I've watched many threads and have heard many discussions over the years with regard to CFUnited. While the general consensus is that CFUnited is the best CFML conference, many conversations like this latest thread have been unjustly negative.
I've heard complaints about the cost for delegates, the cost for vendors, the number and type of perks for speakers, the ownership of content and mailing lists, the lack of sharing of proceeds from reprinted media, amongst numerous others... But what about all the positives? What about all the commitment and risk TeraTech undertakes to deliver this show â bigger and better every year? What about praise for all the hard work, time and dedication that Michael Smith, Liz Frederick, the entire staff at TeraTech, and countless numbers of volunteers (and even many âevilâ vendors) expend to make CFUnited the premier event for the CFML community? What about consideration and thanks for the corresponding risk that Michael Smith and TeraTech assumes by putting their name and fiscal responsibility behind an event that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to operate? So many people seem so eager to get their own slice of some imaginary mega-usa-dollar pie that *must* be left over from such a large, popular and growing event like CFUnited. People ask for their slice as lower prices, more speaker perks, better food, better wireless, âprofit sharingâ from DVD sales, and on and on and on⦠Are these same people willing to share the risk with Michael and TeraTech if CFUnited ever lost money? Would they be willing to write a check to TeraTech today if there were a few bills left unpaid from last yearâs show? Would the speakers be willing to help defray the costs of video production and distribution costs if this new and innovative venture lost money? Well, hereâs your chance. Commit to TeraTech today that youâre willing to help them underwrite the entire CFUnited production. For as great as CFUnited has become, it is not a huge profit center for TeraTech. If fact, there was not a penny left over from last yearâs show. Even further â there were indeed a few bills left to pay. Should CFUnited make a profit for TeraTech? I think so, and I encourage them to have that goal all the time. Michael is very gracious to this community, and I donât think profit matters as much to him as it would for me. He does this in large part for the greater good of your community. He deserves continued thanks for his vision and effort. So is CFUnited poorly run? Not a chance! Liz does a superb job organizing this event. If anything, they are trying too hard to make this a continually better experience for every member of this community. Every effort, every improvement has a new or increased cost associated with it. But why is CFUnited costing more every year? Look at the changes over the past years. The facility is first class. The perks and food and connectivity and speaker quality and⦠get better and better every year. Better costs more than worse. As great as the early CFUN years were, Iâm not interested in going back to damp and dingy hotel basements with no connectivity and crummy food. CFML programmers complain all the time that they donât get the recognition and respect when compared to their industry peers. Well you know what? That sure isnât true when it comes to conferences. CFUnited is a premier first rate event that every member of this community should be proud of â whether you attend it or not! So, cut Michael, Liz and the whole TeraTech gang some slack. Go out of your way to offer them praise â now knowing full well that they are not producing this event to fleece you. They are incredibly dedicated, gracious and compassionate people committed to keeping this community strong. Regards, Dan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Introducing the Fusion Authority Quarterly Update. 80 pages of hard-hitting, up-to-date ColdFusion information by your peers, delivered to your door four times a year. http://www.fusionauthority.com/quarterly Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/message.cfm/messageid:260877 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4
