>Hey, all-
>I'm the source of the rumor. I've been monitoring the MVP Coffeehouse tonight, and it appears to be true that MS is shifting their public support gears away from the MVP program. Uhhhhh, their whacking us, actually. Here is the email that *some* MVPs received tonight--not all, though, and no VFP MVPs that I know of--
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>Thank you for your past participation in Microsoft technical newsgroups.
>Your participation and contributions have been greatly appreciated. In
I replied to get rid of your PRE tags which made this most excellent post unreadable.

>light of your participation, we would like to let you know about certain
>changes that will soon be taking place in the technical newsgroups,
>including the elimination of the MVP Program. Each year, Microsoft customer
>participation in the newsgroups has grown and we expect this to continue.
>Due to customer feedback and requests for more direct Microsoft involvement,
>we are changing our newsgroups strategy. Effective 12/1/99, we will be
>moving to a program in which technical newsgroups are staffed by Microsoft
>support professionals. The MVP program will no longer be in operation
>effective 12/1/99.
>
>This shift in focus in the newsgroups will allow us to respond to customer
>requests for more contact with Microsoft support professionals and
>guaranteed response times. Microsoft will redirect their investments
>previously made in the MVP Program to the newsgroups overall and driving
>customer awareness of this valuable resource.
>[...snip]
>Please contact me at support1@microsoft.com.
>Thank you for your support.
>
>
>Joseph Lindstrom
>Director Business Development
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>If you feel strongly about what an MVP has done to help you in your work, feel free to send Mr. Lindstrom email. Of course, I should say I don't have *permission* to give out this email address. ;-)
>
>As John says, don't go psychotic...it's not VFP. There are an unbelievable number of MVPs all over the world in all areas supporting people.
>
>Speaking for myself, it's been an incredible honor to be an MVP. It's always been with the knowledge that I've gained much more from the support of this community than I've put in to it. All the MVPs are unanimous that we will continue providing exactly the same level of peer support we always have. We just don't have to be polite anymore. < bg> Just kidding!
>
>Indeed, there are many who aren't recognized "official" MVPs, but who are never-the-less. A few here come immediately to mind: Erik, Nick, and Mark McCasland. There are many others.