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From: jareed@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Judith Ann Reed)
Newsgroups: comp.org.decus
Subject: "RFC" on DEC Pro DECUS article
Message-ID: <1991Feb11.133456.6426@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Date: 11 Feb 91 13:34:56 GMT
Sender: jareed@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Judith Ann Reed)
Distribution: na
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Lines: 47

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.
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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:

1. Why does DECUS cost so much?
2. Why does DECUS choose locations that ignore the geography of the DEC
population?
3. Why is it so hard to go to both DECUS and DEXPO?
4. When they need answers, why don't most DEC users get them from DECUS?
5. Why is DECUS attendance so poor?
6. Is DECUS interested in the DEC community or just its own ingrown leadership?
7. How much influence does DEC have on DECUS?
8. Is DECUS necessary for the DEC community? Is the DEC community necessary
for DECUS?
9. Why isn't DECUS a must for decision-makers in the DEC market?
10. What will DECUS do to improve?

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....!)
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  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?"
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