From: zerkle@cs.ucdavis.edu (Dan Zerkle)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.announce
Subject: 300th message
Date: 16 Dec 92 07:13:35 GMT
Reply-To: zerkle@cs.ucdavis.edu (Dan Zerkle)
Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.misc

Just a note that I just posted the 300th announcement to
comp.sys.amiga.announce.  This group was started almost exactly two
years ago.  The 300th message is a milestone for me, since I wasn't
sure if the group would be a success.  Two years ago, I had to deal
with poorly written posts, and I was lucky if I got one per week.
there were more administrative postings than announcements.

Now, though, the group averages nearly a post a day.  We have
reporters going to big shows and letting us know what's going on two
months before we can find out from the magazines.  The group is
available on a mailing list and from an ftp site.  Commodore and other
companies regularly send press releases (BTW, there might be a good 
one coming on a "power up" deal soon).  This group is probably the
fastest way to find out what Fred Fish has coming next.  Ftp
announcements almost always have the directories of the files.  The
survey software shows that somewhere between 19,000 and 47,000 of you
read this group (the numbers keep changing).

Still, the group is not perfect.  I would like to get more
announcements/press releases from commercial businesses.  My NNTP
server stinks, and won't post on weekends (administration tells me a
new one is coming this month).  Sometimes, between rejections, NNTP
breakdowns, and time concerns, a post will take too long to get up.
Some people _still_ send stuff before they read the administrative
posts.  I'd like to get more readers.

In any case, it has been a pleasure serving you.  Moderating the group
is one of the few kinds of unpaid work to which I look forward (of
course, the others are laundry, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash,
cleaning house...).  I have found the last two years as moderator to
be educational and rewarding.  After that much time trying to be
inconspicuous, I just thought I'd take this opportunity to blow my own
horn a bit.  Hope you don't mind.

So, that's my two-year, 300 message, state-of-the-newsgroup speech.
Now that you have heard from me, I'd like to hear from you.  Is there
anything you'd like to see more of on the group?  Less of?  Any other
comments or criticisms?  Go ahead, abuse me.

By the way, I should mention that the figure 300 does not include
administrative postings (like this one) or announcements from any of
my backup moderators.

Speaking of backup moderators (he neatly and artificially segues), I'm
going on vacation this week, probably until after the new year.
Carlos Amezaga has graciously volunteered to serve in my stead, so
that posts will not be delayed.  Treat him as well as
you've treated me, and don't try to slip anything by him that you know
I'd reject.  I've told him to be merciless.

You should still submit announcements to announce@cs.ucdavis.edu; they
will be forwarded to Carlos.  If you wish to contact him directly, you
may do so at overlord@megalith.miami.fl.us.  By the way, Carlos also
manages the mailing list.  He has been doing an excellent job with
that, so he should do just fine as moderator.

I'll see you next year!

--
Read all administrative posts before putting your post up.  Mailing
list: announce-request@cs.ucdavis.edu.  Comments to zerkle@cs.ucdavis.edu.
MAIL ALL COMP.SYS.AMIGA.ANNOUNCE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO announce@cs.ucdavis.edu.