Conference 7.286::sports_90

    Just in case you might be wondering...
    
    I had to make some changes to the system and did an autogen earlier,
    and after it all came back up I discovered the notes object wasn't
    defined.
    
    In any case, that's why the conference wasn't available awhile ago.
    
    Sorry for the inconvenience.
    
    Jim

    I apologize for all of you getting blown out of notes...there is
    definitely something wrong with the system, but I haven't figured
    it out yet.....
    
    It's even blowing me off and I'm local to it. I'm wondering if there
    isn't a problem with the current version of notes not disconnecting
    links properly because I see groups of links owned by the same person.
    That isn't normal.
    
    I'm gonna keep working on it, but for now, I hope it's not too 
    much of a pain for everyone.
    
    Jim

I just upgrade notes from V1.2 to V2.0.  I don't think it will help but it may
give me more credibility when I report the problems to the Notes maintainers.

Hope this helps,
j.

    Below is an extract of the DEC policy on the use of NOTES.  I think it
    would be a good idea if everyone read it.  There is a more
    comprehensive rendition of the policy in VTX.
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
From:	GENRAL::COMET::GOODMAN "Nancy Oviatt Goodman  13-Nov-1989 1707" 13-NOV-1989 17:09:37.31
To:	@MGRE,@MGRM
CC:	GOODMAN
Subj:	Extract from  Updated Policy on Proper Use of Computers, Systems, Networks - FYI 


Extracted from DIGITAL THIS WEEK, Volume 16, Number 16, dated O3-OCT-89
and printed here WITH permission. 

       UPDATED POLICY ON PROPER USE OF COMPUTERS, SYSTEMS, NETWORKS

Digital has updated its worldwide policy defining the appropriate use of
its computers, systems and networks.  This version includes a philosophy
statement that reaffirms the importance of our systems and network 
utilities as business tools.  It also defines "misuse" and spells out
the responsibilities of all employees and managers.

The policy is effective immediately and will be available on videotex 
and in hard copy on or before Nov. 1.

Following are some policy highlights:

PHILOSOPHY

Systems and network utilities are powerful business tools, encouraging
creativity and the exchange of ideas needed to maintain our competitive 
edge.  These tools allow for instantaneous creation of "electronic"
organizations to focus worldwide resources on urgent tasks.  We want
to encourage our people to use these tools in accordance with company
philosophy and values.

Our peer-to-peer, open computing environment reflects our corporate
culture.  We sell this concept to customers, and business and society
are clearly moving toward this way of operating.  We believe that what
we sell to our customers will get better if we use it ourselves.

Information and the ability to communicate it freely are valuable assets
that play a significant role in Digital's success.  The protection and
appropriate use of these assets is everyone's responsibility.  We must
strike a balance between encouraging open systems and protecting these
assets if they are to continue to support our success.

NOTES FILES AND CONFERENCES

Digital provides systems to its employees to maintain computer confer-
ences (notes files) in direct support of company business (i.e., product
development, financial analysis, business planning, etc.).  Digital
also permits access to these systems to communicate matters of opinions
and common interests.

In all cases, a computer conference must have an identified conference
moderator.  Where the conference directly supports the company's business,
the conference moderator and the responsible systems manager may elect to 
restrict access to the conference.  Digital classified information may
only be placed in a conference with restricted access.  Conferences
created to communicate matters of opinion and common interests may not
be used for solicitations of any kind, and must be open to all employees.

In addition, these conferences may not be used to promote behavior which
is contrary to the company's values or policy (i.e., they may not promote
discrimination, disrespect for the individual, violence, etc.). ...The
company reserves the right to terminate any notes file it believes is
inappropriate or in violation of this policy.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR MESSAGE CONTENT

Messages mailed or posted over the Digital network are the responsibility
of the original author.  Posting materials in a notes file/conference
without the explicit permission of the author is prohibited and is a
violation of this policy.  When forwarding messages or posting them to
conferences, removal or falsification of the original message header
(which indicates the author) is prohibited.

POLICY VIOLATIONS

Managers who suspect that systems are being used improperly should discuss
the problem with the employee in question and, if appropriate, involve
security.  In cases where improper use has been clearly established, the
employee should be dealt with in accordance with the corrective action
and disciplinary policy (6.21).
    

    Sorry folks time for some Maintenance...
    
    Back soon
    
    
    Jeff

    For those of you having a great time poking fun at the moderators for
    trying to keep some order in here, I figured I'd remind you of one of
    DEC's policies on the use of computer systems.
    
    Below is an extract from Policy 6.54 
    ========================================================================
    
>Proper Use of Digital Computers, Systems and       Effective: 4-SEP-89   
>Networks                                           Section: 6.54         
    
>                                                        Screen  6 of 16
> Definitions Cont'd 
>
> | business activities, or for purposes of individual financial
> | gain.   Examples of misuse include, but are not limited to,
> | transmitting sexual or ethnic jokes or slurs, soliciting other
> | employees, developing chain letters, making defamatory
> | statements, disclosing private facts about any individual or
> | organization, inappropriate disclosure of Company Proprietary or
> | Confidential Information, permitting unauthorized access, etc.
    

    Well folks OURGNG is going in for a upgrade starting today so please be
    aware that your service will be effected for about the next 2 weeks. 
    
    Jeff

    Please use Topic 148 for posting all ticket sales/requests.  The
    guidelines for postings are in 148.0.

                    ****** THIS MEMO IS FROM DAN INFANTE ******
      
      Some background on notes usage:
        
      Each and every notes conference runs on a computer owned by a cost 
      center manager.  It is the responsibility of the cost center manager to 
      ensure that Digital's assets within his or her cost centers are being 
      efficiently and effectively used. 
        
      Basically, there are two kinds of computer conferencing (notes files): 
      technical/business and non-technical/business.
        
      Technical/business notes files are used extensively in support of the 
      companies business -- product development, strategic collaboration, 
      business conferencing, reduce time to market, and shorten problem 
      resolution time, business planning, etc. These are clearly valid reasons 
      to encourage conferencing/notes file use as a productivity tool.
        
      Non-technical/business notes files are those covering personal 
      interests.  These files have grown to unreasonable levels and in many 
      incidences does not contribute to our productivity objectives.  This 
      type of use is consuming valuable network capacity and consuming 
      disk/storage space.  Both of these are increasing costs to the company.  
      
      All cost center managers and system managers must monitor 
      non-technical / business notesfiles.  Effective immediately, I am 
      instructing all IM&T managers and system managers not to back up 
      non-technical business related notesfiles.  Additionally, they are to 
      cut back on capital required for notes access and monitor the 
      optimization of their computer capital.
        
      Our Corporate Security and Personnel policies are very clear and my 
      expectations are that our Cost Center Managers will comply with their 
      managerial responsibility.
        
        
        
        Regards,
        Dan
 

    My supervisor mentioned this to me with a chuckle yesterday (gee, I
    wonder why?), and I figured we'd see this memo.  OK mod's, tell us
    what's happening here in SPORTS, or should I say, how much longer will
    it live?
    
    Hawk

I don't know what will happen but I do know that if my Dist Manager even 
thinks I'm using Notes for a personel conference I'm dead meat.
Anybody got a good home ???

Jeff 

    I don't get all the panic over this memo.  It simply says not to backup
    the files and not go out of your way to purchase capital or expensed
    material to support it.
    
    The way I interpret it, we can go on as we have been.  The only
    difference is:
    
    $ SET FILE/NOBACKUP SPORTS.NOTE
    
    Mike

    My nontechnoweenie brain cell doesn't understand /nobackup.....
    
    Hawk

    It means that if the disk dies, so does SPORTS!

    Or, as in the case with some conferences, the conference has a
    technoweenie moderator with system access, he/she will personally
    perform the backup so as not to burden the data center.

Actually, I wouldn't worry too much at this point.

However, we were having a discussion the other day, and while it's
mostly personal opinions etc, the general feeling was that DEC shouldn't
cut out leisure time notes files.  

One person related having read a financial article that said that
Wall Street is losing faith in DEC and will continue to do so until
DEC takes a major action such as a layoff.  The article said that
DEC has done the small things (ie bottled water) and some larger
things based on employee suggestions, but it's time to really get
down to business and show Wall Street a move that shows DEC is serious.

The notes thing would be just another bottled water type thing, and
from a personal point of view, one of the things that keeps me interested
here (when I could be making more $$$ other places) are the little
niceties that working for DEC brings...

Oh well...  It should be an interesting couple of months.

If SPORTS is going to go away, please let us know in advance if possible,
because there are some things I'd like to extract before that happens...

'Saw

   <<< LESLIE::DISK$UNICORN:[NOTES$LIBRARY]EMPLOYEE_INTEREST_NOTING.NOTE;1 >>>
                         -< Employee Interest Noting >-
================================================================================
Note 1.0                     Conference Introduction                     1 reply
LESLIE::LESLIE "Andy, NEW B1/2-5, DTN 774 6230"      22 lines   1-DEC-1990 21:30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    This conference has been established to discuss issues regarding
    Employee Interest Noting in the DIGITAL Equipment Corporation.
    
    Of late, it has become evident that some regard this activity as
    counterproductive and in fact detrimental to the interests of DIGITAL
    Equipment Corporation.
    
    I stand at the opposite end of the spectrum and hope, with the
    assistance of participants here, to be able to counter some of the more
    extreme allegations with fact and reasoned debate.
    
    However, this conference is intended to represent and debate a broad
    spectrum of opinions and I welcome comment from all sides of this
    discussion.
    
    To be fair, I wish to declare that the basis for my establishing this
    conference is to eventually come up with a memorandum, not exceeding
    three pages in length, to be submitted to the Operations Committee to
    actively seek their support of Employee Interest Noting.
    
    /andy/

    Information Management & Technology is reviewing the Dan Infante memo on
    Notes conferences in an effort to determine the best solution for the
    problem.  We are looking at issues such as:

        - defining 'business' vs. 'non-business' related Notes conferences,
        - what resources are used now and what resources would it take to 
          restore a Notes conference that was not backed up,
        - enabling steps that would reduce disk space & improve performance
          of all Notes conferences, and
        - placing increased emphasis on Moderator responsibilities and
          Employee responsibilities as related to Notes conferences.

    No changes are being made to the existing practice of maintaining Notes
    conferences until we understand exactly what Mr. Infante is asking and
    why.  I will post a note on our decision in this conference when all
    issues have been resolved.

    Dennis Atkinson
    Manager, IMT Information Services


This shouldn't effect OURGNG::SPORTS

    That is good news!  Still, it's worthwhile to check-out that new
    conference that discusses eliminating (or not) Employee Interest
    Notesfiles.  Interesting stuff, especially about the myth of Notes
    Police.  I'm waiting for the official "Notes Counters in DEC Sign In
    Please" note.....  :-)
    
    Hawk

I've popped in there, not a bad conference but it could tend to
get just a tad stuffy, with all the chest beating going on in there.

Quite frankly, many friends I've had who have left DEC to get (in some
case a lot) more money elsewhere, say that one of the things they
miss the most in NOTES.

Even SeanVane says that the notes conferences up at Rochester don't
measure up to ours....

'Saw

    Yeah, 'Saw, I've noticed the chest beating in there myself this
    morning, and as a result, I've already lost interest.  It also is
    starting to exhibit shades of ::SOAPBOX, another conference which I
    just cain't get into.......
    
    I'll probably venture in there a few more times, just to see if there's
    anything new......
    
    Hawk

    
    Much adieu about Noting

Bruce, you slay me 8^)

I got a Message from my NWSS (Network Site Services) group and the message is 
that OURGNG has to lose SPORTS.

This is not just a warning it is a edict. 

I asked for a extension till 31-DEC-1990. 

Somebody find a new home. 

Jeff