jsq@longway.TIC.COM (John S. Quarterman) (12/20/88)
In order to attract more new people to come to USENIX conferences, to feel comfortable, and to participate, USENIX is trying a few new things at the San Diego Conference (30 January - 3 February 1989). Many of these are in response to requests and comments from people whose first USENIX conference was one of the last two (June 1988 in San Francisco and February 1988 in Dallas). Most of these requests and comments were relayed in the form of a report from Lori Grob about a Women's BOF she chaired at the San Francisco conference: thanks to her and to those who participated. Sunday, 29 January 1989, there will be an informal party open to all. This will be modeled after the opening night parties that are usually held at USENIX Workshops, and which have proven effective in getting people to meet each other. The hope is that newcomers who have arrived Sunday in order to be on time for tutorials Monday will come to the party and mingle. Unlike the traditional USENIX conference reception (which will be Wednesday night, as usual), there will be no elaborate entertainment, and the opening night party will be in the conference hotel. Unlike vendor hospitality suites, it will not be sponsored by a single company. It is likely that some small companies will sponsor the refreshments, allowing them a seldom-found opportunity at the same time. Old-timers (anyone who has been to several conferences) are encouraged to come and talk to newcomers, and both are encouraged to enjoy themselves. Monday evening there will be BOF about what goes on at a USENIX conference, explaining things such as BOFs, receptions, WIPs, where to meet, where to leave messages, the press room, the terminal room, the hotel layout, and maybe where to eat. There will probably also be some comments about things related to the organisation, such as the board, the staff, the offices, the Proceedings, the Journal, Workshops, and ;login:. Tuesday evening there will be an informal free tutorial on how to write and submit a paper to a USENIX Conference or Workshop, or to the Journal or ;login:. During tutorials on both Monday and Tuesday, box lunches will be provided for tutorial attendees, giving them the option of sitting and eating with people without having to forage for a restaurant. Anyone who works at least ten hours in the terminal room will receive free admission to the technical sessions (but not to the tutorials). Volunteering for this is a good way to meet people, as well. Terminal room volunteers can contact Sonya D. Neufer <denise@datapoint.com>. There will be a lounge area in the hotel where people are encouraged to come mingle during the whole week. Some things that are done at most meetings and that will be repeated in San Diego are also worth mentioning in this context: The registration packet will contain a list of board members with photographs. Board members are easily identified in person because they wear badges with their names and blue ribbons that say ``board member.'' USENIX staff also wear appropriate ribbons. There is a daily newsletter, /etc/motd. There are work in progress (WIP) sessions where anyone can sign up to give a ten minute presentation by providing a one-page abstract. The traditional large reception, with hor d'oeuvres and other refreshments, will be Wednesday evening. There is an Open Meeting with the Board of Directors on Wednesday. The terminal room was started in response to comments at one such meeting. An attempt will be made to post a list in /etc/motd of some topics that might be discussed at this meeting (feel free to bring your own topics). Most of the functions described above are new and experimental. The USENIX Board of Directors encourages people to participate in them and thus help to decide which ones should be repeated at future conferences. These new functions are not just for newcomers, old-timers, students, programmers, administrators, managers, wizards, neophytes, women, or men: all conference attendees are invited. John S. Quarterman, Director, USENIX Association, jsq@usenix.org.