-- [ From: John P. Burke * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] --
 
I wasn't going to add my $.02, but since this thread won't die, I
might as well comment from my slightly warped perspective.
 
First of all, to Denys, the entire Conference Committee and
Interex staff: Interex '95 was the fifth conference I have
attended and was at least as good as any of the others. And
definitely better than most in the one area that really matters:
content. Congratulations on a job well done - a job that most of
us would frankly not want to do.
 
Can it be improved on? Of course. Is there any way to make
everyone happy? Of course not.
 
Several excellent suggestions have been put forward by previous
writers and I hope they will be seriously considered by the next
conference committee.
 
The complaints voiced on this list about the conference seem to
center on three main areas:
 
- smoking in non-smoking areas;
- the "sucky" party; and,
- scheduling.
 
My objective in attending these conferences is to accumulate as
much information as I can (hands on and face-to-face when
possible) about what is going on in the HP3000 world. Content is
paramount. Keeping that in mind, this is what I think about the
criticisms along with my suggestions on how the conference could
be changed to help me better meet my objective:
 
SMOKING. There is nothing Interex or the committee can do if some
people are loutish enough to smoke in areas where it is
prohibited. I dislike being exposed to smoking as much as anyone;
however, policing No Smoking rules is the responsibility of
convention center authorities, not the conference chairman.
 
PARTY. As far as the "sucky" party is concerned, I suggest
consideration be given to s*** canning the whole idea. Problem
solved. What is the purpose of the party? Are our days so
stressful that we need to unwind? Pleeeese. The conference day
starts later and ends earlier than the days most of us are
accustomed to working. Eliminating the party will also help with
scheduling (see below).
 
While I'm at it, Interex could also save time and money by
eliminating another peripheral event: the "motivational speaker"
keynote after the HP keynote. Fewer people left early this year
than in previous years. Of course, where else can one go and what
else can one do? I saw many people reading their Interex '95
Daily during this year's speech. And Tapscott was a better
speaker then many previous outside keynoters.
 
Finally, about parties, while the logistics of dealing with food
and drink might prevent it, I would like to see the opening
reception held in the exhibit area. This would facilitate the
non-electronic form of networking - the reason for the reception
in the first place. Also, at some previous conferences (Denver?
San Francisco?), the facilities used for the opening reception
were inadequate (size) for the number of attendees - reminded me
of a singles bar on a Friday night.
 
SCHEDULING. As we have seen, there are reasons, but I contend no
valid excuses, for scheduling SIGImage opposite the MPE Technical
Roundtable. People spend $1000s to attend Interex. Most hopefully
attend for the content, not to go to parties, receptions,
motivational talks or have a company-paid vacation. The SIGs
should have exclusive time blocks. I would favor 4:30 to 5:30 and
5:30 to 6:30 on days 1-3 of the conference. Sessions should start
no later than 8:00am each day. This leaves plenty of time for
hospitality suites and ad hoc get-togethers later in the evening.
 
If the Management Symposium and Tutorials must occur before the
regular conference (and Denys seems to believe this is
non-negotiable), then they should be moved back to Sunday (the
way the Tutorials were for several years). As Stan and others
have pointed out already, there are significant savings in
airfare if you stay over a Saturday night. Having to stay extra
days can wipe out those savings. I know some object to Sunday
sessions on religious grounds; however, this seems to be a case
of determining where the greatest good lies.
 
Finally, on the subject of schedules, perhaps someone who has
worked on the conference committee could enlighten us on how
dates are chosen; specifically, August versus September. Having
lived near both Toronto and Denver at various times in my life, I
know that Toronto weather is generally nicer in September than in
August and Denver weather is much more predictable in August than
in September (one year we had over a foot of snow on September
15th). Interex '94 (Denver) should have been held in August and
Interex '95 (Toronto) should have been held in September.
 
Just one persons' opinion,
John Burke
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