[comp.sys.amiga.misc] User Group Article Newsgroup

"Calvin Jones, III" <jones@uv4.eglin.af.mil> (06/04/91)

Mike Levin - Ed Marketing <mikel@cbmvax.commodore.com> writes:
 
> I would like to propose a new newsgroup. This is why I see the need:
>  
> Routes of reliable communication must be opened up between user groups.
> This should also serve a facility where all the groups can submit,
> stock-pile, and disseminate newsletter articles.

Excellent idea!  Would suggest that the group be moderated to keep the 
flame wars to a minimum.  Archiving the articles (along with any 
rational comments) at an FTP site would also be helpful.
  
> These groups currently are in isolation utilizing only their own internal
> resources (occasionally stumbling onto things on the BBS's). Getting good
> articles can be a problem. 

It's still going to be a problem, but it'll be a lot smaller problem 
with a *LOT* of folks working on it.
  
> Anyone with an account and access to the newsgroup could login and utilize
> the articles. A national paper-based user group newsletter could also be
> generated from this if someone were to take the initiative and found a way
> to make it profitable. 

The word "profitable" here may not be appropriate for the net.  I 
understand the newsgroups are for non-profit use only.  Maybe CBM could 
distribute the best of the articles to registered users groups 
periodically.
  
> The newsgroup could be called comp.sys.amiga.newsletter or
> comp.sys.amiga.usergroups. The original authors will have to include
> permission to re-post and re-publish their articles. I don't know much
> about starting a newsgroup, who to contact, moderation, etc. Please E-Mail
> me with guidance (what's my next step?). Do you think this is worthwhile? I
> would be willing to write the charter after looking at some examples and
> would certainly be a contributor.

I'm all for it.  I'm a member of an Amiga users group that's about 5 
years old now.  It seems that things are starting to stagnate.  A lot of 
the problem is due to the fact that we lost our local dealer, who 
actively supported us and provided us with a contact with the rest of 
the Amiga world. 


   --- Cal
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 Cal Jones, Sysop.  904-243-6219  24Hrs

dhansen@amiganet.chi.il.us (Dave Hansen) (06/04/91)

Calvin Jones, III <jones@uv4.eglin.af.mil> writes -
>Mike Levin - Ed Marketing <mikel@cbmvax.commodore.com> writes:
> 
>> I would like to propose a new newsgroup. This is why I see the need:
>>  
>> Routes of reliable communication must be opened up between user groups.
>> This should also serve a facility where all the groups can submit,
>> stock-pile, and disseminate newsletter articles.
>
>Excellent idea!  Would suggest that the group be moderated to keep the 
>flame wars to a minimum.  Archiving the articles (along with any 
>rational comments) at an FTP site would also be helpful.
Archiving the articles at an FTP site would not benefit most Amiga Users'
Group editors, as it's difficult enough in the private sector to get
newsfeeds, much less find an FTP connected site.  Personally, I tried once to
get an FTP EMail request through the system to request some of the TCP/IP
RFC's and got some mysterious remote system error message back for my
troubles.  Soft-Logic BBS has about half a dozen editors uploading
newsletters, and many of them get discouraged at the lack of response.  And
downloading a newsletter from a BBS is a heck of a lot easier than attempting
uucp mail requests for FTP.  Perhaps C-A would care to open a 1(800)
multi-line BBS?

voice: (708)691-4747             Internet:dhansen@amiganet.chi.il.us