> please change my email address to
> iherz@fluids.ittind.com
Here are the instructions for doing so, from the initial sign-up message:
Welcome to the WATPA mailing list. To post a message to the list, send your
message to watpa@westnet.com. To unsubscribe from this list, send a message
to watpa-request@westnet.com with the single word
unsubscribe
in the body. If you know someone who wants to subscribe to the list, have
them send mail to watpa-request@westnet.com with the single word
subscribe
in the body. If you need to change your address, unsubscribe from your old
address and then subscribe from your new one.
The mission statement of WATPA follows:
[Last updated on: Fri Jan 5 20:47:39 1996]
WESTCHESTER ALLIANCE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AND PUBLIC ACCESS
MISSION STATEMENT
JANUARY 1996
BACKGROUND --
Early in 1993, more than a dozen people from across Westchester
County sat down for the first meeting of the Advisory Council on
Technology and Public Access in the offices of County Clerk Andrew
Spano. We came from various backgrounds -- education, law,
architecture, medicine, government, the computer industry, among
other walks of life.
We all realized that the revolution in information, computers and
communications would have a dramatic impact on the county and our
way of life. We also realized that no group of citizens was
looking into what those impacts would be and how we might control
them. We took this task upon ourselves.
In 1994, the decision was made to transform this council into a
not-for-profit citizenship association, the Westchester Alliance
For Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA).
WATPA intends to distinguish itself by being an organization of
citizens from across Westchester County and thus speaks from the
perspective of the public at large -- not any particular business
or other interests. In a world in which knowledge about these
issues is both fast changing and difficult to locate, WATPA is also
a central source of expertise. Reflecting the first two features
of WATPA, it will work to provide the people of Westchester County
with objective advice and knowledge -- unaffected by any financial
interest in the resulting decisions.
PURPOSES --
WATPA is dedicated to serving the community at large, educational
organizations, business and government for the following
educational and community purposes:
(1) to provide a forum for the discussion of policy issues
relating to public, business, government and educational
access to emerging new telecommunications and information
"highways", technology and services in Westchester;
(2) find ways of accelerating the growth of inter-connected
networks within the county;
(3) assure the general public's access to those networks, no
matter where they live or their social or economic
circumstances;
(4) help educate the public about the coming information age;
(5) be a resource for public and private agencies, officials and
members of the news media who want to understand how the
people of Westchester County can benefit from and direct the
information revolution;
(6) maintain liaison and work with organizations outside of the
county who are also concerned about these issues.
SPECIAL CONCERNS --
WATPA will operate through a series of "action-oriented"
committees, each of which is devoted to realistic accomplishments
in special areas of concern. These include:
(a) the direction of cable/telecommunications and information
policy at various levels of government, including
municipalities;
(b) the development of an inventory of telecommunications paths in
the county as part of a broader planning effort;
(c) protection of the civil liberties and rights to inexpensive
access to public data by the people of Westchester;
(d) support and advice for the increasing use of
telecommunications and associated technology in the schools of
Westchester County;
(e) the application of telecommunications and associated
technology in health and human services;
(f) the application of telecommunications and associated
technology in the arts and sciences;
(g) the impact of telecommunications and associated technology on
human health, well being and the social fabric;
(h) the impact of telecommunications and associated technology on
the economy of the county.
MEMBERSHIP --
WATPA welcomes as members anyone who lives, works or is otherwise
concerned with the future of Westchester County. In a phrase from
one of our sister organizations, all you need is the desire "to
help make our corner of the digital world a civilized and
flourishing place to live, work and visit." WATPA is funded by
minimal fees for membership, in addition to grants and donations.
To keep members aware of its activities, WATPA meets regularly,
sends out information via the U.S. mail, maintains an Internet
Discussion Group [To join the list, send a message to:
majordomo@westnet.com with the words <subscribe watpa> in the body
of the message], a World Wide Web Homepage
(http://www.westnet.com/watpa) and a free, open-access electronic
bulletin board system 914-737-0460.
WATPA's address:
Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications
& Public Access
Westchester Library System
8 Westchester Plaza
Elmsford NY 10523
914 592-8214
WATPA's secretary, Bill Langham, may be reached at 914 967-0341.
Last update 01-05-1996
*********
==========================================================
Chris Candreva -- chris@westnet.com -- (914) 967-7816
WestNet Internet Services of Westchester
http://www.westnet.com/