From: rick@crick.ssctr.bcm.tmc.edu (Richard H. Miller)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.unisys
Subject: Re: Unisys not coming to CUBE in 1993
Date: 12 Sep 1992 21:55:51 GMT

In article <01010064.dcg9kh@titipu.meta.com>, ed@titipu.meta.com (Edward Reid) writes:
> I just got the word that Unisys has announced they will not attend CUBE in Reno
> and New Orleans (the two 1993 CUBEs).  They claim that they will only attend
> one user group, and they are going to attend USE.  They also claim that
> attending two meetings costs them an extra $1 million per meeting.
> 
> Now, I've only just heard the news, and a few details may be wrong.  The outline
> is correct.
> 
> None of this makes any sense, of course.  First, the $1meg claim implies that
> Unisys has at least 200 employees who must attend _both_ conferences; this
> seems quite excessive given that virtually no technical staff attend both
> conferences.

The real expense for Unisys [according to Unisys] is the cost of the trade show according 
to what I have understood listening to USE boards meetings on this topic.BTW, they gave
us the same threat on Atlanta. 
> 
> Second, Unisys has not cut back on obvious costs, such as the banquet, which is
> a nice warm fuzzy but totally unnecessary and not available to most user
> groups.
> 
> Third, the groups will almost certainly be merged by 1994.  The process is
> taking place now.  Unisys does not need to add pressure to bring this about.

With this type of attitude, I hope not. The process is under discussion but there
are several things which must be agreed to before a merger can happen. Talk with
your CURE representatives or look at the minutes of the last USE boards meetings
for details on what the areas of disagreement are. I think it is possible that there
will be a merger but we need to get experience under our belt and try to understand
each other. 

> 
> Fourth, it is USE, not CUBE, that is being stubborn.  CUBE has contractual
> commitments on the order of $450,000 in Reno, which realistically would
> probably mean about $150,000 to get out of the commitments, and has contractual
> commitments in New Orleans.  CUBE already paid $85,000 to get out of Toronto as
> a result of Unisys' pressure for a joint conference.  USE has no contractual
> commitments to Phoenix or Minneapolis (which is one reason their registration
> fees are much higher than CUBE's) yet refuses to consider moving.  If CUBE
> moved to Phoenix, there are not enough meeting rooms downtown, and some
> sessions would be held a 35-minute bus ride away.  Unisys has said they will
> not contribute a single penny to CUBE's moving expenses.


Gee, why does USE always have to be the ones to move? CUBE has known the schedule
and the desire to have joint conferences for two years. USE was ready to go to
Tampa this time, Reno last fall and New Orleans last sprint. In all cases, USE has
made the compromise and moved our conference. I have yet to see any evidence of CUBE
trying anything USE's way or doing any compromising. We have moved three times now, why
can't you move a few times. 

I am also mystified where these commitments come from since the last I heard, again
in open meetings of the USE boards, there had been nothing contractually committed
by either side. When were these contracts signed? I would also wonder about the 
penalty clause, $150,000 seems excessive. Our penalties for moving from Tampa to
Atlanta with less than six months before the Fall conference were not nearly that large.
 
Note: All of my information is based on reading the minutes of the USE board meetings,
the USE newletter and attending the open board meetings. None of it is derived from any
private discussions with friends or other information which is not generally available
to any member of USE. This is one of the important differences between the two groups;
USE operates all of its boards and decisions in open meetings with anyone able to attend
any board meeting and be heard!

-- 
Richard H. Miller                 Email: rick@bcm.tmc.edu
Asst. Dir. for Technical Support  Voice: (713)798-3532
Baylor College of Medicine        US Mail: One Baylor Plaza, 302H
                                           Houston, Texas 77030
Newsgroups: comp.sys.unisys