Re: STC SIGs - scam or resource?

["R2 Innovations" <R2innovations -at- myna -dot- com>]

Darren Barefoot wondered if the fees for SIG membership where a scam. 
Darren, let me assure you they are no scam.  

As the Manager of the Quality SIG I find comments such as these very 
upsetting, and derogatory.  Many members (not enough I can assure you)
devote a lot of their time to producing newsletters, hosting web pages, 
planning seminars at conferences, contacting new members and making
them feel welcome, submitting articles to the newsletter, and many other 
activities ALL FOR FREE!!  There are, however, costs involved in 
accomplishing these tasks.  Do you also feel those vounteers should fund
these out of their own pockets?

Have you ever got involved with a SIG to see just what it takes, in 
time and money, to run a successful SIG?  I'm sure you would find it 
very enlightening; I sure did when I first became involved 3 years 
ago!

If you feel that you've not received fair value for your meager 
contribution to whatever SIGs you've belonged to in the past, have 
you voiced your concerns to the SIG Managers?  I'm sure they would be 
interested in any suggestions you might have for making the SIG more 
valuable.  I know I would appreciate such information regarding the 
Quality SIG.

Maybe you would get more value out of a SIG if you vounteered to help 
in its operations.

Ralph E. Robinson
Quality SIG Manager