*****›         NEAR*US REVITALIZED›› FLASH.........› On Saturday, December 3, 1994, after a› gap  of several years, representatives› of three  user   groups   and  several› interested individuals met to  discuss› the  revitalization  of  the  umbrella› service organization known as NEAR*US.› I am  delighted  to  report  that  the› meeting  accomplished its goal and set› vital new directions  for  NEAR*US  to› follow. NEAR*US originally  stood  for› the  North  East  Atari  Regional User› Society.   It   was   designed  as  an› umbrella service organization  of  its› member  user groups, most of whom were› located in the  northeastern  part  of› the  United  States. Shortly after its› formation,   a   BBS    network    was› established  and  lists of member user› groups began  to  be  printed  in  the› newsletters  of  those   member   user› groups.  Other  services  and  sharing› were    the   result.   However,   the› organization  became  dormant  as  the› user   groups   developed   their  own› facilities and prospered. Now, with  a› general  decrease  of  membership  and› dealer    services,   and   with   the› geographic dispersion of  members,  it› has  become  apparent that there was a› need to reestablish NEAR*US.››    Long Island Atari User Group, LIAUG› LIAUG hosted  the  meeting.  The   OL'› HACKERS ATARI  USER GROUP  (OHAUG) and› the  LEHIGH  VALLEY  ATARI USERS GROUP› (LVAUG) were represented  by  officers› and  other  members.   Several   other› groups  were  interested,   but   were› occupied  and  couldn't  attend.  They› expressed  wishes  to be kept informed› and involved. Apparently, a few of the› original  member groups had disbanded.› Now NEAR*US will  attempt  to  contact› former  members and bring them the new› services  that NEAR*US  will  provide.› Those  assembled  quickly  established› that  Jon  Mordosky, vice-president of› LVAUG will chair the new organization,› and  that  there  will  be  a   second› meeting  on March  18, 1995, hosted by› hosted  by  the  OL' HACKERS A.U.G. at› PLAINVIEW Library at  999  Old Country› Road, Plainview N.Y.››     It  was recognized that Atari user› community  consists of both user group› members and  unaffiliated  --  perhaps› isolated  --  Atari  users. Therefore,› NEAR*US will  attempt  to  gather  and› disseminate  information  about  Atari› dealers  and  repair  facilities, user› groups,   and   sources  of  help  and› information. We will support all Atari› products,  whether computers or video-› game   systems.  To  accomplish  this,› NEAR*US intends to outreach  to  Atari› users  by  using  commercial   on-line› services,  networked  and   individual› User Group BBSs (including the NEAR*US› and International  Atari  Networks  of› PRO),  the  Info  Atari   Digests   on› InterNet  (USENET), print publications› such   as   Current  Notes  and  Atari› Classics    Magazine,    user    group› newsletters, etc. For the  first  time› in its history, NEAR*US will also seek› the active  involvement  of  non-user-› group  BBSs  and networks that support› Atari computers. It will  not  dictate› the  platform  on  which  such  a  BBS› operates.  The  BBS must not engage in› software  piracy.  It  was  also  made› clear that the tone of friendship  and› comaraderie,    help    and   support,› education   and   sharing   that   has› characterized    Atari    user   group› meetings over these many years will be› encouraged  and  strengthened  in  the› revitalized  NEAR*US.›     For   more   information,   please› contact  Jon  Mordosky  on  GEnie. His› GEnie address is J.C.MORDOSKY, and  he› will  be  happy to direct unaffiliated› users to user groups and other sources› of  information,  service and support.› He will  also  be  able  to  help  the› sysops  of  non-user-group  BBSs   and› networks  as   described   above   get› involved.  NEAR*US is alive, well, and› functioning again! "Spread the  word!"››            Alan Sharkis›                *****›