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*****Last modified 23-June-1988*****

There are a few basic questions that get asked from time to time that
indicate that people don't know much about DECUS and how to use its
services.  Monthly I post a list of answers to DECUS related questions
that may be of interest to the net.  If you have something to add or a
correction to this posting, please let me know. 
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Some basic answers to DECUS questions:

1) What does DECUS stand for and how do you pronounce it?

   Digital Equipment Computer Users Society

   The pronunciation is open for discussion.  My belief is that the
   correct way is DEE-CUS as opposed to DECK-US.

2) How can I contact DECUS?

   DECUS is made up of several "chapters."  People wishing to join DECUS
   may do so based upon their place of residence.  U.S. residents join
   the U.S. Chapter:

       DECUS U.S. Chapter
       219 Boston Post Road, BP02
       Marlboro, Massachusetts  01752-1850

       +1-508-480-3259

   Canadian residents join DECUS Canada:

       DECUS Canada
       15th Floor
       505 University Avenue
       Toronto, Ontario
       M5G 2H2

       +1-416-597-3437

   DECUS can not, at present, be contacted electronically.

3) What services does DECUS provide its members?

   DECUS offers many services to its members.  Some of the more
   notable are:

   a) The DECUS U.S. Chapter Symposia, held twice each year. The next
      few Symposia will be:

          Anaheim, CA, October 17-21, 1988 
          Atlanta, GA, May 8-12, 1989
          Anaheim, CA, November 6-10, 1989
          New Orleans, LA, May 7-11, 1990

      If you can not attend, proceedings are available for these
      meetings (usually $15 per meeting).  For more information on the
      U.S. Chapter Symposia, call +1-508-480-3302.

      DECUS Canada also holds symposia.  The next DECUS Canada
      Symposia is scheduled for February 20-24, 1989.  Contact DECUS
      Canada for more information. 

   b) The DECUS Program Library, a VERY large collection of software
      for almost every computer DEC has ever made, which is available
      for essentially the cost of reproduction and distribution.  The
      current issue of the library catalog is the 1988/1989 edition.
      The catalog is available free of charge to DECUS members.  More
      information can be obtained by calling +1-508-480-3418.

   c) The DECUS U.S. Chapter Newsletter, a monthly collection of the
      Special Interest Group Newsletters which is available on a
      yearly subscription basis ($35 annually).  Subscription
      information is available by calling +1-508-480-3301. 

   d) Regional Conferences, local users groups from time to time host
      DECUS mini-symposia focused on some subset of Digital products.

   e) DECUSCOPE, a quarterly information publication sent free to all
      DECUS U.S. Chapter members.

   f) DECUS Merit Scholarship Program, a Merit Scholarship has been
      established to be awarded annually to a DECUS member or member's
      child.  For more information contact Ms. Paula Morin,
      +1-508-480-2355.

   g) DECUServe, a teleconferencing system using VAX Notes.  It is
      available to all U.S. Chapter DECUS members for a $45 per year
      subscription charge.  Subscribers also pay their own long
      distance telephone charges.  It is the intent of this system to
      allow members of DECUS to interact with each other concerning
      technical topics, on a day-to-day basis.  A subscription form is
      available in the January 1988 issue of DECUSCOPE.

   h) Seminars, a program of seminars on topics of interest to DECUS
      members, presented at various times and locations around the
      U.S. and immediately preceeding symposia.  Call Diane Spirio at
      +1-508-480-3307 for more information. 

   i) OASIS, a teleconferencing system using VAX Notes and VTX (Video
      Text), sponsored by the OA SIG and Digital.  See the January
      1988 issue of the OA SIG Newsletter or contact Joe Whatley at
      +1-813-734-5473x2438 for more information.

4) What is a SIG and a SIC?

   SIGs are Special Interest Groups.  There are many SIGs in DECUS.
   Some are: Artificial Intelligence, Business Applications, DAARC,
   Data Management, Datatrieve/4GL, EDUSIG, Graphics, Hardware, IAS,
   Micro, Languages and Tools, MUMPS, Networks, Office Automation,
   Personal Computer, RSTS, RSX, RT, Site Management & Training,
   UNISIG (UNIX, ULTRIX), and VAX Systems.  It should be noted that
   the IAS SIG is in the process of merging with the RSX SIG.

   SICs are Special Interest Committees.  These are really either new
   SIGs in the making or old SIGs going out of business.  They provide
   the same kinds of services that SIGs provide but are short of
   volunteer leadership.  Currently there is only one SIC, Large
   Systems, which is an old SIG going out of business because of the
   lack of a constituency.

   SIGs and SICs sponsor sessions at symposia, publish newsletters and
   in other ways provide services to DECUS members interested in
   particular subsets of problems and applications of DEC computers
   and software.  

5) What is a LUG?

   A LUG is a Local Users Group.  There are many LUGs throughout the
   U.S., Canada and the rest of the world (the current count is 158 in
   the U.S. alone).  LUGs usually are associated with one or more
   SIGs.  For example many LUGs deal with the problems of VAX systems
   only.  To find a LUG near you, call +1-508-480-3289.

6) How much does it cost to join DECUS and where can I get a
   membership form?

   Membership in DECUS is open to anyone and is FREE.  Membership
   forms may be obtained from the DECUS office, LUG's and the back of
   the Combined Newsletters. A LaTeX source for the DECUS U.S. form has
   been posted to the USENET newsgroup comp.org.decus and is available
   on request from the poster at any of the addresses below. 

   To check your membership status or to notify DECUS of a change of
   address call +1-508-480-3418.
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DATATRIEVE, DECUS, DECUServe, DECUSCOPE, IAS, RSTS, RSX, RT, ULTRIX,
   VAX and VTX are all trademarks of Digital Equipment Corp.
UNIX is a trademark of A.T. & T. Company
MUMPS is a registered trademark of Massachusetts General Hospital
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Clyde T. Poole - Technical Coordinator, Facilities and Equipment (in real life)
 DECUS U. S. Chapter, VAX and LS SIGs, Newsletter Editor (in my spare time)
Univ. of Texas at Austin        ARPA/CSnet/NSFnet: ctp@cs.utexas.edu
Dept. of Computer Sciences      UUCP: {uunet,harvard,ihnp4}!ut-sally!ctp
Taylor Hall 2.124               BITNET: ctp@UTADNX
Austin, TX  78712-1188          VOICE: +1-512-471-9551
      "Life is a bitch ... and then you die"