HELP PLUG Steve Knight, Jan 1989
updated by Ian Rogers, Jun 1995
Updated by Aaron Sloman Jul 1999
THIS FILE IS OUT OF DATE
PLUG HAS BEEN OUT OF ACTION FOR SOME TIME
INSTEAD PLEASE SEE:
http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/research/projects/poplog/freepoplog.html
http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/research/projects/poplog/poplog.info.html
http://www.poplog.org
The remainder of the file is preserved for historical interest, in case
users decide to revive PLUG following the release of free versions of
Poplog.
The Poplog and Pop Languages User Group
-- What is PLUG?
-- Activities and Benefits
-- How to Join
-- Individual Membership
-- Corporate Membership
-- ISL Maintained Customer Membership
-- Contact Addresses-- What is PLUG? ------------------------------------------------------
The full name is "The BCS Poplog and Pop Languages User Group"
In brief, PLUG is a society which aims to further the interests of the
Pop (Poplog and other Pop languages) community.
Like most user groups, our members are people who use or develop Pop
systems or languages who wish to get together to swap ideas and
experiences. Its committee is formed from enthusiasts who work for the
society on a voluntary basis.
Membership is inexpensive (we are not profit-making). Joining is
worthwhile for anyone who is likely to use Pop for more than a few
months and definitely for anyone using Pop for serious work. Simply
seeing the demonstrations at the user-group meetings can be a real
eye-opener, for example.
The group's aim is to promote the interests of everyone using Pop
systems, including Poplog, AlphaPop, and Pop-2, for example. At the
moment we offer most to Poplog users, although as AlphaPop becomes more
widely used, a corresponding shift in emphasis may occur.
We are also independent of commercial interests and willing to argue on
members behalf for changes to Pop. For example, membership opinion has
significantly influenced aspects of both Poplog and AlphaPop, and we are
currently coordinating the effort to standardise Pop-11.
-- Activities and Benefits --------------------------------------------
So what does PLUG do and what do members get out of it? Here are the
main things.
* Annual Conference
We organise a two-day conference every year. We keep costs to a
minimum and hold it in University surroundings in order to
encourage academic attendance. There is a programme of talks and
question sessions, a parallel demonstrations programme, and an
evening dinner.
* Newsletter
We produce the PLUG newsletter. This contains updates on Pop,
reviews of Pop products and books, keeps you up to date on
the society's activities, and provides another way to make your
opinion heard by the Pop community.
* Helps to Standardise Pop-11
Acting as a commercially independent group, we are driving the
Pop-11 standardisation effort. This has to be handled with
sensitivity but we aim to promote the interests of users rather
implementers. Obviously, we need users to tell us their views on
this issue and your views are welcome.
* Suggests developments and changes to Pop systems
Our members have made many suggestions and contributions to the
development of Poplog. This function is supported by the
communication role of PLUG -- with conferences, newsletter, and
pop-forum. You are welcome to contribute too & PLUG is prepared
to champion your views, when it is appropriate.
* Software Library
We have a library of useful software made up from contributions
from members. We support and develop this library. Currently we
are working on making it available over electronic-networks.
See HELP * POPARCHIVE* Popforum: Mailing List
We run a international electronic mailing list, based on the UK
academic network JANET. This allows many people to rapidly
exchange news and views. Also available is the usenet news group
comp.lang.pop. See HELP *POPFORUM.
Enquiries about joining the mailing list can be sent to
A.Sloman@cs.bham.ac.uk
See also
ftp://ftp.cs.bham.ac.uk/pub/dist/poplog/poplog.info.html
* Reviewing Products and Books
We review Pop products and books and publish the results in the
newsletter. We are also prepared to consult and referee in
confidence.
* Tutorials
We are in the process of organising tutorial sessions, some of
which have already been incorporated into the yearly conference.
Your input on this will help us decide the kind of material,
teachers, and environment that are appropriate.
Most of these activities are available to non-members (except they don't
get to hear about them). However, members are always given preferential
rates.
THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS ARE NO LONGER VALID
-- How to Join ---------------------------------------------------------- Individual Membership ----------------------------------------------
Write, telephone, or e-mail to the PLUG treasurer (the address is given
at the end of this file.) Individual membership is 10 pounds per year
and Corporate membership is 50 pounds per year. A year runs for 12
calendar months from the month following receipt of membership fees.
(NB: prices are correct for 1995, but not guaranteed for subsequent
years - check with the PLUG treasurer for the current membership fee).
SSAISB members are entitled to a 20% discount from the full price.
You can pay by any normal means -- cheques are currently easiest for us
to deal with.
Please enclose:
* something saying you want to join PLUG
* your name
* contact address & phone number
* whether you want corporate or individual membership (if it's an
individual membership, state whether or not you are a member of
SSAISB)
* cheque OR ask for an invoice OR ask for details of direct debit
payment
And if you want to get on our electronic mailing list, add:
* your e-mail address
* current interests
* details of the system you are using
-- Corporate Membership -----------------------------------------------
The idea behind Corporate membership is this: many universities and
institutions have students and employees whose work brings them into
contact with Pop intermittently. So although the individuals might only
use Pop for a few months in a year, the institution is doing so all the
time. In this case, a someone in the department will want people to join
but it isn't really worthwhile for any individual.
In these circumstances, corporate membership allows the department to
join and, in fact, counts as five individual memberships. It is a good
choice for other reasons, too, and currently we have more corporate than
individual members!
Sometimes, an institution wants its corporate membership to count as
more than five individual members (for example, it wants to get more
copies of the newsletter, send more than five people to the PLUG
conference and get discount on all of them, etc.). To allow for this,
you can apply for 'extended' corporate membership, simply add 10 pounds
per extra individual member. Thus for 70 pounds, for example, an
institution can have the benefit of seven individual members, without
having to specify seven particular individuals.
-- ISL Maintained Customer Membership ---------------------------------
ISL used to provide subscriptions to PLUG on behalf of maintained
customers. This is no longer the case.
-- Contact Addresses --------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE: These addresses are no longer valid.
For contributions to the PLUG Newsletter, you should send to the Editor.
E-mail contributions are especially appreciated as this reduces the
effort needed in preparing the text. However, if you cannot contribute
in this way please don't be put off; your contributions are the
lifeblood of the society.
All reviews and clippings on Pop should alse be sent to the Newsletter
Editor.
Contact:
Ian Rogers
Address:
PLUG Newsletter
Ian Rogers
No longer at:
School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences
University of Sussex
Brighton
BN1 9QH
Contact:
James S. Goodlet
Previously PLUG Chair,
Contact:
Anthony D. Worrall
Previously PLUG Treasurer
As a Specialist Group of the BCS, Plug is a registered charity no.
292,786.
--- C.all/help/plug
--- Copyright University of Sussex 1989. All rights reserved. ----------