🚀 go-pugleaf

On 3 Aug 1992 21:25:58 GMT, plutchak@pilsner.geo.brown.edu (Joel Plutchak)
said: 
>>Everyone says: I wouldn't do it the way they do it. Well, if you don't like
>>it, GET OFF YOUR DUFF AND DO IT YOUR WAY. ACM runs on volunteers...

>    ...and dues, SIG fees, sale of the mailing list to insurance and credit
> card companies, etc.  It's a monetary transaction, and like any other
> monetary transaction, if one party doesn't get what s/he pays for, s/he
> has every right to complain.

I never said you didn't have a right to complain. If you are going to complain
(and this subject constantly comes up here), complain to the right people.
I've posted the list before, but here are some relevant addresses:

	VOLUNTEER STAFF
	William Gruener, Pubs Board Chair (4908214@mcimail.com)
	Peter Denning, E-I-C, CACM (pjd@gmuvax2.gmu.edu)

	HEADQUARTERS STAFF
	Jim Maurer, Executive Editor, CACM (JIMM@ACMVM.BITNET)
	Karen Frenkel, Senior Writer, CACM (KARENF@ACMVM.BITNET)
	Diane Crawford, Senior Editor, CACM (CRAWFORD@ACMVM.BITNET)
	Lynn D'Addesio-Kraus, Production Manager, CACM 
	Dennis Ahlgrim, Art Director, CACM

Complaining on the net does no good. Complain, and make appropriate
suggestions, to the right parties.
	
>> ...If you care about an organization -- if you want
>>to do more than just write a check -- if you make the organization actually
>>serve you in a useful manner -- get involved.

>    Since some of us out here don't have infinite time on our hands, we have
> to prioritize our activities.  

Did I ever claim to have infinate time. I belong to numerous other
organizations that I would like to volunteer more time for (Orange Empire
Railway Museum, Valley CBers, SFV Historical Society, etc). I certainly
understand that.

> This means that we may not have free time
> to volunteer extensively for any one specific activity, such as the local
> ACM chapter.  

The key word here is *extensively*. Do you ever go to meetings. The LA Chapter
has over 400 members -- we're lucky to get 20 at a meeting. Why don't more
come? How do we know we are serving our members? Why do people stay members?

> So, we give of our time to some activites, and "merely"
> pay our dues for others.  If we didn't care, we wouldn't do so.  And
> because we care enough to continue paying for the service involved, we
> occasionally take the time and make the effort to offer constructive
> criticism.  

I have no problem with the constructive criticism. There are, alas, too many
who forget the "constructive" and just go with the criticism. That doesn't
help. If you let the appropriate parties know, that does. 

> I believe it's quite counterproductive to meet that constructive
> criticism with martyristic jingoism, especially when the criticism comes
> from a paying member.

Martyristic Jingoism? I was just expressing a personal feeling. I've given
quite a bit to ACM -- I'm proud of the organization. Yes, it is far from
perfect. But I'm also extremely frustrated by those who don't even speak up.
I'm frustrated by those who don't care. Folks pay over $100/year with SIG
memberships, but who can't even respond to a survey form. Folks who don't vote
in SIG, Chapter, or ACM elections.

>    Incidentally, the new CACM is ugly and less readable to this paying
> member, too.  Since you're a volunteer, could you inform the proper
> people?  Thanks.

I've given the appropriate contact information above. I doubt Peter has the
time to read this newsgroup, so I suggest people forward their comments to him
or one of the folks at HQ. Currently, acmvm.bitnet is not connected to news,
only mail. There is a gateway connection to this list, so they may have seen
it.

Daniel
--
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   "You can't be a rationalist in an irrational world. It isn't rational!"
	       Dr. Rance, in Joe Orton's "What the Butler Saw"