FidoNews is published weekly by the International FidoNet
Association as its official newsletter. You are encouraged to
submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission
standards are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from
node 1:1/1.
Copyright 1987 by the International FidoNet Association. All
rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for
noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances,
please contact IFNA at (314) 576-4067.
SPECIAL FIDOCON EDITION
Table of Contents
1. EDITORIAL ................................................ 1
Changes .................................................. 1
2. ARTICLES ................................................. 2
Minutes of First IFNA BofD Meeting, August 21, 1987-DRA .. 2
IFNA Board of Directors, Alternates and Officers ......... 4
Minutes of Second IFNA BofD Meeting, August 21, 1987-DR .. 6
Minutes of Third IFNA BofD Meeting, August 23, 1987-DRA .. 10
Minutes of Meeting of the IFNA Executive Committee ....... 15
Tom Marshall's Views/Cover Notes FidoCon IV .............. 16
Henderson's Letter of Resignation ........................ 19
FidoNet in the South Pacific ............................. 20
3. NOTICES .................................................. 23
The Interrupt Stack ...................................... 23
Latest Software Versions ................................. 23
IFNA Order Form .......................................... 24
IFNA Membership Application .............................. 25
FidoNews 4-33 Page 1 31 Aug 1987
"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I'm
free at last!"
--- Martin Luther King, Jr.
First of all, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone
who voted for me. Yes, I was elected to the Board of Directors,
and yes, I really do deeply appreciate the show of confidence.
I'm VERY glad to know that my efforts have been appreciated.
But I felt that I had to resign.
Before leaving, I nominated Rick Siegel as my Alternate, so he'll
be on the board in place of me. I've known Rick for some time.
He's a concerned sysop who I think will make an excellent board
member. Besides, every stew needs salt.
I should explain. As I read it, article 11 of the Articles of
Association says I can't be on the board. The articles were
passed by a majority of the members. But the members also
elected a number of board members in addition to myself who would
be disqualified under article 11. So what to do?
A few days before the conference an emergency meeting of the
Interim Board was called to consider article 11. At that time we
voted to temporarily suspend article 11 until the new board could
sit and consider the matter. I still stand by that decision. I
wouldn't swear it was right, but I stand by it anyway. Meanwhile
I decided that, if I was elected, I would stand aside until the
new board had decided what to do about article 11.
Then it came down to brass tacks, as they say. I got elected. I
spent a great deal of the weekend wrestling with my conscience,
and finally decided that in good faith I must apply the original
article 11 to myself.
So now I'm back where I was a little over a year ago, on the
outside looking in. I'll probably like it better here. I was
never really comfortable with being an "insider".
IFNA is off and running now -- it doesn't need me any more. It's
better off without the controversy.
MINUTES OF THE FIRST IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
August 21, 1987 at about 1229
Poplar Room, Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel
The Meeting was called by the Chair of the Interim Board of
Directors, IFNA Executive Director, Ken Kaplan.
The first order of old business was the distribution of folders
of information for each of the attendees. Those attending were
those persons present at the Fourth International FidoNet
Association Conference who had been elected as Members of the
Interim Board, as announced by the Chair of the Nominations and
Elections Committee, Bob Morris 16/0, as part of the 0900 Opening
Ceremonies Item on the Conference Agenda.
On motion of Ben Baker 1/0 At-Large Director, Ken Kaplan was
nominated Chair of the Board of Directors. That motion was
carried unanimously.
Ryugen Fisher, Director - Division 11, moved the nomination of
Tom Marshall as IFNA Secretary and Parliamentarian. That motion
was carried. Thereafter, Tom Marshall 107/524 attended each
Board Meeting to record the Minutes and act as Parliamentarian.
The next order of business on the Agenda, as proposed by the
Secretary and adopted by the Board for this Meeting, was to
bring before the Board the previous actions of the Interim Board
suspending Article 11 of the ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION FOR
INTERNATIONAL FIDONET ASSOCIATION and recommending adoption of a
substitute Article 11 (known as the Kessler-Marshall Substitute)
previously approved by Mark S. Rubin, Esq., St. Louis IFNA
General Counsel. On motion by Ryugen Fisher to adopt the
substitute Article 11, pending further review and until the
Meeting of Board of Directors scheduled for Sunday, August 23,
1987 at 1000. The motion carried.
The next Agenda item was for the Board to receive formally the
Report of the Nominations and Elections Committee. On motion of
Ryugen Fisher, seconded by Mark Grennan, after discussion, the
Board adopted that Report. On the request of the Secretary, a
motion was made to amend the Report to state that the Directors
elected were for the voting Divisions as specified in By-Law 24
and that full names of each elected Director be substituted,
when provided by such to the Secretary. The motion carried.
The Secretary requested each elected Director to appoint an
Alternate, as defined by the By-Laws, as promptly as possible.
FidoNews 4-33 Page 3 31 Aug 1987
On motion of Ryugen Fisher the Chair opened the floor for
nominations for the Office of President of IFNA. Thom Henderson
was nominated, but declined the nomination on personal
privilege. Gee Wong 103/312; Mark Grennan; and Don Daniels
were nominated, whereupon Ben Baker moved that nominations be
closed and that motion carried. Each of the nominees was
requested to state his qualifications. Gee Wong withdrew
himself from consideration on matters of personal privilege.
That withdrawal left only two candidates, each of whom spoke in
his behalf as did others. On motion by Thom Henderson, which
carried, the Board concluded that the voting for the Office of
President would include the election by the Board of the Vice
President, with the person receiving the highest number of votes
being appointed President and the other candidate being
appointed as Vice President. Upon calling the question, the
Board voted to elect Don Daniels President and Mark Grennan
Vice President.
The last business item was a duly made and adopted Board
Resolution, appointing Ken Kaplan as Acting Treasurer of IFNA,
pending nomination and election of a Treasurer at the scheduled
Board Meeting, Sunday, August 23, 1987 at 1000.
At about 1315 the First Board of Directors Meeting was adjourned
to a time after the Banquet at a place to be announced by the Chair.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Marshall, Secretary
(NOTE: A number of Alternates were appointed by Directors,
both those present and by telephone contact on August 22, 1987.
A Listing of the present Members of the Board of Directors,
Alternates and Officers of IFNA is enclosed herewith as a
separate item.)
The following is the listing of the Board of Directors Members,
Alternates (selected - not all Alternates have been appointed)
and Officers of IFNA. This compilation is from:
A. The Report of the Chair, Bob Morris 16/0, of the
Nominations and Elections Committee August 21, 1987;
B. Written Alternate appointments by Division Directors
and At-Large Directors delivered to the Secretary; and
C. Oral telephone Alternate appointments by Division and
At-Large Directors who were not attending the Fourth
International FidoNet Conference (these have been or
must be confirmed by mail messages to the Secretary).
NAME NODE OFFICE/POSITION
================================================================
Ben Baker 100/76 At-Large Director
Vice President -
Technical Coordinator
Christopher Baker 135/14 Alternate - Division 18
Rob Barker 342/34 Director - Division 17
Phil Becker 104/23 Alternate - Larry Wall
Jim Cannell 114/13 Alternate - Division 15
Gene Clayton 12/14 Director - Division 12
Michael Connick 107/412 Alternate- Ted Polcyzinski
Wes Cowley 135/0 Director - Division 18
Neal Curtin 343/1 Alternate - Division 17
Don Daniels 107/210 At-Large Director
President
David Dodell 114/15 Director - Division 15
David Drexler 147/1 Alternate - Mark Grennan
Hal Duprie 101/106 At-Large Director
Ryugen Fisher 220/1 Director - Division 11
Chair - Fido Technical
Standards Committee
Mark Grennan 19/0 At-Large Director
Vice President
Bob Hartman 132/101 Director - Division 16
Thom Henderson 107/6.1 Elected - Director -
Division 13
Resigned August 23, 1987
FidoNews Editor
Brad Hicks 100/523 At-Large Director
Brian Hughes 109/634 At-Large Director
Tom Jennings 125/111 Alternate - Division 10
Alternate - Hal DuPrie
Steve Jordan 102/2871 Director - Division 10
Ken Kaplan 100/22 Director - Division 14
Chair of the Board
of Directors
Joe Keenan 109/661 Alternate - Kurt Reisler
Tom Marshall 107/524 Secretary
Leonard Mednick 12/1 Treasurer
FidoNews 4-33 Page 5 31 Aug 1987
Bob Morris 16/1 Alternate - Division 16
Dave Oshea 107/35 Alternate - Division 13
Ted Polczynski 154/5 At-Large Director
Kurt Reisler 109/74 At-Large Director
Bob Rudolph 261/628 Alternate - Brian Hughes
Rick Siegel 107/27 Director - Division 13
Greg Small 148/122 Alternate - Ben Baker
Bob Swift 343/24 At-Large Director
Wynn Wagner 124/101 Director - Division 19
Henk Wevers 500/1 Director - Division 2
Gee Wong 107/312 At-Large Director
Please forward any corrections/changes/substitutions to the above
address. Also, would those listed and any futrue Directors or
Officers please provide me, Private Net Mail with you full legal
names, business and home addresses and telephone numbers; and
advise me of any changes to any such personal data, so that I
may contact all of you as and when required. Additionally,
please keep me currently advised of any change in you email
addresses, in case nom-de-plumes of Boards make it difficult
for me to locate you in the NodeList.
One optional item, I would also like to have and maintain, is
an up-to-date listing of the Zone, Region, Net (and any other)
Coordinators. If EchoMail Coordinators feel so inclined,
they might also provide me with their personal data and the
Conferences they coordinate, just in case I am required to
get in touch with them.
MINUTES OF THE SECOND IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
August 21, 1987 at about 2100
Great Hall and Patio, Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel
The Second Meeting of the IFNA Board of Directors was called by
the Chair and convened following the Banquet at the Great Hall,
but was moved to the Patio at the request of all.
The Chair called the Meeting to order. The Agenda as proposed by
the Secretary and adopted by the Board was to consider matters to
be on the Agenda for the Sunday, August 23, 1987 Board Meeting
scheduled in the Conference Agenda and open to all attending the
Conference.
Ben Baker proposed a new Agenda item, action on the proposed
substitute Article 11 by the Board. It was agreed that that item
would be considered first.
Ben Baker moved the immediate adoption of the substitute Article
11 of the ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION. A lively discussion followed,
ending with the call of the question. On vote it was determined
that eight Directors were for Ben Baker's motion and four
against. The Secretary was called upon to rule whether the
matter could be adopted. Reference to Article 9, ARTICLES OF
ASSOCIATION, showed that "three-fourths vote of all directors"
was required and that for the substitute Article 11 to be adopted
an affirmative vote of seventeen Directors was required, making
it impossible for the twelve Directors voting to effect
amendment.
On motion duly made and seconded, Ben Baker's motion was tabled
until the Sunday Board of Directors Meeting. The President and
Vice President were requested by the Board to contact the absent
Members by telephone, Saturday, August 22, 1987 and to request
that each absent Director appoint as an Alternate someone in
attendance at the Conference.
A motion was made that the text of the substitute Article 11 be
amended to include the test of Mitch Kessler's proposed "purpose"
language. After discussion, the Board adopted the intent of the
motion by requesting the Secretary to include the the sense of
the language in a Board Resolution. (See: Enclosed Resolution
below, Enclosure Item 2.)
On motion made and duly adopted the Board convened itself as a
Committee on the Whole to act on the Secretary's request of
determining the Agenda for the Sunday Board of Directors Meeting.
After considerable discussion, the Committee on the Whole
reported the enclosed proposed Agenda, Enclosure Item 1. The
Committee of the Whole was then dissolved.
FidoNews 4-33 Page 7 31 Aug 1987
The Board was reconvened by the Chair. On suggestion that the
hour was late, on motion duly made and adopted, the Second
Meeting of the Board was adjourned at 2343, subject to being
recalled on August 22, 1987 by the Chair at a place to be
announced.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Marshall, Secretary
(NOTE: The enclosed Agenda and its attachment, the proposed
Board Resolution relating to Article 11 were prepared by the
Secretary and made available to the Board of Directors and
Alternates present at the Conference, as well as distributed to
all Conference attendees on Saturday, August 22, 1987 AM. Also,
a copy of these documents was CRASH mailed to 3000/0 IFNA_CON for
such distribution as that HOST chose. - Comment: Rick Siegel "The
Wizz" had set up a special Conference Board and those who, like
me, who had brought Systems, were linked as Nodes 3000/618, my
Hotel Room Number, to enable intra-Conference email and receipt
of EchoMail.)
Enclosure for Minutes of Second BofD Meeting - DRAFT
Item 1
INTERNATIONAL FidoNet ASSOCIATION, INC.(IFNA)
AGENDA
IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
AND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS
August 23, 1987
The IFNA Board of Directors, elected on August 21, 1987, in
a Meeting duly called on August 21, 1987 at about 9:00 PM, acting
as a Committee of the Whole discussed and adopted the following
as the Agenda for the scheduled open 10:00 AM Meeting Sunday,
August 23, 1987:
I. Old Business -:- Ratification of:
A. The Adoption of the Articles of Association and By-
Laws as voted on by the Members January 1987.
B. The Election of the 11 Division Directors and 11
Directors At Large by the vote of the Members as
Reported by the Chair of the Nominations and Elections
Committee, Robert Morris at the Members Annual Meeting
Session August 21, 1987.
C. The acts of the new elected Board of Directors at its
First Board of Directors Meeting on August 21, 1987 at
about 12:30 PM in appointing the following positions
and Officers:
Chair of the Board - Ken Kaplan
President - Don Daniels
Vice-President - Mark Grennan
Vice-President Technical Director - Ben Baker
FidoNews 4-33 Page 8 31 Aug 1987
Acting Treasurer - Ken Kaplan
Secretary - Tom Marshall
D. Suspension of Article 11 of The Articles of
Association and substitution of attached substitute
for the interim period, pending review by a sub-
committee and adoption at the Annual Meeting Session,
August 23. 1987.
II. New Business:
A. Consideration of adopting revised POLICY4.
B. Appointment of either new Standing Committee Chairs
or appointment of present persons performing those
functions as Interim Chairs, pending review of
suggestions of Member for such positions.
C. Budget Report and adoption of an Interim Budget,
pending development of an Annual Budget by
Administration and Finance Committee.
D. Consideration of policy directives for FTSC.
E. Consider change to Copyright Notice in NodeList to
recognize existing commercial uses; refer Commercial
Licensing of IFNA properties to commercial users to
Administration and Finance Committee.
F. Selection of dates of next Annual Meeting of the
Members and referring to Membership Services
Committee the tasks of soliciting site suggestions
and all planning for preparing for and holding the
next Annual Meeting of the Members.
G. Adjournment of Annual Meeting of the Members to
selected dates and adjournment of the Meeting of
Board of Directors until reconvened by a call by the
Chair.
Enclosure Item 2
INTERNATIONAL FidoNet ASSOCIATION, INC. (IFNA)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS - RESOLUTION:
The present Article 11, Articles of Association
of IFNA having been the subject of discussion by the
Members and by the Interim Board as being unsuitable; and
the Interim Board having duly suspended Article 11
pending convening of the new Board of Directors; the
Board of Directors in its Meeting at about 12:30 PM,
August 21, 1987 having ratified the suspension of Article
11 and having adopted the below substitute Article 11
pending further review, prior to considering adoption of
said substitute at the Annual Meeting Session Sunday,
August 23, 1987;
NOW THEREFORE:
For the purpose of permitting, within the scope
of applicable laws, statutes, rules and
regulations, persons having commercial
FidoNews 4-33 Page 9 31 Aug 1987
involvements in the computer industry to serve as
Directors and Officers of IFNA;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The following text is substituted for Article 11 of
IFNA's Articles of Association:
Article 11 - No person shall be eligible to serve in any
of the positions or offices of Director, Alternate,
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Vice
President - Technical Coordinator, whose service in any
such capacity would:
A. Violate any applicable law, statute, ruling or
regulation of the State of Missouri or the United
States of America, or of the country of domicile of
such person; or
B. Jeopardize the non-profit or tax-exempt status of
IFNA, as defined by the laws, statutes, rulings or
regulations of the State of Missouri or the United
States of America; or
C. Amount to, create or continue a conflict of interest
between the activities, aims or purposes of IFNA and
such person's private financial interests or such
interests of any of such person's employer, family or
relations. Each person nominated or elected to any
such position or office shall have an affirmative and
continuing obligation to disclose fully any fact or
circumstance which is or could be considered in any
way to amount to, create or continue any such conflict
of interest. As long as any person nominated for or
holding any of the enumerated positions or offices
shall have made a disclosure of and fairly presented
all of the facts and circumstances, the existence of
a financial interest in some product or service that
might be or is used, approved for use or acquired by
IFNA shall not, absent any abuse of that person's
position or office, constitute a conflict of interest.
DULY ADOPTED ON THIS August 23, 1987 by IFNA Board of Directors.
MINUTES OF THE THIRD IFNA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
August 23, 1987 at about 1000
Plaza A and Great Hall, Radisson Mark Plaza Hotel
The Meeting was called to order by the Chair AT 1032. The
Agenda prepared by the Secretary and widely distributed to those
attending the Conference on Saturday, August 22, 1987, was
adopted. After noting that those Board Members and Alternates
present were greater than the three-fourths required by the
Article 9, ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, a motion was adopted to
amend Item I. A. to add "and all acts of the Interim Board taken
in accordance with those Articles of Association and By-Laws."
Motions were made on Items I. A. through D. and discussion
proceeded, including recognition by the Chair of IFNA Members
and others attending on the floor in order that they could be
heard.
It appearing that the length of the Meeting was going to exceed
the time allowed by the Hotel for use of Plaza A and that there
was general agreement on adopting all the Items on the Agenda
under the heading "I. Old Business ...", upon the request of
Randy Bush, a motion was duly made by a Board Member and adopted
to accept those Agenda Items, as amended above.
The Chair then opened the Meeting up for consideration of the
Agenda Items II. New Business:, Items II. A. through G.
The Board heard discussion by Board Members, Alternates and from
the floor on Items A. through D. and, after motions duly made
and adopted, took the following actions on each such Item:
Item II. A. - POLICY4 - Referred the matter of adoption of the
revised POLICY4, reported by Thom Henderson as the proposal of
the participants of the Coordinators EchoMail Conference, to the
Executive Committee for review; the soliciting of the views
of the FidoNet Community; and reporting to the Board that
Committee's recommendations thereon.
Item II. B. - Standing Committee appointments and the Chair for
each such Committee as required by By-Law 30. Don Daniels read
a list of appointments he as President suggested and called for
opening up membership on such Standing Committees to all
concerned. The Board duly adopted Don Daniels' requests that
those names read by him be appointed; that the list of those
appointed be published in FidoNews, along with a call for
recommendations for further appointments. The Chair announced
that he would appoint the Chairs of each Standing Committee from
the members of such and, until such Committees were formed, the
persons presently acting as Chairs were appointed as "Interim
Chairs" of each. It was the sense of the Meeting that the
FidoNews 4-33 Page 11 31 Aug 1987
announcements of the President and Chair of the Board be adopted.
Further details relating to this Item will be published in
FidoNews.
Item II. B. 1. - A new Agenda Item was proposed and adopted that
the "four Directors selected by The Board of Directors", as
required by Article 6, ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, be nominated and
elected by the Board as promptly as possible. Accordingly the
Chair opened up the Meeting for nominations of Board Members for
the four open positions on the Executive Committee. Nominations
were duly made for the following: Kurt Reisler; Hal DuPrie; Wes
Cowley; Bob Hartman; Steve Jordan; Rob Barker; and Ryugen Fisher.
After a motion to close nominations was duly adopted, the
President and Vice President prepared written ballots and
distributed them to the Board Members and Alternates present.
The voting was, by consensus, postponed until the resumption of
the Board Meeting after 1200.
At about this time, it having been noted that Thom Henderson,
though elected as Director - Division 13, had elected not to
participate in the Board's deliberations and had "informally
resigned" his elected position, the secretary, at 1153 August
23, 1987 was handed a written resignation of Thom Henderson.
Upon receipt of that document, the Secretary notified the Chair
and the Meeting that a vacancy existed on the Board and that
there no Alternate had been appointed. The Secretary's request
that the the Board make filling that position the first order of
business when the Meeting resumed was adopted.
Item II. C. - Budget Report - As Acting Treasurer, Ken Kaplan
presented the Board with a written Budget Report of IFNA
Operations and Financial status, along with a proposed Budget
for the coming year. Ken Kaplan noted that he had been assisted
by Leonard Mednick in the preparation of his submissions.
On motion duly made and adopted, the Board accepted the Budget
Report as presented by the Acting Treasurer and referred the
proposed Budget to the Administration and Finance Committee.
Upon motion made at the request of Ken Kaplan, Leonard Mednick's
name was placed in nomination for the Office of Treasurer. No
others having been nominated, nominations were duly closed and
the Board elected Leonard Mednick as Treasurer.
ITEM II. D. - Policy Directives to the FTSC - On motion made by
Don Daniels, the Board referred this Item to both the Fido
Technical Standards Committee for its recommendations on the
nature of the effort it would undertake and to the Executive
Committee for consideration of the policies that should be
implemented by the FTSC.
Item II. E. - Consideration of changing the NOTICE language in
the text as it appears after the Copyright Notice in the weekly
FidoNet NodeList; and consideration of Licensing IFNA properties
to commercial users. The Board heard some discussion from Board
Members; Alternates; and the floor. Upon a request made by a
Board Member, Tom Marshall, IFNA Legal, commented on a suggestion
that the NodeList could be published without any Copyright
FidoNews 4-33 Page 12 31 Aug 1987
Notice or accompanying NOTICE text. The Meeting was advised
that, as Copyright comes into existence on the instant of
creation in a form readable by man or machine, such a
publication would not affect the Copyright status of the
compilation work, the NodeList. However, it was recommended that
that not be done as there are procedural advantages to including
the Copyright Notice and a NOTICE be used to specify allowed and
prohibited usage. After further discussion, the matter was duly
tabled for further review by the Executive Committee, promptly
after its election in the resumed session of the Board Meeting.
At this point, the Meeting was recessed, pending its movement to
the Great Hall, for fifteen minutes.
The Chair reconvened the Meeting in the Great Hall at about
1230. The first Item on the Agenda was the filling the Board
vacancy created by Thom Henderson's resignation. The Chair
opened the Meeting by calling for Division 13 Members present to
nominate candidates for Director - Division 13. Rick Siegel
107/27 was duly nominated. No other nominations having been
made, the Board closed nominations and directed the Secretary to
note the election of Rick Siegel as Director - Division 13.
Rick Siegel appointed Dave Oshea as Alternate - Division 13 by
written notice to the Secretary.
The next order of business was the voting by the Board on the
candidates nominated for the four Directors' positions on the
Executive Committee. The President and Vice President collected
the written ballots. A short recess was declared to allow the
President and Vice President to count the votes, the Secretary
observed the counting. Three of the four were elected on the
first ballot and two candidates ended up in a tie for the fourth
position. New ballots containing the names of the two tied
candidates were prepared and distributed. On counting the
second round ballots the fourth member was elected.
Upon reconvening after the Board Meeting, at the request of the
President, the Secretary announced the following results:
The Directors elected to serve on the Executive Committee are:
Kurt Reisler; Bob Hartman; Steve Jordan; Rob Barker. Pursuant
to Article 6, ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, the President, Don
Daniels; the four elected Directors; the non-voting Vice
President and Vice President - Technical Coordinator constitute
the Executive Committee.
Upon motion of Ben Baker, duly adopted, the Board Meeting was
recessed to allow the newly constituted Executive Committee to
consider and report to the Board on the matter referred by the
Board for immediate attention earlier, relating to Agenda Item
II. E., portion up to the semi-colon - specifically changes to
the Copyright Notice and NOTICE language in the present NodeList.
(See: Separate Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting, August
23, 1987, Enclosure to these Minutes below.)
Upon the return of the Executive Committee, the Chair reconvened
FidoNews 4-33 Page 13 31 Aug 1987
the Meeting and heard the Report of the Executive Committee. The
Secretary read the language recommended by the Executive
Committee and explained the effect of the changes. Basically,
the previous language prohibited any commercial use of any kind
of the NodeList by anyone. As there have been and are numerous
such uses by listed nodes to conduct "commercial business", the
Executive Committee's new language licenses listed nodes to use
the NodeList only in the technical operation of their nodes.
All other commercial uses of the NodeList continue to be
prohibited. The more general issues of Licensing "commercial
use" of IFNA properties, also referenced to the Executive
Committee are postponed until a chance has been had for
contributions to the discussions by the FidoNet Community and
until the Executive committee may consider this critically
important matter in an atmosphere less constrained by time.
In the discussion that followed, Thom Henderson and others, made
a plea for much more "English" and simpler NOTICE language that
Sysops could easily understand. In particular, Thom Henderson
felt that a Sysop should not have to get his attorney's opinion
before deciding that a proposed use is licensed or not. In
rebuttal, Tom Marshall defended attorney's fees in general, and
particularly pointed out that the language is necessarily
"legalese" because its sets forth a line between licensed uses
of the NodeList and unlicensed uses. If a proposed use is
questionable, any commercial user should realize that the
consequences of a Copyright Infringement are serious enough to
retain a competent attorney before jeopardizing a business.
After further discussion the Board adopted the Executive
Committee's Report and the changes to the NodeList NOTICE
language that Committee suggested.
(For the text of the "new" language adopted by the Board in
accepting the Report of the Executive Committee, See:
NodeList.240, published August 28, 1987.)
Agenda Item II. F. - Selection of the dates for the next Annual
Meeting of the Members and reference of details to the
Membership Services Committee. There was some discussion of
this Item, but the sense of the Board was there was not enough
data on which to arrive at any decision. Accordingly, on motion
duly adopted, the Board referred this entire Item to the
Membership Services Committee for review; solicitation of
suggestions by Members, Sysops and any others interested; and
required that the Committee report dates and suggested sites to
the Board within ninety days. Thus, the Membership Services
Committees report on arrangements for next year's Annual Meeting
of Members is due on or before November 20, 1987.
Upon being reminded that the terms of the At-Large Directors is
not specified in the By-Laws for this first elected Board, an
additional Agenda Item was placed before the Board, by consensus.
Those At-Large Directors present were polled to see if enough
were willing to accept a one-year term, with three indicating
they would do so. However, as consent of the number required
FidoNews 4-33 Page 14 31 Aug 1987
for half of this first elected Board's At-Large to hold that
position for one year was not available, this Board referred the
matter to the Nominations and Elections Committee for resolution
and report to the Board. In view of the volunteering by three
of those present to serve the on year term, it is not
anticipated that resolution should require much effort.
Agenda Item II. G. - Adjournment of the Annual Meeting of the
Members and the Meeting of the Board of Directors. No decision
having been reached about next year's Annual Meeting of the
Members dates, the Annual Meeting of the Members was adjourned
until the time selected by the Board upon considering the
recommendations of the Membership Services Committee. There
being no further business to come before the Board, on motion to
adjourn, pending call by the Chair, the motion was adopted and
at 1536 the Board of Directors Meeting was adjourned.
Enclosure: Minutes of Meeting of the IFNA Executive Committee
Sunday, August 23, 1987 at the Great Hall, Radisson
Mark Plaza Hotel. at about 1430
Attending: Don Daniels, President,
presiding as Chair pro tem
Kurt Reisler, Director At-Large
Bob Hartman, Division 16 - Director
Steve Jordan, Division 10 - Director
Rob Barker, Division 17 - Director
Mark Grennan, Vice President
Ben Baker, Vice President - Technical Coordinator
Tom Marshall, Secretary
The Meeting was called to order by Don Daniels. The single item
on the Agenda being consideration of the first portion of the
Board Agenda Item II. E. at the urgent requirement of the Board
of Directors. Proposed NOTICE language changes for the NodeList,
prepared during the recess between Board Meeting Sessions by Ben
Baker and Tom Marshall was laid on the table for consideration.
After due discussion and deliberation, including changes
recommended by those attending, a motion was made to adopt the
revised text as the Executive Committee's Report to the Board,
the question was called and the motion carried, Bob Hartman
abstained and none of Mark Grennan, Ben Baker and Tom Marshall
are allowed to vote. (Ref: Article 6, ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION)
There being no further business, on motion duly adopted the
Executive Committee adjourned at about 1500, pending recall
by the President.
As I was completing DRAFTs of the three Board of Directors
Meetings and on Executive Committee, a number of "impressions"
kept floating up that I felt should not be a part of formal
Minutes of Meetings. Also, two (and probably lots of other)
details are "of record" but are not included in any of the
Minutes.
First, the well-intentioned, serious - but mostly light-hearted -
fellows and gals I met at 4FIDOCON are definitely NOT the same
crowd that attended last year's Conference. I wasn't there, but
I've read lots and listened to lots of tales about disruptive,
abusive and downright disagreeable persons who did attend, that I
had formed a conclusion that this was likely to be a bad
experience.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I certainly did not get
to meet or "be with" many who were there. But to a person,
everyone I did meet, was with and who participated in the same
activities I did was patently eager to be constructive. I did
not witness, nor have I heard of one incident that I could in any
classify as mean-spirited or destructive. Maybe the people I did
meet and engage in conversation were just the "nice guys". I am
firm in my conviction that that did not happen.
The lasting impression I have is that "we", those present and
those not, who are this incredible FidoNet Community can be very
proud of our accomplishments and can count on the continued hard
work of all to build an even more important Net for the good of
all who we contact. To Tom Jennings, who isn't necessarily
pleased with "how" his baby is growing up, thank you so very
much. To Thom Henderson, who stepped aside for reasons he will
explain, I'll miss your counsel and wit in the "inner circles".
To all of the nay-sayers who could not or chose not to attend,
you missed a delightful experience that might have given you a
different impression.
The two "items of record" you won't find in the Minutes are:
1. A written note by Hal DuPrie: clearly stating for the record
his reasoning for voting against submission of the NodeList
NOTICE changes to the Executive Committee. Herewith is Hal's
"for the record" submission:
"for 'reading into the record'
Section -- Vote on 'copyright'
I voted NO on modifying the copyright notice since I
believe that the statement made by counsel 'Copyright is
retained/created at creation of document...', is
sufficient to allow REMOVAL not modification of the
copyright statement form the nodelist until such time as
IFNA wishes to re-instate it with the members'
approval."
FidoNews 4-33 Page 17 31 Aug 1987
Signed: HAL DuPRIE, Director At-Large;
Marked received 8/23/87 1:10PM from H.duP. TMM
As a guide to anyone else who feels the need to make anything
"of record", be you Director or not: my archivist chore (and
"pack-rat" propensities) are such that I'll file it if you
send it to me and indicate you want to "go on record". I may
or may not do anything else with "it", but you can rest
assured you will be "on record".
2. Before the start of the last Session of the Third Board of
Directors Meeting on Sunday, there was an "off-record" baring
by all of the Directors, Alternates and Officers of anything
they felt anyone could criticize as constituting a "conflict-
of-interest". When the Substitute for Article 11 was being
discussed during the Second Board Meeting, all of us agreed
to make a full disclosure of any possible conflict-of-
interest, as soon as that Article was adopted, that is
required by that Article's text. In listening to that group
"bare their individual souls", I felt a growing sense of
pride in IFNA because of the spirit with which each displayed
their feelings on this sensitive matter.
So it is "of record" here is basically what I said: I am a Patent
Attorney, specializing in Computers/Software/Systems. That is
how I earn my living. As an attorney for nearly 32 years, I find
the concept of advertising my services distasteful, but the
realities of today, and the concept of my practice being "On-Line
Real-Time" require me to let potential clients know who I am and
what my qualifications are. I am counting on my participation in
FidoNet and in IFNA as Secretary and IFNA Legal, to get my name,
"who" I am and what my qualifications are "out there". I expect
that many of my clients will know me because of my connections
and service to this organization. I DO use the NodeList to
contact directly my clients and for my clients to contact me
directly. And I am Commercial Use Licensee #1! I've paid my
$100 Commercial Member Dues and donated my fair share of the
expenses to 4FIDOCON. My opinion is that there is now no
conflict-of-interest, nor is it likely that there ever will be
any.
Lastly, "for the record" one last thought - I think I had a lot
of "fun" at 4FIDOCON. When I recover form the exhaustion of the
whole affair, I'll find out. For sure two remarks made stick in
my mind as being very appropos - Bob Hartman said in an EchoMail
message before the Conference and repeated the same theme at the
Conference: Up until the Conference we were organizing for a new
beginning, now all we can do is push the start button and see
what happens. He is SO RIGHT. Then when the (still in shock)
new President finished his speech at the Saturday Luncheon he
said: "Don't tell us what we're doing wrong, tell us how to do it
right!"
The start button has been pushed and it is entirely probable "we"
didn't do it right the first attempt. But there is in place and
now running the ways and means to patch the bugs and "our"
FidoNews 4-33 Page 18 31 Aug 1987
representatives are there to find out from us how we think it can
be done right.
Now that all the work is done, I'm going to have some "fun"!
The following is a copy of a letter sent by Thom Henderson to the
Chairmain of the Board of Directors of IFNA:
25 August 1987
Ken Kaplan, Chairman
International FidoNet Association
Dear Ken:
First, I would like to appoint Rick Siegel, 107/27 as my
Alternate for the IFNA Board of Directors.
Second, I regret to inform you that I must tender my resignation
as a member of the IFNA Board of Directors. I interprete Article
11 of the Articles of Association, as passed by the membership in
January of 1987, as indicating that I cannot hold a seat on the
Board. I know that Article 11 was suspended prior to the
election, but my conscience demands that I apply it to myself.
This article was originally intended as a paper to be delivered
at FidoCon. Unfortunately, it was not received in time, so we
are publishing it here instead.
FIDONET IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
(or is it Western Pacific)
ZONE 3
Whilst FidoNet was created and evolved largely in the U.S. where
the Network and its environment largely adapted to each other,
the growth of FidoNet in other parts of the world has posed
different sets of problems.... none more unique than those found
on the continent of Australia, the western pacific area and
south-east Asia.
In this area, known of late as Zone-3, there have been problems
arising from the relatively small number of nodes spread over a
huge area of the earth's surface, literally hundreds of different
languages, remoteness from the U.S. as the major centre of
FidoNet development and even from Europe and the necessity to
service and accomodate the rapid growth of the Net.
That all these problems have, to a large extent, been overcome or
are in the process of being solved, is a credit to the
flexibility and adaptibility of the Networking concept itself and
to the administrators on both sides of the Pacific.
The purpose of this contribution from Zone-3 is to tell you a
little about how the Zone is structured and to point out where we
have overcome some of the problems that have arisen.
The first networked Fido Boards in the Region were operated in
Indonesia. Indeed, the first mail sent outside the continental
United States was sent between Indonesia and the U.S.
However, the Indonesian Boards were not the active participators
they have become today and the Western Pacific area languished
until a couple of Boards were brought up in Australia as a part
of Region 12... based in Hawaii. In fact, the whole of the
Australian continent must have been the largest net that FidoNet
ever saw.... or, is ever likely to see again. With an area the
size of the U.S. (excluding Alaska) the country was served by
Net-155.
As Net-155 grew and, even with substantial hubbing arrangements,
became unwieldy , it was decided to create Region-3 with a couple
of Regions beneath it... Region-50 to cover mainland Australia,
Region-52 to cover Indonesia and Region-59 to accomodate
independent nodes.
With the introduction of the Zone philosophy, of course, Region-3
became Zone-3.
As it stands today Zone-3 accomodates six Regions, with one
FidoNews 4-33 Page 21 31 Aug 1987
pending and allowanc e for an eighth. The Zonegate is owned and
operated by Alwyn Smith and is based at Scarborough on the coast
of Queensland near the New South Wales border. Mainland Australia
is covered by Region-50 with John Blackett-Smith as Regional
Coordinator based in Melbourne, the most southern mainland city.
Region-50 contains Net-620 in Sydney, Net-626 in Canberra (the
national capital), Net-630 and Net-631 serving Melbourne, Geelong
and Tasmania, Net-640 in Queensland, Net-680 in Adelaide and Net-
690 in Perth. It is believed that Net-640 is the largest net (by
area) in the international Fido Network being spread over a 1200
mile strip along the east coast and containing only 6 nodes.
Region-54, covers Papua-New Guinea with Net-710 and some
Australian Nets - 711, 712 and 713 - and is coordinated by Geoff
Smith from Port Moresby, the capital city of PNG.
Region-51 covers Singapore with Net-600, Malaysia with Net-609
and Thailand with Net-608... three small countries in close
proximity in the same geographical region but culturally very
different.....
Region-52 is Indonesia covering two nets - 131 and 611.
Region-53 covers Hong Kong and contains Net-164 which may soon
change to Net-700.
Region-55 is the Japanese region. Whilst there have been Fido-
type boards running in Japan for some time now, it is expected
that they will be joining the international network in the very
near future.
Allowance has been made for the inevitable inclusion of New
Zealand with Region-56 and finally, Region-59 was created to
accomodate those nodes who, for a variety of reasons either
didn't fit into the existing structures or, elected to operate
independently. At the moment this Region, coordinated by Geoff
Arthur from Sydney, contains only 3 nodes.
Because of the distances, differences in time zones, difficulties
with satellite links across the Pacific as well as the multitude
of languages involved, a great deal of planning and thought has
gone into the mail routing throughout the Zone, and it goes
something like this....
The Zonegate handles all incoming and outgoing mail for the Zone
as well as well as passing EchoMail and Netmail through from the
U.S. to Europe and return.
The Zonegate distributes NetMail and any required EchoMail
conferences to Region-50 via 630/301 in Melbourne which, in turn
distributes to Nets 631, 626, 680 and 690 as well as nodes within
Net-630. The remaining nets in Region-50... 620 and 640 are
served direct by the Zonegate.
The link to Region-52 in Indonesia and Region-53 in Hong Kong is
direct to and from the Zonegate.
FidoNews 4-33 Page 22 31 Aug 1987
In Region-54, the other large Region in Zone-3, all mail is
routed to 711/403 which, in turn distributes to the other nodes
in his Net as well as to mail servers in Nets 710, 712 and 713.
A special gateway operates between Regions 54 and 51 and is
provided by 711/805 which is owned and operated by Andrew Khoo a
SysOp of Chinese extraction. This has helped overcome the
language problems between the two areas.
It should be noted here that the operator of the Zone-3 Zonegate,
Alwyn Smith, provides free local, international and echomail for
the entire zone.
The system works quite smoothly, depite the unpredictable nature
of the satellite links between Australia and the U.S. and the
varying sizes of the incoming mail packets... varying, that is,
from large to gargantuan, and the large distances between
centres.... particularly on mainland Australia.
That it IS successful is evidenced by the steady growth
throughout the entire zone... Australia is fast approaching its
hundredth node, Thailand and Malaysia are adding new nodes
currently and Indonesia recently added several new nodes. The
only area yet to be penetrated by FidoNet is New Zealand..... but
even they will be hard put to resist once their very restrictive
regulatory problems are solved.
We hope this gives you all some idea of the nature of Zone-3 and
its structure..... and that we can expect to continue the already
enjoyable dialogue with Zones 1 and 2 along with the echomail
conferences which have done so much to enhance this uniques area
of computer communications.
Utility authors: Please help keep this list up to date by
reporting new versions to 1:1/1. It is not our intent to list
all utilities here, only those which verge on necessity.
The IFNA publications can be obtained by downloading from Fido
1/10 or other FidoNet compatible systems, or by purchasing them
directly from IFNA. We ask that all our IFNA Committee Chairmen
provide us with the latest versions of each publication, but we
can make no written guarantees.
Membership for the International FidoNet Association
Membership in IFNA is open to any individual or organization that
pays an annual specified membership fee. IFNA serves the
international FidoNet-compatible electronic mail community to
increase worldwide communications. **
Name _________________________________ Date ________
Address ______________________________
City & State _________________________
Country_______________________________
Phone (Voice) ________________________
Net/Node Number ______________________
Board Name____________________________
Phone (Data) _________________________
Baud Rate Supported___________________
Board Restrictions____________________
Special Interests_____________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Is there some area where you would be
willing to help out in FidoNet?_______
______________________________________
______________________________________
Send your membership form and a check or money order for $25 to:
International FidoNet Association
P. O. Box 41143
St Louis, Missouri 63141
USA
Thank you for your membership! Your participation will help to
insure the future of FidoNet.
** Please NOTE that IFNA is a general not-for-profit organization
in formation and Articles of Association and By-Laws were adopted
by the membership in January 1987. An Elections Committee has
been established to fill positions outlined in the By-Laws for
the Board of Directors. An IFNA Echomail Conference has been
established on FidoNet to assist the Elections Committee. We
welcome your input on this Conference.
