I am very pleased to publicly state that in the week of turmoil Warpstock has
experienced due to the resignation of the 4 person Chicago Organizing Committee,
that Warpstock'98 has come out much stronger and more viable than it was before.
How can I say this? I can say this because the Warpstock Steering Committee has
jumped in and cashed in favors owed, and there have been a doubling of vendors who
have committed (to be announced shortly) to come to Warpstock'98. Stardock announced
in its recent news letter to its customers that it would be attending, and a number
of other vendors are in the process of writing their press releases. Sundial has
also publicly announced that they will attend, ".. Warpstock '98 is a must
for us." The WSC has announced that the allotted table space for each vendor
has been significantly increased and made into a much more workable area. We are
also contacting and have received favorable responses from various hardware vendors
who are supportive of the OS/2 community. We hope to offer a number of hardware
vendors showing how their products work well in an OS/2 environment.
I can say this because Volunteers from the original Chicago group who have responded
to the requests from myself and the Warpstock Steering Committee (WSC) have come
forward and said that they still Believe in Warpstock and that they still Support
Warpstock. One Chicago person stated it, "I am NOT a quitter, and I DON'T like
walking away from things that I started." We continue to hope that the other
members of the original group members come forward and continue with their assignments.
This event has also brought out other people in the Chicago area, and elsewhere
asking, "How Can I Help?" -- The Warpstock Web Site continues to be updated
with a new volunteer page and a more sophisticated volunteer interests' survey.
We realize that many people who are interested in Warpstock don't wish to receive
or monitor our Warpstock e-mailing list. The WSC has created a new moderated list
for announcements only. Send a e-mail message to announce-request@warpstock.org
In the body of the message put the commands: subscribe [new line] end . This mail
list will enable people who wish to follow the 'news' for Warpstock, and will be
the list where we will be posting location announcements, vendor sign-ups and other
news.
Additionally, we have had offers of assistance with a new advisory panel, notably,
Alan Zeichick the former editor of OS/2 Magazine and the motivator for the OS/2
World conventions. We hope that Alan can also be a speaker at Warpstock'98.
All this does not imply that we don't have any problems. We DO have problems.
Chicago's Warpstock was fundamentally based on the availability of IBM's Chicago
Offices. Specifically, the conference floors, the cafeteria and IBM's own network
facilities. We are contacting IBM senior managers to support our use of the building.
Based on my experience with IBM NY, as a member of the NY Warpstock Bid Committee,
there is no guarantee that IBM can provide any 'free site.' The WSC and a group
of Chicago based volunteers are currently canvassing sites in Chicago and its environs
for a suitable location. It is difficult to find a location that is within the pricing
range and that has suitable facilities that are not already booked. IF YOU KNOW
of a suitable site, we would love to hear from you. IF YOU HAVE a suitable site
and you can get your corporation to sponsor our use of your facilities, you will
have our gratitude and we will be happy to negotiate an appropriate quid pro quo
with you. Location information should be sent to Larry B Finkelstein, the President
of the Warpstock Steering Committee.
We continue to look for new volunteers, and I will be contacting people to choose
new coordinators for the open positions now assumed by the WSC members.
We continue to book vendors, both HARDWARE and SOFTWARE. We are investigating
ways to help more of the smallest ISVs to attend. We are investigating an idea to
have a rotating demonstration of software/hardware on the vendor's exhibit space
so that those ISVs who find a table, too expensive a proposition can demonstrate
their work. This will be geared to the one-person ISV doing shareware and who may
use BMT Micro, Indelible Blue, J3 or their own web site to book sales. [Please note
that this is NOT an announcement of an open floor and requires registration.]
We continue to refine what we are looking for in speakers, and will certainly
find out if we can have Ralph Nader attend and address us on his vision of IBM giving
the source for OS/2 to the public. We are planning to create and hold the various
sessions based on interests. We are searching for people who wish to give technical
presentations in various disciplines, as well as answering those issues that the
OS/2 SOHO, and home users face daily. We hope to offer more classroom style sessions
like the very popular REXX sessions that were held last year. I am hoping that we
will have a series of classes on JAVA for both the end user and developer.
We continue to REGISTER guests. I can not stress how important it is for Warpstock
'98 to have as great a following as possible. Remember, we will NOT have a Free
Site. This means that we have to register more people to offset the costs of the
facility, the AV equipment, janitorial services, setup and breakdown costs and advertising.
We need to double the size of last year's Warpstock. We are going to need that commitment
from the OS/2 Community on their attendance before October. The WSC have extended
the reduced pre-registration fee until the end of June to encourage this kind of
support. Last year, there were a number of people who paid for their registration
knowing that it was not possible for them to show -- a donation and token of support
that is unequaled. If you know that you can't attend, registering now will still
help us meet our goals. If you find it possible to attend, you will have registered
at a reduced price. I would enjoy meeting more of the electronic names I have been
reading on-line for so many years now. Warpstock is still happening. It just needs
YOU.