Dropping in on a CompuServe forum.

• Author: Kucera, Sharon
• Position: On-line service

Most on-line services offer some type of special interest function, whereby subscribers with similar interests can communicate with each other. Unlike e-mail, which functions on a one-to-one basis, special interest groups allow many people to "listen" to and participate in the discussions on a particular topic. On the Internet, they are newsgroups; on FinanceNet, it is a mail list; on CompuServe, such a function is called a forum.

This article explains how CompuServe forums work, detailing how to access them and how to read and post messages, and illustrates how a CompuServe forum functions. The users (and their messages) in the illustrations are fictional - except for Sharon Kucera, GFOA's CompuServe facilitator. The illustrations present how a forum looks using the CompuServe Information Manager in Windows (WINCIM); however, the concepts and techniques are similar for the DOS version of the CompuServe Information Manager (DOSCIM).

The Municipal Planning Section

CompuServe has more than 200 forums, each managed by a system operator (Sysop) who is an expert on how to use the forum, as well as on its subject matter. Although CompuServe does not have a GFOA forum at this point, GFOA members are encouraged to use the Legal Forum's Municipal Planning subsection (MP Section) for posting messages on public finance topics. Perry L. Norton, originator of and Sysop for the MP Section, is emeritus professor of Urban Planning at New York University and previously was executive director of the American Institute of Planners.

To access the MP Section of the Legal Forum, choose Go under the Services menu and enter "lawsig." SIG stands for Special Interest Group. The first time one enters the forum, CompuServe asks for a name. Users are urged to enter both their first and last names. Under the Messages menu, choose Browse, which lists the topics of discussion, including Municipal Planning.

GFOA members can view and post messages to any topic of discussion. When the topic is government finance, however, it is suggested that messages be posted under the Municipal Planning section. This eliminates the need to sift through many topics before finding one of interest. As indicated earlier, the forums are extended services; therefore, they incur small charges beyond the cost of basic connect time. Charges incurred using extended services can be reviewed by reviewing the account balance by choosing Go under the Services menu and entering "charges."

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