Tracy after Duane after Mark:
(copy to Interex; and to Denys in his cap as member BOD)
=========================================

According to the HPWorld I just threw away ...
"your free expo pass gives you:
Access to the Expo Hall (all 3 days)
Access to all Keynote Addresses
Access to all HP Strategic Sessions
Access to the Strategic HP Management Roundtable

When HPWorld was in SF ('99) I wanted to go to SIGPrint,
and after a protracted battle with Interex reps during
which my membership was in evidence but no $1000 ticket,
gained admission to SIGPrint (at which point I had access
to all the sessions, too).
=========================================

> SIG meetings are open to anyone, IIRC.
>
> duane percox
> > I seem to recall that you don't have to be an Interex
> > member to attend SIG meetings. I don't recall if you
> > need a full conference registration to attend.  Does
> > an Expo pass only entitle one to attend a SIG meeting?
> >
> > Mark Sexton.
===========================================

I already talked to Interex about the omission of "Access
to all SIG meetings" from the "your free expo pass gives
you" section of that HPW mag.  I was told you definitely
ARE allowed to go to SIG meetings on an Expo pass.

There has I believe been great and wide-spread confusion
on this question over the last few years.  A few or at
least a couple years ago I remember that at least for a
while between HPW conferences it sounded like you WOULD
need a full "Main conference attendee" badge to go to
SIG sessions;  I can clearly remember that there were
conversatiosn on that issue.  I was thinking that for at
least one HPW (probably the HPW-99 in San Fran that Tracy
mentioned) that rule was enforced (or at least the intent
was to do that).  But then that was reversed again;  IMO
without a lot or enough publicity.  I know that for 2001
and upcoming 2002 HPW an Expo pass IS GOOD for all SIG
sessions + the other four bennies listed above.  So if some
gatekeeper tries to turn you away from a SIG session if all
you have is an Expo badge:  DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH
IT...  Go to the registration desk or the Interex show
office or wherever you need to go and get them to set the
renta cop or whoever it is straight.

Given the apparent still outstanding confusion on this
issue, I strongly recommend that Interex include a flyer
with the conference materials or at least put up signs at
the registration area or whatever else might seem doable
and appropriate;  so that we don't have people not show
up for SIG meetings only because they think their "expo
only" badge does not allow them to do so...


hmmm...:  While we still have Interex's attention:  Let
me pick up on the years-long battle Stan and others have
doggedly waged for years;  on party and vendor show audio
being  WAYYYYY TOO LOUD.   Since I'm on OpenMPE Inc BOD
and we have a booth this year (thank you, Interex, for
giving us a deal on that), I've been scanning the
"exhibitorkit" area of the HPW web site.  In the "HPW
Exhibitor Rules & Regs" section under "Demonstrations /
Sound" section I find:

"Mechanical or electrical systems which produce sound must
operate at a level so as not to prove disturbing to other
exhibitors. Interex Show Management reserves the right to
determine acceptable sound levels in such instances."

Gee,:  How about not only "disturbing to other exhibitors",
but "disturbing to other exhibitors AND ATTENDEES" ????

AND (most of all):  Could we PLEASE get the max allowed db
of the music at the two big parties limited to a reasonable
or at least safe level; so that it might be possible to
carry on a semi-normal conversation in the far back corner
of the ballroom without having to shout as loud as you can
directly into the other person's ear ??..  If you're there
with someone you hope might become a "significant other",
having to put your lips on the other person's ear might be
considered a plus...  however, I doubt that everybody who
attends the party prefers to do that with everybody they
might end up talking to on those nights...   How about it,
Interex:  Music that can be listened to WITHOUT earplugs...
please ??..  (reminder for when packing:  Bring earplugs
anyway (there have been at least a couple HPW's in the
last five years where I swear the conference could have
been turned in for easily exceeding OSHA max db levels
during the parties) ).

In fairness:  IIRC the sound level at the two big parties
at HPW-2001 were at least somewhat reduces from prior year
excesses.  Let's hope and ask that trend continue...

Ken Sletten

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