April 16, 1993
               
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                    Worldwide__Genealogy__Association
            -=  Serving Genealogy Bulletin Boards and Users =-

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1. Purpose.
          The purpose of the Worldwide Genealogy Association (WGA) is 
     to establish and operate a medium (the WGA Network) by which 
     genealogists, and persons researching genealogy, may communicate 
     with one another. This includes, but is not limited to, exchanging 
     genealogical information via electronic messages with other 
     researchers; furnishing genealogy related files and software; and 
     providing services related to enabling researchers to contact other 
     researchers who share a common interest. The referenced services 
     provided include: the Tafel Matching System (TMS), the Who's Got 
     What (WGW) data base directory and BRONSCAN facilities.
   
2. Organization.
          WGA is currently comprised of two elements:  the Worldwide 
     Genealogy Association, Europe (WGA-EUR) and the Worldwide 
     Genealogy Association, North America (WGA-NA). WGA-EUR originated 
     in 1990  as the European Genealogy Association (E.G.A.), and 
     WGA-NA originated in February 1993.

          The WGA Network is an independent *genealogy-only* network. 
     Traffic of non-genealogy-related subjects is not permitted. 
     Traffic generated within the WGA Network will remain within the 
     network and, without specific approval of either the European 
     Coordinator or the North American Coordinator, WGA, will not be 
     gated to any other network (e.g., FidoNet, OurNet, FamilyNet, 
     etc.).

3. Functions.

     WGA-EUR Specific Functions.
          The Coordinator of WGA-EUR maintains a Network (WGA-EUR 
     Network) for forwarding traffic from and to WGA-EUR 
     system/members. The WGA-EUR Network is currently configured as 
     Region 1:
		Net 24 (Germany)
		Net 25 (British Isles)
		Net 26 (Luxembourg)
		Net 28 (Netherlands)
		Net 29 (Belgium)
     It is anticipated that the number of Nets will increase and 
     expand to ever widening geographical areas.

     WGA-NA Specific Functions.
          The Coordinator of WGA-NA maintains a network (WGA-NA 
     Network) throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico for 
     forwarding traffic to and from WGA-NA member systems and 
     individuals. The WGA-NA Network is currently configured as 
     Region 2, with Hosts:
		10/1 (Lansing, MI)
		11/1 (Vanlue, OH)
     		12/1 (Grand Prairie, TX)
		13/1 (Fredericksburg, VA)
		14/1 (Leawood, KS)
		15/1 (Pleasant Grove, AL) 
		16/1 (Ft. Walton Beach, FL)
		17/1 (Modesto, CA)
		18/1 (Fredericksburg, VA)
		19/1 (Thamesville, ON, Canada)
     Node assignments in WGA-North America are not 
     geographic-specific, i.e., each host may service feeds *anywhere* 
     in North America. Work is progressing to increase and expand 
     the coverage of WGA-NA.

4. Membership.
          There are two types of membership in the WGA: Bulletin 
     Boards and private individuals. Private individuals input and 
     receive traffic from the system, but do not furnish a service 
     whereby other genealogists may access the traffic. Bulletin 
     Boards, on the other hand, provide a service (bulletin board) 
     which enables other genealogists to access the WGA Network 
     traffic. Persons who are members of WGA-EUR and WGA-NA are all 
     members of the WGA.

          Considering the cost of intercontinental telephone service 
     is greater than ten times the cost of interstate service, dues 
     will be collected from members to cover such costs. The 
     Coordinators of WGA-EUR and WGA-NA will set their dues rates 
     independently and at a level which will cover the cost of 
     intercontinental telephone service only.

          All members sign a pledge that they will not transfer 
     traffic from the WGA Network to any other Network. Bulletin Board 
     members also pledge to keep their systems operating 24 hours per 
     day.

          Persons (to include bulletin boards) who desire to become 
     members of the WGA must first complete a membership application. 
     The Coordinator of WGA-EUR has the responsibility of approving 
     all new members of WGA-EUR and of issuing node numbers to new 
     members. Likewise, the Coordinator of WGA-NA has those same 
     responsibilities relating to members of WGA-NA.

5. Conferences.
          Conferences, and the moderators thereof, are listed in a 
     file named WGA_ECHO.EUR (for European echoes) or WGA-ECHO.NA
     (for North American echoes). This file is FREQable from any 
     bulletin board which is a member of WGA.

6. Files and Software.
          Software from GSDS (Genealogical Software Distribution 
     System) and other sources are listed in the file named 
     WGA_SOFT.TXT.  This file is FREQable from any bulletin board 
     which is a member of WGA.
          In Europe, the files are also available on 3 1/2" and/or 
     5 1/4" floppies from the Coordinator, WGA-EUR.