🚀 go-pugleaf

I just got the word that Unisys has announced they will not attend CUBE in Reno
and New Orleans (the two 1993 CUBEs).  They claim that they will only attend
one user group, and they are going to attend USE.  They also claim that
attending two meetings costs them an extra $1 million per meeting.

Now, I've only just heard the news, and a few details may be wrong.  The outline
is correct.

None of this makes any sense, of course.  First, the $1meg claim implies that
Unisys has at least 200 employees who must attend _both_ conferences; this
seems quite excessive given that virtually no technical staff attend both
conferences.

Second, Unisys has not cut back on obvious costs, such as the banquet, which is
a nice warm fuzzy but totally unnecessary and not available to most user
groups.

Third, the groups will almost certainly be merged by 1994.  The process is
taking place now.  Unisys does not need to add pressure to bring this about.

Fourth, it is USE, not CUBE, that is being stubborn.  CUBE has contractual
commitments on the order of $450,000 in Reno, which realistically would
probably mean about $150,000 to get out of the commitments, and has contractual
commitments in New Orleans.  CUBE already paid $85,000 to get out of Toronto as
a result of Unisys' pressure for a joint conference.  USE has no contractual
commitments to Phoenix or Minneapolis (which is one reason their registration
fees are much higher than CUBE's) yet refuses to consider moving.  If CUBE
moved to Phoenix, there are not enough meeting rooms downtown, and some
sessions would be held a 35-minute bus ride away.  Unisys has said they will
not contribute a single penny to CUBE's moving expenses.

Fifth, Ray Clovis, Unisys' liaison to CUBE, has a recommendation for CUBE.  Just
skip out on Reno without telling them.  By the time the hotel gets around to
suing, CUBE will have ceased to exist, having become part of the new
organization.  Hmm.  If Unisys is recommending such actions to outsiders, what
are they doing internally?  Were last year's defense scandals just a fluke?

I'm planning to write Unruh myself.  I'll try to get a precise address, though I
understand that PO Box 500, Blue Bell PA is sufficient.

Edward Reid  (8*}>
  eel:   ed@titipu.meta.com  or  nosc.mil!titipu.meta.com!ed
  snail: PO Box 378/Greensboro FL 32330