###################################################################### # # # @@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@ @@ # # @ @ @ @ @ # # @ @ @@@@@ @ @ # # @ @ @ @@@@@@ # # @@@@@ @ @@@@@ @ @ # # # # # # @ @ @@@@ @ @ @@@@@ @ @@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@ # # @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # # @ @ @ @@@ @ @ @ @@@@@ @ @@@ @ @ @@@ @@@@ # # @ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # # @ @ @@@@ @ @ @@@@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @ @ @@@@@ @ @ # # # # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # # Volume 3 July 16, 1988 PO Box 49474 # # Number 11 Austin, Tx 78765 # # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # # Disclaimer: # # The CENTRAL TEXAS SYSOP ASSOCIATION takes no responsibility # # for the contents of the articles contained here, Nor do we # # necessarily agree with them; everything here is subject to # # debate. We publish everything of interest submitted. # # ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # # Copyright, Central Texas Sysop Association, 1988. Rights to # # reproduce granted provided entire document is reproduced # # without modification. # # # # For further information on The CENTRAL TEXAS SYSOP ASSOCIATION # # or this newsletter: # # Call: Write: # # CTSA Home BBS Central Texas Sysop Association # # CTSA Unlimited P.O. Box 49474 # # (512) 477-5338 Austin, Texas 78765 # # # ###################################################################### SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! Elections for officers of the Central Texas Sysop Association will be held at the regular August meeting, August 11, 1988 in the auditorium of the Chris Cole Rehabilitation Center. See the Election Update article in this issue for the slate of candidates. BE THERE AND VOTE As an added inducement to come to the meeting, we will raffle a copy of Grandview by Symmantec. The company was generous enough to donate the software through Dan Barry to help us out. Grandview is written by the author of PC-Outline, and is building a reputation as a contender to the likes of Lotus Agenda. *_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_* This Month: ASCII by Aiken - Daniel Aiken, President CTSA Through the Editor's Modem - Vice President and Editor CTSA Election Update! - Colby Jordan ***-<>-*** ASCII by Aiken Greetings to all of you out there in Modem-Land. The next meeting of the CTSA will be my last as President of the organization. Being President of the Central Texas Sysop Association has certainly been an interesting experience! When Jim Westbrook first approached me to run for President, I was flattered. However, my initial elation quickly turned to nervousness as I considered all of the groups and activities I was already involved in - I had serious doubts as to whether I would have time to do the job justice. I had many talks with my friends asking their opinions, they all said "Go for it!". So I did and, much to my surprise, I won the election!!! The first meeting as President was truly nerve racking, talk about stage fright, I had the corner on the market!!! I gradually became more comfortable speaking in front of groups of people and running meetings. Now, I still get nervous but the year as President has greatly improved my self-confidence as a speaker. There are many aspects of being President of an organization that I did not realize until I was hip deep into it. One of them that became immediately apparent was that I was held personally responsible for the acts of any and all CTSA members. I know this sounds strange but it is true. When people had problems with access on the CTSA Unlimited BBS, they called me. When people had problems with access on CTSA member BBSs, they called me. Why they did not call the Sysops of those systems or leave a message to the Sysop, I don't know. I must have explained at least 1,000 times that the CTSA is merely a group of Sysops that share the desire to put a face to the names, to share knowledge with others, to promote the use of computers and communications program, and hold piracy of software in a very dim light. Then there was the issue that the CTSA were the "Modem Police". Boy, am I tired of that one!!! Nothing could be further from the truth, yet some folks believed that was the purpose of the organization!!! So, I will say this once more... The CTSA could care less how any Sysop runs his/her BBS - after all it is their equipment that they choose to put on-line and nobody has the right to tell them how to run their BBS. The ONLY thing the CTSA is interested in is promoting the use of BBSs. If for example, you have Lotus 123 available for downloading then that is your problem...the Feds will come and take your toys away and probably fine you and throw you in jail, the CTSA has no need/desire to get involved in "policing" boards. Sysops who have commercial programs available for downloading by the general public do great harm to the image of BBSs and encourage the law makers to pass laws that restrict and control BBSs. Obviously, this is "no bueno" and highly undesired by all Sysops. Do you want the Feds to tell you how to run your BBS? I sure as heck don't! This is a free country and folks can do whatever they wish as long as it doesn't harm others or is illegal. One of the other things that amazed me as President was that if any CTSA member left a comment or a message on a non-member BBS that in any way criticized the way that Sysop ran his BBS, it was perceived as a judgment by the CTSA!!! It was as if by being a member of the CTSA, one relinquished all rights to having an individual opinion!!! I know, this sounds incredible, but it has happened a number of times. The quantity of phone calls I have received about that particular issue is mind boggling. I do not understand from where this perception springs but it is real. It is analogous to racial/sexual discrimination. Telecommunications is an art form that is limited by the medium of the written word. One must work within the limitations of the art form and realize that what they write may be misunderstood by the reader. It is because of this that the use of ;-) and and other forms of telling the reader that the message may be "tongue in cheek" have become so popular. The benefit of the doubt should always be granted to the message poster until the time when all doubts have been removed. I will climb down off my soapbox now (The altitude was giving me a nosebleed!) and finish by saying that I enjoyed being President of the CTSA, I believe the CTSA to be an organization has the ability to fight restrictions proposed by the law-makers. However, we must be united in our efforts. Two-thirds of the BBSs in Austin are non- members, WHY? United we have a chance to oppose and defeat any restrictions the law-makers may try to impose, divided as we are, we don't have a prayer. What else can I say? Thank you for listening to me and for supporting me and the CTSA during the past year. Daniel Aiken ***-<>-*** Through the Editors Modem This may well be the final newsletter I edit for the CTSA. I am finally packing up for the move to Chicago - and unless I can effectively edit the newsletter from 1100 miles away, this is my last issue. I have been your editor since October 1986, maybe it is time for some fresh blood here! It has been fun (well most of the time) and certainly educational and well worth the effort. I am glad I volunteered. Lee James has offered to help with the newsletter as an assistant but can't take on the job full time. If you are interested in picking up this job talk to Daniel Aiken - or haul yourself over to the Chris Cole Rehabilitation Center for the August meeting and contribute your services. As I step down from the Vice Presidency I think back over the past year and realize that being Vice President is FUN! There just is not that much for a Vice President to do - except to be the Secretary when the elected on disappears, edit the newsletter, find things to raffle, keep track of the President's whereabouts, come to meetings, upload newsletters and announcements, etc., etc.! I will be glad to pass the title - but have a feeling that the work will never be over - even as I leave town! Don't forget the elections on August 11, 1988!!!!! Colby Jordan ***-<>-*** Election Update! Colby Jordan, Acting Secretary CTSA As per Paragraph 4 - Elections of the By-Laws of the Central Texas SysOp Association, the July 14, 1988 meeting of the CTSA resulted in nominations for officers of the CTSA for 1988-89. The Nominating Committee submitted their suggestions, all the nominees were present and confirmed their in. The Nominating Committee submitted their suggestions, all the nominees were present and confirmed their inVice President: Charles Curtis Treasurer: Teri Chesser Secretary: Tom Hoot Vice President: Charles Curtis Treasurer: Teri Chesser Secretary: Tom Hoot Vice President: Charles Curtis Treasurer: Teri Chesser Secretary: Tom Hoot The current membership of the Central Texas SysOp Association was then confirmed at 42 paid up members, the roll was