Bob,

You raise an excellent point. I wonder what the reason is for this apparent
inconsistent policy? I suspect it is because the SIGs are made up of
volunteers trying to do what is right for the HP 3000 community, where
Interex as an organization is trying to further it's own cause. As I said,
Interex's stated mission statement is for the betterment of their members,
not necessarily the entire [HP 3000] community.

But, to continue to exist they must provide value added services to their
membership. The Internet has been carving away some of their mainstay
services. Technical information from magazines is replaced by online
technical articles as well as competing trade magazines. Shareware/freeware
software is available directly from the people writing it rather than from
the CSL and swap tapes. Users can "meet" on Usenet/list servers/chat rooms.
There were probably many members who paid their dues simply for the CSL and
Interact subscriptions but no longer do so.

As for whether the SIB should be open to everybody, as long as the SIB is
not the sole method for HP to obtain enhancement information then I won't
lose any sleep over it being a members only ballot. On the other hand, if it
were open I would certainly vote.

Doug.

Doug Werth [log in to unmask]                  Beechglen Development Inc.
Director of Technical Support Services                   Cincinnati, Ohio
Voice: (513) 922-0509                                 Fax: (513) 347-2834

From: Schlosser, Robert (Contractor) <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


>Doug
>
>        You make the point that two previous ballots have been posted
recently
>by their respective SIGs. Are the SIGs not a part of Interex, and yet they
chose
>to ask all users their opinion. This has set a precedent for Interex to do
the
>same thing, ask all users.
>
>Bob Schlosser
>Harris Corporation
>Melbourne, FL.
>(407) 727-5893
>