Re: AOL and/or prodigy help / info ?
Michael F. Bowman (mfbowman@CAPACCESS.ORG)
Thu, 14 Dec 1995 04:05:51 -0500
Don,
Here is a repost of some of the stuff I put online earlier:
THE ONLINE SERVICES
AMERICA ONLINE (AOL)
Pat Skelly, ScoutLdr@AOL.com, an experienced Scouter and internetter is
the host for the Scouting Online Forum on American Online, which can be
reached by using AOL keywords. Keywords for the Scouting Online Forum on
America Online are SCOUTS or SCOUTING. Apple II users will need to use
the keyword PIN, then select Scouting Online from the menu. AOL also has
a library of text and graphics files that can come in very handy. You
will find sample ceremonies, reference material, .pcx files and much
more. To get to these resources follow the steps outlined on the next page.
Getting Scouting Goodies on AOL
1. At the menu bar pick "GO TO"
2. On the pull down menu pick "Keyword" and type "Scouting"
3. Pick Scouting Library
4. Use the "List More" button to keep going down the list
5. You will find at least three types of unit management software,
dozens of graphics sets in .tiff, .pict, .pcx, and .gif format for both BSA
and Girl Scouting. You will also find a rich assortment of program files on
almost every subject you can imagine.
Transfering Files in AOL
AOL restricts incoming e-mail files and attachments to 32k. It does not
restrict size in transfers between account-holders. If you recieve a
uuencoded graphic on AOL, it probably will be in several files that are
sequential named or numbered. Open the first one in a text editor.
Strip off the headers, chit-chat and signatures. Save with the name you
intend to use. Open the second and repeat the process, only when your
done copy the whole thing to a clipboard and then paste into the first.
Or if you are using a word processor, you can simply copy the files one
at a time onto the end of the first document and strip out all the
headers, chit chat, signature blocks. Then you can run the UUDECODE
utility on the new file. If you don
To Get UUENCODEUUDECODE Files on AOL
1. At the main menu pick "Computing"
2. Select "Software Center"
3. Select "Search the Libraries"
4. Select "DOS" and type in "UUENCODE"
5. You can pick one of nine selections to fit your needs.
To Get PKZ204G.EXE (PKUNZIP/PKZIP) Files On AOL
1. At the main menu pick "Computing"
2. Select "Software Center"
3. Select "Search the Libraries"
4. Select "Applications", "DOS", and "Windows" then type in "PKWARE"
5. Download "PKZ204G.EXE"<br>
6. This file will is a self-executing file that will unzip itself when
you type PKZ204G in the DOS directory where you downloaded it.
Virtual Campfire on AOL
Every Sunday night Scouters gather around the Virtual Campfire at Shade
Tree for a live Scouting chat at 9:00 p.m. EST.
COMPUSERVE
Compuserve has an excellent resource software resource library for
Scouting with files dating back to 1986. You could literally fill your
hard disk with information that you might want to download from this
library. To get to this software library, use the "go to" command to
pick "Scouting" and then open the software. The files include hundreds
of .pcx and .gif files for graphics lovers; hundreds of text files on all
sorts of subjects and copies of database software designed for Scouting.
The databases found here are designed to help manage a unit's records.
You can download the following for example:
1. PackTracker 6. CUBSYS
2. Troop Tracker 7. SCOUTSYS
3. Ship Tracker 8. VENTSYS
4. Post Tracker 9. CUBMATE
5. Arrow Tracker 10. SCOUTMATE
To get to the real Scouting Goodies on COMPUSERVE
1. Select "GO"
2. Type in "Scouting"
3. Pick the icon for software libraries
4. Here you will find unit management programs, graphics of all sorts,
program files, etc.
Many of these programs and files are stored in zipped form and uuencoded
to reduce transmission time. You may need to get the appropriate
utilities to use these files. If you download files and find you need
these utilities, you can get them by following the instructions below:
To get UUENCODE/DECODE Files on COMPUSERVE
1. Select "FIND"
2. Enter "PC File Finder"
3. Select "Access PC File Finder"
4. Select "Keyword" and type in "UUENCODE"
5. Wait for results and then select "Display Results"
6. Pick the version of UUENCODE/DECODE best suited for your system;
e.g. DOS, UNIX, etc.
To Get PKUNZIP/PKZIP Files on COMPUSERVE
1. Select "FIND"
2. Enter "PC File Finder"
3. Select "Access PC File Finder"
4. Select "Keyword" and type in "PKWARE"
5. Wait for results and then select "Display Results"
6. Select any choice that lets you download PKZ204G.EXE
GENIE
The following information is provided by Olan Watkins
(o.watkins@GENIE.GEIS.COM), a member of the SCOUTS-L discussion group:
In general the Genie Scouting Section is divided into discussion topic
areas. There is about an equal division of areas for Boy Scouting
and Girl Scouting, with a somewhat smaller area reserved for
Exploring and Sea Scouting. There are topic areas for camping,
advancement, camp cooking, Order of the Arrow, OA Flap and CSP
trading, Cub Scouting, Sponsor Problems, Flag Protocol, and Safety con
cerns. On the Girl Scouting side, there are topics for each group
such as Brownies, Cadets, etc.
Genie has recently expanded the scouting area into two adjacent
categories because of the popularity of the discussions. One
category is reserved for information exchange and the discussion
of scouting in theory. The other is a networking category, where
our participants share their experiences of what works and doesn't with
co volunteers from across the country.
The software library currently contains hundreds of informational files
that have been uploaded by our subscribers. These range from clip-art,
databases, music files, and archives of bulletin board discussions.
Another feature of GEnie is the Real Time Conference (RTC). They host a
scouting volunteer RTC every Sunday afternoon where leaders come together
on-line to chat in a virtual "face-to-face" environment. It is also a
place for special events. If you would like to learn more about our
service, please write to the systems operators at either address below:
f.corradino@genie.geis.com
j.margul@genie.genis.com
OTHER ONLINE SERVICES
Delphi: Delphi no longer offers a Scouting area. It was tried for
awhile and did not prove viable.
I RIME or Intelec: You may e-mail to Harold Stein,
KPVP84C@prodigy.com
to learn more about I RIME or Intelec.
National Videotex Network: There are supposed to be some Scouting
related discussions on National Videotex Network, but I do not have
access to NVN to verify this information. If anyone can provide
information about NVN and discussions on Scouting, it can be added to
this guide in a future revision.
The Well, eWorld and Others: For The Well, eWorld and other On-Line
services you can either post a query to the system operators, review
indices or ask others who use the service where the Scouts are!
PRODIGY
The Prodigy Scouting Forum: On Prodigy: Jump Service Clubs BB, click on
"Choose a Topic" and select Boy Scouts.
Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman
DDC-Training, GW Dist. Nat Capital Area Council mfbowman@CAPACCESS.ORG
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
