Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!think!bloom-beacon!bu-cs!purdue!decwrl!ucbvax!UBVMS.BITNET!PSYDAVE
From: PSYDAVE@UBVMS.BITNET (Dave Straitiff)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: DECUS deserves some credit!
Message-ID: <8805150307.AA20539@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 7 May 88 18:05:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
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     I would like to turn the DECUS conversation around a bit.
DECUS makes money, true.  Where do you think that money goes?
It goes back into services for DECUS members.  DEC does not
provide any direct financial support.  They provide us with a
staff and facilities.  They also pay the symposium registration
fees for DEC employees.  Just like any of our employers pay ours.

     In general, I would be careful about throwing stones at
DECUS.  It is a volunteer organization that serves a great number
of people.  I have dedicated a great deal of my personal time to
help DECUS run.  I think all the people involved deserve a great
deal of credit.

     An effective LUG is the rawest form of DECUS.  It offers people
in a geographic area, a chance to meet face to face.  Effective is
the key point here.  To be effective, the LUG needs motivated leaders.
If you don't like the way your LUG is run, then run for an office.

     Many facts are incorrect in the article against LUGs.  First off,
DEC has no say in who speaks at your meeting.  It is in the LUG's
best interest though to maintain relations with the local office.
That support can be by offering a counterpart, hosting meetings,
and doing mailings.  On the tape issue.  Those tapes are not cheap
if you purchase them.  LUGs have the right to distribute them to
members.  Local companies donate all the media for our library at
the Western New York LUG.  Our librarian mails the tapes in and they
are returned with loads of USEFUL and FREE software.  How much easier
could it be?  DECUS even pays the return postage.

     The newsletter promotion is not hurting anyone.  They will not
exist at all if people don't subscribe.  I see the newsletter serving
the same purpose as this bulletin board.  I can't see any reason to
not use this medium to promote them.  The intentions are totally
honorable.

     On a final note, DEC is the first to acknowledge that they are
not the only game in town.  DECUS is around because a lot of people
own DEC computers, and would like meet with others to talk about them.
DECUS can not be all things to all people.  It serves its purpose well!

     What reason could anyone have to take shots at DECUS?


                                David M. Straitiff

                                Western New York LUG Chair
                                North East Seminars Representative


=========================================================================
 David M. Straitiff                                Bitnet: PSYDAVE@UBVMS
 Speech Research Laboratory                        Phone:  (716)689-8093
 Department of Psychology
 State University of New York at Buffalo
 Buffalo, New York  14260
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