Volume 5, Number 16 18 April 1988 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|oo \ | | - FidoNews - (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | International | | \ \\ | | FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) | | Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief Dale Lovell Editor Emeritus: Thom Henderson Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings Contributing Editors: 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 1988 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. IFNA may also be contacted at PO Box 41143, St. Louis, MO 63141. Fido and FidoNet are registered trademarks of Tom Jennings of Fido Software, 164 Shipley Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107 and are used with permission. The contents of the articles contained here are not our responsibility, nor do we necessarily agree with them. Everything here is subject to debate. We publish EVERYTHING received. Table of Contents 1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1 In Search of a Democratic FidoNet ........................ 1 12 Ways to Kill An Association ........................... 2 Now FidoNews Too ......................................... 3 Moving Ahead With FidoCon'88 ............................. 4 Gateway E-Mail to Other Systems .......................... 6 Health Info-Com Network Newsletter ....................... 8 2. COLUMNS .................................................. 9 FidoCon '88 News ......................................... 9 3. NOTICES .................................................. 10 The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 10 Region 14 Coordinators Position Open ..................... 10 Latest Software Versions ................................. 11 And more! FidoNews 5-16 Page 1 18 Apr 1988 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= Mike Goldman FidoNet 1:129/57.0 BitNet MJGST3@PITTVMS IN SEARCH OF A DEMOCRATIC FIDONET As I was reading Steven Hoskin's most recent column in the FidoNews, a thought occurred to me. Perhaps you will not think it a good thought, but here it is, and you can form any opinions you like. Steven discussed in his article the methods by which IFNA, as the corporate manager of the FidoNet, could set up a system where "grunt SysOps" could vote on issues. The problem, as he mentioned, was that SysOps didn't all belong to IFNA, and hence could not, at present, vote. He also mentioned that nobody should ever have to PAY to vote. Amid all the flames, counterflames, et alia dealing with the proposal to disincorporate IFNA by Randy Edwards, and counterproposals to the effect of IFNA no longer governing the FidoNet, but instead acting as the representative of ALL FidoNet compatible networks, I have yet another suggestion to make. I hereby propose that IFNA is a necessary administrator of the FidoNet, and has every reason to exist, for without it we would surely fall apart. But I further propose that no representative of a FREE network should have a FEE for membership. In other words, IFNA Membership should be a RIGHT granted to ALL FidoNet SysOps. IFNA is a non-profit organization to start with, so this should not be as big of a deal as it seems... Anticipating the answers to this proposal, yes, we will have to work out a new means by which IFNA raises capital to fund itself. Some possibilities include: Voluntary donations (tax- deductible, hopefully), Sales of modems (if a suitable deal with USR, for instance, can be worked out...), or any suggestions that you (readers of this) might have. If you feel a comment to this article is in order, so long as it is not a flame, I can be reached by NetMail between 11pm and 8am. I will be 24hrs within a number of weeks, but am not at time of writing. ECHO FLAMES >> NUL -Mike ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 2 18 Apr 1988 12 Ways to Kill An Association No one individual sabotages a community association intentionally. But a glance at this list might reveal ways to work against an association's best interests without being aware of it. 1. Don't come to meetings. If you do come, be late. 2. If you attend, find fault with the work of others. 3. Never run for the board--it's easier to criticize. 4. Be angry if you're not appointed to a committee. 5. If you're asked your opinion, say nothing. Afterward, tell everyne how things should have been. 6. Do no more than necessary. If a few persons work tirelessly, complain that the association is run by a clique. 7. Don't bother to help get new members involved. 8. Don't tell board members how they can help you or achieve certain goals--but if they don't, quit participating. 9. When attending a meeting, vote for one thing, and then forget about it after you get home. 10. Agree to everything at the meeting--disagree later. 11. Take all the benefits your association provides--but don't make a personal contribution. 12. Talk about cooperation, but don't practice it. ------------------------------------------------ Revised from Management Memo of the Associated General Contractors of VA, July 1987. Reprinted [in the Woodlake Letter] with permission of "Association Trends". Reprinted here without permission. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 3 18 Apr 1988 NOW FIDONEWS TOO by Dot Falcon Co-sysop, The Falcon's Rock Opus 1:109/648 College Park, MD The endless complaining and debating that has ruined the SYSOP and IFNA echoes has now reached FidoNews too. Recent issues (even the editorials) contain a daunting quantity of debate about who should do what, and why. Normally, endless griping is a symptom of unresolved problems. I'm a person who likes to speak plainly, and I offer here, in the interest of resolving three major issues, what I consider to be some plain truths. 1. What is IFNA's function? This can be debated forever, because I believe IFNA has no function. In my opinion, it was formed because some people decided to collect money and didn't feel right about doing it without some official sanction, so they formed a corporation. Dissolve IFNA. Stop collecting money. Let the nodelist, FidoNews, and anything else be distributed by those who feel like it. That's how it was in the old days so many of you would like to bring back, wasn't it? 2. What to do about all those new nets forming? You folks sound like AT&T when MCI and Sprint came on the scene. Just relax, relinquish your monopoly, and enjoy the new abundance. 3. What to do about all the flaming? My personal plan of action is to remove myself from those situations which involve humans who can't make themselves palatable to others. Obviously, a lot of people have already made that decision about FidoNet. Those of you who are still out there bemoaning what's become of the net, do something. If you can't make things better, consider going elsewhere. Take action instead of complaining, and you'll stop being part of the problem. Those of you who still have problems after reading this, do something. Do anything. But please stop the endless debating and recommending, and especially, stop griping. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 4 18 Apr 1988 Tim Sullivan Chairman FidoCon'88 Host Committee 108/62 ------------------------------------ FidoCon'88 is closer than you think! ------------------------------------ Despite all of the net rumblings, FidoCon'88 in Cincinnati is attracting more attention than ever before. Already registrations are coming in. People in the net seem to be almost as excited about this year's conference as we are. Just think, here is the opportunity to meet with fellow SYSOPs you have been chatting with for years. A chance to meet face to face with friends and flamers alike. FidoCon also provides an opportunity to meet face to face with vendors important to sysops such as: drive manufacturers, modem manufacturers, common carriers (like AT&T), software companies and more. We are asking the vendors not to bring just sales people, but technical people that can answers YOUR tough questions. Cincinnati will also provide interesting conferences with topics you want to here about and panel discussions for you to participate in. We will be reviewing products, talking about standards, new technology, and even fun stuff like net politics. Probably the most important thing about FidoCon is fellowship. All of us in the net have a common bond. We may not always agree, but in the end we share similar goals and experiences. There will be plenty of 'quiet time' to strengthen and renew these ties. You'll be surprised how reasonable some people can be when you meet them in person. August is closer than you think. The conference dates are August 25th - 28th (well really August 24th - 28th, registration will start Wednesday afternoon and there will be a reception that night. All are welcome). For more information contact Rick Ashworth at 1/88 (our special FidoCon'88 node). You can file request 'REGISTER' from 1/88 or most net 108 boards for the latest registration information packet. We are still looking for more ideas for speakers and topics. If you have an idea for a topic or would like to speak at FidoCon, contact Mark Walker at 108/50. Don't forget about the US Robotics special offer! The first 50 people to register for the conference will receive a coupon for $50 off the price of an HST 9600 baud modem. This coupon CAN be used with the USR SYSOP offer! This brings the price of a USR HST down to a reasonable $445.00! -> BUT you have to be one of the first 50 to register. Many SYSOPs have already taken advantage of this special offer, so you had better act fast! FidoNews 5-16 Page 5 18 Apr 1988 See you all in Cincinnati! ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 6 18 Apr 1988 GATEWAY: A System to Exchange E-Mail with Other Systems by Daniel Tobias 1:380/2 There's been some talk in FidoNews and elsewhere about gatewaying mail between FidoNet and various other systems. This idea comes from the desire of many to fully inter-network all E- Mail systems so that everybody who uses E-Mail of any sort can send mail to anyone else, similarly to how the telephone presently operates. (You don't have to know what local or long distance company your friend subscribes to in order to call him.) The E-Mail field, as it is now, is terriby Balkanized, with numerous different networks (amateur, commercial, institutional, etc.) which can't all talk to each other. While some (like commercial E-Mail providers who wish everyone to subscribe to their service) may consider it in their interest to keep the systems separated, it is in the interest of people who like to communicate to break down the walls and let everyone send messages to everyone else, whatever service they might use. To this end, I am now releasing GATEWAY, a program to enable E-Mail gatewaying between Fido/Opus/compatible systems and other services. In particular, I have set up the ability to gateway to CompuServe and The Source, but the program is general enough so you may be able to use it for other gatewaying as well. The way GATEWAY works is by finding messages in your netmail area that are properly addressed ("Cis 77777,7777" for CompuServe ID 77777,777, for instance), and writing them to text files in a standardized format; then, a script file (requiring Datastorm's PROCOMM-PLUS to run) logs in to the remote system, sends the outbound mail and fetches anything inbound; and then GATEWAY takes over again and sticks the incoming messages into the netmail area. (The above address format is the present default; should FidoNet ever adopt a standard for internetwork addressing as discussed in an earlier FidoNews, I'll modify GATEWAY to use addresses of the new standard, whatever it may be.) I designed GATEWAY primarily for gatewaying private E-Mail; however, by popular demand, I added some features for sending and recieving messages for the online forums/SIGS on the commercial services. However, due to copyright considerations, it is not recommended you make commercial SIGs accessible to your users; but this feature can be helpful in your own personal perusal of SIG messages, which you can now do offline on your sysop console rather than "while the meter's running" on a commercial service. Where private E-Mail is concerned, though, to my knowledge no service has claimed copyright to such messages, and I know of several people who are operating gateways of such messages into and out of CompuServe and its ilk. Hence, there should be no legal problems to setting your board up as a gateway to let your users send mail to friends on CompuServe and The Source, and get replies back. Provisions exist to charge the cost of sending and receiving messages against the Fido/Opus "credit" value in the FidoNews 5-16 Page 7 18 Apr 1988 user's record. With GATEWAY, combined with some programs from others to interlink FidoNet with the UUCP/UseNet network, just about everything can be connected with everything else in a great big WorldNet, to the furtherance of interpersonal communications. GATEWAY, a "shareware" program, is downloadable in the file GATE100.ARC (the last three digits will change to reflect the version number) from SOFT FIDO at (318) 222-3503; it's in file area 6. Bark and WaZoo file requests (to node 1:380/2) will work as well; use GATE???.ARC to be sure you get it even if the version changes. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 8 18 Apr 1988 HICNet News David Dodell FidoNet Node 1:114/15 uucp: {ncar,decvax,ihnp4} !noao!asuvax!stjhmc!ddodell Bitnet: ARDSD @ ASUACAD First, what is HICNet? HICNet is an acronym for Health Information by Computer Network. This is why I got involved in FidoNet. With the advent of easy computer access around the world at minimal cost compared to commercial networks, I envisioned a system where medical information could be disseminated to many individuals at a low-cost. While the medically related echos of GRAND_ROUNDS, ABLED, RECOVERY, AIDS/ARC are exceptional as discussion areas, the HICNet Newsletter is for hard news information. Each issue comes out on the Monday of each week and includes the latest weekly news from the Centers for Disease Control Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Food and Drug Administration reports, news items from the Surgeon General, and the latest information and statistics on AIDS. We also have occasional articles from various other medically related fields such as dentistry and optometry. An elaborate distribution system to get the newsletter out around the world in a timely manner has been developed by Robert Klotz at FidoNet Node 1:19/9. Robert is the worldwide distribution coordinator for the newsletter. In my eyes, this is a wonderful use of the resource we call FidoNet. The newsletter has been in operation for almost two years providing an education resource to many individuals, augmenting the daily discussions in the echomail areas. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, and wish to be on the regular distribution schedule, please contact either myself, David Dodell at 1:114/15 or Robert Klotz at 1:19/9. If you would like a sampl of the newsletter, the most current version is available for file request from 1:114/15 using the keyword HICNEWS. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 9 18 Apr 1988 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= Steven Meinken FidoNet Node: 1:108/93 This is the first in hopefully a weekly article updating you on and providing you with information for FidoCon '88 at the Drawbridge Inn in Cincinnati. With the cooperation of the Net 108 Sysops on the planning committee, I will try and keep everyone up to date on events as well as inform you on guest speakers, excursions for the family, etc. All of us here in Cincinnati are trying to make things as easy as possible for you to get up to the minute information about the conference, therefore we have brought up a special 'Registration' node: 1/88. Right now you can call 1/88 (300-9600 baud - thanks to US Robotics for the HST) and get the latest information about registration, pricing, agenda, vendors, special events, etc. The registration node will also support file requests with "magic" filenames for FidoCon '88 information. Soon you will even be able to register on-line if you plan to use either Visa or Mastercard. Stay tuned for more! At this time we are still looking for guest speakers and topics of discussion for FidoCon '88. While no speaker can be of interest to everyone, we would like to see a broad range of topics discussed. Remember this is going to be a family event, not devoted entirely to the computer user! We'd be interested in hearing your suggestions. Please send your suggestions to Mark Walker at 1:108/50. If you have any comments or questions, please send your inquires to 1:1/88 or 1:108/62 via Netmail. Rick Ashworth or Tim Sullivan, operating the above nodes respectively, will get back to you as soon as possible. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 10 18 Apr 1988 ================================================================= NOTICES ================================================================= The Interrupt Stack 16 May 1988 Digital Equipment Corporations Users Society Spring Symposium. Will be held May 16-May 20 in Cincinnati, OH. 25 Jun 1988 EuroCon II starts in Tiel, Holland. Sponsored by the Dutch Hobby Computer Club. Will run for 2 days. Contact Hans Lichthelm at 2:2/999 for information. 16 Jul 1988 A new areacode, 508, will form in eastern Massachusetts and will be effective on this date. The new area code will be formed from the current areacode 617. Greater Boston will remain areacode 617 while the rest of eastern Massachusetts will form the new areacode 508. 25 Aug 1988 Start of the Fifth International FidoNet Conference, to be held at the Drawbridge Inn in Cincinnati, OH. Contact Tim Sullivan at 108/62 for more information. This is FidoNet's big annual get-together, and is your chance to meet all the people you've been talking with all this time. We're hoping to see you there! 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------- John Pritchard, the Region 14 Coordinator has unexpectantly relinquished his responsibilities. Till a new RC can be appointed, I have asked Ken Kaplan to be Acting RC for the next few weeks. If you are interested in assuming the responsibilities of the Region 14 Coordinators position, please send netmail to David Dodell at 1/0. Please supply a brief narrative about your involvement in FidoNet, including any past positions held (i.e. Network Coordinator, Hub Coordinator, Echomail Coordinator.) It is highly recommended that you are running at least a 2400 baud modem, with 24 hour mail capabilities. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 11 18 Apr 1988 Latest Software Versions BBS Systems Node List Other & Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version Dutchie 2.81* EditNL 3.3 ARC 5.21 Fido 12g* MakeNL 2.03 ARCmail 1.1 Opus 1.03b Prune 1.40 ConfMail 3.31 SEAdog 4.10 XlatList 2.86* EchoMail 1.31 TBBS 2.0M MGM 1.1 BinkleyTerm 1.40* QuickBBS 2.00* * 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 5-16 Page 12 18 Apr 1988 ================================================================= COMMITTEE REPORTS ================================================================= Nominations and Elections Committee 1:103/501 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * U R G E N T ! ! ! * * * * * * * * There is still time for you to announce your candidacy * * * * for a position as a Director of IFNA. Candidates are * * * * required for Divisions 2, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18. In * * * * addition, five more directors are required to fill at- * * * * large positions making a total of 11 in all. If you * * * * are interested in running for one of these positions, * * * * please send a message to 1:103/501 immediately. * * * * * * * * Nominating petitions, signed by 10 IFNA Members, must * * * * be in the hands of the IFNA secretary by April 27th, so * * * * please don't wait, express your interest now! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 13 18 Apr 1988 __ The World's First / \ BBS Network /|oo \ * FidoNet * (_| /_) _`@/_ \ _ | | \ \\ | (*) | \ )) ______ |__U__| / \// / Fido \ _//|| _\ / (________) (_/(_|(____/ (tm) Membership for the International FidoNet Association Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that pays a specified annual membership fee. IFNA serves the international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to increase worldwide communications. Member Name _______________________________ Date _______________ Address _________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________________________________ State ________________________________ Zip _____________________ Country _________________________________________________________ Home Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________ Work Phone (Voice) ______________________________________________ Zone:Net/Node Number ____________________________________________ BBS Name ________________________________________________________ BBS Phone Number ________________________________________________ Baud Rates Supported ____________________________________________ Board Restrictions ______________________________________________ Your Special Interests __________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ In what areas would you be willing to help in FidoNet? __________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Send this membership form and a check or money order for $25 in US Funds to: International FidoNet Association c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA 700 Bishop Street, #1014 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-4112 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 to this Conference. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 5-16 Page 14 18 Apr 1988 INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION ORDER FORM Publications The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido 1:1/10 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. Hardcopy prices as of October 1, 1986 IFNA Fido BBS listing $15.00 _____ IFNA Administrative Policy DOCs $10.00 _____ IFNA FidoNet Standards Committee DOCs $10.00 _____ SUBTOTAL _____ IFNA Member ONLY Special Offers System Enhancement Associates SEAdog $60.00 _____ SEAdog price as of March 1, 1987 ONLY 1 copy SEAdog per IFNA Member Fido Software's Fido/FidoNet $100.00 _____ Fido/FidoNet price as of November 1, 1987 ONLY 1 copy Fido/FidoNet per IFNA Member International orders include $10.00 for surface shipping or $20.00 for air shipping _____ SUBTOTAL _____ HI. Residents add 4.0 % Sales tax _____ TOTAL _____ SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER IN US FUNDS: International FidoNet Association c/o Leonard Mednick, MBA, CPA 700 Bishop Street, #1014 Honolulu, HI. 96813-4112 USA Name________________________________ Zone:Net/Node____:____/____ Company_____________________________ Address_____________________________ City____________________ State____________ Zip_____ Voice Phone_________________________ Signature___________________________ -----------------------------------------------------------------