I beg to differ.

Your .01cents worth is actually now at par - so it really is 2 cents worth.

Gilles Schipper 
416-702-7900

On 2011-02-14, at 12:15 PM, Olav Kappert <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Tracy;
> 
> I would like to know what the two issues (Matthew and the directors) are that seem to be the center of all the legal problems.
> 
> I think that if you are asking for money from OpenMPE to back the legal defense of the Directors,
> the stakeholders need to know exactly what the legal issues are ?
> 
> What is the suit and counter-suit ?
> 
> Why was Matthew removed ?
> 
> How much money will be needed for the defense ?
> 
> OpenMPE needs to be open about these issues since there is no confidential clause attached.
> 
> Just my .01 canadian cent,
> 
> Olav
> 
> 
> Johnson, Tracy wrote:
> 
>>> From the OpenMPE Chairman:
>> 
>> To the HP3000 MPE Community:
>> 
>> This is a most difficult letter to write, especially considering that I
>> have been in the role of Chairman of the OpenMPE board for less than a
>> month.
>> 
>> OpenMPE needs additional monies - in short, your contributions.  Our
>> group that represents the MPE community has had a busy end of 2010, full
>> of developments and challenges we are working to solve.  We want to make
>> ourselves a resource for your needs, be it homesteading, emulator
>> implementation, and, to a lesser extent than in the past, an ongoing
>> advocacy role with HP.
>> 
>> We are grateful for the financial contributors whom have so generously
>> supported us in the past year.   The OpenMPE board wishes to extend very
>> special thanks and acknowledgments to Neil Harvey & Associates, ORBiT
>> Software Group, Inc. and Robelle Solutions Technology Inc. for their
>> very generous financial contributions.  We also wish to thank Abtech
>> Support, Allegro Consultants, Inc., Pivital Solutions, Inc., Terix
>> Computer Service and the 3000 Newswire for their contributions. 
>> As final mention, we thank our own board members for their recent
>> financial contributions:  Keith Wadsworth, Tony Tibbenham, Alan
>> Tibbetts, Tracy Johnson and lastly, myself.  Let me outline the work
>> that this new round of fund raising will do.
>> 
>> Current Extraordinary Expenses:
>> 
>> 1.      Litigation
>> 
>> Last November OpenMPE removed its Treasurer, Matthew Perdue, from the
>> Board of Directors.  The former Treasurer has in turn filed suit against
>> OpenMPE, so we are in the midst of a united legal defense, with lawyers
>> representing two of our directors named as individuals in Perdue's suit,
>> as well as the organization as a whole.
>> 
>> Although we have initiated our defenses with funds provided by
>> individual board members, we will need additional funds to bring the
>> suit to closure.
>> 
>> We believe the suit has no merit.  However that is for the court of
>> Bexar County, Texas to decide.
>> 
>> 2.      Reorganization
>> We are restructuring OpenMPE to function as a truly viable corporation,
>> one which includes a mission statement with a business plan to support
>> it. We will move forward as a self-sustaining entity.
>> 
>> We have also obtained directors and officers insurance to protect
>> present and future board members from individual liability. 
>> While the loss of the original Invent3K HP3000 server and cash related
>> to the dismissal of our former treasurer have put our 2010 tax liability
>> at zero, our CPA still must be paid for preparation and filing of those
>> documents.
>> 
>> There are also attendant legal fees required to reorganize OpenMPE
>> properly.
>> 
>> 3.  Infrastructure
>> 
>> Although Client Systems was kind enough to contribute another HP3000
>> (which happens to be the old MPE Source machine from Cupertino) for
>> Invent3K to replace the one lost, shipping was not free.
>> 
>> Due to the misdirection of the OpenMPE.org domain, which was also under
>> Perdue's control, OpenMPE has accepted an offer to lease the OpenMPE.com
>> domain from Steve Cooper of Allegro Consultants.
>> 
>> There are a number of additional small expenses, such as a USPS PO box,
>> which, while not large individually, do mount up.
>> 
>> Path Forward
>> 
>> Here is what post-2010 OpenMPE is proposing as its focus.
>> 
>> 1.  Advocacy
>> 
>> We have taken some first steps to re-engage with HP to assist in areas
>> crucial to the community.
>> 
>> *  Upgrades to HP 3000s are a murky area at the moment, something we
>> hope to help with by shaping HP process and policy.
>> 
>> *  HP subsystems for Stromasys' Zelus emulator will no doubt be needed
>> as well as O/S upgrades.  
>> *  Releasing HP approved solutions to alleviate down time due to system
>> board changes by third party support vendors -- which result in
>> HPSUSAN/HPCPUNAME changes and disabling of third party tools and
>> products.
>> 
>> 2.  Products  
>> Client Systems has agreed to offer HP subsystems through OpenMPE at 50%
>> off HP list price.  This is but one of several developments we are
>> pursuing to serve our community.
>> 
>> If approved by HP, a tool/patch to load on existing HP3000s which can be
>> activated when a system board is changed to allow the system to return
>> to production and set up a scheduled HPCE visit to properly set the
>> stable storage.
>> 
>> Invent3K has been implemented on two servers with much of the CSL,
>> Interex proceedings, and, hopefully, at least some of the Jazz content
>> will soon be available.
>> 
>> As mentioned above, Client Systems provided the new Invent3Ksystem and
>> subsystems.  Hosting for this primary server is provided by David Floyd
>> and the team at The Support Group. Tracy Johnson, Secretary/Treasurer
>> (and Invent3K system manager), hosts the mirror system at Measurement
>> Specialties, Inc.
>> 
>> Invent3K can be reached via VT-MGR, NS/VT, or TELNET at
>> Invent3K.openmpe.com.
>> 
>> For those having an Invent3K account, access to compilers and HP tools
>> provides a more or less virtual development space.
>> 
>> New Website: As mentioned above, OpenMPE lost control of its domain name
>> www.openmpe.org <http://www.openmpe.org/>   (which was redirected for
>> some time to HP.COM and, at last check, now goes to GoDaddy.)
>> 
>> Again, thanks to Steve Cooper of Allegro Consultants, we have been able
>> to respond to this issue which put OpenMPE in internet limbo and can now
>> be found at OpenMPE.com.
>> 
>> Please revise your bookmarks to visit our site at the new address.  The
>> web site is available once more and ready for you with development and
>> technical resources.
>> 
>> A Reasonable Funding Goal
>> 
>> Given the expected costs of the outlined items, OpenMPE considers
>> $50,000 as a reasonable goal to secure a viable future.
>> 
>> These monies will cover insurance, operating costs for our servers, and
>> funds to provide legal services to answer the lawsuit.  The community
>> can already enjoy some services, and others are on track now:
>> 
>>   1)  We are Hosting INVENT3K accounts.  Contact us to get your
>> account on this public access development server stocked with HP's
>> subsystem software.
>> 
>>   2)  We are hosting the classic Interex conference proceedings
>> online, the first time these tech papers have been available since
>> Interex closed down.
>> 
>> In the future, we'll be hosting former Jazz services. We'll also
>> providing MPE support vendor referrals - and, as mentioned earlier, in a
>> new venture with Client Systems, we will be selling HP subsystem
>> programs at a 50 percent discount.
>> 
>> Some of you may remember we announced we'd charge $99 US for exclusive
>> subscriptions to our Invent3K machine, but were asked to hold off on
>> payment.
>> 
>> With the removal of the former Treasurer, we had to restart our bank
>> account, but we are again able to receive funds.
>> 
>>> From our website, you can send a PayPal payment for those accounts
>> you've signed up for; we'll be sending invoices shortly for those of you
>> who require them for business purposes.
>> 
>> For the rest of our community, we need your help in contributions of any
>> kind. You may send checks to: 
>> OpenMPE, Inc.
>> P.O. Box 3524
>> Hampton, VA  23663-0524
>> 
>> Please get in touch with us with your questions and ideas, and watch our
>> websites (openmpe.com, as well as our OpenMPE News blog) for more
>> developments.
>> 
>> We look forward to moving ahead with your assistance and guidance.
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> Jack Connor
>> Chairman, OpenMPE Board
>> <[log in to unmask]>
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> 
>>