🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Mar10.005300.26091@megadata.uucp>, andrew@megadata.mega.oz.au (Andrew McRae) writes:
> *soapbox ON*
> 
> IMHO the problems with AUUGN are symptomatic of how the Open System
> world has changed in the last few years; I think AUUG worked because
> of the Unix community here was fairly isolated, and was small
> and enthusiastic enough to be self-sustaining (this is probably
> why WAUG is fairly dynamic, and outshines the other states in terms
> of activities, benefits etc). I don't know if this is
> the case any more in the general Australian Unix community.
> 
> One has only to look at the distressing way vendors
> and commercial `our system is more open than theirs' presentations
> dominated the last AUUG conference to realise that priorities have changed
> and the technical (i.e interesting) nature of the conference was
> greatly diminished. I have come to the conclusion that the old days
> of AUUG are dead and buried, and from now on things are going to be
> different. I think mainly due to the much better network connectivity
> we have with overseas, there seems to be a turning away from local
> collaboration, and much more interest in interaction with people
> internationally.
> 
> What should be done then? I see a great hope in the state
> conferences - these seem to be in the old spirit of AUUG conferences,
> no sales pitches, strong techo stuff etc. Should this herald changes
> in the way AUUG operates? I am not convinced that AUUG should be
> presenting itself to the commercial world as the body for representing
> all Open Systems concerns. If this occurs, AUUG may well become an
> hollow shell, echoing with the empty mantras of the vendors as they
> chant their Open Systems gospel, deserted by the people who formed
> the original foundations.
> 
> As someone from the committee said at the AGM, `If we don't do it, then
> someone else will'. As far as I am concerned, let someone else do it,
> because I am not interested in where they are going.
> 
> Andrew McRae (andrew@megadata.mega.oz.au)      - My views only -
> 
> (I will also mail this to the AUUG exec.)

One would only have to attended the AUUG Summer 92 Conference - Melbourne, held
at BHP Research Labs in Melbourne, to realize that there is a strong
technical group still active in AUUG.

In fact it was like the "old days" but better in some ways.

I am sure some of the other states will do/have done just a good a job.

The Winter Conference is not the same as the "old days", it has grown into
something else - but still is very important part of AUUG.

I like thank all the people involved (including the AUUG Committee) for
supporting the Summer AUUG concept.

I suggest we all pitch in and and try and make the Winter Conference and
the 93 Summer Conferences even better rather than expending energy canning
people's efforts.

E.G.	Write and present those technical papers - the programme committee/
	AUUG Editor are always struggling to find good local stuff.

						John Carey
						old AUUG hack.