Church and Computers: Users Group Formed
Episcopal News Service. November 14, 1985 [85229]
NEW YORK (DPS, Nov. 14) -- An Episcopal Computer USERs Group was launched at an organizational meeting Oct. 15-17 at the Doral Hotel and the Church Pension Fund building here. The meeting was attended by 42 diocesan administrators, treasurers and computer personnel, as well as parish priests and other computer enthusiasts.
The idea for such a group had developed from previous administrators' work-shops sponsored by the Church Pension Fund, Episcopal Church Center and the Conference for Diocesan Executives. The purpose as set out in the by-laws adopted at this meeting is "... to provide the members of the organization a forum in which they can conduct open discussions and demonstrations relating to the selection, implementation, operation, modification and enhancement of computer hardware and software as pertaining to Episcopal dioceses, parish and mission use." Membership is open to any individuals who are actively engaged in non-profit Church-related service, planning or otherwise have or use computers, software and/or word processing in the service of the Church.
The conference included a panel discussion of the different types and stages of computer installations in both dioceses and parishes. A representative of Ernst & Whinney presented a discussion on "Personal Computer Security Issues". A representative of Membership Service, Inc. presented a discussion on "Networking Personal Computers in the Church Environment."
The group toured of the Church Pension Fund offices for a firsthand look at the operation of the Fund and its affiliates. The Church Pension Fund used this meeting to introduce EUGENE (Episcopal USERs Group Electronic Notice Exchange), an electronic bulletin board which will be in service and available to members in the near future.
Officers elected were George C. Pascucci (The Church Pension Fund), president; Vincent Currie, Jr. (Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast), vice-president; Evelyn Haygood (Diocese of Dallas), secretary; Ken Miller (Diocese of Long Island), treasurer. These officers will serve a one-year term.
Directors elected for a two-year term were Jean Burns (Mississippi), John Farquharson (Western Massachusetts), William Geisler (California) and Robert Gordon (Utah). Directors elected for a one-year term were Walter Berberian (Central New York), Edward Freeland (Alabama), Jane Osborne (Long Island) and Ray Owens (Upper South Carolina).
Membership applications for the Episcopal Computers USERs Group are being distributed to all diocesan offices, to be available to dioceses, parishes and missions. For additional information, interested persons may contact George Pascucci, senior vice-president and manager of data processing at the Church Pension Fund, 800 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017 or by phone at 1-800-223-6602. Dues will be $35 annually, and a newsletter will be published.