Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!275!429.0!Warren.King
From: Warren.King@p0.f429.n275.z1.fidonet.org (Warren King)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Greetings
Message-ID: <15470@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 6 Nov 90 04:15:01 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: Warren.King@p0.f429.n275.z1.fidonet.org
Distribution: misc
Organization: FidoNet node 1:275/429.0 - HandiNet BBS, Virginia Beach VA
Lines: 44
Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 11566

> To: All
> 
> Hi!  I've been reading the echo for several months now, and thought
> I'd just post a message to introduce myself and maybe get acquainted
> with all the regulars here.  I'm the sysop of a disability-oriented
> board in Chicago called I CAN!  We try to be pretty much a "regular"
> board with games, downloads, etc., to try to encourage a lot of
> callers who might otherwise shy away from a board with our
> orientation. Still to no avail, though.  Our user base is pathetically
> small. I'm almost tempted to throw in the towel, but I'm a pretty
> bullheaded sort and I don't give up that easily.  If anyone would like
> to give us a call and maybe offer a few suggestions, we'd welcome
> them. The number is 312-736-7388 and we're up from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
> seven days a week. We've been in operation since early August, and
> we're not yet in FIDOnet, although we hope to join as soon as I can
> afford a faster modem. We really would like to pick up this echo as
> well as some of the others.
> 
Bogie,
    Give it time!  If you have a board that is offering something 
different, it takes time to build a user base.  I was told when I 
started my BBS to expect 3 years to get a good, solid base of the type 
of users I wanted.  For a BBS to be successful, you have to respond to 
the needs of your users.  The first year that you are up, you are 
expecting the users to respond to YOU.  It is only after a period of 
time that you can feel each other out to find the most workable 
setup.
    If you hope to attract disAbled users, it may even take longer than 
that!  Most do not have access to the equipment necessary to hookup to 
your board and the vast majority of the "counselors" are computer 
illiterate and so can not and do not recommend that their "clients" can 
get anything from your board.  I have found less than 10% of the 
"agencies" in my area had even heard of modems, much less, know what a 
BBS is!  You are going to have to depend on word-of-mouth to spread the 
word, and then be sensitive to the needs of your users.
    BTW, do you have access to, or can you get access to the Handy.Sysop 
echo?  That might be a better place to discuss this thread.
                   -Warren-

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