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 BOARDWATCH 100 READER'S CHOICE CONTEST UPDATE
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Ballots continue to pour in for the Boardwatch 100 Reader's Choice BBS
Contest. As of the first week in February, some 3652 ballots have been
received.

The contest allows callers to nominate bulletin boards as their favorite by
sending in a ballot via fax or mail. The winners will be announced at the
Online Networking Exposition and BBS Convention (ONE BBSCON) scheduled for
August 25-29th at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs Colorado. Some 2000
BBS enthusiasts are expected at the event. The top 10 bulletin boards will be
awarded trophies at a special ceremony and the list of the top 100 bulletin
boards in the country will be unveiled at that time.

Additionally, six random ballots will be drawn for modem prizes. ZyXEL USA
has contributed two U-1496 modems to the contest. Additionally, Hayes
Microcomputer Products has contributed two Hayes Optima 144+Fax models and
U.S. Robotics has contributed two Courier Dual Standard models to the
contest. Six ballots will be drawn in a random drawing from all valid ballots
received and the modems awarded at that time. Voters need not be present at
the convention to win. Last year's contest resulted in 11,152 ballots.

A number of statistical questions were asked on the ballot and some
interesting results are appearing as we now have a base of some 3652 ballots
to look at. The accompanying table summarizes  current statistical results.
One of the questions asked how many calls the voter made to bulletin boards
per month. On average, callers claim to make some 76 calls to bulletin boards
per month - more than twice per day. Callers in the 20-29 age group were
highest with some 112 calls per month. It was apparent in every age group
that the people voting in this contest are not just casual bulletin board
users, but do it with some enthusiasm.

We also asked how long they had BEEN calling bulletin boards. Again, the
results were surprising. On average callers made their first call online some
51 months ago. Some 31.3% of voters were in the 30 to 39 age group. Some 55%
of callers use Microsoft Windows. Some 35.6% of callers have installed a
second telephone line for data communications.

The one thing that holds continuously constant is the percentage of male to
female callers. BBS dialing continues to appear to be a male sport with 87%
of callers claiming that gender, with 13% female. Of females online, the
largest percentage of them appear to be age 30-39 as well.

Given the distribution curve of ballots received last year, it would appear
our estimate of 30,000 ballots in this year's contest is quite on track.

There have been some oddities already. We are now receiving some 3-4 ballots
per day now by registered or certified mail. Haven't a clue as to why but it
allows someone in the office to chat a bit with the mailman each day. Since
our mail man is a mail woman, this is not entirely unpleasant, we just don't
know why people are mailing ballots at the expense of registered or certified
mail.

