Editorial

The Fidonet (R)evolution
Doug Myers

This week in the Z1C Echo, David Moufarrege announced the appointment of Gary Gilmore as the Region 11 Coordinator, replacing Martin Belcke who has resigned for personal reasons. Indeed, this issue features an article by Gary, making this announcement and going over his plans for the immediate future.

While Martin's personal reasons for stepping down are undisclosed as yet, this editor sincerely hopes that no tragedy has marred his life and that the future will find him back in the echoes. Martin was an entertaining corrospondant over the years - his contribution to the conversation was possibly greater than his administrative contributions to Fido.

Martin Belcke was a long-time coordinator appointed at a time when the tradition of elections in Fidonet was not so strong. Though he served as Regional Coordinator well, and seemed to enjoy popular support from those in his region, he was often criticized because he wouldn't take the initiative to hold elections in his own region.

Gary Gilmore has wisely chosen to reverse this stance and put his own appointment on the line in a regional election.

This editor applauds that decision. Though elections are not specified in Fidonet policy, they are clearly desired by the sysops who comprise Fidonet. Revolutionary methods to mandate such elections have not gathered much support in the past, but the more peaceful evolutionary process is slowly but surely bringing Fidonet to this ideal. May we call Gary the latest leader in the Fidonet (R)evolution?