USENIX conferences

[reidar at cucard.UUCP]

<Sorry, the first version of this was mangled for lack of this stuff>
    Many people have noticed the friction which exists between USENIX and
/usr/group, particularly at the conferences which have been jointly spon-
sored.  It was evident in Washington that one of the major problems was a
difference of emphasis between the two  organizations;  /usr/group  gives
much more importance to the vendor show, USENIX to the technical program.
Another factor was /usr/group's  evident  intention to take over entirely
at least the winter meetings.

    It is the case that  USENIX is not a  co-sponsor of the conference in
Dallas next  January.  It seems very  likely that there will be  a USENIX
conference in January in Dallas at a different location from that of Uni-
Forum (/usr/group's meeting).  If there is to be a  USENIX  conference in
Dallas  a number of questions arise:

*  Do most USENIX members want to attend a large convention such as
   UNIFORUM in Washington? or would a smaller somewhat less commercial
   (a scaled down vendor exhibit, for instance) meeting be preferable?

*  Granting that the good old days are gone forever, is it possible,
   nevertheless, to hold a conference of a size and nature such that
   people who are serious UNIX users/hackers can talk to each other to
   their mutual benefit? Or is this sort of forum adequately provided
   by UUCP, USENET, and the various new UNIX-oriented publications?

*  Does USENIX need to hold a conference more than once a year in the
   spring? Are there enough good presentations to warrant two full
   sessions of technical talks per year?

*  Should USENIX hold only one meeting per year in June or July leaving
   the January meeting to /usr/group?

*  More specifically, should USENIX hold a meeting in Dallas in Jan 1985?

-- 
Reidar Bornholdt
..!harpo!cucard!reidar