WOW. Terrific post Bob.


>As I read through the first few posts in this thread yesterday morning, I was tempted to respond but decided against it. In my experience, dealing with your end of the horse is seldom productive and always ends with a bad smell. After reading the remainder of the thread, I have reconsidered.
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>If you read my original post carefully, you will see my remarks were addressed to those who participated in Southwest Fox 2005. As long as you have inserted yourself in the middle of that and accuse me of being less than truthful, I'll take this opportunity to address your ridiculous remarks.
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>I find it extremely interesting that after two years of Southwest Fox, the only negatives that have been expressed are from those who have not participated. For you to make comparisons between Code Camps and a conference you have not attended bring terms like “invalid”, “uninformed” and “clueless” to mind. I have been to both and I stand by my comment “It is an experience unique to the FoxPro community.” Southwest Fox, and all those conferences that have gone before, tower above the Code Camps I have attended. It has nothing to do with me – it’s the community.
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>Comparing a Code Camp to Southwest Fox goes beyond apples and oranges. Microsoft brings a gigantic marketing and development budget, as well as money from outside sponsors, to produce each and every Code Camp. You can continue to think they are free if you wish but any sponsor who will spend $100,000 to feed 800 people a catered meal have an agenda and a plan for return on investment. You just aren’t paying with money. When I call the local Microsoft office here in Phoenix, I don’t receive the courtesy of a return phone call let alone sponsorship or support. In fact, the last I spoke to anyone there they offered to rent their facility to the local FoxPro user group for a meeting. Ironically, it is that complete lack of support that sets the FoxPro community apart and makes it so strong.
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>Southwest Fox is not about the number of attendees or money. If profit were my motive, the price of admission would be much higher. Conferences are an extremely expensive undertaking. Appropriate space is at a premium and in many cases needs to be reserved 12 – 18 months in advance. Hotels and resorts often require a guaranteed number of room reservations to access their conference facilities. And by guarantee I mean cash deposits well into the six figure range. Catering prices border on criminal. I pay transportation and lodging expenses for speakers. I also have to make allowances for reporters, vendors and a small staff. Digital projectors at ASU rent for the bargain rate of $200/day/projector. Don’t forget signs, printed materials, liability insurance…
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>How many Code Camps would there be if the .NET community had to organize and fund them without Microsoft involvement. Do you think the attendance would still be 800 if Code Camps weren’t free?
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>For homework, read Randy Brown’s post over and over until you understand what makes the FoxPro community different.
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>Bob
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>>Well that is partially true and partially not true. The .net community has begun having code camps all over the US and they are spreading into Europe and Central America now. A code camp is usually a jam-packed 2 day affair with 5 tracks per day and 8-10 presentations per track per day. Lunch and dinner are provided and the quality of information received is extremely high. I have been to three of them in the last 6 months and guess what:

>> * They are free *

>>That beats the hell out of spending 400 - 2000 dollars to attend a foxpro conference. The Boston camp had around 800 participants; the Philly camp 500. How many attended yours?
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>>>After a year of planning, Southwest Fox 2005 flew by in what seemed like the blink of an eye. It is an experience unique to the FoxPro community to spend most of four days learning and sharing with friends both old and new. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves half as much as I did. My most sincere thanks to everyone who participated at every level. Without all of you, I'd look pretty foolish standing in the middle of the Arizona Ballroom all by myself.
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>>>The final figures have been tallied and attendance was up a full 15% this year over last. We are working on some new things for next year (before, during and after the conference) and, with a little luck, the numbers will be up again next year. Sharon has diligently compiled a list of things I screwed up this year, so we will also be better next year. And I, for one, can't wait to get started.
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>>>As soon as I have confirmed dates and location, I will pass them along.
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>>>Hope to see you next year,