There are over 8,000 such groups on the internet. It is here that people can post public messages and read and respond to the messages of others on such topics as the Civil War and Economic Development. E-mail is an alternative to telephoning or faxing. Newsgroups provide a way to join a club or discussion group without leaving your home. The options available are increasing almost daily.
Access varies from only e-mail to a rich menu of all internet options.
Many professional groups, associations and organizations are beginning to provide some level of internet access to their members. Some of these groups and associations are not just providing access, they are also moving their own on-line services onto the internet. This is a good option for many potential internet users because it also offers the service's standard fare of offerings in addition to a degree of internet accessibility including e-mail. For a very low annual cost I get internet e-mail access. E-mail addresses generally include some shortened version of the person's name.