*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*¢¢ 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.)¢ ><><><¢
