From: heiby@chg.mcd.mot.com (Ron Heiby)
Subject: chi Newsgroups FAQ [last mod: 8/25/92]
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Schaumburg, IL
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 13:42:31 GMT

This posting describes the Chicagoland regional newsgroups (chi).  It is
meant to be an adjunct to the postings describing the net-wide newsgroups.
This posting also describes the procedure for creating and destroying
newsgroups in the chi hierarchy.

Please mail your suggestions for changes or enhancements to me.

To start, here are the brief descriptions of the newsgroups suitable for
framing or inclusion in your LIBDIR/newsgroups file.  This information
will be posted in a "chi" newsgroups checkgroups control message.  The
checkgroups control message will be sent out automatically, on a regular
basis and when the "chi" newsgroup namespace changes.
-----
chi.eats	Group for discussion of Chicagoland restaurants.
chi.forsale	Chicago area for-sale notices.
chi.general	General discussions, Chicago area, not forsale/wanted.
chi.mail	Discussion of Chicago area email issues.
chi.places	Group for announcements of Chicago area events.
chi.wanted	Chicago area wanted (not for-sale) notices.
chi.weather	Chicagoland weather reports.
-----

Additional description:

chi.eats	This is a dandy newsgroup for finding good restaurants
		or sharing your finds with the rest of the community.
		Other appropriate postings might include information
		on unusual grocers or food preparation equipment stores.

chi.forsale	This is likely to be your first choice newsgroup for anything
		you want to sell.  It reaches a local audience, so people in
		New Jersey won't have to read about your car for sale.
		You should not cross-post a chi.forsale message to
		chi.general, or any other group than another *.wanted
		or *.forsale type group.

chi.general	This newsgroup is for miscellaneous local-interest postings
		that do not fit more appropriately into another group.
		It is not for postings looking to buy, sell, rent, or trade
		anything.  chi.forsale and chi.wanted are perfectly fine
		newsgroups for such postings.

chi.mail	This newsgroup is for discussions related to Electronic Mail
		into, out of, and within the Chicagoland area.  Issues related
		to the reliability of local mail, domains, etc. are welcome.

chi.places	This is a good place to announce meetings, Ham fests, concerts,
		etc.  Minutes or reviews might also be appropriate here.

chi.wanted	This is likely to be your first choice newsgroup for anything
		you want to buy.  It reaches a local audience, so people in
		New Jersey won't have to read about your wanting a new
		dinette set.  You should not cross-post a chi.wanted message
		to chi.general, or any other group than another *.wanted
		or *.forsale type group.

chi.weather	This group is fed weather reports, forcasts, and other
		items of meteorological interest from the National Weather
		Service through a bizarre collection of equipment.

It is believed that the Chicagoland news community is still small enough
(and rational enough) that elaborate voting schemes are not necessary
to control the newsgroup namespace.  On the other hand, it is generally
felt that the total anarchy of the "alt" hierarchy leaves much to be
desired.  With that in mind, the following procedures are proposed.

Newsgroup Creation Procedure
----------------------------
The person wishing to create a new newsgroup should go through the
following steps.

1.  Think again.
2.  Propose the newsgroup in an article posted to the group "chi.general".
    (At this time, it is felt that there is insufficient volume to warrant
    any kind of "chi.news" group or hierarchy.)  The proposing article
    shall include:
        - The proposed name (or names) for the new group.
        - The proposed "one-liner" for for the LIB/newsgroups file.
        - A brief description of the purpose for the new group, intended
          audience, reason for local distribution, and reason no exising
          newsgroup is appropriate.
3.  Discussion should take place in chi.general, to reach consensus.
    (con-sen-sus n. general agreement in opinion)
4.  If agreement is reached on the desirability for the new group, and
    on its name after a discussion period of at least two weeks, the
    person who originally proposed the group shall send a message to
    news@clout.chi.il.us.  The message shall state that a discussion
    has been held in chi.general and that a new newsgroup is being
    created.  The message shall include the group name and brief
    description agreed upon for the LIB/newsgroups file, so that the
    automated "chi" checkgroups message can be updated.
5.  The person who proposed the new group shall issue the control
    message for new group creation.  If that person does not have the
    local authority to issue the control message, or does not have the
    knowledge of the correct way to do so, the message to
    news@clout.chi.il.us can include a request that the control article
    be sent, as well.

Newsgroup Deletion Procedure
----------------------------
This procedure provides a "sunset" for newsgroups that are not as popular
as anticipated or which have out-lived their usefulness.  It is not inteded
to be used for newsgroups in active use.  A person who believes he/she
has discovered a dormant "chi" newsgroup should go through the following
steps.

1.  Think again.  Has the group seen no traffic (perhaps other than
    "keep-alive" traffic) in the past few months?  Is the newsgroup
    of a seasonal nature?  Can the newsgroup reasonably be thought
    to be dead?
2.  Propose that the newsgroup is dead in an article posted to chi.general.
    In the article, describe why you think it's dead and not coming back
    in the near/foreseeable future.
3.  Discussion should take place in chi.general.
4.  If no one provides a reasonable argument that the group is still
    alive (or will be soon) within two weeks, the group can be declared dead.
5.  The newsgroup slayer shall send a message to news@clout.chi.il.us.
    The message shall state that the newsgroup has been declared dead,
    and that the automated "chi" checkgroups message should be updated.
6.  The newsgroup slayer shall issue the control message for group deletion.
    If that person does not have the knowledge of the correct way to do so,
    the message to news@clout.chi.il.us can include a request that the
    control article be sent, as well. 
-- 
Ron Heiby, heiby@chg.mcd.mot.com	Moderator: comp.newprod
"The centipede has a thousand legs, but he cannot tapdance."
Newsgroups: chi.general