From the June 1995 Bits of Blue newsletter
SECRETARY'S REPORT
TPCUG MEETING 5/10/95, 6 PM

Minutes and Comments by Brace Register, Secretary

Many of our members and visitors enjoyed the TPCUG Bargain Table. The efforts of the donors and purchasers are much appreciated by all the members The President thanked all for contributions of items and contributions from your purchases. He stated that we might do the TPCUG BARGAIN TABLE again in December 1995.

After considerable and adequate time, President Bruneau called the meeting to order. Comments and information were given regarding SIGs, vendors and miscellaneous. Several comments and questions were raised and answered. Harvey asked for comments from those who have downloaded BITS OF BLUE. (FYI: You must have Windows and download Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the BITS OF BLUE. The April issue contained 300 KB. First, you download the reader, then use it to download the BITS OF BLUE Newsletter.)

The JUNE MEETING TPCUG will be back at our regular meeting place, the HCC Auditorium - Ybor Room.

SIGS: MICROSOFT ACCESS: June 15 (3rd Thursday), 1995, 6 PM, promptly, at 3903 Northdale Boulevard, northeast corner of Mapledale and Northdale Boulevards. One or two may be squeezed in due to limited seating. Be there at door at 6 PM, a few minutes before 6 PM is better. A Security Officer must permit entrance at the rear entrance of the building. Sign up early. Use Bulletin Board. Meeting is the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Instructors and SIG leaders are superb!

OS/2: (Always 4th Tuesday of Month) Contact John Lucas for time, place and openings/sign-up. (Read the SIG information page.)

INTERNET: June 6, 1995, 6 PM Contact Charles Howe. Seats are available. You can use BBS to sign up. Promptness is required because security at Reflectone is tight and required. From North Dale Mabry, go west on Waters to TAMPA WEST sign on the south (left) side of the street (if you pass Anderson Road, you have gone too far), turn south at TAMPA WEST sign, go one block to dead end, turn right one block and take a "forced" left turn, go south about a half block to north entrance of Reflectone building on left. You must enter north end of the building and be prompt at 6 PM because security will unlock door and escort us to the meeting room. The next, and thereafter, SIG Internet meeting will be the first Tuesday of the Month.

President Bruneau wants your opinion. If you would like to have a particular SIG, let him know your interest. He reads BBS regularly. Send him a message.

The Bulletin Board is easy to use. You cannot mess it up. Try it whether member or non-member of TPCUG. Many have not tried to use the Bulletin Board. Use It, you can't hurt it. Check out the HUMOR Board, also while you are on.

SOFTWARE & HARDWARE: Connie Kincaid has the two day SIGs regarding basics and BBS: Hardware, June 27, 1995, 6:30 PM. Software, July 25, 1995 6:30 PM. Place: Reflectone Building. See SIG Internet above for directions, security, etc. Check with Connie for reservations. If it is filled, ask her about a repeat.

DESKTOP SIG is in the planning stage for August.

EACH ONE SIGN ONE goal in 1995. Harvey reminded us that the goal is for every member to bring at least one new member. Just ask whom you casually meet in places of business. If someone asks you a question while you are browsing the computer store, acquaint them with the benefits of TPCUG. What did your neighbor say when you invited them? You didn't. Well bring them next time on June 14, 1995. Bring a whole carload; they will thank you for being a good neighbor.

Use of the Bulletin Board and a demonstration of Adobe Acrobat were presented. A Q & A session was lively and helpful, even for those of us who did not ask questions. We learned also. Kevin Sheridan, SYSOP, showed a tree of files on the RBBS. He noted the new EXPRESS mail file. Over 144 files related to messages are available. He accessed the RBBS so that we could follow the steps on the overhead screen as he walked through the prompts and responses. Mail door is working perfectly, but 255 lines continued to lock up the system. Kevin installed SILVER EXPRESS to solve the problem so that messages of 255 or more can be handled.

Some comments on this and that were given. The RBBS Menu has a different color combination than previously. Al Poole, Asst. SYSOP, has done an excellent job on the system. Kevin walked through BULLETINS Menu. We watched bulletins retrieval. Files have been categorized. You can change your color setting by using Utilities Menu on the RBBS (Bulletin Board main menu). Kevin recommended that we use Z-MODEM Protocol for download. Upload will ask you for that information each time. You can use numbers rather than names of "doors", i.e., TQM door is the 1st. Type in the number of mail conference to turn on that conference. RIPTERM.4 is RIPTERM communication program to download; go to files. RIPTERM iallows the use of a mouse. All uploads on RBBS are scanned for virus before accepting upload. “Express System” explains the RBBS and how it works. When TQM or EXPRESS are packing mail, your screen may look as if nothing is happening but the RBBS is packing the mail. Just wait it out. Downloading messages shows a spinning propeller as it packages messages. Message numbers in series should be separated by a comma or a space in between. Sending a message to (ALL) exposes the messages or questions to everyone. The phone numbers to the Bits of Blue BBS are (813) 239-3704 and (813) 237-4997. In uploading, give one filename and short description, then go into upload. Harvey has a directory called UPLOAD. He enters files there for upload. (Me too, I'll bet you do or will).

Harvey demonstrated ADOBE ACROBAT ACROREADER 2.0. He demonstrated the download of BITS OF BLUE. He installed categories in a new left hand column. He inserted Quick Tabs. Harvey is making BITS OF BLUE available to TAMPA BAY ONLINE. You can click on anything that shows in blue text and then ZOOM ADOBE ACROBAT ACROREADER will download other information, e.g., New York Times when you are on the Internet.

Winners of the door prize OS/2 WARP: Ever hear of "COALS TO NEWCASTLE"? John Lucas, OS/ 2 WARP SIG Instructor, won the software. Congratulations, John!

President Bruneau reminded all to return across the street to the HCC Administrative Auditorium for meeting on June 14,1996, 6 PM. Who knows what great door prizes await TPCUG members. Only members are eligible for opportunities of receiving door prizes. Bring a friend. Sign up a new member. Each one sign one. Enjoy the BBS. u