I think what we have a here is a failure to communicate...

Actually, it's a lot more complicated than that.  Last week, after an
incredibly difficult year, strewn with untold challenges and obstacles,
HP World 2003 proved to be a big success.  By all measures, HPW2003 was
bigger and better than the last few preceding years' events.  In an
industry and a time where all conferences and expos are performing the
incredible shrinking act and/or disappearing altogether, HP World 2004
bucked the trend.  Big time.

Ron Evans had a lot to do with these magnificent results.

However, in spite of the huge success, in difficult times for such
events, there are forces at work that have made it their mission to
castigate and denigrate these results, to place them in a bad light and
to misrepresent them for their own purposes.

Let me just say right now that these people are NOT on these lists
(OpenMPE or HP3000-L.)  What various individuals on these lists have
done is voice their opinions and concerns and in many cases, offer ideas
to make things even better.

So whilst Ron was incorrect in his assessment, I can fully understand
and appreciate where he is coming from.  But in this case, Ron should
not be apprehensive of the people on these lists.  Conversely, the
listers should consider Ron to be their friend and ally.  Ron was
instrumental in making sure the two Symposia took place earlier this
week, and whilst the attendance was not as much as had been expected or
hoped for, I am here to tell you that all the attendees with whom I
spoke really liked the events.

Interex and the users should be thankful they have a person like Ron as
executive director of the association.  He is indefatigable in his quest
to make the association better and more responsive to the needs of all
the users/members.  Someone said that Ron has an agenda.  He surely does
and you should be glad; in the 2+ years I have know and worked with Ron,
I can tell you that for him the members come first.

Ron Evans should be thankful that he has access to such a large and
involved base of users, and even though many are not officially members
of Interex (for shame,) all criticisms and suggestions are welcome.  I
hope Ron will communicate more with the users through OpenMPE and
HP3000-L and indeed we should all urge him to do this.



Denys