MAIN
Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network
Fact Page


What is MAIN?
Who is involved in MAIN?
What kinds of information are normally make available?
Has anything like MAIN been established elsewhere?
How can I keep in touch with MAIN?
Is MAIN is FREE-NET?
Must people pay to use MAIN?
What do you get if you join MAIN?
How can I best help MAIN?
Committees
How can I contact MAIN?


What is MAIN?

The Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network (MAIN) seeks to promote community-network access to information in the metropolitan area of Austin, Texas.

MAIN is a non-profit corporation registered with the State of Texas, with filed formal Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. It has received 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Who is involved in MAIN?

Public, academic, and private libraries, corporations, and individuals support MAIN. All the individuals currently working with MAIN are doing so as volunteers. The Board of Directors is as follows:

PresidentMike Beemanmbeeman@main.org
Vice PresidentPeter Rollproll@tpoint.net
TreasurerTerry Dyketdyke@bga.com
SecretaryRed Wassenichredwass@austin.cc.tx.us
Gene Crickgcrick@main.org
Diane Palandpalan@flash.net
Vacant(to be appointed soon)
See a list of individuals and organizations that support MAIN.

What kinds of information do community-access networks normally make available?

Community-access networks provide a wide variety of information services. Development meetings have generated the following information ideas for services by MAIN, and these are being pursued by MAIN's Information Resources Committee. This list is intended to suggest the kinds of information that could be supplied by MAIN. The list is not intended to set limits on types of information for MAIN, and further suggestions will be welcomed.

Has anything like MAIN been established elsewhere?

Yes--in many places in the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. Community-access networks like MAIN are grass-roots channels of communication and information sharing. Popular examples exist in such places as Cleveland, Ohio; Blacksburg, Virginia, with the Electronic Village; Tallahassee, Florida; rural Montana; and Cupertino and Santa Monica, California. We have many experienced systems to which to look for advice. Other communities in Texas are forming similar organizations, including: Huntsville; SalsaNet, San Antonio, North Texas State Free-Net, Dallas metroplex area; Rio Grande Free-Net, El Paso area; and Civnet, Houston area. A benchmarking committee from MAIN spent considerable time examining similar systems.

The Finance Committee and the Planning Committee are keeping in touch with networks that have already started.

How can I keep in touch with MAIN?

An Internet mail-list service called MAINLINE -- is used to post MAIN notices, announcements, etc.

Is MAIN a FREE-NET?

MAIN is not a Free-Net. But MAIN definitely IS committed to pursuing some of the important concepts associated with Free-Nets, such as the concept of a community's sharing information and the concept of making information accessible to the entire community. "Free-Net" is a trademarked term referring to an organization formally affiliated with NPTN, the National Public Telecomputing Network. MAIN has chosen to be independent of such affiliations. Austin Free-Net, whose emphasis is on providing access to the Internet, is affiliated with NPTN. MAIN's goals are complementary to those of AFN, and MAIN supports their efforts.

Must people pay to use MAIN?

MAIN's policy is that anyone should be able to use MAIN's basic information-sharing services at no charge. As MAIN grows, some services may be added that will be expensive enough and valuable enough that a fee may be charged; a possible example is access to the Internet. The intent is that such fees would recover costs. MAIN is a public, not-for-profit organization.

What do you get if you join MAIN?

In order to support the operations of the organization, MAIN has developed a membership-fee structure that allows both individuals and organizations to join. MAIN members in good standing vote to elect the officers of the organization and participate in determining the future directions of MAIN. Annual membership dues are as follows:

  Individual
(1 vote) 		Corporate
(up to 3 votes)

Student and Senior

$12

NA

Basic

$24

NA

Associate

$100-249

NA

Benefactor

$250-499

$250-499

Patron

$500-999

$500-999

Sponsor

$1000

$1000

Individuals may join in any class of membership. Organizations are eligible for the Benefactor, Patron, and Sponsor classes of membership. Contributions are always appreciated, of course.

How can I best help MAIN?

You can help MAIN by paying your membership dues and by serving on a committee. Recommendations come to the Board of Directors for decision and action through committee work. MAIN is still in its formative stages and can use the expertise and time of all interested volunteers.

Payment of membership dues is NOT required to serve on a committee, to contribute an information resource to be put on the network, or to access the network when it begins operation.

Committees

Committees are vital to MAIN. MAIN's accomplishments will be achieved largely through committee work, with committee recommendations going to the Board of Directors for action. Those interested in working on a committee should contact the committee chair directly, as follows: