ctp@cs.utexas.edu (Clyde T. Poole) (09/20/90)
*****Last modified 09-August-1990*****
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 something to add or a
correction to this posting, please let me know. Text changed since
the last posting is indicated by a "|" at the beginning of the line.
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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 is made up of several "chapters." People wishing to join DECUS
may do so based upon their place of residence. U.S. residents join
the U.S. Chapter:
DECUS U.S. Chapter
219 Boston Post Road, BP02
Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752-4605
+1-508-480-3259
The U.S. Chapter currently has over 51,000 members.
Canadian residents join DECUS Canada:
DECUS Canada
15th Floor
505 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2H2
+1-416-597-3437
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
few Symposia will be:
Las Vegas, NV, December 10-14, 1990
Atlanta, GA, May 6-10, 1991
Anaheim, CA, December 9-13, 1991
Atlanta, GA, May 4-8, 1992
If you can not attend, proceedings are available for these
meetings (usually $15 per meeting). For more information on the
U.S. Chapter Symposia, call +1-508-480-3302.
Other chapters of DECUS also hold symposia. DECUS Canada holds
an annual symposium. Their next symposium is scheduled for:
Ottawa, February 18-22, 1991
Contact DECUS Canada or call the Symposium Coordinator, Ann
Murakami, +1-416-597-3462, for more information.
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 1990/1991 edition.
The hardcopy catalog is available free of charge to DECUS
members. An online version of the catalog is now available as a
pilot project of the Library Committee from acfcluster.nyu.edu
(annonymous FTP in the directory [.DECUS]) and on BITNET from
VMSSERV@NYUACF (use VMSSERV messages). More information can be
obtained by calling +1-508-480-3635. Information on preparing a
submission for the library can be obtained by calling +1-508-480-3514.
c) The DECUS U.S. Chapter Newsletter, a monthly collection of
Newsletters from the Special Interest Groups, DECUServe and the
Library which is available on a yearly subscription basis
(currently $40 annually). Subscription information is available
by calling +1-508-480-3301.
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 U.S. Chapter members.
f) DECUS Merit Scholarship Program, a Merit Scholarship has been
established to be awarded annually to a DECUS member or member's
child. The DECUS member must have had membership in DECUS for
at least three (3) years as of January 1 of the award year in
order to be considered. The annual Merit Scholarship
competition is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship
Corp., whose purposes are to identify and honor talented high
school students and to award college undergraduate scholarships
to the most outstanding of them. For more information contact
Ms. Paula Morin, +1-508-480-3255.
g) DECUServe, a teleconferencing system using VAX Notes. It is
available to all U.S. Chapter DECUS members for a $60 per year
subscription charge. Subscribers also pay their own long
distance telephone charges. It is the intent of this system to
allow members of DECUS to interact with each other concerning
technical topics, on a day-to-day basis. A subscription form is
available in the January 1988 issue of DECUSCOPE and in the
back of the combined Newsletters. You can also obtain
information on-line by calling +1-800-521-8950 and logging in as
INFORMATION.
h) Seminars, a program of seminars on topics of interest to DECUS
members, presented at various times and locations around the
U.S. and immediately preceding symposia. Call Diane Spirio at
+1-508-480-3307 for more information.
i) DECUShare, a new service which will allow subscribers to access
the SIG Symposia Distribution Tapes and a subset of the DECUS
Library on-line. This service is not yet available but funding
has been approved. Watch for the announcement of availability.
4) What is a SIG and a UIG?
SIGs are Special Interest Groups. There are many SIGs in DECUS.
Some are: Artificial Intelligence, Business Applications, DAARC,
Data Management, DATATRIEVE/4GL, EDUSIG, Electronic Publishing,
Graphics, Hardware, Micro, Languages and Tools, MUMPS, Networks,
Office Automation, Personal Computer, RSTS, RSX/IAS, RT, Site
Management & Training, UNISIG (UNIX, ULTRIX), and VAX Systems.
UIGs are User Interest Groups. These are really either new SIGs in
the making or old SIGs going out of business. They provide the
same kinds of services that SIGs provide but are short of volunteer
| leadership. Business Practices, Third Party Providers and Security
| are examples of current UIGs.
SIGs and UIGs 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 158 in
the U.S. alone). 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, call +1-508-480-3289.
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, LUGs and the back of
the Combined Newsletters.
To check your membership status or to notify DECUS of a change of
address call +1-508-480-3418, +1-508-480-3446 or +1-508-480-3659.
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DATATRIEVE, DECUS, DECUSCOPE, IAS, RSTS, RSX, RT, ULTRIX and VAX are
all trademarks of Digital Equipment Corp.
UNIX is a trademark of A.T. & T. Company
MUMPS is a registered trademark of Massachusetts General Hospital
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Clyde T. Poole - Technical Coordinator, Facilities and Equipment (in real life)
DECUS U. S. Chapter, Communications Committee Chairman and Member of
the Management Council (in my spare time)
Univ. of Texas at Austin ARPA/CSnet/NSFnet: ctp@cs.utexas.edu
Dept. of Computer Sciences UUCP: {uunet,harvard}!cs.utexas.edu!ctp
Taylor Hall 2.124 BITNET: ctp@UTADNX SPAN: UTSPAN::UTADNX::ctp
Austin, TX 78712-1188 DECUServe: POOLE VOICE: +1-512-471-9551