From: "(yh22)" <Yi_HU@UMAIL.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: IFCSS HQ NR-4062: IFCSS will Upgrade Email Networks
Reply-To: "(yh22)" <Yi_HU@UMAIL.UMD.EDU>
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 16:30:00 GMT
Comments: cc: council@venus.physics.emory.edu

>**************************************************************
>IFCSS Headquarters News Release No. 4062     Novembere 4, 1992
>          IFCSS'S NEW EMAIL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
>**************************************************************
>Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS)
>   733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005
>         Tel. (202)347-0017  Fax: (202)347-0018
>                Email: ifcss@wam.umd.edu
>
>
>
>
>        IFCSS's New Email Communication System
>        ======================================
>
>                   -- An Overview
>
>
>
>                   I. Introduction
>                   ---------------
>
>
>     Since the founding of IFCSS, email networks have been the
>major means of communication connecting IFCSS with the Chinese
>students and scholars nationwide. The contribution of email
>networks to the success of IFCSS was best summarized by Senator
>Simpson when he said in 1989: "No wonder the Chinese students are
>so successful, they are the first foreign group using high tech
>methods to lobby the Congress."
>
>     However, the three year experience of IFCSS has also exposed
>the weaknesses of the existing IFCSS email communication systems.
>Up to the beginning of this term, no significant improvement has
>been made to the aging IFCSS networks. In the fourth Congress, the
>delegates made a strong appeal that IFCSS must strengthen the ties
>with local CSS communities and improve the communication between
>IFCSS offices and the grassroots organizations.
>
>     In the first quarter of this term, the HQ has implemented
>several changes. The most obvious change was the use of CCNL-net
>which has played a significant role in the passage of '92 Chinese
>student protection act. The HQ has made plans which would
>fundamentally reorganize the IFCSS email communications systems.
>What presented below is the overall plan of the new IFCSS networks.
>Input and cooperation from the CSS nationwide are welcome.
>
>
>
>                   II.  The Existing Systems
>                        --------------------
>                        -- A Brief Review
>
>
>     In 1989, an email network entitled "China-net" was established
>which has since been used as the major coordination network for
>IFCSS. At that time, each school was allowed to have two local
>coordinators who can subscribe the China-net. Posting privileges
>were limited to the coordinators and other authorized persons. The
>coordinators were responsible for forwarding the news to local
>school networks.
>
>     In order to increase the subscription of China-net thus
>expanding its influence, the restrictions on subscription and
>posting were lifted for China-net in 1990. Since then, any one can
>subscribe and post to the net. The net has been managed by a
>voluntary management group.
>
>     In the past three years, China-net management board and local
>coordinators have done an excellent job in providing a reliable
>channel of communication for IFCSS and the general CSS communities.
>However, structural limitations has prevented the development of
>China-net (last years attempts to reform the net failed to bring
>about any change). Also, facing the growing demand and diverse
>interests, China-net along can no longer satisfy the need.
>
>     Based on above observations, a new email communication system
>for IFCSS is in urgent demand.
>
>
>                   III.  Objectives
>                   ----------------
>
>
>     The new IFCSS email communication systems have the following
>objectives:
>
>     * Broader Coverage:   The existing China-net has only several
>hundred subscribers, thus the majority of CSS get their knowledge
>about IFCSS from second-hand sources. It is our hope that in the
>new system, the majority of CSS will have first hand news from
>IFCSS. Our minimum goal is to have at least 10,000 CSS covered by
>the IFCSS email broadcasting systems.
>
>     * Direct Connection:  The new system would send IFCSS official
>news and official announcements directly to CSS nationwide.
>
>     * Multi-dimensional:  To change the one-dimensional net to a
>group of networks which would serve different purposes and satisfy
>diverse interests.
>
>
>                    IV.  General Structure
>                    ----------------------
>
>
>     The new email communication system will be divided into
>several groups according to their functions:
>
>     Group A.  Discussion Forum:
>
>                 --  China-net.
>
>     Group B.  Broadcasting System:
>
>                 -- GDL:  Group Distribution List
>                 -- PBS:  Personal Broadcasting System
>                 -- Newsletter: Email IFCSS Newsletter (Chinese)
>
>     Group C.  IFCSS Working Net:
>
>                 -- Council-net: owned and maintained by Council
>                 -- IFCSS-L: for CSS community leaders
>                 -- Net for working committees
>                 -- Community Information Net (CCNL) Currently used
>                        for protection
>
>     Group D.  Temporary Net:
>                 To be set up according to need
>
>
>                    V.  Descriptions of the networks
>                    --------------------------------
>
>1.  China-net:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>    We suggest to keep China-net as a free forum for the general
>CSS community. Subscription is open. Posting is not restricted to
>subscribers only (of course the netters have to follow certain
>etiquette as defined by the management board).
>
>2.  IFCSS-GDL:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    GDL stands for Group Distribution List. The HQ request for the
>email network ids of local CSS organizations and put them into the
>HQ mailing list. IFCSS will send official announcements to the list
>so that local CSS community may read IFCSS news directly from their
>local networks. (See IFCSS HQ NR-4058). Human-net in the University
>of Virginia is the temporary host for the list.
>
>    So far, more that 23 schools have been added to the list
>covering more than 8,000 students. Some schools are in the process
>of establishing local CSS networks. Please contact the HQ for more
>information on this list.
>
>
>3.  IFCSS-PBS:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    PBS stands for Personal Broadcasting System. People who are not
>able to connect to local CSS networks (to be included in the GDL)
>system may request to have their address added to the PBS list so
>that they can receive directly IFCSS news and announcements.
>
>    The list has not been set up and the subscription method has
>not been determined. Stay tuned for further instructions.
>
>
>4.  IFCSS Newsletter in Email:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    IFCSS Newsletter (in Chinese) will be distributed through
>email.
>
>5.  Council Net:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    Working net of IFCSS council. Subscription open. Posting
>privileges limited to IFCSS Council members and IFCSS HQ and
>working committees.
>
>6.  IFCSS-L:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    A net reserved for local CSS president and CSS campus
>coordinators. Subscription limited to two persons in each school or
>organization, one for the President and another for school
>coordinator. Add/Drop through the HQ. Posting privileges reserved
>for subscribers only.
>
>    The net is set up for establishing a direct connection between
>IFCSS HQ and local CSS community leaders. Local CSS leaders may
>also use the net to announce activities and share thoughts  with
>other leaders.
>
>    The net has been set up with the help of Mr. Zhang Hong at the
>University of Louisville. The HQ will start to add people to the
>list.
>
>7.  Lobby-net:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    CCNL net has been used as the S1216 lobbying net. We will
>decide later whether we need to establish a new net for this
>purpose.
>
>8.  Net for Working Committees:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    It is feasible now to set up networks for IFCSS working
>committees since the Community Information Committee has purchased
>a computer and networking would be much easier.
>
>9.  Temporary Networks:
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>    To be set up when situation warrants.
>
>
>                    VI.  Information Package
>                    ------------------------
>
>    We will post detailed information about these networks in the
>coming weeks.
>
>    An information package about the IFCSS email communication
>system will be compiled and stored in relevant information
>databases.
>
>    Comments and suggestions are welcome.
>
>
>*********************************************************************
>*                 IFCSS Headquarters Office                         *
>*                 =========================                         *
>*                                                                   *
>* President:      Geng Xiao  Assistant to the President: Shi Heping *
>* Vice-President: He Baoping     Executive Director: Zhang Qingsong *
>*                                                                   *
>*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
>*IFCSS Stands for advancement of human rights and democracy in China*
>*IFCSS protects the rights and interests of CSS in U.S. Your support*
>*is vital to IFCSS's success. To donate: Please make checks payable *
>*to "IFCSS" and send to:                                            *
>*                                                                   *
>*   "IFCSS, 733 15th St. N.W., Suite 440, Washington D.C., 20005"   *
>*                                                                   *
>*********************************************************************
>
>
Newsgroups: talk.politics.china