🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1991Feb11.133456.6426@rodan.acs.syr.edu>, jareed@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Judith Ann Reed) writes:
> In today's post, Earle Ake comments about no responses so far to Carl Marbach's
> article in the Feb '91 issue of DEC Professional about "The Decline Of DECUS".
> I tried to post this Friday, but it evidently didn't make it, so I'll try
> again.
> *******************************************************************************
> Greetings! I am new to this list, but the following seems like an appropriate
> topic. I'd like to start a thread of discussion (or have someone send me recent
> postings on this topic if it has been done recently) on the editorial by Carl
> Marbach on page 10 of February's DEC Professional, entitled "The Decline Of
> DECUS". In it, he suggests that DECUS is not meeting the needs of the user
> community because it concentrates solely on DEC, is not addressing third
> party hardware issues, and makes it too difficult for attendees to go to DEXPO.
> He questions whether this is because DECUS and DEC are too closely allied and
> DEC has too big an influence. He brings up the following questions:

Overall, I thought the editorial made a number of very good points.  I've
read and commented on several discussions on the DECUS conferencing system
over the past couple years, and in my opinion, there are a number of activities
and practices I consider objectionable.
 
> 1. Why does DECUS cost so much?

First of all, I assume this means symposia.  Mainly because the symposia is
treated as a "cash cow" which is used to fund just about everything else
that DECUS does.  This includes activities ranging from sending represenatives
to ANSI meetings, sending "observers" to other countries DECUS, and for
a LOT of leadership meetings.  Seems that many of the upper levels of 
DECUS management holds regular (apparently 1 to 4 types a year) "woods
meeting" where the leadership flys to some place for a weekend or so.  From
budget figures, both published and forwarded to me from a board member, 
I think these expenses rather high...certainly something you most likly
would not see, at least as much of, in a regular company.  If symposia
fees covered only the symposia, I did some rough figuring that DECUS
could cut the fee by half to a third, increase spending on the meals
(a long source of disagreement) and still make a profit...and all this
without taking steps like revenue sharing with DEXPO.

> 2. Why does DECUS choose locations that ignore the geography of the DEC
> population?

This actually has a rational explanation.  It seems there are only a few
convention facilities that have what DECUS needs...a combination of
display space, many meeting rooms ranging from very large to very 
small, etc.  New York is purposely excluded because of price.  Supposedly
there are symposia planned for the NE in a few years when facilities become
available in Boston (which, in my humble opinion, is only slightly cheaper
than NY City.

> 3. Why is it so hard to go to both DECUS and DEXPO?

Because of the "prime directive" of non-comercialism, it would appear.
Despite the fact that a large percentage, if not a majority of the 
attendees go to DEXPO, DECUS seems to go out of the way to make it
difficult.  They only allowed the bus to enter the site after 
considerable complaints from the membership - and threat of bad 
press.

> 4. When they need answers, why don't most DEC users get them from DECUS?

Because, at least in my managements eyes, Decus is a "techie" club that
caters to the techies, Unix hippies (hey, I know, but some of the "suits"
in the corporate world would never consider Unix...mainly because of the
perception that its advocates are practicing flower children) and while
it has just enough technical validity to continue funding sending the
techies off a couple times a year, it has about as much policy influence and
credibility as the Micky Mouse Club.

> 5. Why is DECUS attendance so poor?

I think attendance would be better, if

  o  Costs were lower
  o  Better deals were offered worked out with airlines
  o  More offerings concerning commercial users needs, third party
     products, etc.
  o  DEXPO at the same site.

> 6. Is DECUS interested in the DEC community or just its own ingrown leadership?

I suffer from the perception that certianly some parts of DECUS suffer from 
an almost terminal case of ingrown leadership.  The board, for example, 
makes a lot of good sounding noise, but a typical example of how they really
work is this recent example of the hacker who was expelled from the symposia...
done behind closed doors.  While I have not had the chance to check the
DECUS system recently, to date I have not heard anyone in an official
capacity belly up to the bar and discuss this issue.  Any "issue" seems to
be handled in a "good old boy" type network... and the typical response I've
gotten to challenges to this kind of thing have been "The leadership is all
volunteer, and you should really be greatful to the time they donate, and
thank you for your concerns, we'll consider your input."  (Yeah, right, I'm
sure it will give a good laugh at the next "woods meeting")


> 7. How much influence does DEC have on DECUS?

DEC pays the bills, something I've heard stressed many times.  Does the 
tail wag the dog?

> 8. Is DECUS necessary for the DEC community? Is the DEC community necessary
> for DECUS?

I'd like to think that some means of technical and professional change are
necessary.  I'm not sure this is DECUS in its current form.

> 9. Why isn't DECUS a must for decision-makers in the DEC market?

See item 4 above.

> 10. What will DECUS do to improve?

Good question.  I've seen a lot of lip service to this.  I tend to vote against
anyone running for the board that seems to be an "insider".  

> 
> The above questions are all direct quotes from the article, and I realize a lot
> of them are very inflammatory, and I am really not trying to start a religious
> war here. However, I am running for LUG chair of my local lug, and I see
> similar problems on the local level - disinterest, lack of involvement, too
> much DEC and not enough of the other aspects that affect a DEC computer users
> workplace and hardware mix, and the fact that we don't seem to be meeting the
> needs of our user community. I am actively seeking ideas for change on the
> local level, and I hope that throwing this topic into the ring will bring out
> a lot of interesting discussion of very relevant issues. It would be helpful
> if respondants read the above-mentioned article before getting too worked up,
> as Carl states his case fairly well. Please don't flame me, I am just trying
> to see where DECUS stands in the eyes of its participants. Thanks!!
> (asbestos suit donned anyway....!)
> ################################################################################
>   Judith Reed, Systems Manager, Syracuse University High Energy Physics
>   Tape librarian and "Running Chair" for CNYLUG - "LUGNUTS"
>   Rm. 201, Physics Bldg, Syracuse, N.Y. 13244     315-443-5995
>   Bitnet: JUDITH@SUHEP  Internet: JUDITH@SUHEP.PHY.SYR.EDU  "What, me worry?"
> ################################################################################

Disclaimer:  This is one mans opinion.  Its worth what it costs.  Go ahead
and flame away. 
 
  Charles T. Smith, Jr.
  cts@dragon.uucp
  ...gatech!emory!dragon!cts