RE: COMMON in San Antonio (fwd)

[cmassoglia@xxxxxxxxxxx (Charlie Massoglia)]

Bob Cozzi wrote:
>
>I can, however, see the day where hard-copy hand-outs are a chargeable 
>item. While there is currently know plans nor is there even a discussion of 
>it that I'm aware of, why continue to print millions of copies that end up 
>in the garbage or on a shelf? Why not just go to CD-ROM as the base 
>hand-out and charge an extra fee of, say $50 to $100 for hard copy of the 
>hand outs. Remember, with the CD-ROM, you can print your own copies.
>
The reason attendees need to have hard copy handouts is to take notes in
context.  When you take a session chock full of information (e.g. an Al
Barsa System Values session), you can not possibly keep up with the speaker
without having a handout on which to take notes.  In addition, it is
virtually impossible to see the screens clearly in some of the larger rooms.

Remember, COMMON previously did a survey of the membership in which the
overwhelming majority indicated they wanted handouts for sessions at the
sessions even if it meant increasing the registration fee by $50.  The lack
of handouts (or having to pay for them) is a frequent criticism at COMMON
Regional Events.  I sincerely hope noone makes the decision to eliminate
handouts at COMMON conferences or to charge for the handouts separately
without a formal survey of the membership.  If you think the reaction to
charging for drinks at CUDS was bad, that reaction will be mild in
comparison to what will happen if anyone messes with copies at the conference.

As a side comment regarding the previous discussion of advertising in the
agenda, while I personally do not like the idea, COMMON previously did a
survey of the membership in which the overwhelming majority indicated they
wanted COMMON to sell advertising if it would reduce or prevent increases in
the conference registration fee.  The action take by the Board to permit
advertising is not only in accordance with the Code of Ethics, it was also
in accordance with the wishes of the majority of COMMON members.


Charlie Massoglia, Massoglia Technical Consulting, Inc.
PO Box 1065, Okemos, MI 48854, USA
517-676-9700  Fax: 517-676-1006  EMAIL: cmassoglia@voyager.net


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