MorrisNet/2!

VoteMgr Instructions
By Ken Elpus

Contents:

  I.    Forward
          - What is VoteMgr?
          - Why Do I need to Vote?
          - How Do I Use VoteMgr? (How Do I Vote?)

  II.   Introduction
          - A Message From The Voting Coordinator

  III.  How To Use VoteMgr - The MorrisNet/2! Voting Booth

  IV.    Afterword
          - Why Does MorrisNet/2! Use VoteMgr?
          - Does My Vote Really Count?


 Forward
 

 What is VoteMgr?

   VoteMgr is a program that is employed on MorrisNet/2! Node 96:96/1;
   the Voting Coordinator's headquarters.  (This node is kind of like
   a voting booth, except you don't need to go into a high school
   gym to vote, and you don't have a curtain or pull any levers...)

   VoteMgr basically makes the voting process easier on the sysops and
   the users by electronically recording votes.  This also eliminates
   errors.. It also keeps track of names and such and relieves much of
   the pressure of running a fully democratic network.. (Our Voting
   Coordinator Matt Riedel does have a social life <g>)

 Why Do I Need to Vote?

   As I said in the previous paragraph, MorrisNet/2! is a fully
   democratic network.  The Users and Sysops need to vote on all major
   decisions as a system of checks and balances, so that our Admin (as
   selfless as we are) doesn't become tyrannical.

   Users will vote on topics ranging from Nonpermanent Admin Member
   elections (as per the campaigning schedule designed by Matt Riedel)
   to new echo conference adoption, to major network expansion or other
   topics which the Admin feels needs a vote.

   "Your Vote Can Make A Difference... This is Your Network!" -- Matt
   Riedel, Voting Coordinator (Among MANY Other Things...) of
   MorrisNet/2!.

 How Do I Use VoteMgr? (How do I Vote?)

   Detailed instructions are in Section III (How to Use VoteMgr).
   Basically, in a nutshell:

    1.  You Send a Netmail Message to VoteMgr requesting the topics
        on which you can vote.

    2.  VoteMgr replies to you and tells you which topics you can vote
        on, their Code Names, and their Choices.

    3.  You Send A Netmail Message to VoteMgr with the Code Name as a
        Subject Line, and In the Body of the Text, your choice and name.

    4.  Your Vote Is Recorded and Tallied.  When The Voting Period is
        completed, the vote results are posted.

   Please Note: Your Name (as printed in your message) will be displayed
   next to your vote.  If you wish to remain anonymous, you must list
   ANON as your name after your vote.. This is your only warning..


 Introduction
 
  A Message From The Voting Coordinator:
  (By Matt Riedel, Reprinted With Permission)

      Hello! And welcome to MorrisNet/2!  MNET/2 is dedicated to its
      users, and always has been since its beginnings.  Ken Elpus, John
      Looker, Rich Cooper, and I designed the system of management so
      that the Admistration would have guidance to the network, but the
      users make the decisions.  This is why you are reading this
      document.

      This document is one of the most important ones for you to read
      (well.. the rules come first I suppose..)  This document gives you
      the power to make the decisions that you need to make to ensure
      that MNET/2 stays "your network."  Please read the instructions
      for VoteMgr, and remember to Vote Early and Vote Often! :)

      Your Vote CAN make a difference... This is Your Network!
           _______________________________
           Matt Riedel
           Voting Coordinator
           96:96/22
           _______________________________


How To Use VoteMgr - MorrisNet/2! Voting Booth


 VoteMgr User Instructions
 

     VoteMgr is a program that allows you to send NetMail
 ballots to systems holding one or more votings. VoteMgr is
 much like AreaFix, FileFix, AreaMgr, Raid or other
 mail-interactive programs. These programs will receive and
 process NetMail messages from users, saving a lot of work to
 SysOps.

     This is what you have to do in order to "vote" using
 VoteMgr: there are three basic procedures you will probably
 want to follow before you send your ballot:


      o First of all, you must know what is the name of the
        active elections held at one node, and for which you
        are validated to vote. You do this by writing a
        NetMail message addressed to VoteMgr at the address
        of the node holding the voting, writing "%LIST" in
        the Re: field:

       
        (203)   Sun 28 Apr 94 11:09
        By: You (96:9600/96)
        To: VoteMgr (96:96/1)
        Re: %LIST
        St: Pvt  Kill
       
          ---

        VoteMgr will, in return, send you a LIST of active
        votings held at this system.

        NOTE: tearline is needed since some systems kill
                empty received messages!


    o Second, and now you know what the name of the active
        election is, you need to know what the choices are.
        You do this by writing a NETMail message addressed
        to VoteMgr at the address of the node holding the
        voting, writing the name of the selected voting in
        the Re: field and "%LIST" in the message text:

        For Admin Voting - All User/Sysop/Moderator Names are Valid.
        (Except Permanent Admin Members)

     
      (203)   Sun 28 Apr 94 11:09
      By: You (96:9600/96)
      To: VoteMgr (96:96/1)
      Re: NEC343
      St: Pvt  Kill
     
        %LIST

        VoteMgr will, in return, send you a LIST of valid
        choices for the election "NEC343" held at this
        system.


    o And third, now you know what the choices are, you can
        send your ballot. You do this by writing a NETMail
        message addressed to VoteMgr at the address of the
        node holding the voting, writing the name of the
        selected voting in the Re: field and your ballot
        string in the message text. The ballot string has
        the syntax: "<your_choice> !<your_signature>".

        NOTE: your signature is a string that will be
                displayed together with results, so you know
                your ballot has been in fact processed.

        NOTE: neither the choice nor the signature can
                contain spaces ' '. Underscores '_' must
                be used instead.

      
       (203)   Sun 28 Apr 91 11:09
       By: You (96:9600/96)
       To: VoteMgr (96:96/1)
       Re: NEC343
       St: Pvt  Kill
      
         YES  !Your_Name

        VoteMgr will, in return, send you a message
        informing of possible errors or notifying correct
        ballot processing.


Afterword


  Why does MorrisNet/2! Use VoteMgr?

   Basically, to take a tremendous amount of weight off of the Voting
   Coordinator's shoulders, and also to ensure that the voting is fair
   and tallied correctly.

  Does My Vote REALLY Count?

   You Bet.. The Admin wants to not only place the decisions in the
   users hands, but we also want to know how you feel.  Even though a
   choice may be defeated, if a lot of users feel a particular way; it
   will influence New Admin proposals, etc.

   Also.. It only takes One Vote to determine which choice is the
   winner... Active voters can use that to their advantage as being
   active in the network when vieing for Admin or Moderator positions.

   Periodically, we will send surveys through the net to find out who
   and how our users are. This helps us to determine what would be best
   for the network.. Please Vote every chance you get!






MorrisNet/2! and MNET/2 are Trademarks of the Morris County BBS Users
Group.  VoteMgr is by Carlos Terre and is owned by him solely. All Other
Trademarks used are the property of their respective owners.

This document was Drafted By Ken Elpus on June 3, 1994.
Portions of This Document are By Matt Riedel.
Portions of this Document Were Taken Directly From the VoteMgr User
Instructions, by Carlos Terre.

This Document is Copyright (c) 1994 by Ken Elpus and MorrisNet/2!
Carlos Terre is The Author of VoteMgr and Is Not Affiliated With MNET/2
or The Morris County BBS Users Group. Carlos Terre, (2:343/108.1@fidonet)


    - MorrisNet/2! - Official Document - VOTEMGR.TXT - Code 09-H -
