ctp@pop.utexas.edu (Clyde T. Poole) (10/14/87)
*****Last modified 22-September-1987***** There are a few basic questions that get asked from time to time that indicate that people don't know much about DECUS and how to use its services. Monthly I post a list of answers to DECUS related questions that may be of interest to the net. If you have a suggestion on something that should be added to this posting please let me know. ----- Some basic answers to DECUS questions: 1) What does DECUS stand for and how do you pronounce it? Digital Equipment Computer Users Society The pronunciation is open for discussion. My belief is that the correct way is DEE-CUS as opposed to DECK-US. 2) How can I contact DECUS? DECUS U.S. Chapter 219 Boston Post Road, BP02 Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752-1850 (617) 480-3418 or (in Canada) DECUS Canada 15th Floor 505 University Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5G 2H2 (416) 597-3437 DECUS can not, at present, be contacted electronically. 3) What services does DECUS provide its members? DECUS offers many services to its members. Some of the more notable are: a) The DECUS U.S. Chapter Symposia, held twice each year. The next two Symposia will be Anaheim, California, December 7-11, 1987 and Cincinnati, Ohio, May 16-20, 1988. If you can not attend, proceedings are available for these meetings (usually $15 per meeting). DECUS Canada also holds symposia. Their next Symposium is in Toronto, Ontario, February 8-12, 1988. b) The DECUS Program Library, a VERY large collection of software for almost every computer DEC has ever made, which is available for essentially the cost of reproduction and distribution. The current issue of the library catalog is the 1987/1988 edition. The catalog is available free of charge to DECUS members. c) The DECUS U.S. Chapter SIGs Newsletters, a monthly collection of the Special Interest Group Newsletters which is available on a yearly subscription basis ($35 annually). Subscription information is available by calling (617) 480-3301. d) Regional Conferences, local users groups from time to time host DECUS mini-symposia focused on some subset of Digital products. e) DECUSCOPE, a quarterly information publication sent free to all DECUS members. f) DECUS Merit Scholarship Program, a Merit Scholarship has been established to be awarded annually to a DECUS member or member's child. For more information contact Ms. Paula Morin, (617) 480-2355. g) Refereed Papers Competition, this competition allows DECUS members the opportunity of presenting an indepth discussion of the works they are performing to their fellow DECUS members. Papers are invited that portray the exciting and innovative work being performed by DECUS members in the computing arena. For more information, call the DECUS U.S. Chapter Office at (617) 480-3328. h) DECUServe, a teleconferencing systems using VAX Notes, currently in the prototype stage and limited to 1000 members by invitation only. It is the intent of this system to allow members of DECUS to interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. The prototype phase is scheduled to run through December, 1987. 4) What is a SIG? SIGs are Special Interest Groups. There are many SIGs in DECUS. Some are: Artificial Intelligence, Business Applications, DAARC, Data Management, Datatrieve/4GL, EDUSIG, Graphics, Hardware Micro, IAS, Languages and Tools, Large Systems, MUMPS, Networks, Office Automation, Personal Computer, RSTS, RSX, RT, Site Management & Training, UNISIG (UNIX, ULTRIX), and VAX Systems. SIGs sponsor sessions at symposia, publish newsletters and in other ways provide services to DECUS members interested in particular subsets of problems and applications of DEC computers and software. 5) What is a LUG? A LUG is a Local Users Group. There are many LUGs throughout the U.S., Canada and the rest of the world (the current count is 147). LUGs usually are associated with one or more SIGs. For example many LUGs deal with the problems of VAX systems only. To find a LUG near you, contact the DECUS office. 6) How much does it cost to join DECUS and where can I get a membership form? Membership in DECUS is open to anyone and is FREE. Membership forms may be obtained from the DECUS office, LUG's and the back of the Combined Newsletters. A LaTeX source for the form has been posted to the USENET newsgroup comp.org.decus and is available on request from the poster at any of the addresses below. ----- Clyde T. Poole - Technical Coordinator, Facilities and Equipment (in real life) DECUS U. S. Chapter, Large Systems SIG, Newsletter Editor (in my spare time) Univ. of Texas at Austin ARPA/CSnet: ctp@sally.utexas.edu Dept. of Computer Sciences UUCP: {harvard,ihnp4}!ut-sally!ctp Taylor Hall 2.124 BITNET: ctp@UTADNX Austin, TX 78712-1188 VOICE: (512) 471-9551 "Life is a bitch ... and then you die"