APA's Electronic Communications Project is well on its way to fulfilling the goal of providing Internet access and enhanced communication between APA's national office and its district branches.

The APA Electronics Communications Project grant program provides up to $3,000 per district branch for equipment upgrades and up to $20 per month for an account to access the Internet. District branches can apply for funds by writing to Lea Mesner, Manager, Electronic Communications Project, APA, 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22209-3901; phone: (202) 682-6251; e-mail: LMesner@psych.org.

As of April 1, 38 district branches had applied for funding, and the majority had received the $3,000 equipment grants. Sixteen district branches had already been reimbursed for their Internet accounts, as authorized by the APA Board of Trustees in March 1996.

APA anticipates that all grants for electronic upgrades will be disbursed by the end of 1998.

Independently, a number of district branches have taken the initiative by creating their own Web sites and list serves for members with access to the Internet. More information on these sites will appear in a future issue.

According to Mesner, a list serve is "a cross between a club and an e-mail group." A list serve provides a way for individuals with similar interests to communicate with one another through e-mail and the Internet. APA now sponsors a list serve for residents (GRASSMITS) and for all members (Member-to-Member); there will soon be one for early career psychiatrists.

(Psychiatric News, April 18, 1997)