Speaking of grandstanding and climbing on soapboxes, let me point out that
Bob Combs was present at the roundtable meeting at which this incident
occurred.  Perhaps that allowed us to feel that it was not necessary to run
to your booth to inform the board.  You seem to feel, Denys, that publicly
airing these grievances is inappropriate.  I couldn't disagree more.  In any
form of representative organization, whether it is a government or a trade
association, it is the duty of members to express their opinions in a forum
that allows public discussion.  The incident at the MPE roundtable was ugly,
and needs to be discussed, and we Interex members need answers.  Thank you
for investigating and explaining what happened.

-----Original Message-----
From: Denys Beauchemin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 11:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: OT: Press exclusion from management roundtables at HPWorld
2002


Wayne R. Boyer wrote in part after John Burke's message:

"Kinda wondering again about my Interex membership - just what am I paying
for here?  We had a discussion a few months ago about this and I pointed out
that we need to pay attention when it comes time to vote in Interex
elections. How is this stuff being allowed to happen?"

Well, it's time for you to start paying attention again, there are elections
coming for Interex.
This whole flap, while troubling, is also very illuminating.

I was at HP World.  I spent most of the time at our booth, after all I am a
vendor and HP World is one of the places we display our wares.  Everyone
involved in this incident knows me and knew they could find me in my booth
if they really wanted to get hold of a member of the board of directors.  As
it turns out, none did.  I heard about the incident on Friday, about 1 hour
before the end of the show.  An acquaintance from Europe came by the booth
to chat and, in passing, mentioned that Interex had lost credibility as an
independent organization.  Of course, I asked him what he meant by that.  He
related in parts some of what had happened at the roundtable, telling me
that Ron Seybold had been ejected.  He told me that it was on the Robelle
website.  I went to the Robelle website and sure enough the story was there.

Within 3 minutes, I found Ron Seybold and asked him to tell me what had
happened.  Ron was only too happy to tell me his story, with names and other
details.  At that time, I had to get back to my booth as it was 2:00 PM,
time to break down, pack up and get out.  HP World 2002 was closed.

Two things come to mind.

1- Not a single one of the protagonists came to tell me about it.  They all
knew where to find me but instead they chose to grandstand.  I have no
problems with grandstanding.  I have done that myself on occasion.  But it
would have been even more efficient to tell me or some other director or Ron
Evans about it and ALSO do the grandstanding.

2- I am surprised that none of the offended parties even considered for a
second that someone might have screwed up.  It could not have been an
Interex policy and they knew that, by the simple expedient that Interex is a
member of the press!  That's part of what we do!  No one realized the
dichotomy, instead they ran for the nearest soapbox.

I have already communicated with Interex management and the other directors
about this issue.  It is definitely NOT the position of Interex that the
press be excluded from any public event.  There was no NDA requirement for
this event and the person who created the incident exceeded his/her
authority and did not act in accordance with the rules of Interex.  Someone
at Interex screwed up, I know who it is, and this is being addressed.

Now, I understand people like to stir the pot and inflame situations and I
say, "knock yourself out."  However, this issue has nothing to do with the
elections or Interex's position on issues.  It's a screw-up by one person,
plain and simple.  If you want to blow it up into a big conspiracy, go for
it.  There is plenty of freedom of speech on the Internet where every kook
can express his or her opinions about anything.


Denys...

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