GBN joins ASUG

user groups and conferences
1

Interesting email about the demise of GBN. Moving it over to ASUG and charging $250 to be a member.

“As you know, GBN has experienced tremendous growth in just nine months. With more than 3,000 members”

After the change I doubt they have 1000 members who are Bobj users only. I know I am not going to my leadership aking for $250 as I would expect is the same for most. I do not see $250 worth of value to belong.

Mike Murray :us: (BOB member since 2005-12-23)

2

Especially hard to see the value if you’re not based in the USA. I’m not even going to bother trying to justify the expenditure to my company.

Gillian :uk: (BOB member since 2005-08-18)

3

Enjoy it while its free 8)

Nick Daniels :uk: (BOB member since 2002-08-15)

4

At least it is worth that :rotf:

seriously $50 might be a reasonable fee.

Mike Murray :us: (BOB member since 2005-12-23)

5

Mike,

As a member of the steering committee, I wanted to respond to your post personaly. I want you to know that I also Chair my local group here in Denver, so I see this issue from both sides.

The price put on the individual membership was determined after much research was done comparing similar technial organization, as well as from informal research with GBN volunteers and members. It was determined after this that the individual membership rate was appropriate for the value that the GBN offers the members.

I am sorry to see that you do not see that value, as I can personally attest to the amount of time and effort spent by our volunteers to provide quality webinars for the members, as well as the other options that our Special Interest Groups provide. If you have not had a chance to either view one of the webinars, or seen the other value that the GBN can provide you, I would encourage you to look into them.

I would also encourage you to provide us with feedback on ways we can make your membership in teh GBN more valuable to you.

Thanks,

Mark

Mark D. Frederick
Steering Committee Chair
Global BusinessObjects Network

Mark Frederick :us: (BOB member since 2005-01-06)

6

Mark,

Personally, this is where I am having an issue. I have been part of steering committees, I have volunteered a lot of time into user groups, etc. Therefore, I know that, as mentioned above, most of the work is done by volunteers with no cost to GBN/ASUG or whatever the name of the day is. The only costs are for places where groups can meet (which in my area that has been donated by companies that use the product and, therefore, has been free to the group), food (if any), and a web site to alert users of upcoming meetings (which I have to say BOB has been generous to allow us to use as well).

So, I can see why a lot of users can not or are not able to justify this cost. Additionally, I have not seen or experienced anything better than this site and, thankfully, there is no membership for it. Even if BOB decided to have a membership fee, I’ll gladly pay as I get a lot more out of this site than anything I have ever gotten out of GBN.

Sorry,

Mitra

Mitra Moini (BOB member since 2002-09-01)

7

Mitra,

If I can ask, have you attended one of the webinars that the GBN has done in the last year, or visited the site to view one of the past webinars? The webinars are one of the valuable things that the GBN offers, and is something that can be viewed when members have teh time and bandwidth.

I also volunteer my time, both for the local user group here in Denver, and for the GBN, and I feel that the benefit that I get from the GBN and my local group are worth both the time that I put it, and the membership fee. But this is a decision that each of us must make, I would just ask that you look at all the GBN has to offer (Webinar’s, SIGs, networking, etc) before making that decision.

Mark

Mark Frederick :us: (BOB member since 2005-01-06)

8

So, as a volunteer and the “head” of a user group…Don’t you think it sucks that you’re going to have to pay to volunteer?

Steve Krandel :us: (BOB member since 2002-06-25)

9

Mark,

Actually, yes, I have attended GBN webinars (more out of curosity than actually learning anything!) and have gone through their web site. In all honesty, I have not gained anything from either one. However, I have gained a lot more from user group meetings where I get to interact with other users, and this forum.

Sorry,

Mitra

Mitra Moini (BOB member since 2002-09-01)