splitting comp.databases.oracle, a volunteer and a proposal

ajb_at_iinet.com.au (Andrew) writes:

>rpalanov_at_ix.netcom.com mailled :
 

>>We've been talking about breaking it up for a long time now. Several
>>topics were suggested. What does it take to do it - anyone. Where do we >start, who should do it etc. Rita P.
 

>Well the creation of new news groups needs a vote looks the place to
>start and that needs someone to do the leg work on it. I have never
>done it and it needs someone who has done it, or someone willing to
>help who has done it. The other thing is to rename or drop this news
>group to fit in with the new structure.
 

>has anyone in the news group done it before and is willing to
>spend the time doing this if it all goes ahead.?????

I'm also finally resigned to the fact that it is time to look at splitting it up. Traffic is currently running at about 60 posts/day, some days even more.

Steve Kinzler and I handled the creation of the rec.humor.oracle groups about four years ago. (They were an alt group at the time.) Steve wrote most of the proposal, and then I took care of getting it posted, handled the comments, and tabulated the voting.

I'm willing to perform similar duties for the 'other' Oracle newsgroup.

Here's my own first cut on how to split up the group, based on some stats I've been keeping for the past few weeks. This also follows a fairly 'traditional' newsgroup hierarchy scheme. (Each of these categories would have had more than 30 posts in the past 2 weeks, except maybe 'announce'.)

comp.databases.oracle.announce   (moderated, any moderator volunteers?)
comp.databases.oracle.misc       (including followups for c.d.o.announce)
comp.databases.oracle.rdbms      (for rdmbs, sql, PL/SQL issues)
comp.databases.oracle.tools      (for both Oracle and 3rd party tools, such
                                 as Forms, PowerBuilder, etc.)
comp.databases.oracle.help       (obvious)
comp.databases.oracle.beginner   (also obvious)
comp.databases.oracle.jobs       (obvious, too, especially for those who find 
				 all the job posts obnoxious)
comp.databases.oracle.personal   (needed based on recent traffic, my guess is
                                 that it will continue to generate many posts)

Based on traffic stats, I don't see a need for a separate group for CASE issues at this time. I could support separating Oracle and 3rd party tools into two groups, if others think it necessary.

If others find my offer acceptable, let's discuss it here for another week or two, then I'll draft a RFD (with some help, I hope) and start the formal process around March 1st. This schedule would anticipate having a vote start around April 1st, ending around May 1st. (It used to be desirable to have votes conclude before schools let out for the summer, but that may not be a factor anymore.)

What we really need now is someone willing to serve as Moderator. My office Internet connection is still only part-time (with a 2nd or 3rd quarter goal for a full-time 56K circuit), so although I would be willing to do it, I may not be the best-connected choice. I can think of several frequent contributors to this newsgroup that would be more qualified, too.

---
Michael Nolan, Sysop for the DBMS RoundTable on GEnie
nolan_at_notes.tssi.com, dbms_at_genie.geis.com
(posted from nolan_at_helios.unl.edu)