At 09:28 PM 11/26/01 -0800, Shawn Gordon wrote:
>when I started writing for Interact it was about 140 pages a month, filled
>with useful information - the magazine doesn't even exist now

Then as a writer you understand that the majority of the cost of
producing and distributing a magazine is funded by the sale of
advertising. Once that advertising revenue diminishes because
there are fewer vendors in the market arena, the quantity of space
for articles also diminishes.  Finally, the publication itself may
reach a point whereby it cannot survive without changes to bring it in
align with its revenue stream.


>The shows use to be about the HP 3000, now the 3000 is a footnote at the
>shows it seems.

Clearly your shooting from the hip has hit you in the foot....again!

If you get your copy of last year's conference schedule and add-up all time
devoted to HP3000-based presentations, tutorials, SIG mtgs, roundtables,
plenaries, etc, you'll see that the HP3000 portion of the conference
remains the single, largest part of the show's content, garnering the most
meeting space and wall time over the entire conference. Certainly the
conference is not solely HP3000, just as the demographics of the majority
of attendees don't solely operate HP3000 shops.


>Interex hasn't been much of an advocate for the 3000 in some time.

Gee, I think Ken Sletten, Jeanette Nutsford, and the many other
outspoken SIG leaders who receive support and funding from Interex,
working with their counterparts in CSY might feel otherwise. Sure,
they, along with others, would still advocate on behalf of the users.
However, it may be more difficult for them personally and affect
their efforts without Interex leadership/board also meeting with
high-level HP execs, continually advocating a need for these
forms of communication/partnerships between the user community
and HP.



>I remember serious talk a few years ago about forming an alternative that
>was focused on the community.

Hmmmm....have you heard of the Solution Symposium, which is HP3000-centric,
with is support by/funding provided by Interex?  I wonder how Bill
Lancaster, who spearheaded this conference, would feel about undertaking
this effort without their support?


>In this same time I saw the quality and quantity in the 3000
>News Wire explode (and not just because of my own contributions) - this
>proved there was a market for it, but Interex was too disinterested to
>pursue it.

And what became of the publication which Ron left when he started
the 3000 News Wire?  Would the News Wire continue if Ron sold it
to someone and he/Dotti retired?  I submit much of the success of the 3000
News Wire is due to Ron and his contacts in the community and without
it, chances are the publication probably would not have stood on its own.


>At 04:02 PM 11/26/2001, Cortlandt Wilson wrote:
>>While I agree that Denys (and others) need to make a more explicit case
>>for membership the same reasoning works both ways.  I suggest it's up to
>>the critics such as yourself to explain how Interex been "marginal" in
>>the last 5 years.  So for instance, what specific actions would make
>>Interex non-marginal?

Being involved in a number of youth volunteer groups I periodically hear
from people complaining about things that others are trying to do for the
collective whole.  Usually they are complaining about something because
they don't fully understand all the issues and once they do, they
understand how the decisions were made.  Of course there are those who
simply don't like things and complain regardless (glass always half-empty
type).  I immediately give them a chance to volunteer for a role and help
improve things. If they turn me down (and believe me, I've heard all the
excuses), I tell them that unless they can help be a part of the solution,
then they don't have much grounds to criticize the efforts of others who
are willing to give of their time to help the group as a whole.

So....given that you've missed the opportunity to run for the Interex Board
openings for this year, why not go ahead and submit your name and
qualifications now to be considered by next year's search committee?

Jerry Fochtman
HPWorld Conference Committee
MPE Track Coordinator

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