*=*=*=*› (Report of NEAR*US meeting of  3/11 by› JOE HICSWA)››   TO: Ad Hoc NEAR*US committee›› -----------------------------------› NEAR*US MEETING -  SUNDAY,  MARCH  26,› NEWARK, NJ, 12:00 noon to 5:00 P.M.››   A  NEAR*US  ad-hoc   committee   was› formed  at  a prior general meeting on› March 12 hosted by OL' HACKER's  ATARI› USERS GROUP in New York to consider if› NEAR*US is needed, what's necessary to› prevail, and how to accomplish this.››    The    travel   distance   of   the› participants,   required   a   central› location.   The  Pennsylvania Railroad› (Amtrack) Station A/K/A  PENN  STATION› in Newark, NJ. was selected. ››   The  Following   committee   members› attended:› (Alphabetically and by  organization):›› JACG›  BILL BINGHAM        HILLSIDE, NJ›  SAM CORY            BLAIRSTOWN, NJ›  JOSEPH E HICSWA     PASSAIC, NJ›› LIAUG›  MARK GLICKSMAN       BRENTWOOD, NY›  JENNIFER LARKIN     ADELPHI UNIV, NJ›  PAT MULVEY          WANTAUGH, NY›› LVAUG›  JONATHAN MORDORSKY  WHITEHALL, PA›  JON MORDORSKY, JR   WHITEHALL, PA›  ART PAOLINI         ALLENTOWN, PA›› OL' HACKERS›  RON FETZER          ELMONT, NY›  ALEX PIGNATO        OCEANSIDE, NY›  BEN POHLAND         FRAZER, PA.››   Members  began  arriving about noon,› met   at  the  Information  gazebo  to› exchange greetings and pleasantries.››   At 12:30 they dined in the station's› McDonald's.   The dineing area was not› apropos for a meeting. Two scout teams› checked around for appropriate meeting› room.    Jonathan   Mordorsky  Sr  and› Joseph E. Hicswa checked Penn Station.› None  were  available. Ben Pohland and› Art Paolini  inquired  at  THE  HILTON› across  the  street and learned that a› meeting room for us wold  cost  $100. › Funds were not available, so we met in› the Penn Station waiting Room benches. › It  was  a good omen, 'cause it showed› that nothing can stop us, even  if  we› have to meet in a busy crowded waiting› room     with     the      loudspeaker› occaisionally  drowning  us  out.   If› Atari enthusiasts can conduct meetings› amid transient-chatter and movement, a› loudspeaker  blaring  train  schedules› and  music,  then we can meet anywhere› and accomplish anything we set out  to› do.››   After  an  in-depth  discussion,  we› decided  NEAR-US  is definetely needed› in   the   ATARI  community.   It's  a› sobering   and  challenging  task,  to› support and fulfill needs of  all  who› seek  to  enjoy  and   utilize   ATARI› equipment,  regardless  of   platforms› used!››    Knowledge    and    expertize    is› available.  It  only   needs   to   be› centralized,  exposed, coordinated and› easily   accessible.    That   is  the› purpose and goal of NEAR-US!››    Jonathan  Mordorsky  agreed  to  be› focal point by allowing us his address› for  Letter-mail,   and   E-mail   via› A.C.U.T.E. BBS (601)  261-0620,  voice› telephone (610) 261-1044.›› There  will be an "orginal" and "back-› up"   for   each   of   the  following› resources:››                       Correspondence--› (letters/publicity)›      Joseph E. Hicswa›      Jennifer Larkin››    DATABASE--(Lists   of   Usergroups,› BBS's, Membership, Files)›      Mark Glicksman›      Jonathan Mordorsky››    BBS (Coordination and networking)›      Bill Bingham›      Mark Glicksman›› Immediate projects are:›› 1. Let ATARI world know we exist››      A.  Who  we are, What we are, Why› we are, Where we are.››           i. Atari publications.›                a. Letters/articles›                     NEAR-US Etc.››           ii. Network BBS notices››           iii. User Groups›                a. newsletters.›                b. club/local BBS's›                c. flyers - public›                   bulletin boards›› 2.  CREATE  AND  MAINTAIN  A  NATIONAL› COMPILATION OF ATARI USER  GROUPS  and› BBS supporters.›     List    to   contain   last   date› registered with NEAR-US›     Groups,   BBS's   to   re-register› periodically  after  being reminded to› renew.›    Updates distributed as needed.››   Mark and Jennifer  said  they  could› help with photocopying.››   A newsletter was recommended.  There› was   a   general   discussion    with› suggestions  and comments on following› subjects:››   Format›   Editorialship›   Letters›   Articles›   Subscriptions›   Freebees--eg. disks/issues›   Free ads for developers›   Dealer and personal ads›   Costs of printing/mailing›   Quarterly, Bi-yearly issues?›   Number of pages per issue?››   Also "Who  will  accept  opportunity› and  challenge  to  be   public-domain› editor?"››   There  will  be need for individuals› to chair different departments:  8/16-› BIT, JAGUAR, LYNX, FALCON ETC.››   Many  people  can  participate. Each› has     particular     abilities    to› contribute.  How do we find them?  How› do  they  let   us   know   they   are› available, willing and able?››   Joseph  E.  Hicswa coordinating with› Jennifer Larkin will attempt publicity› notices  about  NEAR-US  in  following› Atari  publications:   Atari Classics,› Current Notes, ST Informer.›› (Authors note: Excellent training  and› experience for Bread/Butter jobs).›››   Next  general  meeting  is scheduled› for Sat., June 17,  1995.   Alternate,› June  24th.   Bill  Bingham, Joseph E.› Hicswa, Alex Pignato will check for  a› general  meeting  place.   It is hoped› and anticipated that a hundred  people› might  attend.   Notification  to  all› will  indicate  if  a  flea  market is› permissible.››   Chairman Jon Mordorsky  will  notify› members  of  confirmed place and  time› for next meeting.››› (NOTE:  THIS IS A DRAFT COPY. Final to› be  presented at next general meeting.› › Friendly yours,›                         March 26, 1995› Joseph E. Hicswa› 23 Passaic Av C-3› Passaic, NJ 07055›› ------------------------------------›                 end›