The Association of Computer Clubs is the National representative and
    liaison  organisation  for  all  micro-computer  users' Local Clubs and
    National Users' Groups, in and around the United Kingdom.  The ACC is a
    Voluntary association , managed and run by , a general council of those
    currently affiliated computer clubs and users groups.  Over 140  groups
    and clubs directly support the ACC.

       A small un-paid executive management committee , annually elected by
    the general council, attempts to implement the ACC's AIMS , POLICY  and
    Current Programme of work/services.

   The ACC's main AIMS are :-
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       To Promote COMPUTER CLUBS and USERS GROUPS to the general public.

       To  facilitate the NEW micro-computer user to locate his or her most
    relevant club/group, and thus to encourage  their  joining  that  local
    club and/or national group(s).

       To promote and aid the CREATION of NEW 'clubs' and 'users groups'.

       To  promote  and  support  ALL  Local and National amateur clubs and
    groups.

       To promote the advancement of our microcomputing hobby interests  in
    general.

       To promote mutual co-operation inbetween clubs and users groups.

       To  advise  clubs  and  users  groups,  in  order that their efforts
    appropriate national publicity and effectiveness.

       To publish such information, in such forms and media, as is  in  our
    own affiliates' members mutual interest and benefit.

       To provide common services to our affiliates and their membership.

       It   is  this  open  offering  of  "Self-help"  and  "Informal  Self
    Education" to each members needs, by his/her own comnputer users  club,
    that is the very vital 'stuff' that we belive keeps our hooby alive and
    growing in value to the community.  The ACC have produced a  "Voluntary
    Club  Information  Pack",  giving  help  and  details  on how to Start,
    Organise and Maintain a computer users club.  It is available  free  to
    anyone  who  is  seroiusly  interested,  in  forming a new club.  {This
    'pack' does however reflect the ideas and laws of the UK in forming new
    voluntary clubs and groups.}

       The  ACC  is  a  non-profit  voluntary  society  (unincorporated) of
    personal micro computer users clubs and groups.  It get no state funds.
    The  ACC  raises  its own small funds from its own affiliates.  The ACC
    could not do all that it does  ,  without  the  considerable  equipment
    loans, and help that several broad minded corporations have seen fit to
    give.  In particular British Telecom , Prestel , Commodore  VNU  ,  and
    SPERRY  have  been  very  instrimental  in  enabling our services to be
    actually provided to both our affiliates and the general public.

       The  ACC is currently organising a FIDO Network of computer bulletin
    boards , with the aid of several SPERRY PC's ,  loaned  by  the  SPERRY
    company  for that purpose.  These FIDO CBBS's will join an existing and
    growing but important band of linked but independant FIDO's,  numbering
    14  local  CBBS  in  to one UK EMAIL Network.  There are over 600 Fidos
    throught the rest of the World.  Email is possible with almost  all  of
    these FIDO's.

       The  ACC is also exploring other possible areas for mutual services,
    thes include :- A proposed Multi-User  CBBS  system  on  a  PDP-11.   A
    national Electronic Conferencing Service, with local dail-up access.  A
    " MIST+ " conference system , again with the aid of SPERRY.  For firmer
    details  of  these  projects, schemes and plans for the future, Contact
    the writer on Email Telecom Gold Sys 79:BKU060 or  Len  Stuart  on  Sys
    83:JNL007 , or Mbx ClubSpot 810, on prestel.  {*810 }

                   The COMPUTER CLUBS DATABASE
                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       The   ASSOCIATION  belives  that  it  holds  the  largest  and  most
    'up-to-date' list of known computer clubs and users groups.  Ths  CLUBS
    DATABASE  consists  of  all affiliates and all other clubs known to the
    ACC,   and   have    aggreed    to    the    ACC    publishing    their
    'first-point-of-contact'  address.   The  ACC  publishes  these  as its
    available facilities permit.  Affiliates contacts  are  listed  on  the
    ACC's ClubSpot 810 on Prestel.  The ACC also helps other groups via its
    "ACC news" columns in PCW and McM.  The ACC is very greatfull for these
    companys   kind  help  and  assistance  by  offering  us  these  public
    information areas in their magazines.

       If you want any further information , on any matter, concerning  the
    ACC please don't hesitate to contact the writer , at the above address,
    or at any of the following :-
            John S. BONE  TELECOM GOLD Sys 79:BKU060
            John S. BONE  COMPULINK-one Fido                     (300+1200)
    Or telephone outside office hours) (091) 477 3339 (Tyneside)

 Comming Soon FIDO-ACC-01 "LOG-ON-THE-TYNE"  + 44 (0)91 477 xxxx (300)
 Comming Soon FIDO-ACC-02 "CLEVELAND"        + 44 (0)64 2xx xxxx (300)
 under planning Fido-ACC-03 (UK-ONE)
 Comming Soon MIST+ ACC   "EYES like UK"     + 44 (0)xx xxx xxxx (300+1200)

 The ACC thanks all un-named who have helped in the running of the Association.

              NEWSBRIEF - THE ACC/SPERRY FIDO NEWS SERVICE

       NEWSBRIEF IS A SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE ACC BASED ON THE STORIES  AND
    NEWS  ITEMS  FOUND INSIDE THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY.  NO SOURCE MATERIAL IS
    NORMALLY QUOTED AS MOST STORIES ARE TAKEN FROM  A  VARIETY  OF  SOURCES
    EXCEPT WHERE SPECIFICALLY STATED.

       NEWSBRIEF1 2nd April 1986 Compiled by ACC/SPERRY FIDO1

       Modem Approvals Confusion

       Many  of  us  remain  confused by the current problem of the red and
    green triangles used to indicate approval or  non-approval  of  modems.
    The  confusion  surrounds  many  members  of  the public who think that
    approval is some official gaurentee of good workmanship and reliabilty.

       It is worth noting that some modems that are  not  approved  may  be
    illegal  but  they may also work just as well.  The approval of a modem
    only means that it is safe, not that it will actually do all the things
    it says in the advert.

       This  BBS has decided to refuse to give advice on what well could be
    a  troublesome   subject   for   those   who   seek   to   police   the
    telecommunications industry.

       ST Saga

       Following  the recent well attended ATARI Show in London it seems ST
    mania could be hitting the streets.  Jack Tramiel appears to be forming
    a  two  stage  approach to marketing.  He is launching a number of "not
    quite" full specification machines which you  or  me  can  buy  with  a
    credit  card  and  an  Amiga bashing 1 megabyte machine based on proven
    design.

       Perhaps the most  useful  feature  is  the  rumoured  IBM  and  CP/M
    emulation  packages.   If this proves to be true by the summer we could
    have a well established 68000 based machine capable of running standard
    software  as well as the new AMIGA like packages.  Could it really beat
    Commodore's new machine?  We don't know but it will be interesting!

       IBM Insurance Problems

       Will IBM officials find it difficult to get insurance this  year  we
    ask?   The  question  may seem a little silly until you realise that BT
    has just  thrown  away  a  whole  load  of  IBM  billing  equipment  in
    Reading...   because  it  didn't  ork!   The problem only became public
    recently when people complained to OFTEL (Office of Telecommunications)
    about not getting a bill for the last 8 months.

       The  200  million  pound  system  is already said to have cost BT 53
    million in lost revenue.

       (Story culled from  NEWSBYTES  UK  by  Steve  Gold  and  Micro  Mart
    Magazine)

       Electronic Mail Compatibility

       The worst thing about EMAIL is that nothing is compatible.  I cannot
    send message from my Prestel account to Telecom Gold, or to  any  other
    message  service  like Comet, One-to-One, Easylink etc.  Yet all I want
    to do is send standard ASCII text strings over a telephone line.

       Whilst this situation continues  I  need  at  least  3  or  4  EMAIL
    accounts, this is perhaps the reason why many people are turning to use
    BBS services commercially.  Still further is  the  problem  of  service
    duplication  in  EMAIL  sub-contractors.  Telecom Gold is now a classic
    example of this problem.

       Telecom Gold allows a company to buy a group of accounts  which  are
    then  resold  to  you  and  me.   Such  a system is the much advertised
    MICROLINK.  This service being run by Database  Publications  with  the
    addition  of  other  services  specific to their ackount holders.  This
    includes software downloading etc.

       If you read Personal Computer World then you will also see an online
    offer,  not  from  MICROLINK  but from PCW.  I have a feeling that this
    will duplicate some MICROLINK services and at  considerable  cost.   As
    more  companies  rent  mailboxes to you and me on Telecom Gold I cannot
    help but think that a rationalisation of services is needed.

       When a friend told me this week that EMAIL services are going to  go
    for  compatibility  I  was  forced to reflect on the 2 accounts I would
    need just on Gold to access the services I want.  By the time you  read
    this there could be more!  ST/2/4/86

       NEWSBRIEF  IS  PRODUCED BY THE VOLUNTEERS WHO OPERATE THE ACC/SPERRY
    FIDO ON TYNESIDE.  ALL COMMENTS AND  OPINIONS  ARE  THE  VIEWS  OF  THE
    VOLUNTEER AND NOT A COMMENT BY THE ACC OR IT'S OFFICERS.

       THIS  FIDO IS SUPPORTED BY SPERRY UK BY A DONATION OF A PC HT AS ONE
    OF FOUR TO THE ASSOCIATION OF COMPUTER CLUBS UK.