*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*››    COMMENTS by OHAUG STAFF NEWSLETTER› REVIEWER›                       by Alan Sharkis›            OHAUG Newsletter Librarian››      I  have noticed that there are a› few  newsletters   that   we  get  on› exchange   that   seldom  have  8-bit› articles.  If those newsletters NEVER› have 8-bit articles, it might be safe› to assume that  there  are  no  8-bit› members  left  in  the clubs. But, if› there are only  occasional   articles› about 8-bits, it seems to me that the› 8-bit  community has  to be  reminded› that  they  have to write to keep the› community alive.›› WRITING IS A PERMANENT RECORD!›      All writing  is  communication. › Unlike  a  message on a BBS, however,› an article in a user group newsletter› or commercial magazine is permanent. › It can be retrieved many years later.› Perhaps  that's  a  mixed bag.  Sure,› you want your ideas to endure.   But,› are they quite up to snuff?  Have you› expressed them in a  way  that  won't› embarrass you?  I maintain that those› concerns can really  be  put  aside. › Here's  how.  Every user group I know› of has people who use  computers  and› are  somewhat expert in some areas of› using computers.  How  many  of  them› use  computers  professionally?    It› varies  from  club   to   club,   but› probably  never  reaches  100%.  Yet,› these members are respected for their› areas  of expertise. ›› SPREAD THE WORD!› If you know how to do something,  the› next very logical  step is to PASS IT› ON to others, isn't that  right?  I'd› even say it's an OBLIGATION.  Writing› an  article  is a way to do that on a› mass basis, but, oh, that  reluctance› to  write!  Well, every club also has› members who can take  ideas  and  put› them  on  paper   in   a   way   that› guarantees that the ideas will spread› to   others    in    an    effective,› informative, even entertaining way.› WHO CAN HELP?›      So,  I'm  going   to   encourage› newsletter  editors  all   over   the› country to help their members write! › Our editor, ALEX  PIGNATO, does  just› that!  LIAUG's  editor, HARVEY SHOEN,› also  does.   Encouragement,  by  the› way, doesn't only mean standing up at› a  meeting  and asking for articles. › It means that if you  have  a  member› with  good  ideas  but  few  literary› skills,  that  you  take some time to› polish   their   works   INSTEAD   of› rejecting  them.   It  means  calling› people  to clarify what they meant in› paragraph two, or to ask them if  the› rewrite  you  did  doesn't play havoc› with their original idea. Editors  do› not always have the expertise you may› have that you are writing  about.  It› sounds  like  work,  I  know. But the› work   will  help  to  guarantee  the› survival  of  our  8-bit  community. › Editors are not the  only  ones  with› some  responsibility  in  this area. › For example, ALEX and I are  offering› our  help to those in OHAUG who would› like to see their ideas in print, but› need  an  experienced  hand  to  help› them.  And,   for   the   "reluctant"› writers  out  there, I can offer this› advice: Don't be overwhelmed  at  the› prospect of giving your article to an› editor!  He's probably just as  down-› to-earth  as  you   are.    We   have› talented  editors  in  this   8   BIT› community  who  are  the most distant› thing from intellectual snobbery  you› could  imagine.  Think  of it: of the› two  major  commercial magazines (Ed.› now  two  and  soon  to be one!) that› deal with Atari  8-bit  articles  one› editor  is a Chemist (BEN POEHLAND at› AC), one is  in  the  military  (RICK› REASER at CN)-Club newsletter editors› are even more  helpfull.  What  these› people  share is a love for the ATARI› 8-BITs.  They  are only too happy  to› get  your article and help you spread› your ideas in the most effective way.›› FINAL COMMENT!› (Editor:  Thanks  AL,  I coudn't have› said it any better, and I hope people› heed  your  advice to help keep the 8› BIT alive and well! A.P.)›                ><><><›