
			Thanks for your interest in
	 
				  P&BNet(tm) 
	     
	     the Pen and Brush Network for Writers and Artists                      

    Ŀ
      P&BNet is a QWK-and-Postlink echo SPECIFICALLY for boards which 
      cater to creative people, writers, journalists and artists. Our 
      conferences are tailored especially for that purpose. P&BNet    
      is NOT an echo for general interest boards.                     
    

       P&BNet espouses diversity in creativity. If your users are mostly
       mature individuals who enjoy creativity and creative stimulus,
       who do not need rules for conduct but conduct themselves with
       wit and style, who enjoy a wide range of interests but would
       rather not try to categorize each one... you've found the right
       network for your BBS.

       We don't call ourselves an "elite group" but somehow, that
       description fits.

       First and foremost, we are writers and artists.  Some of us have
       publications on the shelves at the local bookstores; others have
       artwork in various museums and galleries.  Above all, we share
       the same muse - that dream we fall into when we create.

       Many of us are professional publishers, too, and writers will
       find a tremendous research, reference and electronic publishing
       resource with P&BNet.

       We also are a friendly lot with many interests, including
       landscape arts (gardening <g>), cooking, birdwatching, and some
       of the sciences such as astronomy.  In order to keep our network
       focused, we primarily offer conferences for networking between
       writers and artists; but to not constrain ourselves to ONLY 
       those topics. To allow some free-flowing ideas exchange, we don't
       hamper creativity within the bounds of a "conference."  We use
       the conferences for focus, but we don't want to stop a fascinating
       thread that has gone askew of the subject matter.  You see?
       There is a balance... and we do our best to enjoy it.
	      
	      If you can use a mail door, you can join P&BNet.
	 
	 There are many "mail tossers" that extract messages from your
	 BBS, put them into a QWK packet, and import them to your
	 network HUB.  Then they will accept a QWK packet from your
	 HUB and import them as a REPLY packet into your BBS. Some
	 examples of these "mail tossers" are RNET, QNET and MNET.

	 Better than a mail tosser is a mailstore software, and we
	 are using Postlink.  This software is briefly described
	 in our packet (in another file).  It allows you to send
	 and receive files from any bbs on the network, route
	 private messages to specific bbs's, and even network
	 individually between other bbs's by claiming private
	 and local channels between yourselves. It is technologically
	 advanced enough to support objects routing, yet it is
	 still continually being improved and additionally developed.

	 If you can afford the $50 fee, it's well worth the money.

	 If you are already set up with Postlink for another network, 
	 you're in great shape to access P&BNet from one of our 
	 Postlink-capable regional hubs.

	 If you are a FIDONET participant, you can use our FIDO HUBS
	 for P&BNet mail and file transfers.


	 The Conference areas currently originated by P&BNet are
	 described in two accompanying files:
	    CONFS.LST - a simple description file
	    CHANNELS.RPT - conferences and their Postlink channel numbers.
 
 
 IMPORTANT:

 All participating systems MUST carry the "NETADMIN" conference. 
 This conference is for the SysOps only.

 Ŀ
  VERY IMPORTANT:  We only have 3 "rules" by which I *insist* you abide:
 

 [1] DO NOT join P&BNet if you don't have a decent writers, artists or
     other "creatives" oriented user base at your BBS.

 [2] Do your part to keep your local conference participation ON THE TOPIC
     and AWAY FROM PETTY BICKERING. We rely on the local SysOp to
     keep the network amicable.

 [3] Do your part to remind users to CHANGE THE "SUBJECT:" HEADER when they
     veer away from the original topic of a thread.  

 We do have a few Conference Hosts. These volunteers are leaders
 in their respective fields and therefore are subject matter experts.
 It's their job to help people, focus attention on the subject matter,
 and enlighten everyone with news as it occurs.  We do not want to
 turn our CH's into some sort of police force and therefore ask the local
 SysOp to help out by using common sense and good communication skills
 to prevent, neutralize or "moderate" any bad vibes that may occur between
 users.

 Ŀ
  VERY VERY IMPORTANT:  NO P&BNet SYSTEM may cross-echo network
  messages with other echomail networks without
 prior express permission of P&BNet(tm) and it's National SySop, Lucia
 Chambers.  Failure to abide by this request will most certainly result 
 in legal action initiated by P&BNet(tm).

 Network Concepts
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
      NODE           A  bulletin board  system that calls  another
		     bulletin  board  system (a hub)  in order  to
		     transfer mail.  A node  doesn't receive its mail
		     directly from any other BBS  (that is, no one
		     calls it to transfer mail.)
			       
      HUB            A  bulletin board system which may or may not
		     call another hub system in  order to transfer
		     mail,  but is called by one or more  nodes to
		     transfer mail.

      REGIONAL HUB   A hub  which calls  another hub  in order  to
		     transfer  mail.  It's  called a  regional hub
		     because  when designing a  network, a  hub is
		     usually placed  in each of the  major regions
		     serviced in order  to minimize long  distance
		     phone charges.

      For example :

				  P&BNetHub
				/    \      \
			      /        \      \            
			    /           \       \ 
			RUBYS          BBS1     BBS2
			/     \
		      /        \
		    BBS3      BBS4
				       

 P&BNetHub is the NATIONAL HUB because it does not call anyone for mail.
 BBS1 and BBS2 are NODES, directly linked to P&BNetHub.  BBS3 and BBS4 are
 nodes connected to RUBYS.  RUBYS is a node of P&BNetHub and also a
 REGIONAL HUB since it calls P&BNetHub to transfer mail.
 
 Each hub that is a regional hub  has a HUB ID.  This ID is used by the
 regional hub to identify itself when it calls the hub "above" it to
 transfer mail.  The network shown above would consist of four nodes, one
 regional hub and one national hub (P&BNetHub).

 A list of boards currently participating in the P&BNet echo are
 contained in the accompanying textfile:  NODES.LST

 If you're still interested, please answer these next few questions with a
 TEXT EDITOR -- then upload the completed form back to Pen and Brush BBS at
 (703) 644-5196 as LASTNAME.ZIP (where "LASTNAME" is up to 8 letters of
 your LAST name).  

  1.  ________________________________________________________
	   Your name


  2.  Your BBS software (include version number):

  3.  NODE:  1       BAUD:        PHONE NUMBER:
      NODE:  2       BAUD:        PHONE NUMBER:

      Please continue the list for as many nodes as you have

  4.  Sysop's REAL name for message headers:
      
  5.  SysOp's Street Address:

  6.  If you already have Postlink software please enter your
      
      POSTLINK REGISTERED NODE NAME:

      POSTLINK REGISTERED NODE NUMBER:

  7.  The name of your board:

  8.  Location of your board:

  9.  Your voice # (include area code):

 10.  Being a network hub means that you'll have to carry all
      of the P&BNet conferences, plus make yourself available
      to help and support the nodes that will call you. Are
      you interested in becoming a network hub?


Once we have received this application information we will call you
to verify the information, and discuss with you the option of becoming
a HUB or a NODE; and if a node, which HUB you should call and at what
time of the day.  We'll "get acquainted" and introduce you to our
growing circle of friendly SysOps who are more than happy to set you
up, and, who value your input.


If you are a PC-Board SysOp and *not* using Postlink:

P&BNetHub distributes electronic publications through the use of
the QMAIL mail door.  If you can possibly afford another mail door,
please consider using this fine Sparkware product. QMAIL is not only
netmail capable, it features automated "subscriptions" to electronic 
magazines, which is something we as a group, enthusiastically support.


If you would like to purchase and use the Postlink software please
contact Lucia Chambers for more information.

