Computerworld - Congratulations to Computerworld and IDG for standing up to Oracle's hard-line tactics in pulling its advertising ["The Power of You," News Opinion, June 25]. The Oracle Applications Users Group (OAUG) knows just what you're going through. Last year, the OAUG membership overwhelmingly rejected Oracle's proposal that the OAUG fold its North American conferences into Oracle's AppsWorld event. (Computerworld ran a terrific cartoon about the situation in the June 11 issue, illustrating OAUG selling hot dogs outside Oracle's event.) Rather, the membership indicated that the OAUG should maintain its independence; continue producing its own independent, user-focused conferences; work collaboratively with Oracle; and actively involve Oracle in OAUG events. The OAUG then asked Oracle to provide 60 or so development staff to deliver roughly 55 "Oracle Directions" and Q&A sessions at the OAUG's fall conference. Oracle has refused to provide even this minimal level of support. The OAUG is now surveying its membership to determine how the user group should move forward. It will hold its fall conference in San Diego for four days, with or without Oracle's participation - but we find it difficult to believe that Oracle will refuse the opportunity to listen to more than 4,000 of its customers. One wonders how long a vendor can stay in business when it so blatantly ignores the voices of its users.
Laura Bray
Communications manager
Oracle Applications Users Group
Atlanta
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