> Michael, as moderator it is sometimes required for you to kick some
 > lackadasical nodes into appropriate operation.  When things don't seem
 > to be operating properly in YOUR echo, you sometimes have to backtrack
 > the problem and insist that it be rectified.
 
That's exactly what I've been trying to do. But I also have had a serious 
reliance on others in this locale to provide me with a good feed. There may 
not be a good feed without me making long distance phone calls, and 
unfortunately there's no $ for that. Like always, I'll do the best I can.
 
 > Also, as moderator you are required to post the official rules of the
 > echo at LEAST monthly so as to assure the echo users that you have not
 > lost contact or gone missing. (as happened once before.)  Failure to do
 > so 'might' put the echo in jepardy of losing its backbone status.
 > (Something NONE of us want to see.)
 
Official rules to follow. I will gladly accept modifications to these rules, 
as they are not the original ones. If anyone can dig into their archives from 
several years ago, I'd really like to get a copy of Don's official founding 
rules.
 
 > Several of us have noticed the radical drop off of traffic and have been
 > worried that someone may have inadvertently dropped the ball so to
 > speak, which could also put the echo at risk of losing its backbone
 > status due to low message count.
 
What we need is more publicity. How about posting messages in like-minded 
echos and newsgroups. Anyone want to help out with this?
 
 > I'm sure we're all relieved to see you alive and well, (and still
 > connected) but if there is a routing problem you're the man who 
 > needs to poke around and find out what's wrong.
 > 
 > Best of luck, and if I can help please don't hesitate to ask me.
 
Thanks so much Elvis. You are among our solid contributors to this echo, 
helping to keep it alive. I must confess that I know almost nothing about 
fidonet and its rules and regs, and even less about how to twist the arm of 
my feed to keep him regular.
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