New Conference

[csda1]

To All,

Considering the cancellation of the November 2001 conference, I am considering the prospects of a March 2002 conference in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. One tentative date might be Thursday evening March 21, 2002 through Sunday Afternoon March 24, 2002 (Note: This is Palm Sunday weekend)

It may or may not be at the same location as the December 1st, 2000 conference, but if it was, we would have all the ballrooms for the entire time, cutting out the noise from adjacent functions.

You can also assume 2 or more tracks of programming most of the time (Beginner and Advanced) and most of the talks would be 2 hours or more each.

Questions I'd like to pose are,
1. Would another hotel be preferable?
2. Would another part of the country be preferable (Florida, Texas, Chicago, California for example?)? If so, it won't be me running it, but I'd be happy to confer with those stupid enough....I mean brave enough to take on the task! A well run user group could do this very well.
3. $89/night (single or double) may be the room charge. Does this deter anyone?
4. Does the date cause problems for a large number of people?
5. Any other comments/suggestions. If you'd prefer them to be private, please send them to my e-mail address above.
6. I'd also appreciate a straw count (with none of the details set) of those who would a) Definitely plan on attending, b) maybe attend c) definitely not. Please send a short email with your contact address and interest level
7. I'll be looking for real help this time (if it happens), so contact me if interested and let me know what you think you can do. I'll also be looking for local people who can help with the setup and tear-down of the conference.

Regards,

Ira J. Perlow
Computer Systems Design & Associates
[email protected]

[rtbtat]

RE: New Conference

Hello Ira:

It's hard to assess appropriate dates so far in advance, but on my end, March 21-24 sounds fine. At least we can hope for somewhat milder weather around the end of March.

I love the idea of alloting 2 hours [or more] for discussion groups. That should alleviate the problem we had last time when speakers were continually complaining about a lack of time for their presentations.

And I also like the idea of beginner / advanced tracks. Obviously there will be sessions that will apply to everyone, but I think this two track formula will keep everyone at their appropriate level, hence they will almost certainly get more out of the conference.

And most important of all, I love the idea of stretching out the conference one addtional day so we can have more time to talk with one another and learn all we that we can reference A5. In addition, I think conference participants will feel less pressure when coming to or going home from the conference.

As I mentioned the last time around, with only a 3-day conference, people spent half of Friday and half of Sunday making appropriate preparations for arriving and/or going home. If we start on Thursday night, everyone can pay close attention all day Friday & Saturday without having to worry about making taxis or early departing flights out of Boston.

Although I put forth what I thought were constructive criticisms the last time around, overall Ira I thought you did a fabulous job. In light of that, I hope no one else volunteers to take the heavy responsbility of this conference off your hands. I feel very confident you will once again put together another terrific Alpha conference that will have all of us walking away feeling as if we are experts on Version 5.x.

Robert

[Daniel Weiss]

RE: New Conference

Hi Ira
Thanks for considering the needs of Alpha Five users.
The date could cause problems for some people, because is comes out just about Passover. The people that observe Passover will not be able to join the conference.
Thank you for taking this in consideration

Daniel Weiss

[csda1]

RE: New Conference

Daniel,

Passover starts Wednesday evening, March 27, 2002.

How does that pose a problem? (If you really want, I can get some Matzah, Gefilte fish and Chopped Liver for you! {:?)

Regards,

Ira J. Perlow
Computer Systems Design & Associates
[email protected]

[Carol A Graham]

RE: New Conference


Ira ....

I make great chopped liver!!!

Carol

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: New Conference

Now I hope Alpha doesn't read this as an 6-months lead time to rollout ver. 5!

[Ohlen Cartmell]

RE: New Conference

Ira,
Your last conference was great and I will be there. There are no perfect weekends, but I can work around this one.

Here are my thoughts:

Questions I'd like to pose are,
1. Would another hotel be preferable? Reply: This was a great hotel; easy to get to, comfortable, and priced right.
2. Would another part of the country be preferable (Florida, Texas, Chicago, California for example?)? If so, it won't be me running it, but I'd be happy to confer with those stupid enough....I mean brave enough to take on the task! A well run user group could do this very well. Reply: Location was great. Flying into the New Hampshire location was easy and quick for me. I don't expect a lot of time to be spent swimming or on the golf course.
3. $89/night (single or double) may be the room charge. Does this deter anyone? Reply: I thought the room rate was a bargain.
4. Does the date cause problems for a large number of people? Reply: It will work for me; the church choir can get along without me that Sunday.
5. Any other comments/suggestions. If you'd prefer them to be private, please send them to my e-mail address above.
6. I'd also appreciate a straw count (with none of the details set) of those who would a) Definitely plan on attending, b) maybe attend c) definitely not. Please send a short email with your contact address and interest level. Reply: Definitely plan on attending.
7. I'll be looking for real help this time (if it happens), so contact me if interested and let me know what you think you can do. I'll also be looking for local people who can help with the setup and tear-down of the conference. Reply: Thank God I'm not local; but will help as I can.

[Mike Reed]

RE: New Conference

Hi Ira,
Sounds great to me, but please do not have Sunday as a conference day. For us who travel from any distance it is just too hard to travel home and then go to work for a full 5 days afterwards. There needs to be a break. In addition, those who travel usually have to cut out to make a flight so we end missing part of the conference.

Mike

[russ Boehle]

RE: New Conference

I think some people who are local might appreciate sessions on Sunday morning, myself included. Perhaps Sunday sessions could be on less popular or more obscure topics, or a summary write up could be given to those who can't stay.

BTW Ira, I would help to the extent I can, I could help on Sunday for teardown.

Russ

[CALocklin]

RE: New Conference

You pick the time and place. I'll be there.

I second Peter G's comments. (saves typing)

[Leon Brachman]

RE: New Conference

Hi, Ira:

My answer to some of your questions:

1) If you put on the conference, then your choice of location and hotel are a given. I thought things were well worked out last time, and with the benefit of experience and hindsight, the next one should be outstanding.
If for any reason you can't find the time or the energy to do it, then I might suggest someplace closer to the center of the country - and Dallas/Fort Worth comes to mind. I guess that would involve Bill Parker and a few others, and I'd be glad to pitch in.

2) I second the other endorsers about longer sessions, two tracks, etc. I imagine that most people will need to be home by Sunday evening, which probably precludes a full day of conference on Sunday. Probably winding up Saturday night or Sunday morning would be preferable - especially for those who have a long way to travel.

3) Just a general comment about such a conference - many of us probably feel rather lonely when it comes to having other users close by, and we all get frustrated from time to time with things that ought to work but don't seem to. Conferences at least once per year are the best possible way to swap ideas, to refresh our thinking, to gain knowledge. And if you (Ira) are willing to take on the weighty responsibility then we owe you a great debt of gratitude. If not, and if others aren't willing, or aren't able, to step up to the plate, maybe it should be Alpha's responsibility to see that the conferences take place.
At least to offer support, suggestions, etc.

I personally have a conflict on that Sunday afternoon - a chamber music concert in Ft.Worth that I'm supposed to preside at. But I'll skip it if necessary, because I think this conference is a once-in-year opportunity that I don't want to miss and that can't be replaced.

Thanks very much for starting the ball rolling - and for all the work you keep putting into this whole field of user updates and education.

Cordially,

Leon Brachman

P.S. I get enough matzoh in the 8 days of Passover. I don't need to start 4 days early! (But I'll take chopped liver any time!)

[martinwcole]

RE: New Conference

Yeaaaaaaaaa!

I'm in, too. The last conference was great. Although I'd love for it to be witin walking distance of my house, Boston is the best place, since Selwyn, Cian, et al could come, too.

I thought you did a most excellent job of organizing everything last time.

Martin
Dallas

[Vince McGinnis]

RE: New Conference

Ira,

I'll sure try my best to be there.

I would like it if the conference again could be held the Boston area, as it makes it easier for Selwyn and Richard to attend.

In my opinion, their talks were a highlight in the last conference.

[RJGowan]

RE: New Conference

Regarding your third point, I'd hate to see anything - including conference planning - take any of Alpha staff's time and effort away from getting v.5 out sooner - and v.6, v.7 ...

Their participation in the last conference was absolutely great - if having the next at the same location makes it easier for Alpha staff participation, let's go with that.

Ira and his crew did a great job with the last conference - they may be able to use their experience to make the next even better.

I like the current plans. I definitely plan to attend.

[Mike Konoff]

RE: New Conference

I have not made it to any conference yet and am sorely sorry I haven't.

While I live just outside of Chicago, and Chicago area would be a very simple place for me to attend, I'd rather go to Boston (I HOPE I CAN MAKE THE NEXT ONE!!!) if it meant people from Alpha would be able to attend and participate.

Mike