RE: [Paddlewise] New USENET rec.boat.paddle subgroups proposed

At 08:10 AM 5/13/99 -0400, Bob wrote:
>I've seen the RPB post and think it's a great idea! White water has as much
>in common with Sea Kayaking as mountain biking and road racing...different
>environments, equipment and most importantly, mentality and sensibility.
>
>Now where does surf kayaking fit in?????

Since I've received requests via E-mail as well as this, I've included the
actual RFD below. Surf kayaking is included in with rbp.whitewater, mostly
since there's a lot of crossover there, and several similar techniques. If
in time the message traffic grows enough to support it, there's no reason
that a separate rbp.surfing group couldn't be initiated, given that we'd now
have precedent for a reorganization.

-- Wes

------------------------------------

>                     REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
>            unmoderated group rec.boats.paddle.whitewater
>              unmoderated group rec.boats.paddle.touring
>
>This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the creation of
>world-wide unmoderated Usenet newsgroups rec.boats.paddle.whitewater
>and rec.boats.paddle.touring. This is not a Call for Votes (CFV);
>you cannot vote at this time. Procedural details are below.
>
>Newsgroup lines:
>rec.boats.paddle.touring Flatwater paddling and touring.
>rec.boats.paddle.whitewater Whitewater paddling.
>
>RATIONALE: all groups
>
>The newsgroup rec.boats.paddle carried more than 17,500 messages in
>the first three months of 1999  for an average of 195 per day.  A
>newsgroup with almost 200 messages per day can be difficult to read
>and is considered by many to be too busy. Additionally, the total
>number of posts increased by 40% from 1997 to 1998 (50,285 in
>1998 vs 36,008 in 1997.) It is reasonable to expect that this growth
>will continue. The creation of two new groups as subgroups to
>rec.boats.paddle would redistribute this traffic among three groups
>and would allow paddlers to read and post to a more focused group.
>
>Discussion of flatwater paddling constitutes a minority of the
traffic
>on rbp.  A rec.boats.paddle.touring group would provide a forum for
>those who are interested primarily in the use of canoes, kayaks,
>pulling boats or similar craft  on rivers, lakes, oceans or other
>essentially flat bodies of water.  It is hoped that a lower volume
>group, dedicated to touring, will encourage posting by paddlers who
>are currently exchanging information through mailing lists, bulletin
>boards, or other forums.
>
>Relevant discussion of whitewater paddling on rec.boats.paddle has
>been diminished by the large number of posts and the broad scope of
>those posts.  A rec.boats.paddle.whitewater group would  facilitate
>focused, quality discussion for those who use kayaks, canoes, rafts,
>or similar craft on whitewater.
>
>Rec.boats.paddle would continue to provide a forum for issues of
>interest to all paddlers and for those paddling-related topics  which
>aren't appropriate to either of the more focused subgroups.
>
>CHARTER: rec.boats.paddle.whitewater
>
>Appropriate topics for rec.boats.paddle.whitewater include questions
>and comments about the paddling of swiftly moving water primarily in
>rivers, but also including ocean water in the surf zone or in tidal
>bores. Though not technically whitewater, discussion of the sport of
>canoe (kayak) polo is also acceptable. Discussion of paddling
>whitewater by any craft is acceptable, including but not limited to
>kayaks, canoes, rafts, surf skis, inflatable kayaks and dories.
>Additionally, discussion of whitewater travel by riverboard, inner
>tube or in the total absence of a craft (swimming) is permitted.
>Discussion of equipment, techniques, river conditions, trip reports,
>or trips being planned would be appropriate. Discussion of other
>paddling-related topics should be taken to either rec.boats.paddle or
>rec.boats.paddle.touring, as appropriate.
>
>Crossposting should be kept to a minimum. An article which would be
of
>interest to the entire paddling community should be posted to
>rec.boats.paddle instead of to the subgroups.  Readers who are
>interested in general paddling traffic should subscribe to
>rec.boats.paddle.
>
>In accordance with current Usenet guidelines, spam is prohibited.
>Commercial posts should be relevant, short and infrequent.  A link to
>a website, or an e-mail address should be posted rather than the
>promotional material itself.
>
>For Sale and Wanted to Buy posts by individuals should be preceded by
>a [FS] or [WTB] flag in the subject header and should be posted no
>more  than once per week.
>
>Binary files should not be posted to this newsgroup.
>
>END CHARTER.
>
>CHARTER: rec.boats.paddle.touring
>
>Appropriate topics for rec.boats.paddle.touring include questions and
>comments about the paddling of canoes, sea, touring or recreational
>kayaks and related craft on, rivers, lakes, and oceans for touring,
>excursions, and explorations of any length. This may include some
>discussion of whitewater if undertaken as part of a longer trip.
>Discussion of equipment, techniques, routes, or trip reports would be
>appropriate. Discussion of other paddling-related topics should be
>taken to either rec.boats.paddle or rec.boats.paddle.whitewater, as
>appropriate.
>
>Crossposting should be kept to a minimum. An article which would be
of
>interest to the entire paddling community should be posted to
>rec.boats.paddle instead of to the subgroups.  Readers who
>are interested in general paddling traffic should subscribe
>to rec.boats.paddle.
>
>In accordance with current Usenet guidelines, spam is prohibited.
>Commercial posts should be relevant, short and infrequent.  A link to
>a website, or an e-mail address should be posted rather than the
>promotional material itself.
>
>For Sale and Wanted to Buy posts by individuals should be preceded by
>a [FS] or [WTB] flag in the subject header and should be posted no
>more than once per week.
>
>Binary files should not be posted to this newsgroup.
>
>END CHARTER.
>
>PROCEDURE:
>
>This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes.  In this
phase
>of the process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups
>should be raised and resolved.  The discussion period will continue
>for a minimum of 21 days (starting from when the first RFD for this
>proposal is posted to news.announce.newgroups), after which a Call
For
>Votes (CFV) may be posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion
>warrants it.  Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.
>
>All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups.
>
>This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation
>guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and
"How
>to Format and Submit a New Group Proposal".  Please refer to these
>documents (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any
>questions about the process.
>
>DISTRIBUTION:
>
>This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:
>
>  news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,
>  rec.boats.paddle,rec.backcountry,
>  rec.boats.building,rec.scouting.misc,
>  uk.rec.boats.paddle
>
>Proponent: John Lester <jwlester_at_ucdavis.edu>
>Proponent: Bob Solak <solakrob_at_pilot.msu.edu>
>Proponent: Bud Chavez <bchavez_at_rippe.com>
>Proponent: Lloyd Bowles <lbowles_at_bmts.com>
>Proponent: Don Varnau <dvarnau_at_idir.net>
>Proponent: Jim Michaels <jmichaels_at_home.com>



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