The creation of the newsgroup soc.culture.bulgaria was preceded by an attempt to establish a link between Bulgarians with email. In the summer of 1991 the following email message was circulated among some friends

Zdraveite,

An idea has come up to create a connection through e-mail between Bulgarians working or studying abroad on a strictly voluntary basis. The purpose is to exchange information and assistance on various questions as travel, visas, jobs, education, health care etc. If you decide to join, send your address to

"pirin@caen.engin.umich.edu" (Valentin Jordanov) if you are in USA or to

"lb@computer-science.manchester.ac.uk" (Luben) if you are elsewhere.

If you wish, add other data: name, specialization, telephone, organization etc.

You will receive back similar information for the people who have already joined.

Please, send this message to any other addresses of Bulgarian you know,

even if you chose not to participate.

Pisaneto na balgarski e o.k. i se predpochita ot nyakoi.

About 100 people joined, however there was no real interaction other than the initial address exchange. This list (someone may still have a copy) was the basis for forming the newsgroup. The formal proposal was made on Oct.10 1991 and read as follows:

"I am submitting a request for discussion to create a new newsgroup

SOC.CULTURE.BULGARIA.

Why: The country is being reborn. Politics, economy and culture are rapidly changing. History is being given a fresh look. Free exchange of information and ideas is essential. The input of everyone interested in Bulgarian society and culture is important. Besides: Older waves of emigration were followed by a new one. There is a need to create links between Bulgarian around the world and to sustain the connection with the home country.

CHARTER: To promote exchange of information and ideas on all aspects of Bulgarian culture and society.

STATUS: Unmoderated

Ivan Petrov"

The proposal appeared in news.newgroups on Oct.16, opening a 30 days discussion period. Vassil Peychev and Luben Boyanov were the most active participants. Voting took place between Nov. 21 and Dec. 15, 1991. Here is the call for votes:

This is the first call for votes for the newsgroup:

NAME: soc.culture.bulgaria

CHARTER: To promote exchange of information and ideas on all aspects of Bulgarian culture and society.

STATUS: Unmoderated

VOTING PROCEDURE: Mail your vote to:

"PETROV@UIMRL7.MRL.UIUC.EDU"

Please, include an unambiguous statement either FOR or AGAINST the creation of the group with the name, charter and status as shown above. For example your vote could consist of either the line

"I vote FOR the creation of soc.culture.bulgaria."

or the line

"I vote AGAINST the creation of soc.culture.bulgaria."

Wording, however, does not have to be exact.

If you have difficulties reaching "PETROV.." send vote to

"S-TZONEV@UIUC.EDU"

VOTING PERIOD: November 21, 1991 through December 15, 1991.

As suggested by the call for votes the results were processed by Svilen Tzonev and myself. Here is the complete announcement of the results:

I am happy to announce that soc.culture.bulgaria received a favorable vote. A total of 271 people voted of which 242 in support and 29 against. The numbers meet the criteria for a successful vote by a wide margin.

YES - NO = 213 > 100

and

YES >> 2 x NO

I would like to thank everyone who voted and especially the people who supported

the group. It is up to us now to make it an interesting and viable group by supplying information, asking questions, answering questions etc. Looking forward to meeting you in the new newsgroup.

Ivan

p.s. I will not be able to answer questions on the vote between Dec.21-28.91

The group was created on Dec.24, 1991 (rozhdestvo Hristovo i Grupovo) and the first posting appeared on Dec.29, 1991.