ANNOUNCE: Newsgroup VOTING Now Open

Jim Varney (jamesv@softcom.net)
Wed, 18 Feb 1998 18:49:57 -0800 

We Need Your Help: Please Vote On The Newsgroup Proposal
--------------------------------------------------------

The time to vote on the proposal to create a Usenet newsgroup 
devoted to satellite observing is now here.  

You can help make the voting process go smoothly by observing
a few Usenet rules.  Most importantly, the ballot (called the
"Call For Votes" or CFV) may not redistributed by anyone.
Please do not make copies of the ballot and e-mail it to 
others.  It may not be posted on the web.

Voting will be conducted by a neutral Usenet volunteer votetaker.

To vote, you obtain a ballot and e-mail it back to the
votetaker.

There are two ways to obtain a ballot:

1. From one of the following Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,
news.groups, sci.astro, sci.astro.amateur, sci.astro.planetarium,
sci.space.policy, or sci.space.shuttle

2. By e-mail from the votetaker.  The votetaker's e-mail address
is: David Bostwick <bostwick@cas.chemistry.gatech.edu>  Simply
request a ballot for sci.astro.satellites.visual-observe and
Mr. Bostwick will be glad to send you one.

Please read the CFV document for full instructions on how to vote.

Why Your Help Is Needed
-----------------------

In order for the newsgroup to succeed, we need A LOT OF VOTES.  

In order to pass there must be a two-thirds majority and YES 
must exceed NO votes by a margin of at least 100.  I can't
overemphasize: WE NEED HUNDREDS OF VOTES.  You can vote yes,
no or abstain.

Let's have a big turnout from SeeSat-L to show that
satellite observing is a growing, vibrant hobby with a lot
of people who are interested in this topic.

Currently, there are people -- usually beginners -- who ask
"What satellite was that?" "How do I make my own predictions?"
on groups such as sci.astro.amateur or sci.space.shuttle.
Having a newsgroup devoted only to satellite watching will
encourage novices to post their questions -- they will feel
safe that their questions are being posted in the right
forum.  Some of those newcomers will learn and grow and 
become valuable subscribers to SeeSat-L.

Four of us (in no particular order) -- Jay Resper, 
Bart De Pontieu, Jeff Hunt, Jim Varney -- have spent weeks 
of effort writing the RFD, answering RFD questions and guiding 
this proposal through the complicated Usenet process.  All 
we ask in return is for you to take a minute and VOTE.

Thank you!
_____________________________________________________________
Jim Varney     121.398 W, 38.458 N, 8m     Sacramento, Calif.
Member, Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society