Re: Teradata banned from IOUG???

IOUG is a volunteer organization. If you don't like something about it, you can change it from the inside by becoming involved. Remember, the Board Of Directors election is currently open and it is a way to voice your opinion. Also, send feedback about things you don't like, offer solutions and offer to assist in making the change (the most important!). Don't like the articles in SELECT? Offer to write one or be an editor. Don't like the content on the website? Become a tip miner.

IOUG-A Live is also volunteer run. Speakers are volunteers, many of the workers are volunteers. As a speaker, the amount of time (and expenses I pay for myself as do many others) spent on the papers and presentation is high. I think it is worth it, as long as I can help 1 person be a better technician. I try to make the paper and presentation as accurate and helpful as I can. In the past, I have had no support (financial or otherwise) from my employers in attending/speaking at conferences, but I consider it worth my time. If you don't like the lineup of speakers, submit for next year.

For those who are attendees, it is important to show support to the speakers you respect and the topics that interest you. How many of you fill out the session evaluations? Do you rate the presentations on entertainment value or meaningful content? Do you encourage other people to attend the 'good' presentations? Do you fill out the conference evaluation?

Our local user group has seen Oracle's involvement decrease drastically over the past few years. Recently, thanks to an excellent Oracle contact, who is a long time contributor to our organization, we are meeting together to find ways to help each other. Of course, the sales folks want to know "How many new $$$ can we get by pitching new products at meetings?" (strictly forbidden at our meetings if it parades as a technical session). We are finding creative ways to get the groups together, such as having Oracle host a SIG meeting in exchange for a brief sales pitch at the beginning, establishing a specific Vendor track at our annual Traning Days. Attendees know that the intent of the pitch/presentation and they also know that the technical sessions will be technical and not marketing.

IOUG can survive without Oracle, TUSC or myself. The question is whether or not that is for the best. Oracle and TUSC employees can provide some great sessions and information. They can also provide fluff and bad information. If we provide constructive feedback, the organization will either change or begin losing membership and disappear.

Dan Fink

Peter Barnett wrote:

>It seems to me that IOUG has become a wholly owned
>subsidiary of TUSC. TUSC in turn has an incestuous
>relationship with Oracle. All very cozy.
>
>No real complaint about the arrangements. Someone has
>to step up to the plate if IOUG is going to continue
>to be a viable organization and in this economic
>climate few can afford to do it.
>
>Should IOUG be able to survive without Oracle?
>Probably. Will it be able to survive without Oracle?
>I doubt it.
>
>
>--- Jonathan Lewis <jonathan_at_jlcomp.demon.co.uk>
>wrote:
>
>
>>It should be possible for the IOUG to live without
>>Oracle's support. Obviously it would be better
>>for all concerned if there is some measure of
>>co-operation, and there's clearly no need for
>>bloody-minded conflict. But if the IOUG just
>>keeps doing things that the users want, then
>>the users should be able to support it in the
>>complete absence of any input from Oracle.
>>
>>
>>Regards
>>
>>Jonathan Lewis
>>http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk
>>
>>Coming soon one-day tutorials:
>>Cost Based Optimisation
>>Trouble-shooting and Tuning
>>Indexing Strategies
>>(see http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/tutorial.html )
>>
>>____UK_______March 19th
>>____USA_(FL)_May 2nd
>>
>>
>>Next Seminar dates:
>>(see http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/seminar.html )
>>
>>____USA_(CA, TX)_August
>>
>>
>>The Co-operative Oracle Users' FAQ
>>http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/faq/ind_faq.html
>>
>>
>>MacGregor, Ian A. wrote:
>>
>>
>>>The IOUG cannot live without Oracle's support, but
>>>
>>>
>>Oracle can survive
>>without the IOUG.
>>
>>
>>--
>>Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ:
>>http://www.orafaq.net
>>--
>>Author: Jonathan Lewis
>> INET: jonathan_at_jlcomp.demon.co.uk
>>
>>Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051
>>http://www.fatcity.com
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>>hosting services
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>=====
>Pete Barnett
>Lead Database Administrator
>The Regence Group
>pnbarne_at_regence.com
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
>http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
>

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
-- 
Author: Daniel W. Fink
  INET: optimaldba_at_yahoo.com

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