Current Shareware 1994 January/SHAR194.ISO/bbs_list/bbs__oct.zip/GUILD.TXT

Text File | 1992-07-21 | 11KB | 199 lines

(revision date July 21, 1992)
NOTE: Now anyone can become a member of the Guild BBS.

                   THE  INTERNATIONAL  PROGRAMMERS  GUILD

The International Programmers Guild represents programmers globally. Its
purpose is to be a self governing body for all programmers. Just as other
professions have their professional associations, programmers now are self
regulated through the International Programmers Guild. The administrative
centre is in Geneva, Switzerland, and is governed by a council of directors.
The Canadian Chapter is an affiliate of the International Programmers Guild.

The Programmers Guild promotes professionalism in programming and the
acceptance of programming as a true profession. In keeping with being a
professional organization, the Guild accepts only those applying programming
as their career and students training to be programmers.

An important part of the Guild services is the certification program, with
formal certificates being awarded to those who qualify. A Guild member
accepted as a Fellow or Master has been examined by Master programmers of the
Guild to meet the Guild standard of programming.

The Canadian chapter is much more than a local users group or an computer
bulletin board service. It exists for all programmers. Numerous locations are
being estabilished in major cities across Canada, with the Guild electronic
communication nodes providing unified communications amongst programmers
nationwide. A similar expansion is planned throughout the United States and
other countries.

MEMBERSHIP: BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES

The Programmers Guild provides numerous benefits to members including:

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION - Full acceptance as a Fellow of the Guild in good
standing guarantees that a person has been pre-screened as having minimum
standard of professional programming. Wide recognition as a professional is
assisted both through Canadian and international registry and documents to
verify ones proficiency.

CERTIFICATION - After members have met mandatory minimal standards of the
Guild as determined by our Master Programmers and agree with the Guild's Code
of Ethics they are provided with a certificate that reflects their
professional status. This is valuable in gaining professional recognition,
jobs and contracts.

JOBS AND CONTRACTS - Word of contracts and the need of programming services
frequently reach the Guild. Notices to members are posted on the electronic
Bulletin Board and at Guild meetings. The members themselves frequently need
additional assistance on projects, such as when they have more work than they
can handle alone. They also pass word of work that is not in the area of
programming they work in. This benefits all independant programmers, software
consultants and new programmers starting out.

FELLOWSHIP AND NETWORKING - All members are provided open channels to keep in
touch with each other. This happens through messaging on the BBS, biweekly
meetings and other personal relationships that develop. Members trade
technical information, solutions to problems, employment opportunities and
generally enjoy the fellowship of people of like kind and interests.

ACCESS TO THE ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD - The BBS has been so successful in
offering services that some programmers first judge the Guild as a Bulletin
Board service for programmers rather than a governing body. The board indeed
is a source of communication, software, and even enjoyment. There is:

-    Thousands of public domain, shareware and source code files.
-    Guildware. Software created by our members. We take special pride in
     announcng and promoting Guildware.
-    Guild exclusive language libraries.
-    Free referral service for job and contract listing and advertisements.
-    Electronic messaging amongst members. A must for keeping current in a
     fast paced profession.
-    World wide E-mail, categorized by topic. A member programmer has the
     whole of North America and beyond to  place questions to or read what
     others are saying on numerous topics.

GLOBAL RECOGNITION - All Canadian certified members are registered both in
the Canadian and International Almanac. This provides a means of portability
of one's career and programming status to other countries.

LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE GUILD

**** NEW ****

HOBBIEST USER/MEMBER - This is a NEW membership level that has be added
to allow all BBS callers access to the Files/Message Bases/Echo Mail etc.
on the 4 Node Programmers Guild BBS (3-9600 BAUD 1-2400 BAUD).
*************

The Programmers Guild membership is structured to reflect the professional
abilities and responsibilites of members.

APPRENTICE OF THE GUILD - This membership level allows future programmers in
training to mingle with seasoned programmers who are successful in their
individual practices and who can pass on knowledge and experience that cannot
be found in textbooks or halls of learning.

FELLOW OF THE GUILD - The full status of Fellow is granted only after the
Guild Master and two Master programmers are convinced that the member meets
minimal standards of proficiency and professional conduct. A person must
actively be making their living in programming or have done so to qualify.

MASTER PROGRAMMER OF THE GUILD - The status of Master Programmer is a
prestigious title granted only after careful deliberation and nomination by
the Guild Master then voted on by the Masters. He or she is called by the
Guild to this position as recognition of their superior abilities in
programming and contributions to the profession. They become ambassadors for
the Guild and hold authority for entry of members to full Fellow status.
Masters have the greater responsiblity (shared with the Guild Master) in
preserving the high standards of the Guild.

THE GUILD MASTER - is appointed by the Board of Directors directly from the
international headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Guild Master must have
superior programming and management skills and is responsible for the entire
operation of a chapter of the International Programmers Guild. Both the Guild
Master and the Master Programmers must be beyond moral reproach.


WHO CAN JOIN (two levels of Memberships)

1 Hobbiest (just for fun BBS user)
2. Professional Programmer

1. To become a Hobbiest (for fun BBS user/member).

Just send us your membership fee of $50.00 or optionally $4.75 per month
along with your Name, Address, Phone Number and password you would like
to start your account with (as we will set up your account for you).
Mail to Address shown below. You can however call the BBS and leave your
information using the online Application, but we still need your PASSWORD
you will use (this can be changed on your next logon session).


2. To become a Professional Member:

Since the Programmers Guild is a professional organization, it is not open to
the general public. There are minimum requirements for membership:

-    Membership is granted only to individuals. Companies, corporations or
     associations cannot be direct members but may maintain  business
     associations with the Guild.
-    A person must be at least 18 years of age. Rare exceptions can be made
     for exceptionally skilled individuals.
-    A person must either be a programming student, actively engaged as a
     programmer, or have prior programming  experience. Programmers who are
     promoted into managerial positions are still accepted.
-    Typically, a systems analyst who knows how to program can be accepted as
     a member while one who does not know how to code cannot be a member.
-    A person must abide by the Programmers Guild Code of Ethics and be of
     good moral constitution and conduct, with solid professional integrity.
     He/she must not object to the requirements set for being a member.

SPONSORSHIP OF CORPORATE PROGRAMMERS

A programming staff with registered members of the Guild provides distinct
advantages:

-    The standards of the Guild become reflected in any organization that
     employs Fellows or Masters of the Guild, assuring a high level of
     professional competence and integrity.
-    High standards help a firm in their image development and retention.
-    The presence of Guild members provides access to all the advantages
     members have including local and world wide communication with other
     programmers, consultants, and suppliers.
-    Local E-mail can be established both with Member programmers in the same
     firm or within a circle of firm. A North American network for
     programmers only is in the planning.
-    Thousands of shareware and source code files are available.

As an employer, you can have reassurance that Guild members have already been
prescreened and accepted to meet the Guild's professional standards. This can
also translate in thousands of dollars of savings over what a private agency
can charge for finding and prescreening candidates. The Programmers Guild
offers access to a concentrated pool of qualified programmers, programmer
analysts and consultants with very broad coverage of languages and abilities.
We often post employment messages on behalf of employers and offer very
reasonable rates to place ads on the Guild BBS.

The Guild accepts and invites firms employing programmers to sponsor the
annual cost of membership. It is an opportunity to offer it as an employment
perk while encouraging the establishment of standards of programming within
your organization. Those seeking membership must still meet our standards.

HOW TO CONTACT US

If you wish to apply for membership or want to be in touch, we welcome your
enquiry. For membership, you may fill out the Membership Application script
on our BBS, phone, write, or meet us at our bi-weekly meetings. Employers and
others can contact us by phone or mail. Our address and digital and voice
lines are:


ADDRESS:                               PHONE:

THE PROGRAMMERS GUILD                  Office. . . . . . . . . [phone]
3016 Runcorn Row                       Data (BBS). . . . . . . [phone]
Mississauga, Ontario                   Toronto Data Line . . . [phone]
L5N 4S5                                Burlington Data Line. . [phone]
                                       Fidonet Node. . . . . . . .  1:259/419