Volume 6, Number 21 22 May 1989 +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | _ | | / \ | | /|oo \ | | - FidoNews - (_| /_) | | _`@/_ \ _ | | International | | \ \\ | | FidoNet Association | (*) | \ )) | | Newsletter ______ |__U__| / \// | | / FIDO \ _//|| _\ / | | (________) (_/(_|(____/ | | (jm) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ Editor in Chief: Vince Perriello Editors Emeritii: Dale Lovell Thom Henderson Chief Procrastinator Emeritus: Tom Jennings 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. 1:1/1 is a Continuous Mail system, available for network mail 24 hours a day. Copyright 1989 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. We don't necessarily agree with the contents of every article published here. Most of these materials are unsolicited. No article will be rejected which is properly attributed and legally acceptable. We will publish every responsible submission received. Table of Contents 1. ARTICLES ................................................. 1 FidoNet Hits a New Low ................................... 1 GOOD DEALS FOR SYSOPS: Minitel offers free software! ..... 4 Reflections on Policy 4 .................................. 6 Making a Point ........................................... 11 What IFNA Means to Me! ................................... 13 Sysops take on a worthy cause: Youth At Risk Program ..... 15 2. COLUMNS .................................................. 19 The Veterinarian's Corner: Cosmetics Industry Testing .... 19 3. LATEST VERSIONS .......................................... 21 Latest Software Versions ................................. 21 And more! FidoNews 6-21 Page 1 22 May 1989 ================================================================= ARTICLES ================================================================= FidoNet Hits a New Low by Phil Buonomo, 1:107/583, 7:520/583, 9:807/1 Well, it just goes to show you what can happen when you don't take the time to read FidoNews. Miss a couple of issues, and BLAMMO! It's like missing an episode of "Dallas". In other words, you miss "who shot whom". In this case, however, its the basic purpose of FidoNews that gets shot. Recently, a number of *C's have apparently expressed displeasure to Vince about several columns that have appeared in FidoNews that THEY seem to think are not "FidoNet related". They would have such columns (as defined by them) removed from publication so they don't have to foot the bill for distributing it. I'm not going to spout any First Amendment stuff here, after all, this is FidoNet, not the government. Nobody ever mistook FidoNet for a democracy, after all. But it has always been the basic right of nodes in FidoNet that they could submit virtually ANYTHING and have it printed in FidoNews, and get their message out. Now, some bright person recently asked if the readers thought they should allow KKK announcements in FidoNews. Well, I'll tell you... I don't think so, but then again, who am I to say? I'm not God. I'm not the government, and I'm not the Editor (of FidoNews, anyway), and until *I* sit in THAT particular hot seat, I can't give you a definitive answer. I can tell you this, however: THE ANIMED SERIES IS NOT A KKK COLUMN AND ANY COMPARISON OF THE TWO IS RIDICULOUS. I have found that column to be both interesting and informative, particularly since when I first started reading it, I figured that I'd get about three sentences into it and hit PgDn. The first column, however, was about how you can kill a dog by feeding it a comparitively small amount of chocolate. This, I never knew, and it being printed on Easter week impressed me even more with its timeliness. Since then, the column, most intelligently written, has further impressed me with articles on the abuses of animals in laboratories, the dangers of summertime anti-freeze to dogs and cats, and yes, even how to keep your dog and cat from getting fleas. Another contributor to this 'magazine' sneered at the column, stating that if he wanted to learn about fleas, he'd pick up the conference. Well, *I* found it interesting, and enjoyed reading it. I guess that means I'm not as important as an *C? I guess it means that you aren't, either, since he feels he shouldn't have to pay for sending the file to you. As I said before, for something I didn't think I'd be interested in, I've been rather fascinated by the column. FidoNews 6-21 Page 2 22 May 1989 But let's look at it another way. The *C's who've expressed displeasure at the column jump up and down about it not being 'FidoNet related'. My response is, "So what?". Did THEY found FidoNews? Are THEY the editors, or is Vince? They seem to feel they have the right to limit the topics printed about because they foot the bill for the distribution of FidoNews. My response is, "You wanted to be an *C, right? Distributing FidoNews is part of the job. You don't like it? Don't be an *C." I fail to see why these people, who've contributed very little in terms of the content of the magazine, feel they have the right to determine its content. Don't get me wrong, we owe EACH and every *C thanks for its distribution, but that distribution STILL comes with the job. I don't like the fact that I have to be on call for the Data Center I work at 24 hours a day, but it comes with the job, and I can't change it just because its inconvenient for me. For the *C's to attempt to change the policy of FidoNews just because THEY aren't interested in reading about Animal Medicine is wrong, immoral, and a slap at each and every node in FidoNet. The funny thing is that the ANIMED column has averaged less than a page, sometimes a page and a half. The interesting point that everyone seems to have glossed over is that, in the interests of shortening FidoNews by attempting to change its editorial policy, these *C's have generated more lines of commentary on their actions than ALL THE ANIMED COLUMNS PUT TOGETHER. Seems kinda self-defeating to me! One more point. FidoNews has been relatively self-running for years. The type of editorial policy the *C's wish would defeat this, by effectively making Vince approve each and every article, column, and ad that goes into it. It seems to me that if the *C's want to enfo*Ce such a policy on Vince that THEY be the ones to edit the magazine. Then we shall see who's willing to 'play God' and say which article is "FidoNet related", and which isn't. I guess the thing that I'm most disappointed about is, with all the problems FidoNet faces today, you'd think the *C's had more to worry about than a column in FidoNews. I guess that's just the way FidoNet's been run for the past couple of years. In the service, we called it "chickenm$wx%". That means that the people in authority worry about the little problems and let the big, important ones slide. The motto of the Alliance newsletter, AlterNews, is "All the news that fits, we print!" That's the way its been for FidoNews for years, and it should not be changed for something so trivially small. Would you have people saying that AlterNet is more open than FidoNet? Finally, let me just remind those who would change it that FidoNews is STILL an IFNA publication. And the last thing I heard, the IFNA BOD determines FidoNews policy, not the *C's. I for one, don't want to see that, or the FidoNews policy changed. FidoNews 6-21 Page 3 22 May 1989 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 6-21 Page 4 22 May 1989 WHAT IS MINITEL? In France, over 4 million people use Minitel terminals to search through the National Electronic Telephone Directory and access a wide range of information services. These services range from financial and business transactions to communications services such as electronic chatlines. The success of these services with consumers in France remains unparalleled in the world up to now. HOW DOES MINITEL WORK IN FRANCE? French consumers have easy access to all these services with their dedicated terminals and their connect charges are placed directly on their phone bill. They do not need different accounts with each information provider like subscribers to American information networks must have. WHAT DOES MINITELNET HAVE TO OFFER ME? Access to these same French services is available to users outside France thanks to Minitelnet which now provides the gateway to more than 10,000 French information services. * During 1989 and 1990, Minitelnet will also give you access to other European countries, including Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany and Finland. * By the Summer of 1989 you will be able to dial up Minitel from nodes around the world. Minitelnet connects you to French information services from your home or your office through a simple dial-up procedure. WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED TO HAVE TO ACCESS MINITEL? * An IBM compatible, Macintosh, Apple II or Commodore 64/128 computer * A modem * Minitel Software for your computer. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING MINITELNET? Minitelnet offers an array of user friendly services from banking to home-shopping, from instant ticket reservations to instant travel arrangements. Here are just a few of the many advantages of Minitelnet: * access electronic services in France for the price of a local phone call * non-stop service; available all day, any day FidoNews 6-21 Page 5 22 May 1989 * simple to use * inexpensive - you pay as you use the service - starting as low as 17 cents a minute * access to 1000's of French services not available through other gateways * you don't need to upgrade your computer! HOW DO I GET STARTED? You need a copy of the Minitel software and a directory to the services online. THESE ARE AVAILABLE FREE! HOW DO I GET MY FREE COPY OF THE MINITEL SOFTWARE AND DIRECTORY? Here's what to do: * Dial 800 999 6163 from Canada or the continental U.S. with your modem set at 1200 baud, 8/N/1 * At the login prompt type: MINITEL107 * Supply all information requested of you so that Minitelnet can send you the software and directory. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 6-21 Page 6 22 May 1989 Jesse David Hollington 1:225/1 What's wrong with Policy 4? --------------------------- After perusing Policy 4, and discussing it with several people, I have become convinced that it is not necessarily the great long overdue revision of policy that it seems to be. To get something straight, actually, at first I was kind of undecided as to what to vote on this document. However, now that I've really sat down and *looked* at it and thought about it, some very serious problems with it suddenly occur to me. Let me paint a little picture... We have, at the top of the whole mess, The International Coordinator. Who decides who the International Coordinator should be? Not the majority of FidoNet, which is the way things really should be, but a very small group of people. The Zone Coordinators. However, at the Zone Coordinator level, the problems begin to occur. Who decides who the Zone Coordinator should be? Again, not the Sysops, not the vast majority of Coordinator positions, but the Region Coordinators. Again, a very small group of people. But now, here's the catch, who decides who the Region Coordinators should be? None other than the Zone Coordinator. Where do the Network Coordinators come from? Simple, they're appointed by the Regional Coordinators. Do the Sysops in FidoNet actually have any say in what is going on? Not really. Now, very simply, what's wrong with this picture? What this creates is a system by which only the senior officers are voted in. Who votes in the senior officers, but the people they have appointed, either directly or indirectly. What this does very simply is to ensure that all the top brass in FidoNet have their positions virtually as long as they want them for. This is not designed to put down anybody, or point the finger at anyone. There are, however, some interesting things about human nature that don't make this a good system. For one thing, a Zone Coordinator, whether consciously or not, is going to appoint Region Coordinators under him that will support his position. This is simply human nature. I'm not saying that I wouldn't do the exact same thing if I were in such a position. Nobody's perfect. FidoNews 6-21 Page 7 22 May 1989 So who gets the best side of this deal? Certainly not the Sysops, they have virtually no say in what goes on. Even the Network Coordinators have very little say in what happens in FidoNet. The power of a Network Coordinator is limited to Policy revisions, and ZC impeachments. Even these powers were intially a farce because of the idea of the dual majority. That at least was progress. The dual-majority getting scrapped was a step in the right direction. How about the International Coordinator? Certainly the IC is in a nice position, however, his say in what happens has been significantly reduced. I'm not necessarily saying that it shouldn't be reduced. However, the IC is voted in by the ZCs, and therefore, indirectly, by the RCs. It is all well and good that the International Coordinator *should* be elected (how else would we decide?), but I think that there is very little sense in having only the upper echelons vote. Now, what about the Zone Coordinators? Certainly they have a good side of the deal. But the decisions of a ZC can still be reversed by a majority of the RCs voting against it. The ZC is elected by the RCs as well. The Zone Coordinator can, however, place the right people as Regional Coordinators under him. Yet wouldn't a decision to have an RC replaced still be subject to reversal by the other RCs? If this was the case, then all the RCs would have to do would be to stick together, and they would essentially control FidoNet. The bottom line is that the Regional Coordinators are probably getting by far the best end of the deal. The can control the Zone Coordinator, and they don't have to answer to the Network Coordinators under them. Has it yet occurred to anybody out there exactly why the Regional Coordinators aren't votable positions? The whole idea of voting for the position above stops at the RC level. The whole idea of decision reversal stops at the RC level. The Network Coordinators end up having very little say in the matter. Now, let us consider exactly who it is that makes FidoNet work. The answer is simple. At the very bottom are the Sysops. The nodes. Without Sysops at the bottom of the whole chain, all the admin positions in the world would be pointless. The Sysops who are a part of FidoNet, and who are the vast majority of FidoNet, however, have very little say in what goes on. Does this imply that it is believed that an average Sysop is not intelligent or responsible enough to make decisions on how FidoNet should be run? However, the next level up on the ladder are the Network Coordinators. It's the NCs who really make FidoNet work. This is in a different way. The NCs coordinate mail movement in and out of their areas of responsibility. They maintain the nodelist fragments, they distribute nodediffs and FidoNews. Most importantly, however, they encourage the formation of new FidoNews 6-21 Page 8 22 May 1989 FidoNet nodes in their areas. I would venture to say that a very sizeable portion of the Sysops who have joined FidoNet have done so because there was somewhere nearby where they could get FidoNet software, documents, nodelists, help, and a node number. The Regional Coordinators certainly could not do this. Not that I'm knocking the Regional Coordinators, it's just that a Region is by far too large to effectively manage without smaller subdivisions. Someone who lives in an area, say, 500 miles away from a Regional Coordinator, would have loads of fun trying to get a network number, nodediffs, FidoNews, help, advice and software, if it weren't for the Network Coordinators who do all this. You could almost say that the NCs are the unsung heroes of FidoNet. Now, let's get something straight. I'm a Network Coordinator. When I got this position, I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I've put a lot of work into FidoNet, and spent a great deal of time encouraging local sysops to connect as FidoNet nodes. I have spent many long hours connecting Sysops to mailers, debugging systems, solving problems, etc. I have spent almost as long trying to keep my computer from going crazy on me. At least twice a week my hard disk threatens to fill up. I'm not knocking the Regional Coordinators, Zone Coordinators, or other administrative positions at all. They certainly do a lot of work, and we'd be equally lost without most of them. I'm simply trying to point out that we have other administrative positions in FidoNet as well. The whole administrative realm of FidoNet does not, contrary to popular belief, end with the RCs. Yet Policy 4 tends to imply that it does. This document is not meant as a put-down. I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything. I'm simply attempting to provoke some thought out there. I myself was of the attitude, "Well, a Policy revision is long overdue. Let's all vote yes, approve it, and get it out of our hair." When I really started to think about it, however, I started to seriously ask myself if I really agreed with what was in it, and if I really agreed that that was the way FidoNet should be run. I decided to write this article when I came up with the answer, and saw what problems there really are in Policy 4. Consider how little has *really* changed in Policy 4. There are definitely some very good clarifications, and minor technical modifications. However, the only thing that strikes me as a major change is the political structure. Details of which I have gone into already. Now, who wrote Policy 4? The Administration. Particularly, mostly the Regional Coordinators. I am not saying that if I were in such a position that I'd do anything different than what they did, and that was to extend their power. Again, human nature. Now, naturally, the policy documents have to be written by somebody. Administration is a logical choice. It would, however, be much more logical to appoint a committee out of various positions, from the Sysop level up. Maybe a few FidoNews 6-21 Page 9 22 May 1989 Sysops, a few NCs, a few RCs, the ZCs, and the IC. That would definitely be the most democratic way to get things accomplished In closing, my advice for how any form of voting structure should work is that it should apply to virtually everybody, or virtually nobody. There are always exceptions at the top and bottom in either of these cases. Basically, if the upward structure is to be used, it should travel right down to the Sysop level. In other words, the Sysops vote for their NC (or at least have some portion of relevant say in who he is), the NCs vote for their RC, the RCs for their ZC, and so on. The more logical method, however, would be to simply have everybody in FidoNet vote for the IC, or everybody in a zone vote for their ZC, and then they can take care of appointing the levels below them, indirectly. Basically, in other words, the same way it worked before Policy 4, except that everybody who has a Node address should be eligible to vote. This would be democracy. The system as it is now is *not* democratic. It is more or less, an aristocracy bordering on a dictatorship. Admittedly, this is strong language, but it becomes clear that the administration is power mongering with this revision of Policy. Again, I'm not blaming anybody in specific, save for that old entity known as human nature. I must admit that if I were a part of the high-level admin in FidoNet, I might agree with Policy 4 wholeheartedly. The fact is that I'm not, I'm just a Network Coordinator of an obscure little network that sees the potential problems that could develop if the policies of FidoNet follow this pattern. Adolf Hitler was a prime example of somebody who wrote himself into power. He began as Chancellor of Germany, and was the greatest thing that ever happened to Germany for a while, but he eventually, through various forms of legislation, put himself in such a position that he was Chancellor for life. It is not an entirely adequate comparison, but does give us an example of what can happen when one person or specific group of people are put in charge of creating policies. History shows it doesn't work. Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it, and I think that it's possible to say that this is where we are now heading in FidoNet. We need democracy in this structure. Not anti-democracy posing as democracy, which is the vein that Policy 4 is written in. And if counting 5700 votes is a problem, I have a number of suggestions as to how that could be handled. I certainly hope I haven't offended anyone in the writing of this. I have just stated a number of things that I felt needed to be said. Policy 4 is a great document in many ways, and has a number of promising aspects. I disagree with the political structure it outlines, however, because it is simply not acceptable in a democratic system. The problem is that too many people out there don't want to get involved in the politics in FidoNet, and I can't say that I FidoNews 6-21 Page 10 22 May 1989 blame them. However, sitting back and pretending that everything is okay when it isn't is not going to make the problems go away. It's going to do nothing but compound them. I would implore the Sysops, and especially the Network Coordinators out there to get involved and pay attention to what is happening around them. And please don't fall into the trap that I nearly fell into and get the attitude of, "let's just vote yes on it and get it over with." That is a very dangerous attitude to have. Think about what you're voting on. Ask yourself if you really want FidoNet to be run how Policy 4 implies it will be run. Base your vote upon your answer to that question. End of Political Discourse. Again, I honestly hope I haven't offended anyone through this. It was not meant as a put-down of any person or category of people. It is very simply some constructive criticism on what I think is wrong with things as they now stand. (And to think that I missed the final episode of "Family Ties" to sit here and write this ). ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 6-21 Page 11 22 May 1989 Making A Point jim nutt 'the computer handyman' 1:114/30 Setting up a point is actually a lot easier than you might think. It requires some time, patience and a fair deal of hard disk space, but in general, not much hair. The first step in setting up a point is finding a fidonet sysop who is willing to act as a 'boss' node for you. The boss node is essentially your link to the rest of fidonet. In a basic point, all your mail flows through the boss and you call only the boss. It is generally a good idea to make sure that the boss node is a local call and that they are someone you can work with. The next step is to collect the software you need. I personally recommend the following for a basic point: BinkleyTerm version 2.20 ConfMail version 3.31 oMMM version 1.40 msged version 1.99 Arca/Arce any version I recommend using confmail version 3.31 instead of version 4 because 3.31 can also do all your message maintenance for you, while those functions have been eliminated from version 4. The easiest way to set all this stuff up is to create a subdirectory on your hard disk called "POINT" and dump everything into it. You'll need to create a few subdirectories under point as well: \point\inbound where inbound mail goes \point\outbound where mail is held to be sent \point\mail where the messages are stored And of course, if you want echomail, you need to create a subdirectory for each echomail area you want to pick up. Now you need to get on the phone and talk to the sysop of your boss node. You need to find out what your 'private' network address is and you have to decide what password you want to use on your sessions with the boss node. The private network address is the address your boss uses in talking with you, it is never seen by the rest of the network. Once you have that information you can begin editing the configuration files for your point. There are a total of seven of them and unfortunately, a great deal of the information is duplicated in them. The programs use the following configuration files: BinkleyTerm Binkley.Cfg ConfMail Areas.Bbs, Mail.Sys FidoNews 6-21 Page 12 22 May 1989 msged Binkley.Cfg oMMM oMMM.ctl, oMMM.cfg, Binkley.Prm Of all of these, Binkley.Cfg is the most important as Mail.Sys and Binkley.Prm are created from it (using the btctl.exe utility) and BinkleyTerm and msged use it directly. Fortunately, it's also the best documented. The easiest way to set it up is to take the sample Binkley.Cfg and change it to fit your system. The BinkleyTerm documention covers this in fair detail. Once you have that file set up, you run btctl to create mail.sys and binkley.prm. You now have installed BinkleyTerm and msged. The next thing to do is to create and oMMM.ctl file containing a single line: ArcCm bnet/bnode All Where bnet/bnode is your boss nodes address. Then change the values in the sample ommm.cfg to point to your subdirectories and you're all set for netmail. The final configuration file, Areas.Bbs, is a bit more complicated. It tells confmail where each of your echomail areas are. If you aren't doing any echomail, then Areas.Bbs can be as simple as: 'the computer handyman' (home of msged) ! jim nutt Of course, you'll want to change that to reflect your name and system. If you are running echomail, you'll need a line for each echo area in the form: subdirectory echotag bossnet/node Subdirectory is where the echo message will be put, echotag is the official name of the area and bossnet/node tells confmail that you want this echo sent to your boss node. If you've gotten this far the rest is easy! All that is left is to write a simple batch file to control packing and unpacking mail, your boss probably has one he can give you or can help you with one of your own. Other than that, you're pretty much ready to go. I can't stress enough though.... READ THE DOCUMENTATION for your software, it wasn't written just to waste space on the disk! It will help you get through the tight spots and figure out some of the wierdness that can happen. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 6-21 Page 13 22 May 1989 Tom Hendricks, Sysop of Avi-Technic BBS, 1:261/662, (301) 252-0717 What IFNA Means to Me: I am writing this article after reflection on the many changes and troubles that the International FidoNet Association has endured over the last few years. IFNA, the organization, has survived a turbulent period, and its continued existance is still far from a certainty. It was formed originally to help offset some of the costs of running the FidoNet, and of helping the people who do so. Upon its creation it was beset with confusion and mixed ideals, effectively hamstringing its operation at every turn. Detractors took refuge in "Alternative" networks and took potshots whenever possible. IFNA, in an attempt to counteract these detractors became a responsive organization, declaring itself separate and apart from the day-to-day FidoNet operations, and became centered on special interests. Finally, these seem to be dissolving, leaving only the shell remaining. Did you know that the International FidoNet association appoints the International Coordinator? It does. However complaints aimed at the IFNA Board of Directors caused them to divorce themselves somewhat from actual FidoNet Operations. Did you know the IFNA Board of Directors appoints the chairman of the FidoNet Technical Standards Committee (FTSC)? Did you know this committee has several sub-committees, including high-speed modems, software certification and others? Did you know that the IFNA Board of Directors has listened to comments from anyone (not just FidoNet members) about anything related to the FidoNet? Did you know that the IFNA Board of Directors appoints the Membership Services Committee Chairman, and that the Membership Services has a sub-committee which selects the site of FidoCons from year to year? (This year's winner was San Jose, California). Did you know these conventions are partially funded in startup, or seed money from the IFNA treasury? Did you know there was a IFNA Publications committee which oversees the publishing of the Weekly FidoNews? With all this is mind, what does IFNA mean to you, the "Average" FidoNet sysop? I'm not too sure many of us know IFNA exists. Too often we take for granted something without understanding the need for it, and the necessary investment of our time and energies to keep it there for us. Honestly, the most any of us have heard about IFNA, was what a lot of hot-headed detractors have been saying about it. All we remember is that this problem or that problem exists, while very few people realize there are a lot of positives involved as well. Did you know for instance that the International FidoNet Association was the holder of the copyright on the term 'FidoNet' as assigned from Tom Jennings, the creator of the net? Did you know IFNA was a non-profit corporation? Donations of money, equipment or time can be accepted and put to good use. FidoNews 6-21 Page 14 22 May 1989 Did you know that IFNA is your best bet in terms of a single body representing all of us? Even though the paid membership of IFNA is small in comparison to the number of systems contained in the nodelist, IFNA is the only organization which effectively is available to be a 'WatchDog' on our hobby for us. Do you remember the scares of Texas, where Bulletin Board Systems were deemed businesses and had to pay business telephone rates? How about the instance in D.C. where all the bulletin boards were called part of pipe-bomb making network? Or else, what about the child-pornography and pediphile networks? Although we are large in numbers, there is no effective organization available presently to counter this flood of misrepresentation about our hobby. IFNA, is our only option now, and they do their best by explaining the good things, how electronic communications helps enrich the environment, not detract from it. I started writing this article in response to several comments like "IFNA may not exist much longer", or listening to the constant chatter of something someone somewhere doesn't like today. Tomorrow will see new people complaining about other things, other people, other situations. Bottom line is: Who, What, and How will they complain about IFNA when it isn't there anymore? Will it take losing something valuable (but still in its infancy) to realize that they need to save it, to nurture it, and to force it to grow? This brings me to my question, "What does IFNA mean to me?" Well, let me tell you, or did I do just that? -Tom Hendricks- ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 6-21 Page 15 22 May 1989 Sysops participate in the Youth At Risk Program by The Captain of the King's Navee, 7:520/583, 1:520/583, 9:807/1 and the Newark Youth At Risk Program One of the reasons I joined the Alliance was to work with others in doing some good for people. Being a charitable organization, one of the goals of the Alliance is to help others. I've watched as our organization has grown over the past year or so, and waited eagerly for the opportunity to take part in some of these proposed activities. As you can imagine, much of the Alliance's energy has been spent just getting started and growing over the past months, but we are now organized to the point where our members can start to do some of the good work that our Code of Chivalry mentions. Several members of AlterNet 520 have recently gotten involved in a worthy program called "Youth at Risk". His Majesty the Archduke, Karl the First, has been involved for over a year with this program, and introduced it to our network. As you will see, however, this program is taking place on a NATIONAL level, giving ALL Alliance members an opportunity to participate. The Youth At Risk Program was designed as a community intervention into the problem of juvenile delinquency. It was begun in Oakland, California in 1982 in response to the demands of an anguished community frustrated by its inablility to deal with this problem. Since that time Youth At Risk Programs have been conducted in cities across the U.S. with over 25 cities currently participating. Youth At Risk offers a real prospect of making a substantial impact on the problem of juvenile delinquency in this country. Members of Net 520 are currently dealing with the program based in the city of Newark, N.J. The Breakthrough Foundation of San Francisco is the source of the Youth At Risk Program. Breakthrough provides the professional staff necessary to stage a program in each city and, over a 2 year period, trains about 350 volunteers in the skills required to insure its success. In addition, the Breakthrough staff actually conducts much of the hands-on work with the youths. Each community's Youth At Risk Program is incorporated separately from the Break through Foundation, allowing it to receive tax deductible contributions directly. Each Youth At Risk Program must raise the funds to pay Breakthrough for its services. HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS --------------------- There are approximately 85 youths in each Youth At Risk Program. They are selected through a process of consultation with school officials, probation officers, social workers and other community professionals. No youth is forced to do the program. The one overriding requirement for participation is the willingness to have one's life turned around, to be open to new ideas and alternatives. Each youth is made fully aware that this program FidoNews 6-21 Page 16 22 May 1989 is tough and demanding and will require commitment and integrity on his or her part. Few appreciate the full meaning of those words until they begin the program. THE 10 DAY COURSE ----------------- The 10 Day Course is an intensive, rigorous experience for 85 youths at risk and 20 adult professionals in the youth services field. The adult professionals actually participate in the couse with the youths, creating a common experience that leads to broadened communication and understanding. The 10 Day Course takes place in a rural setting within a few hours driving distance of the youths' community. During the Course participants break throught the limitations they have imposed on themselves and the judgements and attitudes they have formed about each other. At the end of the 10 days both the youths and the adult professionals, who work with the youths back in the community, are fully aware of possibilities for their lives that they had not previously seen. THE FOLLOW THROUGH PROGRAM -------------------------- Back at home the environment has not improved. Therefore, Follow Through activities are specifically designed not only to accelerate the breakthroughs achieved during the 10 Day Couse but to do so in ways that are relevant to the reality of day-to day life and to the issues the young people confront. The Breakthrough Foundation, in partnership with local social service agencies and supported by volunteers, manages the year- long Follow Through Program. During the Follow Through each participant, supported by an adult volunteer "committed partner", works on personal and community service projects. Special attention is paid to performance in school or on the job, to family relationships, and to relationships with the juvenile justice authorities. The youths attend monthly day-long group meetings, led by Breakthrough staff, and are in communication with their committed partners at least 3 times a week. THE RESULTS ----------- Who are these youth at risk? 61% of the applicants for the Youth At Risk Program in cities across the U.S. reported that they had been caught by the police committing a crime; 89% of these said they would probably do it again; 33 had been shot, stabbed or beaten people; almost all reported problems in school and at home; 60% had used drugs. Independent studies show that the Youth At Risk Program produces dramatic results: 1. Truancy down 75% 2. Hours per week at work up 300% FidoNews 6-21 Page 17 22 May 1989 3. Arrests down 50% 4. Substantial improvement in grades 5. Improved relations with parents and teachers 6. As reflected in standardized "locus of control" tests an increased willingness to accept responsibility for their own lives and a decreased tendency to blame others for their problems. 7. Substantially reduced drug use. To quote Connecticut Superior Court Judge Sidney Landau, "this is the thing that really works. The results here are so good I can't believe it. I've been in the criminal justice system for 30 years. I deal with an 85% recidivism rate in Bridgeport. Here, it's more like 35%. People I tell this to in my business say 'you're lying - it can't be true'. But it is." THE COST -------- It costs about $400,000 to fund EACH Youth At Risk Program. This money goes for local operations (phone, stationary, electricity, office rental, etc.), consultation services from the Breakthrough Foundation (training volunteers in fundraising and program organization), 10 Day site expenses, including compensation to Breakthrough for the staff people who conduct the 10 Day Course, and the year-long Follow Through Program. Donated goods and services from local suppliers can substantially reduce this cost. CONCLUSION ---------- The possibilities for Youth At Risk are exciting. Youth At Risk Programs, done on an on-going basis, can have a considerable impact on the quality of life, both for the participants and for the community at large. These take support in monetary donations, and in vounteer time to get these programs rolling. I urge sysops everywhere to seek out the closest Youth At Risk Program and contribute and volunteer, or if there isn't a program locally, start one yourself! Programs are underway in the following US cities: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Bridgeport, Chicago, Chapel Hill, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Monterey, New Haven, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Rochester, San Jose, Seattle, San Antonio, San Diego, Springfield (Mass), and Washington DC. For information, on how to contact YAR in these cities, or start a program in your own city, contact The Breakthrough Foundation at 1-800-669-0171. Your local Youth At Risk organization will be happy to help you to sponsor a youth in the program. On the average right now, it takes about $3,000 per youth to put him (or her) through the program. Multiply that by 85 youths, and you can see the type of dollars this type of program needs to run. But I think you'll agree that the results speak for themselves. It's worth it! FidoNews 6-21 Page 18 22 May 1989 If you'd like to send a contribution, seek out your local YAR program, or contributions can be sent to: Newark Youth At Risk, Inc. PO Box 32333 Newark, N.J. 07102 or call (201)687-0352 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 6-21 Page 19 22 May 1989 ================================================================= COLUMNS ================================================================= The Veterinarian's Corner Excerpts from the ANIMED GroupMail Conference by Don Thomson, 1:102/1005 I think that it is time that pressure be brought to develop alternative testing means for the cosmetic industry to screen potential new products prior to marketing. As time as gone on, medical science has been able to develop sensitive and relatively sophisticated means for the detection of mutagenic potential of compound in specialized bacterial cultures, rather than the massive number of laboratory anmials once used for screening many food and pharmaceutical products for cancer causing potential (Ames Test). While this does not ELIMINATE the use of animals, it GREATLY reduces the number of animals utilized for the lower levels of the screening process. I believe that the use of some animals in medical research is a pragmatic necessity. I believe that we have the moral and ethical responsibility to use the fewest number of animals possible, in the most humane manner possible. We must continually search for alternative technologies and computer simlutations and extrapolations where appropriate. The realistic approach for today is somewhere in the middle of the discussion. Those crying for the immediate end to all use of animal models in research, ignore the fact that as of now in many cases there is no alternative means yet devised to obtain the needed information that ultimately is of a higher benefit to man. (Not sure that 'cosmetics' quite fits this bill....) Yet I have seen the definate move towards development of new technology, largely because of the mobilization of public opinion, first raised by those on these extreme views. The end result IS better. On the other hand, callous use of "such animals as rats, mice, and rabbits" [quote from cosmetic industry spokesperson] "is far less important than consumer safety issues," to me is a calloused view on the other side which demeans respect for 'non-human' animal life. I would rather hear the industry come to open examination of alternative means of irritant screening, rather than defensive posturing. I do not know of the specific types and choices we currently have in utilizing these alternative modalities, but I know that we are resourceful enough people that we can at least limit the extent of animal use, rather than continue to rely upon a crude biologic screen that has changed little over the last 45 years. Don Thomson, DVM 1:102/1005 9:871/16 FidoNews 6-21 Page 20 22 May 1989 ----------------------------------------------------------------- FidoNews 6-21 Page 21 22 May 1989 ================================================================= LATEST VERSIONS ================================================================= Latest Software Versions Bulletin Board Software Name Version Name Version Name Version Fido 12m* Opus 1.03b TBBS 2.1 QuickBBS 2.03 TPBoard 5.0 TComm/TCommNet 3.4 Lynx 1.30 Phoenix 1.3 RBBS 17.1D Network Node List Other Mailers Version Utilities Version Utilities Version Dutchie 2.90C EditNL 4.00 ARC 6.01 SEAdog 4.50 MakeNL 2.12 ARCmail 2.0 BinkleyTerm 2.20 Prune 1.40 ConfMail 4.00 D'Bridge 1.18 XlatList 2.90 TPB Editor 1.21 FrontDoor 2.0 XlaxNode 2.32 TCOMMail 2.2 PRENM 1.40 XlaxDiff 2.32 TMail 8901 ParseList 1.30 UFGATE 1.03 GROUP 2.07 EMM 1.40 MSGED 1.99 XRS 2.0 * Recently changed Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by reporting new versions to 1:1/1. 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