
|
||
Well, we're underway! We may not have a full head of steam up
|
||
yet, but at least we seem to be moving a bit - and much of it
|
||
is in the same general direction for a change!
|
||
|
||
Administration and Finance
|
||
We still do not have an official Chairperson for this committee
|
||
so Ken Kaplan continues as Acting Chairman. He and Treasurer
|
||
Leonard Mednick have been in contact and intend to meet in St.
|
||
Louis in order to perform a turnover of responsibilities.
|
||
|
||
Board of Directors
|
||
The BoD has formed its own echo and has discussed a variety of
|
||
concerns. To date, however, progress on any one these items
|
||
has been stymied by a lack of structure. One question that
|
||
appears to have been resolved is the question of whether a new
|
||
node in South Africa should be allowed to join FidoNet. The
|
||
consensus appears to be that, as FidoNet is dedicated to the
|
||
free and open exchange of information, it may prove beneficial
|
||
(even in some small way) to admit any node that ascribes to
|
||
those precepts.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-39 Page 5 12 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
By-laws and Rules
|
||
The primary activity of this commmittee this month has just
|
||
been the manning of the committee.
|
||
|
||
Executive Committee
|
||
This committee has formed its own Echo and has begun discussion
|
||
on a variety of topics. No specific decisions have been made
|
||
to this point, however.
|
||
|
||
International Affairs
|
||
This committee has not "met" as of yet, although Henk Wevers
|
||
has provided some assistance to Switzerland which has scheduled
|
||
its first National Sysop Meeting for the first weekend in
|
||
October.
|
||
|
||
Membership Services
|
||
Phil Ardussi sent in a very nice report which I've summarized.
|
||
Committee organization included the formation of several
|
||
sub-committees: FidoCon Site Selection (Jim Cannell), Echolist
|
||
(Gene Coppola), Help Node (David Dodell), New Sysop Help (David
|
||
Bonine), and Membership List (Norm Henke). Several other
|
||
projects are under way including requests for proposals for the
|
||
site of the next FidoNet Conference.
|
||
|
||
Nominations and Elections
|
||
Dave Dodell informs me that he has formed his commmittee but
|
||
they have tabled any action at this time as it is too early to
|
||
gear up for the next elections.
|
||
|
||
Publications
|
||
No detailed report has been received from this committee.
|
||
|
||
Technical Standards
|
||
Ryugen Fisher says that the following sub-committees have been
|
||
formed (or established liaison) and been manned: New Protocols,
|
||
Documentation, Beta Testing, 9600 Modems, FOSSIL.
|
||
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-39 Page 6 12 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
PRESENT PROBLEMS
|
||
|
||
General
|
||
The main problems with which we are presently faced appear to
|
||
be of the start-up variety. For most of us (Techies primarily)
|
||
running an organization is something that does not come
|
||
naturally - particulary when you consider that most of our
|
||
interaction must be performed via electronic mail.
|
||
|
||
To give you just one example of the effect of geography on our
|
||
endeavors, consider the case of the eight-member Executive
|
||
Committee: one each from New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey,
|
||
Virginia, Illinois, Oklahoma, California, and Washington. And
|
||
this group is suppossed to "meet at least quarterly" according
|
||
to the By-laws.
|
||
|
||
"So `meet' electronically!" you reply. Well, it appears that
|
||
its not so simple. Having checked with our lawyers, we find
|
||
that there does not appear to be any state which will legally
|
||
allow for official business to be conducted via an electronic
|
||
medium. It seems that we're victims of being more progressive
|
||
than the legislative process. What we are attempting to do to
|
||
resolve this dilemma is to go ahead and conduct our business
|
||
via electronic mail, but augment our actions either with USMail
|
||
signature cards or by meeting at various times where, in
|
||
person, we can "ratify" the decisions we've made previously.
|
||
|
||
Administration and Finance
|
||
One problem Ken reports is that, with the official IFNA address
|
||
and phone number existing in St. Louis, he is still overwhelmed
|
||
at times with new business. Changing the address every year
|
||
with a new administration, however, does not make sense.
|
||
|
||
Board of Directors
|
||
The large size of this group and its geographical disparity
|
||
makes it very difficult for business to be effectively handled
|
||
in the BoD EchoCon. Another concern is the resignation of Ben
|
||
Baker as Vice President - Technical Coordinator.
|
||
|
||
By-laws and Rules
|
||
Steve indicates that without specific direction from either the
|
||
BoD or Executive Committee, it is difficult for them to proceed
|
||
on fixing some of our organizational problems.
|
||
|
||
Executive Committee
|
||
The fact that there is so much to be done by a few disjointed
|
||
volunteers has really been brought home in this, the front-line
|
||
committee. Additional mechanisms are required to structure the
|
||
work in ways that will allow it to be efficiently handled.
|
||
|
||
International Affairs
|
||
It goes without saying that distance here has a considerably
|
||
detrimental effect on progress. We need to establish a really
|
||
effective way of maintaining a responsive EchoCon before much
|
||
business can be done by this committee as a whole.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-39 Page 7 12 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
Membership Services
|
||
Some of the volunteers have not been contacted yet. They will
|
||
be as the sub-committee work get underway. Phil wonders how to
|
||
get the committee members together in order to "get done in a
|
||
couple of hours what it takes in two months of EchoMail."
|
||
|
||
Nominations and Elections
|
||
The only problem that has cropped up so far is the question of
|
||
a conflict of interest in the case of members of this committee
|
||
who wish to seek office in the next election. Tom Marshall has
|
||
been asked to comment on this.
|
||
|
||
Publications
|
||
Brian Hughes has indicated to me that he may be transferred.
|
||
Such concerns have resulted in essentially no time left over
|
||
for this committee. Brian, although he does not wish to leave
|
||
the committee, may be forced to drop the chaimanship.
|
||
|
||
Technical Standards
|
||
There have been a few problems with various assignments of some
|
||
individuals to the sub-committees as some people either did not
|
||
feel qualified or lacked required background or skills for a
|
||
particular group. It is hoped that most of this has been or
|
||
will be resolved.
|
||
|
||
|
||
PROGNOSIS FOR THE COMING MONTH
|
||
|
||
General
|
||
It is hoped that the use of Richard's Rules of Electronic Order
|
||
may provide the infra-structure that will help several of the
|
||
committees become more efficient through ECHOMAIL. Hopefully,
|
||
our present wheel-spinning trying to get underway will decrease
|
||
and we'll see more things getting done next month.
|
||
|
||
Administration and Finance
|
||
Leonard is planning to make a stop in St. Louis this month to
|
||
take over much of what Ken does in this area.
|
||
|
||
Board of Directors
|
||
If Richard's Rules of Electronic Order appear to work in the
|
||
Executive Committee, they will be applied to this committee as
|
||
well.
|
||
|
||
By-laws and Rules
|
||
Activity in this committee will mostly be tabled until we have
|
||
a chance to see what works and what doesn't.
|
||
|
||
Executive Committee
|
||
It is expected that this committee will be the guinea pigs for
|
||
Richard's Rules of Electronic Order. This, or some other form
|
||
of structure, is the primary requirement to resolve so that the
|
||
rest of the work can be more effectively attacked.
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-39 Page 8 12 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
International Affairs
|
||
No specific plans have been made for this coming month.
|
||
|
||
Membership Services
|
||
|
||
In addition to ongoing sub-committee work, it is expected that
|
||
all proposals for the 1988 FidoNet conference will be received
|
||
during this month.
|
||
|
||
Nominations and Elections
|
||
No activities are planned for the coming month.
|
||
|
||
Publications
|
||
Brian Hughes is to resolve the chairmanship problem this month.
|
||
|
||
Technical Standards
|
||
It is expected that this month will primarily be involved with
|
||
the internal organization and operation of the various sub-
|
||
committees.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-39 Page 9 12 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
__
|
||
The World's First / \
|
||
BBS Network /|oo \
|
||
* FidoNet * (_| /_)
|
||
_`@/_ \ _
|
||
| | \ \\
|
||
| (*) | \ ))
|
||
______ |__U__| / \//
|
||
/ Fido \ _//|| _\ /
|
||
(________) (_/(_|(____/ (jm)
|
||
|
||
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
|
||
|
||
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
|
||
pays an annual specified membership fee. IFNA serves the
|
||
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
|
||
increase worldwide communications. **
|
||
|
||
Name _________________________________ Date ________
|
||
Address ______________________________
|
||
City & State _________________________
|
||
Country_______________________________
|
||
Phone (Voice) ________________________
|
||
|
||
Net/Node Number ______________________
|
||
Board Name____________________________
|
||
Phone (Data) _________________________
|
||
Baud Rate Supported___________________
|
||
Board Restrictions____________________
|
||
Special Interests_____________________
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
Is there some area where you would be
|
||
willing to help out in FidoNet?_______
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
______________________________________
|
||
|
||
Send your membership form and a check or money order for $25 to:
|
||
|
||
International FidoNet Association
|
||
P. O. Box 41143
|
||
St Louis, Missouri 63141
|
||
USA
|
||
|
||
Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to
|
||
insure the future of FidoNet.
|
||
|
||
** Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
|
||
and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted by the
|
||
membership in January 1987. The first elected Board of
|
||
Directors was filled in August 1987. The IFNA Echomail
|
||
Conference has been established on FidoNet to assist the
|
||
Board. We welcome your input on this Conference.
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
FidoNews 4-39 Page 10 12 Oct 1987
|
||
|
||
|
||
INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION
|
||
ORDER FORM
|
||
|
||
Publications
|
||
|
||
The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
|
||
1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing them
|
||
directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee Chairmen
|
||
provide us with the latest versions of each publication, but we
|
||
can make no written guarantees.
|
||
|
||
IFNA Fido BBS listing $15.00 _____
|
||
IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs $10.00 _____
|
||
IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs $10.00 _____
|
||
|
||
Special offers for IFNA members ONLY:
|
||
|
||
System Enhancement Associates SEAdog $60.00 _____
|
||
ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member.
|
||
|
||
Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet $65.00 _____
|
||
ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member.
|
||
As of November 1, 1987 price will increase to
|
||
$100. Orders including checks for $65 will be
|
||
returned after October 31, 1987.
|
||
|
||
SUBTOTAL _____
|
||
|
||
Missouri Residents add 5.725 % Sales tax _____
|
||
|
||
International orders include $5.00 for
|
||
surface shipping or $15.00 for air shipping _____
|
||
|
||
TOTAL _____
|
||
|
||
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO:
|
||
IFNA
|
||
P.O. Box 41143
|
||
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 USA
|
||
|
||
|
||
Name________________________________
|
||
Net/Node____/____
|
||
Company_____________________________
|
||
Address_____________________________
|
||
City____________________ State____________ Zip_____
|
||
Voice Phone_________________________
|
||
|
||
|
||
Signature___________________________
|
||
|
||
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
|
||
|