🚀 go-pugleaf

In <50@quark.ansto.gov.au> jc@quark.ansto.gov.au (Jagoda Crawford) writes:

>If you also took time to read what was posted to aus.auug at the end of
>February you would realise why AUUGN was delayed even further than anticipated.

I had read that posting and probably should have mentioned it.  I got the
impression that most of the delay was caused by missed deadlines.

>The other articles that are "out of date" were either included in the
>previous edition

I didn't realise that.  I'm not sure whether it makes any difference though.

> and/or were well publicised on the net.

Unfortunately not everyone is on the net or we wouldn't need a paper
newsletter.

>it may be true that some of the meetings have already happened, there are
>some that have not.

Still, it's getting rather late for calls for papers.  I'm concerned that
AUUG is looking a bit silly.

> (How could the Presidents report be out of date?)

I didn't mean to imply that.  I wanted to point out that the President was
talking about member benefits, and I think the newsletter would be more
of a benefit if it was on time.

>Would you prefer if we called it a technical journal?

Yes, most definitely! if that's its primary aim.

> While it may be
>true that YAUN is the only means that WAUG uses to disseminate news to its
>members, AUUGN is only one method used by AUUG.

WAUG also uses the net (although most members are not on it) and mails out
meeting notices - the same things AUUG does as far as I can tell.  It seems
to me that the newsletter - if that's what it is - should be the main,
the definitive, printed voice through which AUUG communicates with its
members.

>a problem with where to draw the line with delays.  Do I reject
>something if it is going to arrive the day after the deadline, how about
>a week late?

Well, I publicise the deadline and privately set a 'making-up' day which
is usually about a week after the deadline.  If things are in by the
making-up day that's good enough - but I don't like to admit it as it
makes people think the deadline is not serious.  Having the deadline gives
time to sort out any problems with the copy before the making-up day.

>Janet, seeing you have so much time to edit and also write articles for YAUN,
>why don't you also write a regular column on WAUG activities for AUUGN.

Perhaps I will.

>Finally, Janet, as editor of such a newsletter, you more than anyone should
>be aware that all you ever receive for such a job is critisism, never
>any positive comments.

Since I've been editing YAUN, I have in fact had positive comments, as well
as constructive criticism.  I had hoped you wouldn't take my criticism
personally (since I don't know you!) so please don't.

The members of AUUG who don't get promised articles in on time should consider
themselves criticised also.  I know it's hard, but you can do it if you try.

Janet Jackson
<janet@cs.uwa.edu.au>
Department of Computer Science
The University of Western Australia