RE: The relevance of COMMON

On Friday, September 01, 2000 4:20 PM, Bruce Collins 
[SMTP:bacollins@twitchellcorp.com] wrote:
> How many COMMON conferences have you attended? 

Several in the last 15 years

>Have you volunteered to help COMMON?

In several roles including the requirements committee a few times.

> If you do not take an active part in the organization then please do
> not criticize it. This list is wonderful and if you did attend COMMON you
> could put faces to some of the names on this list. COMMON is where you can
> meet people, talk to the developers and build friendships. You can go and
> talk to vendors on the exhibit floor and get ideas of how the hardware or
> software could enhance your company and your skills. The have many hands on
> labs and sessions with excellent speakers. You get out of it what you put in
> it.   IMHO

It used to be worth my time and effort. I no longer think so. As I was paying
about half and my employer the rest, I just didn't feel it was worth it.

Besides, I don't really think they want volunteers anymore. I used to be
a real advocate of COMMON. Now, I don't really care. What anybody else
thinks about COMMON is up to them. I have my own opinion and I'm sticking
with it.

> P.S. David is a champ for hosting this list and it does cost him money to
> run it. I you would like to send him gold bullion I do not think he would
> turn it down.

I send him check for $25 about every three months. I wish it were more, but
that's coming out of my pocket.

> Bruce Collins
> MIS Manager
> Twitchell Corporation
> 4031 Ross Clark Circle NW
> Dothan, AL 36304
> (334) 792-0002
> (334) 673-4121
> bacollins@twitchellcorp.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
> [mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Joe Teff
> Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 1:40 PM
> To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
> Subject: RE: The relevance of COMMON (was Penton to buy Duke - News400
> magazine)
> 
> 
> I have to agree with this. The last COMMONs I attended (at least 2 yrs ago),
> it seemed a very cliquish atmosphere. I feel I have better access to people
> (including IBM) on these lists than I did at COMMON. I learn more and have
> a better resource for answers than I did at COMMON. Between David's list
> and Ignite, my needs are being met.
> 
> Joe Teff
> 
> On Friday, September 01, 2000 3:29 PM, David Keck [SMTP:dkeck@idt.net]
> wrote:
> > Hi Janet,  Maybe the world is changing.  Anything I can do to save time
> and
> > money and still achieve my goals will interest me.  Maybe Midrange-L is my
> > COMMON.  This user's group is fast, free, relevant, a-political, well
> > attended and always in session.  It's a beautiful thing (tear in eye).
> Most
> > of my learning is via books, articles, and this place.  I can download and
> > evaluate most vendors software from my home or office.  I wonder what I am
> > missing by not attending COMMON.
> > -DaveK
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