Tom after me;  Nick had some of the same comments:

>> So before launching any idea of trying to "volunteerize" IPROF,
>> how many people might attend if the registration was $150, but
>> will not attend for $395 ??...  and would you be willing to put
>> up with what might be a "rougher around the edges" conference
>> to save that ~ $250 in registration ??

> For people who don't live in the Bay Area, the major cost of
> attending IPROF is not the registration, but the cost of flying out
> there, lodging, transportation and meals, plus missing several days
> of (possibly billable) work.

> In this context, $250 is not a huge savings.

... which is one of the main reasons I asked my questions:  If most
prospective IPROF attendees are content with the current features,
services, and total cost of getting to and attending IPROF, then I
expect it should and will continue in its present form.

BTW, note that I had a typo in my above:  The IPROF "early-bird"
three-day rate for both 1998 and 1999 was and is $495, not $395...
So *IF* an all-volunteer IPROF-equivalent could be put on for ~$150
per person for a three-day conference, that would be a ~$350 delta,
not ~$250.

WRT overall cost, for someone coming from the East Coast and
staying at the conference hotel and especially (as Tom mentioned)
losing several days of billable time, a possible $350 delta for reg
is indeed probably not a real big deal.  But note that it is not just
local Bay Area residents who can do IPROF on the cheap.  Take
the writer as an example:

R.T. airfare, Seattle - San Jose:  Varies, say $140 (San Jose
from anywhere on the West Coast is cheap).
Three nights at Super 8 next to Radisson:  $68 X 3 = $204.
My salary gets paid either way (even if not travel expenses).
Have to eat wherever I am.
Throw in $50 for SEA-TAC parking and taxi San Jose - IPROF.
My total cost, *not* counting IPROF reg:  $394 ~= $400.

....  so if I was not a SIG leader and had to pay my own reg, and
reg was $150, my total cost would be ~$550.  With current reg,
my total cost would be ~$900.  When all of it is coming out of my
own pocket, there is a significant difference between $550 and
$900...   I was basically wondering how many if any other people
might be in the same boat....

BTW # 2:  Nick and perhaps others were wondering how to contact
the IPROF Task Force for IPROF-99:  They have an email address:
[log in to unmask]         See also the Interex web site, at:
http://www.interex.org/conference/iprof99/index.html

BTW # 3:  For any of y'all who are coming to IPROF-99 (I hope
many will) and are also funding their own travel, note that the
Super 8 right next door to the Radisson can be reached at:
(408) 244-9000.   1071 E El Camino Real;  Sunnyvale, CA.

Ken Sletten