Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!iat.holonet.net!bsmall
From: bsmall@iat.holonet.net (Brad Smallridge)
Subject: Robot Magazine Articles Needed
Message-ID: <CJnAxn.JnL@iat.holonet.net>
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access System: 510-704-1058/modem
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 1994 00:34:33 GMT
Lines: 87

SFRSA Background

For many years, the SFRSA Newsletter has been a one page meeting 
announcement with an occasional article servicing the Bay Area. As 
with many amateur robotics groups, this Newsletter was the effort of a 
single person. Our hero is Jose Maestre, who has religiously mailed 
the newsletter out for many years.

We now have growing numbers of members in our club, some who 
have expressed a desire to publish a quality magazine. Therefore, we 
intend to bootstrap a new robotics magazine from our newsletter, 
growing it one month at time.

Send Us Your Articles

The audience for the magazine will be all ages of readers who have a 
desire to build (or at least know about) robots. We seek articles that 
represent a significant amount of informed research or engineering 
that would allow readers to save time in their robotics efforts. These 
could be resources lists, project plans, reviews of software tools and 
books.

The articles need not be cutting edge. On the contrary, we want the 
article to be read by, and be applicable to, a large audience. This 
audience may be severely restricted in terms of machinery and 
computer systems.

The ultimate litmus test to determine if an article you write will be 
something we are looking for is the question- "Does the article save 
fellow robot builders time?"  For projects, we would like to see 
complete and exact parts lists preferably from Radio Shack, DigiKey, 
or Small Parts Inc. Resource lists should be well annotated and up to 
date, not just information collected from another source.

A good example of a project format is represented in Roger 
Gilbertson's Muscle Wire book (800)374-5764 which contains 15 well 
planned and clear projects. Karl Lunts' Amateur Robotics column in 
Nut and Volts magazine (800)783-4624 is another fine example of the 
clear writing and level of technical expertise that we are looking for. 
We also seek articles written by and for young people.

Why Write?

We don't have money to pay our authors, but writing has other 
advantages. Writing can solidify your thinking. It publicizes your 
expertise and can get you consulting offers. It gives your work value 
by putting it in the public eye and keeping it out of the garage.

Submission of Articles

Keep in mind that we have no paid editorial staff, so please make it 
easy for us to publish your article. Retyping information is especially 
tedious for our volunteers. We have the SFRSA BBS to receive 
electronic information. You can email articles to us at 
bsmall@sfrsa.com if you like. Send PC disks to SFRSA, 933 Treat 
Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.

Presently we are set up with Microsoft Word and will be soon 
installing PageMaker. The Word package accepts pictures in quite a 
few different styles including AutoCAD, Draw Perfect, HPGL, 
Encapsulate Postscript.

Feel free to call us at (415)550-0588 if you have an idea for an article 
that you are thinking about. It's always better to clear the idea with us 
before you begin. Our next editorial staff meeting will be Jan 22, that 
would be a good time to call. 

Subscription to SFRSA "Magazine"

The normal subscription rate will be $25 for 12 monthly issues. For a 
limited time, we are offering an introductory rate of $20 for 12 issues. 
Our VISA/Mastercard services are being set up. The way to take 
advantage of this introductory offer right now is to send us a $20 
check to the address below. Canadians, send $30 US funds. Other 
foreign countries send $40 US funds. Introductory offer expires March 
1, 1994.

Send to:
The Robotics Society of America
PO Box 1205 
Danville, CA 94526-1205

Phone 415-550-0588
FAX 415-550-0411
BBS 415-648-6427 8N1
Email bsmall@sfrsa.com

