New Functions at USENIX in San Diego

[John S. Quarterman]

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 at 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 at usenix.org.