🚀 go-pugleaf

       There is an extreme lack of communication.  Most members
       have no idea what is happening within ACM, and  how to have
       their opinions heard and taken seriously.  There are people
       (and probably a number of them) who would like to get
       involved but don't know how to get started, and it can be
       difficult to break through those tightly knit groups of
       volunteers.  However, many ACM members only think of ACM as
       some entity that takes their money and sends them
       publications.  Local ACM leaders are lucky if a mailing to
       local ACM members yields a 3% response rate.  What does it
       mean to be affiliated with ACM?...

       Many of the recent comments show the need for improved
       communication, and The ACM Network Services (ACM/NS) is the
       answer.  ACM is a large organization, and very few people,
       can keep up with all of the ACM projects and programs.  A
       few articles/reports printed in various publications is not
       enough.  We must have access to up-to-date information on
       what is transpiring within our organization.  This is what
       the ACM/NS Information project is about.  We are currently
       in the process of collecting and organizing this
       information.

       Electronic forums such as comp.org.acm *will* be taken
       seriously.  Discussions will be summarized and clearly
       presented to the appropriate volunteers or staff members.
       By creating more specific forums, people will be able to
       more easily read and respond to issues related to their
       projects.  Large electronic meetings will become common.
       This is also a part of the ACM/NS Information Project.

       I get the impression that many chapters don't feel and act
       as if they are a part of ACM.   There are chapters out there
       doing a great job, but IMHO, ACM chapters need a lot of
       work.  No matter what services the professional chapters
       program comes up with they're not going to be helpful unless
       the communication is there (of course this is true of
       student chapters too).  It is up to the chapters to start
       making changes.  A small group of individuals
       dictating reforms to the chapter program will not be
       received well.  It is imperative that we all work together
       and establish a plan for the future.  The ACM/NS will allow
       us to do just that, and every chapter (this includes special
       interest chapters) will have access to it.  All of the
       chapters have received the necessary information about how
       to gain access.  Please send in your applications.  Once we
       get the chapters online, we can get to work.

       What happened to the chapter workshops?  Well, not enough
       chapters are willing to participate, and there are
       apparently very few people who are willing to organize them.
       I know the professional chapters program worked hard to
       create a system of workshops, but if I remember correctly,
       the chapter support wasn't there.  Ruth Barton organizes an
       annual ``regional'' chapter workshop.  From what I've heard,
       it's the only one.

       The contents of the Network, the professional chapter
       newsletter, will be available from the ACM/NS.   Once
       the chapters are confortable with the ACM/NS, the Network
       will cease to exist.

       I have found the lectureship series to be easy to use and
       useful.  It is in a transitional phase, and will soon be a
       great program.  The number of lecturers in the program has
       nothing to do with quality.

Michael Allen Clore           |Internet: clore@acm.org  Phone:(602) 621-8541
 -Southern Arizona ACM, Chair |"It is unworthy of excellent (persons) to lose
 -ACM/NS Information Project  | hours like slaves in the labor of calculation"
 -Univ. of Arizona, Analyst   |-Baron Gottfried Wilhelm Von Leibniz(1646-1716)