From: mcarrico@terapin.com (Michael Carrico)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: NEW ATARI SUPPORT!!
Date: 7 Jan 93 00:04:48 PST
Organization: BBS




Due to requests, I'm reposting Operation: A.C.T. NOW information.

 
 
 
                          "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW"
                           ---------------------
 
                        Atari Community Together Now
 
                            Campaign Organizers:
 
                            Len Stys, Mark Leair
 
                               Supported By:
 
                      The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
 
 
     "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" is a series of campaigns that will first help
increase support for Atari ST and Falcon computers.  If there is enough
interest in Atari 8-Bit computers, the Portfolio palmtop, and the Lynx
handheld video game system, this operation will support them as well.
The main goal of this operation is to strengthen the Atari Community.
 
     "A.C.T. NOW" stands for Atari Community Together Now.  The campaign
organizers believe that Atari users, developers, dealers, publications,
and Atari's management must take action to save the Atari Community.
Many people suggested that we forget about Atari's involvement.  They
claim that Atari Corporation will never participate in this operation,
even if it will help the company greatly.  They believe Atari's management
doesn't care about the Atari Community.
 
     If they are right, Atari Corporation will not be around much longer.
The Atari Community is the company's only edge over other PC manufacturers.
We can only hope that Atari's management realizes the importance of this
operation.
 
     The organization of "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" was no easy task.  Many
things needed to be considered such as who this operation should benefit.
Should it benefit Atari users or Atari Corporation?  We also didn't know
if it should be run in a positive or negative manner.  And if it should
be "anti-Atari" or "pro-Atari."  We decided that this operation should be
run in the most positive manner possible.  This is because nothing positive
ever results from being negative.  We also decided that it should benefit
ever member of the Atari Community equally.  This is the only way the
operation will be able to strengthen the Atari Community.  And lastly,
we decided that this operation should not be "anti-Atari" or "pro-Atari",
but "pro-Atari Community."
 
     The first campaign in this operation will give you the opportunity
to tell Atari's management everything that you feel the company is doing
right and the things that you believe the company can improve.  This
campaign will benefit everyone in the Atari Community because Atari
Corporation will become stronger by the information that you provide them.
And when a member of the Atari Community becomes stronger, the Atari
Community becomes stronger.
 
     The second campaign will ask publications to publish articles about
Atari's new Falcon030 personal media computer.  How will publicity help
the Atari Community?  Atari dealers will sell more computers, Atari
Corporation will sell more computers, Atari developers will sell more
products, publishers will have more readers, and Atari users will have
more products to purchase and fellow users to talk with.  We will also
be speaking out for what is fair.  Atari announces the new Falcon030
computer at the Boston Computer Society meeting and the nation ignores
the company.  Apple announces new computers every other week and every
major newspaper and computer magazine in the nation publishes an article
on them.  This is not right.  As members of the Atari Community, we need
to stick up for each other.
 
     There will be many other campaigns that will directly benefit Atari
users, developers, dealers, and publications as the first campaign benefits
Atari Corporation.  But, every campaign will benefit the Atari Community.
If you are interested in strengthening the Atari Community, join us...
We can make a difference!
 
Sincerely,
 
Len Stys
Mark Leair
 
 
                                   Cost?
                                   -----
 
     There is no cost to you in any way to participate in these campaigns.
There is no registration fee and no donations are being accepted.
 
 
                           Members Key to Success
                           ----------------------
 
     The number of people participating in these campaigns are extremely
important.  We can accomplish anything together.  The news of these
campaigns must be shared with every member of the Atari Community that you
know.  "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" should be publicized in Atari publications,
at Atari user group meetings, Atari shows, and Atari dealerships.
If you take action, we can and we will make a difference.  If you sit
back and watch, we won't do anything.
 
                               Official Site
                               -------------
 
     The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG is the official site of "OPERATION:
A.C.T. NOW".  If you wish to add any information or discuss anything
related to this operation, a special section has been created specifically
for this purpose on Free-Net.
 
     The Atari SIG can be accessed by the phone number "216/368-3888" at
either 300, 1200, or 2400 baud.  It can also be accessed by users from
around the nation or world for free by using "telnet" at their college or
business by the following Internet addresses:
 
freenet-in-{a,b,c}.cwru.edu = hela.ins.cwru.edu = 129.22.8.38
 
Type 'go atari' at any menu.
 
     The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's U.S. mailing address is:
 
     Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
     P.O. Box 364
     Mentor, OH 44061-0364
 
     The Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG's Internet e-mail address is:
 
     xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu
 
                             Online Newsletter
                             -----------------
 
There will be an "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" online newsletter to keep members
informed about what is going on.
 
                            A.C.T. NOW Directors
                            --------------------
 
If you are interested in becoming an organizer of "OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW",
please contact us by the address above.  We are interested in having
several people from each group of the Atari Community direct this
operation.
 
 
                           Independent Operation
                           ---------------------
 
"OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" is in no way affiliated with Atari Corporation.
These campaigns are organized by individuals that have an interest in
Atari products.  The "Atari" name, logo, and any other Atari products
mentioned are copyrighted by Atari Corporation.
 
"OPERATION: A.C.T. NOW" is supported by the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG,
but individual SysOps and members may or may not endorse this operation.
 
 
 
                           +------------------+
                           |   CAMPAIGN ONE   |
                           +------------------+
 
 
    The first campaign will be to compile two lists.  One list will
consist of things that we believe the company is doing right.  Atari is
doing great things and if you want to continue seeing the company doing
these things, you have to let them know.  The other list will consist of
things that we believe the company can do better.  The company will never
know the problems that you see unless you tell them.  We will send these
lists to Atari Corporation's Board of Directors and ask that they consider
our suggestions.  Will Atari listen?  There isn't a successful company
around that doesn't listen--especially to their customers, developers,
dealers, and publications.
 
    What you nee to do is write down everything that you see right with
Atari and the things that you believe the company can improve.  Include
any past experiences that you have had with the company.
 
    Here are a few examples:
 
                                    RIGHT            IMPROVE
    Users
    -----                      Great products,     No easy memory
                               great price         upgrade
 
                                                   Once took 4 months
                                                   to get my computer
                                                   replaced when sent
                                                   to Atari
 
    Developers
    ----------                 Good developers     Took 3 months to
                               area on GEnie       get a computer to
                                                   develop on
 
                               Great computers     Atari was rude to
                               to develop on       me when they first
                                                   showed me the Falcon
 
    Dealers
    -------                    Good dealer         Shortage of products,
                               support             even today
 
                                                   No new products
 
                                                   No co-op advertising
                                                   and lack of company
                                                   advertising
    Publishers
    ----------                 Atari advertises    Slow to pay for ads
                               regularly
 
                                                   Does not give enough
                                                   new info to us
 
 
 
    The comments made in these examples should not be taken as truth.
They are simply examples.  Also, your comments can be as long as you want.
In fact, the longer and more detailed, the better.
 
    If you wish to remain anonymous, you may send these lists in another
envelope.
 
    The goal of this campaign is to inform Atari of things that we believe
can help improve the company's position in the computer marketplace.
 
    All of the lists that are received will be compiled and then sent to
Atari Corporation.
 
 
                           +------------------+
                           |   CAMPAIGN TWO   |
                           +------------------+
 
 
    The second campaign is to concentrate on letting computer publications
know that Atari is back.
 
    The Falcon030 has been released in the United States.  The amount of
press that the Falcon receives will most likely determine when the Falcon
will be shipped to the United States and the quantity shipped.
 
    The Boston Computer Society meeting was not as successful as it should
have been.  This is because there was little press covering the Falcon030
announcement.
 
    What you need to do is list names and addresses of publications that
you wish to see have an article about the Falcon030 personal integrated