USENIX conferences

[Will Martin]

There's another option that doesn't seem to have been discussed (maybe
it was considered but not included in the posting?) -- this is to have
one USENIX meeting that is co-located with Uniforum, as mentioned, but to hold
it the preceeding or following week; at the end of the week if preceeding,
at the start of the week if following.  Thus, those who want to attend
both meetings can, but still pay only one airfare. The only added expense
would be staying over some days longer, and, since that would be weekend
stays at the hotels, which normally have rooms going begging on the weekends
(that's why they offer those special deals for weekend stays), the room
rates for the whole period could be negotiated down for the per-day rate
for those staying the whole period. (This latter is a significant point
for government-activity attendees, who can get no more than $75 per day
for combined room and meals -- a figure that has stayed unchanged through
years of inflation.)

Yes, it is true that many people will not like to be away from their families
over the weekend. However, if this meeting is always chosen to be in an 
attractive location, such as a winter meeting in California or the like,
the attractions of a "free" weekend in that place will be enough to overcome
that dislike. Also, a few social events could be scheduled for that weekend;
scheduling them in evenings usually interferes with BOF's and the like
anyway.

This seems to me to give all the advantages of co-locating with Uniforum
(for both attendees and exhibitors) without the disadvantages.

If this was considered and rejected, it would be interesting to know the
reasons for the rejection. I realize that such arrangements cannot be made
on short notice, for the next couple years, but the Association could aim
for this sort of setup in 1988 and on, mayhap.

Will Martin

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