eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder) (12/02/83)
1 December 1983 The responses have tapered off, so I thought it time to report on my query about space activists on the net. I have recieved 23 reponses so far. What follows is a summary and some quotes from what was sent. Said they were interested in a chapter: 10 Said would join L5 if an electronic chapter existed: 1 Previously L5 Member: 1 Speed of electronic chapter an advantage: 1 Member of Planetary Society: 1 Member of World Space Foundation: 1 Member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics: 1 " I think an "l5 net chapter" should be aimed more at informing people on the net about the l5 society rather than actually doing anything. I also urge caution in terms of the type of material placed on the net." ". . . we should immediately start looking for an Arpa gateway to the SPACE digest, or try to find someone on Arpanet to moderate an L5 digest to which we could gateway. Many of the most interesting participants in net.space are actually submitting to the SPACE digest, and I think many of them would be interested in the new group." " As a member of L5, BIS, NSI, SSI, WSF, and PS, I think the first thing all these space groups should do is stop proliferating and GET TOGETHER!" " In light of the tremendous proliferation of newsgroups , it would probably be a good idea to have a clearly defined set of objectives for the new one." " Please ask yourself , and your L5 contact these questions : 1. What will be discussed on net.L5 ? 2. Can the above topics be discussed in net.space (which is none too active itself , and only recently escaped the axe ) ?" " . . .and could you give a description of L-5." If I can draw some conclusions from the above, then it seems there is interest in an "electronic chapter", but that a new newsgroup should not be created at this time. Therefore I propose the following: 1) To form an "electronic chapter" of the L5 Society. The purposes of the chapter to be rapid dissemination of information about space development, increased communication among L5 members widely dispersed, and informing Usenet in general about space development, the L5 Society, and other space activist organizations. 2) The chapter operate by posting general interest items to the existing net.space and use a mailing list otherwise. I am personally not that adept in using Usenet. I can post stuff, but don't know how to generate and maintain mailing lists yet. If someone else is interested in being the chapter 'Secretary', you are welcome to it. My own interests are in the technology of space development and in answering questions. If you 'yay','nay', or comment on the two propositions above, I will post the results in a week or when the comments have fallen to <1/day, whichever comes later. Dani Eder Boeing Aerospace ssc-vax!eder