Conference 7.286::digital

                           
    

After fourteen years, Digital and I have come to a parting of the ways.

For the most part, the people in the company have been great to work with,
and I don't ever remember a time here when we totally lost the ability to
face work with a sense of humor. 

As I was preparing this distribution list, it finally sank in that most
of the people I started with in the company have gone, and the chance for
a change in my life is due as well.

I will be spending most of the Summer in Maine, letting the fresh sea air
blow all the Digital dust out of my system. I will be selling antiques,
tending the gardens, and renovating an old sea captain's house in Wiscasset
Maine.

Good luck to all who remain, and we will surely cross paths again.




Joseph (keeper of the SPDs)

    PDP 15 = 18 bits?
    

    I am sorry to hear the news about both John and Joe, both of whom
    have been very helpful to me in past assignments.  I wish you both
    the very best.
    
    George

    EQT = Engineering Quality Technology
    
    I learned some great tools from you, John. Good luck.

    .0
    
        hi \john,

    since you asked for ideas.
    
    how about if you like take a year off and just like kick back and
    relax? if you have been a DECeeee for 20 years then you sure deserve
    it.  
    
    if i were you, i'll go to the Bahamas, rent a beach house, fill
    my freezer with cold drinks and lots of Caribbean music and buy
    this thing that hangs between 2 palm trees and just lay there and
    swing and enjoy the breeze and enjoy it.

    after one year you'll feel rejovinated and by then DEC would have
    turned the corner and may be start hiring again and you can come
    and join us again?
    
    any way, this is just an idea.

    \bye
    \nasser

    .1
    
    bye \joe !
    
    have fun out there !
    
    \bye
    \nasser

>    if i were you, i'll go to the Bahamas, rent a beach house, fill
>    my freezer with cold drinks and lots of Caribbean music and buy

  You keep drinks in the fridge, not the freezer. And you don't keep music in
the fridge OR freezer. But a vacation DOES sound like a good idea.

re: .5

>    after one year you'll feel rejovinated and by then DEC would have
>    turned the corner and may be start hiring again and you can come
>    and join us again?

Glad to hear you're so confident about weathering the storm successfully,
\nasser.

-Jack

re -1 he must be confident, he's just defrosted his freezer ready for more
cans!  right \nasser?

;^)

    
    \joyce is correct offcourse, i think every DECeee should be also be 
    as confident as me.

    as someone else once said, behind each corner there is a turn, and behind
    each obstacle there is a solution, and after all, it is always darkest
    before the sun shines.

    so, never give up , and always , but always, try to stretch yourself to the 
    limit and only then you know how much you can really stretch yourself to
    achieve and prosper for yourself, your community , and your loved ones.

    \nasser

    re: .-1
    
    I wonder what's behind each mixed metaphor?

    ya know...
    
    
    ya gotta like this guy!
    
    tony

    Good luck, John and Joseph (sounds like I'm bidding farewell to a
    couple of the Apostles.  I can almost hear the organ music :')).  I'm
    sure that this will result in positive change.
    
    Jim

    PDP 15 is/was 36 bits, correct?

I think it was 18 bits.

	The PDP 15 was a 18 bit system that replaced the PDP 9 also a 18 bit
machine.


 Keith

    	What was the 36 bit machine way back when? PDP10?

    
    	The Alpha family is 64 Bit,
    	The DECsystem 10 (previously PDP10) and DECsystem 20 were 36 Bit,
    	The VAX family are 32 Bit,
    	The PDP 15 was 18 Bit,
    	The PDP11 is 16 Bit,
    	The PDP8 was 12 Bit.
    
    	The 12 Bit and 18 Bit machines had predecessors with other PDP
    numbers, from memory:  18 Bit - PDP9 and before that, PDP7
    			   12 Bit was PDP5
    			   36 Bit was PDP6
    
    				Malcolm.

    PDP1	18 bit first PC with graphics screen
    PDP2	never made it
    PDP3	36 bit prototype. Any sold? I don't think so.
    PDP4	18 bit
    PDP5	12 bit
    PDP6	36 bit descendant of PDP3
    PDP7	18 bit descendant of PDP4
    PDP8	12 bit descendant of PDP5
    PDP9	18 bit descendant of PDP7
    PDP10	36 bit descendant of PDP6
    PDP11	16 bit
    PDP12	12 bit PDP8 plus LINC8 instruction set
    PDP13	someone decided it was unlucky
    PDP14	12 bit industrial controller - used PDP8 memory stacks.
    PDP15	18 bit descendant of PDP9
    PDP16	not sure - configured to customer needs with punched cards
    
    	I think the above is a correct summary of the PDPs. I have PDP4, 5
    and 8 documentation at home. I have used the 8,10,11,12,14 so I am sure
    of that lot, and I was given a guided tour of a PDP15.

The PDP-1 and PDP-4 were 18-bit predecessors of the 7/9/15.

I programmed the PDP-1 in 1965 and still have the manual.

    
    So much for saying "good bye".  Isn't there a "Trivia" note in this
    conference?    :')
    
    Jim

    I'm sad to see you "history" John.  I've admired your creation of the
    ELF and your honchoing of the SW Symposium, which I guess are the only
    two creations of yours that I've been priveledged to experience
    directly.  With those as examples though, I'm sure you are a *rich*
    history!!
    
    Best wishes to you.
    
    And I am expecting to cross your path again, somehow somewhere.
    
    bon voyage!
    
    			Russ

    Well, this topic has the word "history" in it.  Somebody might come
    looking for just this info.  ;-)


    dlm
    (former PDP-1 and PDP-6 hacker)

    I just hope to meet \nasser before it's my turn to leave.

Just don't let \nasser sucker you into betting on a chess game!

You don't have a chance...

    
    speaking of which, since we have so many DECeeees leaving , has any
    one thought of creating a say TFSO'ed DECeeees bye bye party or
    a bash where all the leaving DECeees will say meet one last time and
    chat and hug and stuff? may be DEC can arrange such a parties at some
    of our facilities and provide the drinks and donuts and may be
    few speeches by the upper management chain and then we start the 
    party? some companies do that i hear for their departing employees. 
    it is similar to the parties they do for retirements, but this 
    one will be for not just one DECeeee but more than one, it will
    be really fun !! 

    we can wear our badges for the last time and walk around say bye to
    each others and talk about future plans and all that, the ones
    who are being TFSO'ed will wear a red scarf on their head to
    distinguish them from the DECeeee who are staying, only the TFSO'ed
    DECeees will get to eat the free donuts and coffee but other
    DECeees are also welcome to the bash.

    iam surprised no one have thought of doing anything like this.

    \bye
    \nasser

>>    iam surprised no one have thought of doing anything like this.

Did you say party ?? Lots of goodbye parties going on here...

>Note 3107.27                     I'm History !!                         27 of 28
>STAR::ABBASI "your past is your future in reverse"   26 lines  26-MAY-1994 19:48
>                                  -< an idea >-
    
>    speaking of which, since we have so many DECeeees leaving , has any
>    one thought of creating a say TFSO'ed DECeeees bye bye party or
>    a bash where all the leaving DECeees will say meet one last time and
>    chat and hug and stuff? may be DEC can arrange such a parties at some

    Great idea!! - Hey, I know, we could call it a 'Company Outing'!!
    EVERYBODY would be invited!
    
    /Bob
    
    

    Outing?  Oh, goodness, don't let's get political. . .
    
    --bonnie

    After 27 years at Digital,I've been shown the door. Just thought I'd
    let you all know.
    
    Ken

    I'm out of here as of tomorrow as well. Been an interesting ride.
    
    			Alfred

    re: .31
    
    just remember the "packy" and the lunch meals we drank
    up on the hill while students at WI????
    
    best of luck
    
    dick

    I'm really sorry to see you go, Alfred!  Good luck.
    
    Ron

    I can't believe it!
    
    Alfred too??
    
    

    
    After 13 1/2 years, I'm also gone as of tomorrow. Good luck
    to all of you (especially the gang from the old SOAPBOX).
    
    Ed Eck

    As this appears to be the "I'm going" note...
    
    Tomorrow, June 3, is my last day as a Digital employee after 8 years.
    I'm proud of all that we accomplished, and now it's time to do
    something else.  What that is, I don't know yet.
    
    I wish all of you who "survived" all the best - you will need to muster
    all your strength to sustain and then turn around this company.
    
    Bye.
    
    /bruce

    Tomorrow, June 3, is my last day as well. After ten plus years it's
    really hard to say goodbye. Internal MCS was hit really hard, but at
    least now the wait is over. 
    
    Mainly, I've been a read-only noter, but I wanted to say my goodbyes in
    a public forum.
    
    Good Luck to all that remain, I hope the best for all of you and DEC.
    
    
    Thanks for all the memories,
    
    /Mike in Colorado Springs

Tomorrow is also my last day at DEC. I've enjoyed the
vision and the openness of the folks who write here. 
After 17 years all I can really say is that it's been 
one heck of a ride.


Mike Gilbert

Fourteen Years, 2 Months and 17 days.  6/3/94 is my last day as well.

To all of my friends scattered throughout the corporation a hardy
so-long!  I look forward to our paths someday again crossing.

To those I leave behind:  Stay strong, do the right thing for you and
the corporation.

To all who care, wish me good luck, and happy trails.


Mike Buckley

    Sad to say, but it's something of a relief after these last couple of
    years.  Me too.  I'm a short timer compared to many we've seen go, only
    7+ years split between MRO3 in Mass and WRO3 in Santa Clara.  
    
    On the west coast I've working in EIS/SWS/DCC/ PS/SI ... now referred to as
    simply Digital Consulting, and have known you folks country wide as I
    established and run/read "ran" the now defunct DC 911 resource process.
    
    I've no complaints.  I truly believe this company will be a survivor,
    and wish each of you the very best, be it within or beyond DEC.  My
    sincere thanks for the experience, and most important, the priviledge of 
    your friendships.  
    
    Re,
    Greg

Well, I'm on my way out too, after 13 years.  Good luck to those of you
staying.  I'm not sure which is worse at this point... 

I'll miss many of you who I've known only through Notes over the years.  
Hopefully some of our paths will cross again in the future.

-  David

    I'm a goner too.. survivors please turn it around and make my stock
    worth somthing.
    
    Bob Erison MRO

	Surgeons must be very careful
	When they take the knife!
	Underneath their fine incisions
	Stirs the culprit - Life!

		- Emily Dickinson


I sincerely hope that the patient enjoys a miraculous, speedy 
recovery and a long and profitable life.

Stan Bielski, Shrewsbury MA
  sbielski@aol.com

Since this looks like the place to say adios, I might as well bid farewell to
all:                                                       

Dear Friends,

It is with mixed emotions that I must inform you of my decision to leave 
Digital.  I have been offered a tremendous opportunity to build an organization 
with a Fortune 50 company to provide call center solutions, and to consult with 
mid-to-large size call centers.

My introduction to DEC was DECworld'87....The QE II, the Starship Oceanic, and 
a stock price of close to $200 per share.  Much has changed in the past seven 
years.  I had always planned to retire within the company, but due to the 
current state of affairs within the company, I don't believe that that is 
possible.  It's time to move on.  It's time for me to take control of my own 
destiny, rather than let Digital decide (possibly on a whim) that my job is of 
use (or not of use.)  (To all my fellow Jimmy Buffet fans - I guess this 
Florida Native is tired of Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season!)

I've made many friends during this time.  Thanks for all the encouragement, 
support, guidance, and fun.  I will miss you all.  

It seems appropriate that in parting, I'd like to leave you with one of my 
favorite poems by J.R.R. Tolkien:

	     -< The Road goes ever on and on... >-

	     The Road goes ever on and on
	       Down from the door where it began.
	     Now far ahead the Road has gone,
	       And I must follow, if I can,
	     Pursuing it with eager feet,
	       Until it joins some larger way
	     Where many paths and errands meet.
	       And whither then? I cannot say.
	     
	     					   BB

RE: Note 3107.8 by TOOK::DELBALSO

>Glad to hear you're so confident about weathering the storm successfully,
>\nasser.

Just in case you did not know, Nasser was TFSO'd.

	-mark

    Another goodbye!  !4 years was a great ride.  It is hard for me to be
    too optimistic regarding Digital's future after seeing what has been 
    happening.  To make these cuts on a macro basis is hard to fathom.
    
    Two quotes come to mind "See you in the next life" from Midnight Run.
    			and
    "Life is what happens while you are planning for the future".
    
    Good luck to all .
    
    Merle
    
    MDENCE@AOL

    After 13 years I be gone. It's been a slice.
    
    p.s. AS a stock owner I would like the rest of you to work 12 hrs.
    per day, six days per week. So the stock may see $50 - $100 again
    and my kids can go to collage.

    					Mike Friedman

    My last day is Friday the 10th of June after 17.5 years.  I am sad to
    leave good friends.  I am sorry about what has happened to the company
    and angry when I  know that it didn't have to be this way.  We have the best
    products that we have ever had but no real direction, little proper
    utilization of the fantastic human skills we have, no effective marketing,
    message and little trust on the part of our customers.
    
    I hope it turns around, but I am leaving New England and don't have a
    job lined up yet.  Still, I feel good and I feel hopeful.  
    
    I haven't been a contributor to this notes file but have been a reader.
    I will miss the great diversity of people who care enough to take
    positions publicly.

    Me, too.  15 years and a handshake.  Time for a new career in
    photography.  
    
    Jim

    27.99 years and I'm gone REAL soon! 
    Heck, at least I have a  package....'course the FIRST one would have given
    me 2 years salary!$%#@
    
    The only bitterness I have is watching the Corporation floundering so
    much due to lack of direction!
    
    My Prediction -> Two consecutive losing quarters ( Q4/Q1???) an Mr.
    Palmer's gone!  Of course, he'll still have to chose whether he
    drives off in the white Porche or the Black BMW...
    
    Best Regards to all I've met over the years!
    
    Dick Cygan
    
    
    

    Re .51
    
    >My Prediction -> Two consecutive losing quarters ( Q4/Q1???) an Mr.
    >Palmer's gone!  Of course, he'll still have to chose whether he
    >drives off in the white Porche or the Black BMW...
    
   My most recent rumor reception say he might not driver either, fo rthe
    next 90 days.
    

    Friday, 10 June will be my last day.
    6 years, 7 months.
    
    I had hopes (once upon a time) that this might be the company
    from which I would retire...but it was not to be.
    
    Many good friends, many things done. 
    
    No regrets.
    
    "May ye be a half-hour in Heaven
     Afore the divil knows ye're gone!"
    
    Regards, and Best Wishes...
    
    John B.
    jebutler@aol.com 
    
    CXDOCS::JB  until Friday
    

    To all,
    
      Well, my 7 years with Digital just came to an end.  It's been a rewarding 
    and educational stint for me and even though the company is in trouble, 
    I've got to say it' the best one I've ever worked for.  I made alot of 
    friends and I'll miss you all.  I just finished my Masters degree program 
    and I have some solid leads on a new career, so life goes on for me. 
    Good luck to those of you are left to deal with the current
    environment.
    
      steve

  As of Friday I will be leaving Digital. After almost fourteen
  years, seven in Field Service and seven in Stow, MA, I met
  a lot of nice folks and great mentors. Now it's time to move
  on.

  Many of those I knew are now gone from the company and it's
  easy to overlook some very important folks when your putting
  together a .dis list; so here's the public 'so long and
  farewell' - hope things go better for all those remaining.

  I enjoyed the challenges, the learning and the growth.

     John T. Baird 

    
    when I leave next week. I've been thinking about leaving my 5 year
    "Certificate of recognition" behind in the office.  It has no value
    at this point.
    
    
    Gary

    
    
    re .27
    
    >  the ones who are being TSFO'ed will wear a red scarf on their
    >  head to distinguish them
    
    
    Does anyone know whether or not Nasser wore a red head scarf on
    his way out?

	Didn't /nasser have time to say even goodbye in this notes file.?
Wondering may be he was just given couple of minutes time to leave ?

/nasser said goodbye in PEAR::SOAPBOX note 1506.318.

    Well, dog poop!  Didn't even know he was gone till I saw this note.
    Wonder if he took his soup spoon...

    just an idea.. perhaps it might be more efficient to have a note that
    would chronicle folks that were staying?? just a thought...:-)

   After 4.5 years with Digital Germany I'll be leaving DEC at the end of
   June and move to the US for another job .
   I've tried to find some management people in DEC Germany to support the idea
   on offering more services around the Internet, TCP/IP, WWW and U*X but
   nobody had been interested therefore I've decided to leave and join a 
   company in the US to provide these services .

   I'd a great time at DEC and it's very sad to see what's happening inside
   DEC at the moment but it seems as nobody from the upper layers realy
   cares on how to keep the important people which might be able to
   bring DEC back on track .

   I'm sure our ways will cross again one day .


 - Jan

  Fellow DECies,
     After almost 14 years here at DEC, I'm leaving the company. No, I 
  didn't get "TFSO'ed", rather I left for a better job. I'll be around
  here until Aug 12 or so (unless DEC gives me the package) , after which
  I'll be offline. In the future, I'll  hook up to the net in some way or
  another.
     DEC for me has been quite an experience. I for one am glad to have
  been here when Ken O. was in his prime. This company sure was a special,
  fun place to be! I had a couple of chances to talk with Ken, and yes,
  I did find that he was a hero to me. Those days at the Mill on 1-3
  can never be taken away. The current company has moved far, far away
  from what I remember....
     I will miss all the friends and others I made through the world of
  notes. I truly gained much information and insight into both the human
  condition, religion, ham radio, and firearms. This aspect of DEC I will
  miss.
  

  Good Luck to All the Folks that Remain!

  Marc S. Hildebrant

Thank you all for 16 years, 5 months and 20 days of learning and fun.

Hugs and kisses,
Pat

    None of you know me for I have been read only in this file. I just
    wanted a chance to say good-bye to all> I too am being TFSOD my last
    day will be next Friday. I have almost 15 years with Digital and have
    loved most of them but am somewhat relieved to be out of the current
    atmosphere. I leave with sadness for I made many many friends here and
    had hoped to retire from Digital. 
    
    Good-Luck and my best wishes for all of you.
    
    Regards
    BARBARA
    
    
    

	My wife, Marilyn Gitzinger, doesn't read or write notes, so I am
	entering this for her.

	She is being TFSO'd after 12 years, working as an IS Consultant;
	then GIA IS setting up IS department in Chihuahua Mexico, and
	now as Business Operations Manager. I have met very few people
	that work as hard as she did. She is looking forward to a new job
	and doing work that people appreciate.

	- John

    After two and a half years with Basys Automation Systems Ltd, which has
    been owned by Digital since June 1992, I will be leaving on Friday 17th
    June, along with four of my colleagues (one has already left).
    
    I have enjoyed being part of what used to be the Digital culture, and
    will miss all the friendly banter (time to take of the rose-coloured
    glasses?).
    
    Take care all of you!
    
    	Ian Gordon
    	(Soon to be ex-)Computer Systems Administrator
    	Basys Automation Systems Ltd.
    	Guildford
    	England

re .59 /nasser said goodbye in PEAR::SOAPBOX note 1506.318.


Couldn't help but think of ol' \nasser when I read this.  I remember him
playing 10 games of chess simultaneously  followed by a couple blindfolded
games at a Digital picnic (whoa! a company outing!) in '89.  Hands at
his temples.  I wonder if his head will ever explode?

Mark



>From the WEEKLY WORLD NEWS, May 24, 1994

MOSCOW --

Doctors are blaming a rare electrical imbalance in the brain for the bizarre 
death of a chess player whose head literally exploded in the middle of a 
championship game!

No one else was hurt in the fatal explosion but four players and three 
officials at the Moscow Candidate Masters' Chess Championships were sprayed 
with blood and brain matter when Nikolai Titov's head suddenly blew apart. 
Experts say he suffered from a condition called Hyper-Cerebral Electrosis or 
HCE.

"He was deep in concentration with his eyes focused on the board," says 
Titov's opponent, Vladimir Dobrynin. "All of a sudden his hands flew to his 
temples and he screamed in pain. Everyone looked up from their games, startled 
by the noise. Then, as if someone had put a bomb in his cranium, his head 
popped like a firecracker."

Incredibly, Titiov's is not the first case in which a person's head has 
spontaneously exploded. Five people are known to have died of HCE in the last 
25 years. The most recent death occurred just three years ago in 1991, when 
European psychic Barbara Nicole's skull burst. Miss Nicole's story was 
reported by newspapers worldwide, including WWN. "HCE is an extremely rare 
physical imbalance," said Dr. Anatoly Martinenko, famed neurologist and expert 
on the human brain who did the autopsy on the brilliant chess expert. "It is a 
condition in which the circuits of the brain become overloaded by the body's 
own electricity. The explosions happen during periods of intense mental 
activity when lots of current is surging through the brain.

Victims are highly intelligent people with great powers of concentration. Both 
Miss Nicole and Mr. Titov were intense people who tended to keep those 
cerebral circuits overloaded. In a way it could be said they were literally 
too smart for their own good."

Although Dr. Martinenko says there are probably many undiagnosed cases, he 
hastens to add that very few people will die from HCE. "Most people who have 
it will never know. At this point, medical science still doesn't know much 
about HCE. And since fatalities are so rare it will probably be years before 
research money becomes available."

In the meantime, the doctor urges people to take it easy and not think too 
hard for long periods of time. "Take frequent relaxation breaks when you're 
doing things that take lots of mental focus," he recommends.

 (As a public service, WWN added a sidebar titled HOW TO TELL IF YOUR HEAD'S 
ABOUT TO BLOW UP:)

Although HCE is very rare, it can kill. Dr. Martinenko says knowing you have 
the condition can greatly improve your odds of surviving it. A "yes" answer to 
any three of the following seven questions could mean that you have HCE:

1.        Does your head sometimes ache when you think too hard?
          (Head pain can indicate overloaded brain circuits.)

2.        Do you ever hear a faint ringing or humming sound in your ears?
          (It could be the sound of electricity in the skull cavity.)

3.        Do you sometimes find yourself unable to get a thought out of your 
          head?
          (This is a possible sign of too much electrical activity in the 
          cerebral cortex.)

4.        Do you spend more than five hours a day reading, balancing your 
          checkbook, or other thoughtful activity?
          (A common symptom of HCE is a tendency to over-use the brain.)

5.        When you get angry or frustrated do you feel pressure in your 
          temples?
          (Friends of people who died of HCE say the victims often complained 
          of head pressure in times of strong emotion.)

6.        Do you ever overeat on ice cream, doughnuts and other sweets?
          (A craving for sugar is typical of people with too much electrical 
          pressure in the cranium.)

7.        Do you tend to analyze yourself too much?
          (HCE sufferers are often introspective, "over-thinking" their 
          lives.)


<dave barry>

    
.69> I wonder if his head will ever explode?
    
    It already did; we were seeing the aftershocks.
    
    -------
    
    Nasser's subtle wit and alternative perspective are sorely missed.
    

re .69 (HCE), this is a joke, right? What's the reference to Dave Barry
at the end mean?

    
    Dave Barry (a humor columnist from Miami) wrote the article.
    

I don't think so.  I think it's a genuine article from the WWN.

What sort of paper is World Weekly News? Did this appear in any other
papers? I thought the "flesh-eating bacteria" was wierd, but this blows
my mind (nyuk nyuk :-). At any rate, I'm at a loss to see what this has
to do with DIGITAL.

      >>> What sort of paper is World Weekly News?

          It's like every other paper ... a crock of speculation, 
          half-truths, and out-right lies.  The difference between
          the WWN and papers like the Globe and Herald is that the
          WWN doesn't pretend to have any particular relationship 
          to contextual reality.  If you're going to be lied to, 
          you may as well be entertained.  I love it.

      Terry

    
    re: last few replies
    
    From what I read in CHESS_DISCUSSIONS, the World Weekly News is similar
    to the National Inquirer sold at many grocery stores in the United
    States.  The National Inquirer often contains such interesting
    articles as "aliens take over government", and "Alien backs Clinton",
    etc.
    
    Dennis
    

re: .76
    
>    From what I read in CHESS_DISCUSSIONS, the World Weekly News is similar
>    to the National Inquirer sold at many grocery stores in the United
>    States.  The National Inquirer often contains such interesting
>    articles as "aliens take over government", and "Alien backs Clinton",
>    etc.
    
That's essentially correct, except the Weekly World News makes the
National Inquirer look tame by comparison.  They specialize in cheesy
air-brushed fake photographs.
    

    The Weekly World News is published by the Enquirer.
    
    Some years ago, they bought new color presses and upscaled the Enquirer
    from its original grisly self into more of a celebrity gossip sheet. 
    They use the old b&w presses to run the old-fashioned gristle in the
    Weekly World News.

Next time you are at the grocery, scan through some of these rags... look
inside the first page and see where their HQ is located... surprising
how many are in the same town: Lantana, Florida.

Lee

    The checkout at the grocery was backed up last week and I noticed the
    cover of WWW.  There was a blured photo of a man in a wheelchair
    visiting Arlington National Cemetary and the headlines screamed
    something like JFK VISITS JACKIE'S GRAVE.  Don't take this publication
    too seriously.

>> re .69 (HCE), this is a joke, right? What's the reference to Dave Barry
>> at the end mean?
    
    Dave Barry is a humour columnist for the Miami Herald. His work is
    syndicated and published in a variety of other papers and magazines,
    and he has given permission for his articles to be reproduced in the
    Digital Notes conference HYDRA::DAVE_BARRY. If you are not familiar
    with his work check out this conference!
    
    He frequently writes articles about reports of things that
    spontaneously explode (cows, toilets etc.)
    
    The report in .69 was put in the Dave Barry notes conference with a
    request for someone to pass it on to him as possible material for a
    future column. Dave did not write the aricle. He writes better than
    that. (Replies indicated that he has probably already been swamped with
    this story).
    
    
    Steve.
    
    
    ..... and now back to your regular program

Well I would like to wish everyone all the best who remain.
I have worked here 21 years 8 months. 18190.  June 17th is my last
day. It was fun. I learned a lot, that I will take with me to my next
endeaver.

I wish all the rest of you a lot of luck, you are going to need it.

PS: I will see you all at the shareholders meeting in Nov. 1994. 
    I will ask the tough questions. The shareholders deserve to know what
    is really going on in this company.

Dave

    The Weekly World News is MY kinda paper!  I used to read the Enquirer,
    but when they went color, they sold out, IMHO.  Turned into a
    Tinsel-Town gossip mag for soap-opera watchers.
    
    If you read it in your local paper and it's weird then you can
    bet...it's gonna show up in the WWN sometime soon.  Mix that in with
    some aliens, Elvis, and a cold margarita and you got yerself a DAMN
    FINE PERIODICAL!
    
    Bat boy, Loch Ness, 27 naked religious nuts in a Camaro, hero dogs,
    Hitler's funeral last year, drunks nailin' themselves to park
    benches, Barney buying Digital...what more can you want?  (Hey, it IS
    kinda like the Digital notesfile, isn't it?)
    
    							Tex
    
    

	Talk about a rathole.. Sheesh!

							mike

    A bit disturbing looking at the replies here to see the length of
    service involved.  
    
    It would appear that the clearout is removing the more experienced
    people (12+ years), presumably because it is cheaper to employ younger
    bods.
    
    But that experience has been hard gained....
    
    Nigel

    Nigel,
    
    	Age discrimination?  In our industry?  Nah?  They're all obsolete.
    
    Charlie  :-( for the humor impaired

    Hi All
    Well it's time to say my farewells to you all.  I am leaving DEC and
    moving on with my life.  I will now be a customer.
    
    Over the 8 years that I have been with DEC, I have been a frequent
    reader of this conference and a not as frequent contributor, like most
    I think.  All I can say is thanks for all the wit, charm, bs, and all
    the rumors.  They made the last few years bearable.
    
    I have been in sales support, done delivery, did management, and spent
    the last 3 years in sales.  Gee what a ride.
    
    I really like DEC.  Still do. But this DIGITAL, I'm not thrilled about.
    
    To everyone out there who has helped make me sucessful-thanks and keep
    up the good work.  
    
    look forward to seeing you all on a network someplace and time in the
    future.
    
    And, to borrow an expression used by the dolphins in
     the "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy"
    
    "SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH"

    Bye Guys!
    
    I was hit by the 20/20 TFSO.
    
    I've seen some of the best things ever while here, unfortunately I've
    also seen some of the worst.
    
    For all those who brought my education and maturity up a notch,
    I give my heartfelt thanks, and I hope all works out for the best.
    
    I can be reached at smith117@delphi.com
    
    Regards,
    
    Dan

    
    	Another one bites the dust!
        Tapped yesterday 6/20 last day is Thursday.
        Been an avid reader for most of my 18 years here at Westfield...
            Yep it's still open !!
         I'll wish all of you the best 
                  
                          Ed  (047445)
    

Add me to the list of "EXes". Salem (NIO) caught about 170-or-so AXES. I got 
one. BUT, I'm happy to be gone. No stress, sleeping at night, smile on my 
face, ... I havent felt this good since 1987 (DECWorld). I'll always be a 
DECCIE at heart, never was a Digital person.

Anyway at least I got a pkg.

Adios all,
John Potucek
Derry NH

    
    
    Friday will be my last day after 7 grand years.  My wife was also given
    the package so we will relocate to our home state of Arizona.  This is
    what we had really hoped for, a chance to 'bring it home'.
    
    Thanks for all the memories and friendships (which will continue) and
    keep up the good fight.  I, too, consider myself a DECie.
    
    Chuck Young

	I'll be leaving Digital this Friday.
	My Digital 25th Aniversary was 2-Jun-94.

	Already have consultant firms interested in my services on an
	International scale. One company president wants me to take over
	his consulting business and get it back into profits.  I have two
	other consulting firms who I talked to today that want me to work on
	a project for them immediately.  One of them is just beginning a
	search to hire a person with my area of expertise.

	Fortunately I don't need to rush into any decision.
	4 wks + 25 wks (yrs service) + 8 wks (vacation) = 37 wks
	I will manage that time well.

	I wanted you to hear some positives for a change.
	It is a sad thing to leave a company where you gave your best.
	But now it's time to do the same for another (or your own).

	For those who leave, let those who stay behind know your going out 
	with hope.
	dick 7420

    Hello:
    
    I guess it's as good a time as any for this.
    
    Good bye folks.  Our piece of the SDCC here in 
    Novi, Mich is being closed down, so I am TFSO'd.
    
    My address is:
    
                 976 Stamford Road
                 Ypsilanti, Mich 48198
                 (313) 487-1583.
    
    I want to thank the many for their help with many questions 
    I had ranging from ALL-IN-1 to porting on OpenVMS AXP.
    
    It's been an exciting 11+ yrs for me and much change has gone on 
    for me.
    
    Best regards to all.
    
    Regards,
    
    Terry Dishneau
    

    
    
    
    	Some of us are not as fortunate as you... Not even close..
    
    	Many of us feel pretty sure we will get let go with nothing
    	but 4 weeks and an unemployment line..
    
    	Is that reply surpose to make us feel better?
    
    
    	Can ya rub a little harder?? ;-)
    
    
    
    	

    Actually, I have hopes for Digital although my relationship with the
    company will shrink from 34 year employee and participant to merely a
    stockholder, as of Friday.
    
    I say "merely" a stockholder because money is merely the fuel, not the
    purpose of the business.  I'm almost-quoting Ricardo Semler, author of
    the best-seller "Marverick", the only business book that ever
    fascinated me enough to keep me up until 5:15 am.  Making money is not
    "the" goal.  Yes, Digital has to get profitable again to be viable. 
    Essential.  But insufficient to be worthy of all of the good lives that
    are being spent working here.
    
    It looks to me as though the company will be broken up into several
    fairly independent entities, some of which may even be sold off.  It
    seems appropriate to me to do this.
    
    But that will not remove the need for each of the pieces to generate a
    generous purpose.  Something to give the human race that humans will
    not have had any other way.  For it is only by pursuing that kind of
    generous purpose that you can consistently generate monopoly-level
    profit margins as we did here for three decades.  And it is only by
    generating *big* profits that a company can afford some of the
    excellent qualities that the Digital I joined in 1960 has always
    striven for and often achieved.
    
    
    Ricardo Semler says that if you don't have the symbol systems that
    support the wrong people, you will not have the wrong people in your
    company.  He worked for 10 solid years to get rid of marked parking
    places--he said it was the hardest single thing they have accomplished
    and that it was worth the huge effort.
    
    Ken Olsen was firm about refusing such "perks" because, whether he was
    fully articulate about it or not, he understood what Semler says.  And,
    we still have whole bunches of people who understand this.  Whole
    bunches of people who are living their working lives at Digital out of
    generosity and fun, not out of social climbing.
    
    That's what gives me the most hope for Digital.
    
    
    However, there are also a fair number of people here now who have
    bought the nonsense about this being a dog-eat-dog world, and in their
    rush to be top dog they are doing much too much to make this hypothesis
    self-proving.  Probably their parents before them bought the same
    nonsense I suppose, and passed it along.  So to give up the marked
    parking places and special offices and other such symbols, these people
    would have to face being disloyal to their own parents.  A high price
    to pay, for taking ownership of their own lives and for the freedom to
    pursue their own happiness--the satisfactions of generosity.
    
    
    I think fighting these people should only be a last resort.  They are
    victims, even though they victimize the rest of us.
    
    The lonely tribal male who "does what a man's gotta do" in a world that
    occurs for that person as a dog-eat-dog world is operating from fear. 
    Intensifying the fear will not produce much change.  Acknowledging the
    fear is going to be too fearful, at least until some transformational
    life experience makes the fraud of the dog-eat-dog model transparent.
    
    Digital has been, for many, the substrate for such transformational
    experiences.  I have and many people around me have over the years
    experienced "random acts of generosity and senseless beauty" from our
    colleagues and suppliers and neighbors and customers (I'm paraphrasing
    my favorite bumper sticker.)  We've had it proven many times over that
    this world is often a kind and generous world.
    
    And in that context, it is no longer necessary to hunger for perks to
    demonstrate top-doggedness.
    
    In this context, it is possible to ask more ennobling questions.  What
    contribution can my organization make?  What contribution can I make?
    
    
    Those are the questions I've heard being asked for most of my career at
    Digital.  Ask them again, and my hopes for this company will be amply
    justified by the replies and by the results.
    						(And have fun, too!!)
    
    								Russ

    Re .94
    	So goes a 2 digit badge
    

    Excellent note Russ.  Good luck to you!

    Best of luck, Russ. 

    
    	Adios, Terry - Keep the wind to your face. Good luck
    
    		the Greyhawk

    I'm outta here today, too.  (Mods, move this if you want)
    I've been a lurker in here for years.  Learned a lot, though.
    
    Now, after 13 years, I'm looking forward to trying something new.
    DEC has been good to me, but its time to move on!
    
    Good luck to all of you--those leaving and those staying.
    
    Joan

    bye, joan... 
    
    I've really enjoyed knowing you as a DECCIE... next time we have dinner
    (is it at our place this time?) I guess Brenda and I will be the only
    DECCIE's at the table.  
    
    Then... maybe not!
    
    tony

    should that not be "Keep the wind to your back"?

    (I sent this e-mail earlier today to a long list of people I've known.
    Because I'm sure I missed many good friends, I also post it here)
    
    I never expected to write this message. For most of the last 17 years,
    I expected I would complete my working life at Digital. But things
    don't always happen the way we expect. As we went thru this most recent
    restructuring, it became clear to my management that what I have been
    doing, and what I want to do more of, is not consistent with today's
    conditions.

    So in two more days, my career at Digital will end, and instead of
    going off to a life of golf and leisure, I will begin a new career. I
    don't yet know exactly what I will do, but I have several ideas, and a
    few starting points. Whatever it is will be closely linked to the
    exploding interest in Internet, continuing migration to distributed
    client/server, object-oriented and reuse development technologies,
    (have I missed any trends?) ...

    I also won't stray far from my long-term interest in Macintosh as the
    easiest to learn and use personal computing environment, although
    recently I've had to admit that Windows is getting there. And the
    Microsoft story of WFW, Chicago, WNT, NTAS, etc. is truly impressive.

    I leave with some sadness, but no regrets. Just as I was sorry to no
    longer be a child (I was probably 35 before I admitted that!), I am
    sorry to realize I can no longer do what I want to do here. At the same
    time, I realize that my ability to pursue interesting challenges is
    because of what I've learned while at Digital.

    I wish us all the best, whatever course we pursue. I hope to stay in
    touch. It is my intent to write a "status report" from time to time,
    to let people know how I'm doing. Hopefully my updates will trigger
    responses, so you can let me know how you're doing; I'd really like
    that. Send me a message if you'd like to be on my distribution list.

    I can be reached via e-mail as follows:

	robbins@tiac.net (preferred)
	71220,50 (Compuserve)

    Looking forward,

    Worth

    Nope, once you beat upwind, you can go anywhere......
    
    

    I just couldn't resist.

>    Nope, once you beat upwind, you can go anywhere......

    should read ...

    Nope, once you beat upwind, the wind changes direction 180 degrees.

    
    Terry,
    
    We haven't spoken in a few years, but you were one of the people I
    first spoke with when I came to Digital about things other than work.
    You helped me a lot back then, when DEC was stable and I was all over
    the place.  Now, I'm stable and DEC is all over the place (pffffttt).
    In those days you were a person who helped keep my head when all about
    me were losing theirs.  I am still here today because I made it
    through those first few bruising years when people like yourself
    convinced me that this was more than just a place to work.  It was
    about people who cared for you and cared what was happening to you
    inside of work and outside of work.  It was about people helping each
    other get through whatever they were going through.
    
    I thank you for being one of those people.  Best of luck to you in all
    you do.
    
    -Susan
    

    
    Gone.
    
    On Monday 6/20 I received a call at 7:15AM from my manager.
    Needless to say, it wasn't about a promotion or raise.
    I fully exect some rocky times in the months to come, however,
    after 5.5 years of stress, turmoil, endless change, and no
    real chance(IMHO) of a turnaround anytime I am glad to be 
    moving on.  I am very thankful for the TFSO package.  I
    will receive the equivalent of 15 weeks pay.  A friend of
    mine at another company, just got his "2 weeks and don't
    let the door hit you in the ass" notice.  I sincerely hope
    they offer a TFSO package in FY95 though I hear it is unlikely.
    I hope things work out for the best for all those who remain.
    
    

I'm going to start moving "Goodbye" notes to this topic.

				Steve

    
     Well folks.....in about 15 minutes I'm turning in may badge and will
    be on to explore the rest of my life after 14 years with Digital.
    
     I can recall when it was FUN to come to work....when we were
    APPRECIATED, and when we had a sense of future. This has not been the
    case in my environment for about the past 4 years or so.. We have had
    the sword-of-Damocles called TFSO hanging over us, and the mental
    pressures have turned us into walking zombies in many cases, and some
    very nice people have turned into back-stabbing and undermining in an
    attempt to secure their positions..
    
     Management changes have eliminated most if not all of the ones with
    experience and also those with honor and integrity. While some areas of
    the company may be different, this is the way I see it her in my
    area...
     
     Management was "too busy" to even come and tell us in person...and
    they were actually unable to even make eye-contact.. However, when I
    was told, my instant reaction was to laugh.....which caused some
    consternation in the eyes of the axe-man. 
    
     Although I will not BS anyone and say there is/was no bitterness at
    the political, unethical, underhanded and sleazy way that this TFSO'ing
    has and is being handled, but the major feeling that I have is one of
    elation that it's finally over....and I'm now able to sleep nights
    again and look forward to a reasonable future. (B.T.W. people..there IS
    life after DEC....and there ARE jobs out there...but you shouldn't
    expect to make mega-bucks immediately...)
    
     I also really feel sorry for many of those who are left behind... I
    feel bad for the decent, hard-workers that are left... I also feel
    sorry for those who continue to spout the ignorant statement about how
    "digital don't OWE ya anything but a paycheck", because they are the
    ones who are unable to see anything except cold, stark business in
    their jobe instead of the camaraderie and family-feeling that made this
    a great company at one time in the past.. I feel NO sorrow for the
    damned political hacks...and there are many of those.
    
      On to better things..
    
      JOhn McDonough 

    
    June 30th is my final day.
    
    I have been mainly a read-only in this notesfile but some may know me.
    
    Although the package is good in Germany, there is a real lack of jobs
    so I am moving back to the (cheaper) UK in September.
    
    Like the last note, i've had enough of politics and BS. I enjoyed my 12
    out of 16 years with Digital and once believed (and played my part to
    try and make it happen) that there was light at the end of the tunnel.
    
    I really hope that my forecast for the company does not materialise for
    the rest of you people who are staying. The outcome of my belief is
    messy.
    
    Good luck to you all. Life's too short for this #$%@ and I am not
    prepared to sacrifice mine for a company that expects it with no
    rewards.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Mark.

    re: .110
    	Best of luck back in the U.K..   Give my regards to your parents,
    and tell your mum I enjoyed her book.
    
    	Dave

Well, after 17+ years I have made the decision to call it quits. Rather
than try and wax nostalgic I'll just say that they have been some very
fine years.

OK, maybe a bit of nostalgia/explanation.


I never seriously considered working for any company other than DEC.
Really. Working for DEC seemed liked the best thing that I could do and
it seemed to me nothing could change that for me. That is, until last
August.

I have always been a tinkerer. Tinkering with hardware, software,
networks, etc. That tinkering spirit has been a springboard for me- a
gateway to a tremendous amount of learning and experience over my years
at DEC. I recall getting a copy of K-notes and excitedly 'exploring' the
'engineering net' from out here 'in the field'[*] once the 9600 baud network
connection to Landover, MD was up and running at least a few times a
week. I was always able to put my newfound knowledge to use in servicing
my customers, which I felt was a win for me and DEC. [* Almost as fun as
exploring the nooks and cranies of the mill at night.. a great thrill for
a F/s tech from the field!!]

Anyhow, back to more current times. My residency at a customer site
provided me with excellent access to the Internet. Being a weather buff
and pilot, I stumbled across a network site that made available hourly
weather maps and satellite images. I recalled an attempt years ago to put
weather maps on VTX within DEC (John Boebinger?) and had always thought
the maps to be an excellent demonstration of networking prowess. I
cobbled up some bits of DCL code and some other odds and ends and came up
with an automatic mechanisim to transport these maps and images to a
directory on a machine here at DEC.

I also discovered a mail-feed site for weather information/weather
discussion and hacked out a routine to take the text feeds and post them
into a VAXnotes file with each item automatically entered in the
appropriate topic.

Once I had everything working fairly well I made an announcement in the
METEOROLOGY notefile about the availability of the images and the
notesfile. I was happy to share the fruits of what I had learned with
anyone else that was a 'weather nut' like I was. Once debugged,
everything ran automatically like a well-oiled swiss watch.

Well, over time the weather images became farily popular, but still among
just a few people. I received some inquiries from some non-technical
types on how to display these images on their workstation so I came up
with a crude menu-ish command procedure that they could run and select
the image they wanted to display.

I was very proud to learn that the Customer Network Center (CNC) in CXO
had begun using the images not just for neato customer demos but to
pinpoint areas that may be having network problems due to thunderstorms
(the weather maps also contained radar data in various shades). Customers
were impressed when the DEC person troubleshooting their network would
tell them "Yes, there are thunderstorms in the Moline area that may be
casuing your outage". I was informed via a mail form one of these
specialists that these maps were 'icing on the cake' and helped impress
current and potential customers with DEC networking capabilities.

Now my little contribution was nothing great like some of the 'legendary'
midnight efforts that I had came to know and love (Nmail,notes,SEDT,FTSV,
etc.) but I still felt that I was my small part in making DEC that
special kind of place that I and others loved to work. Who cared if we
had to give 100%-110%-120%? DEC was a great place and taking care of
DEC's customers was a great job to have!

Things seemed to be fine until one day a tipster mailed me an internal
memo... it seems there was an ongoing investigation to track down those
that were 'abusing' the network by copying and displaying weather maps (see
note 2622.x in theis notesfile). I was shocked! I was even more shocked
by the fact that (based on information in the memo) that these
investigations had been ongoing for some time and nobody involved had
ever called me to suggest that I limit or discontinue making available
the maps.

The investigators knew full well what node the maps were being copied
from, it appears they had a copy of a command procedure for doing
copying. My node::username was in this command procedure and as well as
in a text file in the directory called AAAREADME.TXT. But not a whisper
from them. The tone of the memo was that the individual 'abusers' would
need to be tracked down and 'educated' about network abuse.

Rather than mess around with any calls or contacts I just decided to kill
the whole thing off. Maybe it was a knee-jerk reaction, I don't know. I
stopped the automatic feeds, deleted all the files, directories,
everything. I received a number of inquiries, I just pointed them to
topic 2622.x in this notesfile.

A memo was circulated about 'network abuse' (see 2622.72). I find it
ironic that the memo worries about 'network abuse' in light of the WWW
(World Wibe Web) gateway that we now have in which you can copy all
manner and sort of weather maps, images, software for personal use,
as well as 'legitimate' business traffic.

-------

Why am I telling this story? Well, for me, this incident was a catalyst.

I realised in a personal way that DEC was fast becoming Digital- just
another big company, no different from any other. No longer were unique
talents, innovative spirit or creativity being recognized or even
encouraged. (Forgive me if that appears to be too broad a brush- pockets
of creative, innovative people do still exist but they seem to be the
exception rather than the rule). What was once exciting was becoming a
mere job.

It seemed that the new key to the success of Digital was the hard hobnail
boot of fiscal compliance. The spirit of excitement and enthusiasim was
fading fast, replaced with one of rote compliance. Removal of water coolers,
post-its and holiday turkeys set the tone for things to come. The death
of morale.

-------

I pointed out a while back that I felt that the deadly trio are:

        - Continued threat of layoff

        - Continuous reorganization

        - Lack of clear vision/goals

If all 3 continue unchecked then the 'Death Spiral' (tip of hat to Dick
Lennard) will continue. At least one or two of these fatal elements must
be eliminated so that the spirit of the in-the-trenches employee can be
raised. Can Digital succeed without a motivated, excited workforce?
Only time will tell.



Thanks to all for a great 17+ years.

Remember.. Digital's strength is in its people.

Bye-

Lee Roth

    I am writing this note for my husband Garry who was TFSO'd after 18
    years.
    
    The good news is he can "retire from Digital" although he does intend
    to continue working in some capacity until he is at least 62.  He will
    take the summer off to "get rid of the stress" and look for something
    that he will enjoy - as he used to enjoy his job at Digital.
    
    He wanted me to say good-by to those he didn't have a chance to talk
    to before departing last Friday.
    
    He can be reached via mail to me or at home  - telephone 508-897-7478.
    I will also bring him any notes posted here.
    
    

    Good luck, Lee...always enjoyed reading your notes!

    
    Re .112:
    
    Sorry to see you go, Lee.
    
    I always considered you one of the good guys.
    

Today is my last day with DEC.  I start my new job on
Friday.  I wish I could say something profound, but I think
it's already all been said (going back at least to Martin Minow's
farewell letter).  

Best wishes to you all.  I can be reached on CompuServe at

   71303.41@compuserve.com

   Gary

    Tootles from a Read_only (this notesfile anyway)...  I resigned this
    week and start working for a value added computer reseller in a few
    weeks...

    I started by accident with DEC.  I had worked for Mayflower over a
    college summer and started supporting the MKO shipping docks.  The
    people I met were amazing.  They were nice and fun, etc.  I continued
    to support the docks all summer and they threw me a party!  (WOW)

    The next summer they needed a security guard, so I sat in DDD while it
    was being built.  Another great summer job.

    The next summer I graduated.  I met the security manager in the
    Pheasant lane mall, and he asked me if I wanted a full time job as
    a security guard.  I told him I was looking for a "real job" as I
    have graduated.  he told me to work for DEC, 2nd shift, make money,
    while I looked for the real job.  He also told me that after a year
    as a guard, I could get into the marketing/Sales training program.

    I took it, started working on my Masters degree, and generally had
    a ball.

    Well four months into my job they asked me if I wanted to be a
    consultant for security.  Make presentations to Ancona, Gullotti,
    Hughes, and Anderson, and their staffs, train all the MKO cluster 
    folks on info-security and implement a world wide security software
    tool!!!  I jumped on it.  Two years later I supported Corporate
    Security, wrote company policy, and work on DEC-World 90...

    At that time, I was made an area security manager for the central
    states, based out of Cincinnati.  (Since I went to high school and
    college in Kentucky it was like moving back home)  I spent two years
    traveling all over the country and learning every facet of industrial
    security.  I was "traded" to the Eastern States Area a year and a half
    ago, and had to cover New York, NJ, and New England from Cincy.

    Eventually, they wanted me to move to NYC.

    So, as my wife was doing well in Cincinnati, and I love the area too,
    we decided to make it our home.  I found a job for more money, less
    travel, and close to our home in Mount Lookout for a computer reseller
    (Entex Information Services) to be their security guy.

    I am extremely grateful to Digital for all the experience they have
    given me.  I won the lottery in terms of opportunity.  The people hear
    are not colleagues, they are friends.  Most are my best friends, and I
    hate to leave them.

    Good luck to Digital (although I liked "DEC" better) and to all of you,
    a read-only guy is going to miss you dearly...

    Regards,

    Chip Bach
    3463 Linwood Ave
    Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

    
    This is the first and last time I will have the opportunity to add any
    comments to this conference although I have enjoyed following the banter
    over my 5 years at Digital. As mentioned many many times, it is not
    the same organisation even in my short stay nor can it be, but for me 
    the direction and all those things people joined Digital for have
    either gone or are being eroded away.
    I'm off to pastures new with Reuters in London but wish all the best 
    for the future to those I leave behind.

    Recently I was given the following text which I find very pertinant
    at this time in Digital.

 
    	"We Trained very hard but it seemed that every time we were 
    	 beginning to form in to teams we would be reorganised. 
    	 I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new 
    	 situation by reorganising and a wonderful method it is for 
    	 creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion,
 	 inefficiency and demoralisation".
    			
    					     A Roman Centurion
    			     		     AD 64

      
    	Regards
    		Nigel (Welwyn office Technology group UK)

    
    ......the roman pretty well somes it up
    
    hornet
    

Funny, my copy of the quote attributes this to Petronius Arbiter, Greek Navy,
210 B.C.

Methinks this is a bit of urban legend.  It works, though.

    re .2
    
    I thought it was attributed to the England soccer team.... :-(
    
    AW

    .120
    
    Petronius was an Roman name, so unlikely to be a member of the Greek
    navy.
    
    Arbiter was a rank in the army,
    
    and everytime I've seen this it was dated 64 AD

    I understood the quote indeed came from a chap called Gaius Petronius
    Arbiter who was the Govenor of Westmorland (somewhere here in the UK)
    in 64 AD.

    	The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations gives a number of quotations
    from Petronius, but not this particular one, and says he lived 
    1st. century A.D.. 64 A.D. would fit with this.
    
    	From the quotations, he wrote mostly in Latin, so he was obviously
    Roman, though he threw in a phrase or two in Greek to prove he was
    cultured. It would appear that his main surviving work was the
    "Satyricon", and since he would appear to be poking fun at the Roman
    army that might be a good place to look for the original quotation.
    Unfortunately I don't have a copy.

    .124:
    
    I've spent some lunches trying to locate this quote, and while I
    haven't finished the book yet, I will be surprised if it's actually in
    there.
    
    Dick

The first time I saw the quote in this conference was note 892.3

I saw it earlier, though, in another conference (I think).

-Andy

RE: .118

Heard on radio this morning the roman origin of the word 'testimony'...

Lee

    >  Recently I was given the following text which I find very pertinant
    >  at this time in Digital.
    >
    >
    >      "We Trained very hard but it seemed that every time we were
    >       beginning to form in to teams we would be reorganised.
    >       I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new
    >       situation by reorganising and a wonderful method it is for
    >       creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion,
    >       inefficiency and demoralisation".
    >
    >                                           A Roman Centurion
    >                                           AD 64
    >
    >
    >        Regards
    >                Nigel (Welwyn office Technology group UK)
    
    
    good luck to Nigel-
    
    does anybody know the source of this text??
    
    I found the comparison between giant Roman administration and digital
    very inspiring!
    
    Christian
     

	Friday, July 1, 1994, is my last day with Digital.  After 18 years,I
look back and remember the good times, the trying times and the times that
were no fun at all.  The first 10 years (1976-1986) were the best of times.
We were all WAY too busy and having too much fun to complain about it.  The
years that followed (1987-1990) were not as much fun, but we all had the hope
that the once great DEC would pull out of the hard times and regain its
championship position.  These last 4 years were the hardest of all.  Leadership 
changed and so did the company and culture we had all worked so hard to build.
Our corporate morality went by the wayside, to be replaced with a different
set of rules.  As a fortunate recipient of possibly one of the last TFSO
packages, I am thankful.  Thankful not only for some small bit of financial
help, but thankful for all of the great people I have met along the way.
Thankful to have been a small part of the rise of one of the legends of the
computer industry.

	I am looking forward to spending a lot of quality time with my new
bride and visiting friends and relatives this summer.  I don't intend to
leave Phoenix.  If any anybody finds themselves in the Valley of the Sun and
would like to catch a cup of coffee or even lunch, by all means give me a call.
I will not claim to be retired yet, but my goal is to reach semi-retired status
as soon as possible!  What happens next, I do not know.  This I do know for
sure: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28".  

	Thanks for helping make these 18 years worthwhile.  I send all of my
best wishes and prayers out to each of you, that your future might be settled
and successful.

Sincerely,

   Richard Czarnecki
Aug 16,1976 - July 1,1994

3237 W. Helena Drive
Phoenix, AZ  85023

602-993-3047

>================================================================================
>Note 3107.128                    I'm History !!                       128 of 129
>VNABRW::HANNEL_C "Christian HANNEL @AUI"             28 lines   1-JUL-1994 07:26
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>                    -< Centurion wanted to stay anonymous? >-
>
>    >  Recently I was given the following text which I find very pertinant
>    >  at this time in Digital.
>    >
>    >
>    >      "We Trained very hard but it seemed that every time we were
>    >       beginning to form in to teams we would be reorganised.
>    >       I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new
>    >       situation by reorganising and a wonderful method it is for
>    >       creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion,
>    >       inefficiency and demoralisation".
>    >
>    >                                           A Roman Centurion
>    >                                           AD 64
>    >
>    >
>    >        Regards
>    >                Nigel (Welwyn office Technology group UK)
>    
>    
>    good luck to Nigel-
>    
>    does anybody know the source of this text??
>    
>    I found the comparison between giant Roman administration and digital
>    very inspiring!
>    
>    Christian
>     
>

Its attributed to Petronius Arbiter, Greek Navy, 210 B.C.


/Paul.

    
    
    
    Well, after much soul searching and job-hunting, I today accepted a
    position at Andersen Consulting.  I will be doing training and course
    development in a variety of their product lines.  It's my dream job --
    working and living in the heart of Chicago.  My last day with Digital
    will be July 15.
    
    It's been an interesting 8 years, here at Digital.  The company that
    hired me no longer exists.  We, as employees, have become simple
    commodities.  It's been "time to move on" for about three years, but I
    only acted on those feelings about 6 weeks ago.  I have learned much,
    and have had the opportunity to meet and work with some incredibly
    talented and wonderful people.  I will miss 'that part' of Digital
    greatly.
    
    I've only met a small percentage of the members of this conference. 
    But I wish peace and good fortune to all of you.  
    
       Greg

After seven years as a full-time Digital employee (and a prior
three as a contractor), I've decided to resign. I have accepted
a position with another firm. My last day is July 15. I have been
a 1-2 performer throughout my employment here, but, after waiting
it out and performing as best I can over the past 4 years, my 
organization has apparently decided to outsource the work I do.
Rather than see it to its (possibly ugly) conclusion, I've decided 
to move on. There was life (and a career) before DEC, and I'm sure 
both will obtain post-DEC as well. 

This was an agonizingly difficult decision, as I have a deep and 
abiding respect for many, many of the people I've met and
worked with at DEC. (Not to mention the fact that leaving voluntarily, 
even now, makes my little heart beat rabbit-fast.) 

You (past and present Digital employees in general, but especially 
those who are still slogging away) are true professionals, and it 
has been my distinct pleasure to have known and worked with you. 
I hope I will have an opportunity to do so again, and soon.

I can be reached as follows:

 $ Mail
 MAIL> SEND
 To: NM%US4RMC::"5679470@mcimail.com"  
             or,
 Voice: 508-476-2806

My best wishes to you all.
                                   
Glenn Hamilton
  

       Just a few months shy of 10 years here, but it's time for me to move
    on too.  My project has been cancelled (one thread of development on
    the IPMT project; only the work for the future "Sleuth" release was
    cancelled due to inadequate staffing) but because of my reviews, evidently
    I'm not eligable for the kindness of a TFSO package.
    
       Instead I'm leaving Digital (not DEC -- I wouldn't have left DEC for
    the world... but that's been hashed and rehashed enough) for a company
    which has an actual strategy for building software which ships in
    volumes over a few hundred or thousand units and which is pretty
    darned profitable -- Microsoft.
    
       I can't add to the wit and wisdom which has been expressed much more
    eloquently than I ever could.  All I can do is add my good-byes to the
    pile.
    
       I'm confident that Digital Equipment Corporation will end up being
    profitable again in a few years; however I am equally confident that it
    will not be any place with a serious career path for software
    engineers.
    
       I do not regret leaving Digital; I really regret the loss of DEC.
    
    					-mjg

    
    Hi and Good Bye,
    
    Aug 5th,1994 will be my last day w/ Digital.  Please keep in touch.
    I'd like to know how my Digital friends doing.  I was going to retire
    at 50 and assumed that my stocks will split........Take Care, everyone!
    
    Pamela C. Moll
    AOL :   RMOLL1 @aol.com
    Prodigy:  jssy17a  
    Home Phone : 810.650.8488
    

They did split...  1 for 10!  8^)

    I always wondered what I would say when my time came.......
    
    It happened - last day August 5th..... just shy of 10 years!
    
    Actually I'm excited, happy and motivated to find a job with 
    a company that will appreciate my skills.  I'm not angry - in
    fact I more than made it clear to my management I wanted to go.
    My husband wanted me to go - you see DEC hired me and DIGITAL 
    EQUIPMENT CORPORATION let me down.  
    
    I utilized tuition reimbursement and December 1994 I will graduate
     with my Associates Degree in Business.  
    
    For that Digital I thank you.
    
    I had the pleasure of meeting  lots of great people - who not only did
     I learn alot about business - I also learned about friendship.
    
    For that Digital I thank you.
    
    I learned many new skills and because of my constant utilization of
    Digital internal classes - have the skills needed to survive in 
    TODAYS world.
    
    For that Digital I thank you.
    
    The rest as they say is history!  Anything negative I might have wanted
    to say about Digital especially my last few years with the company - For 
    my own peace of mind I would like to leave at Digital.  I guess this is
    what my Mom said would happen when I grew up.  She used to tell me that 
    when something leaves a bad taste in your mouth - get rid of it! Don't
    complain and try your best to forget it!  Because if you keep the
    memory with you it will effect every other new opportunity you might
    have come your way.  
    
    I guess this is farewell - Thanks to all of you who made these
    last 10 years bearable.....I can't bear to say goodbye to each of you
    individually - so........I'll leave you with this thought .....I hope 
    when you read this message you will smile - if you knew me you will
    and if you didn't know me then you really lost out  - cause I'm a 
    pretty nice person - if I do say so myself.
    
    Donna Kelleher (December 10th, 1984 - August 5th, 1994)   
    
    

    
    
    
    Well it had to happen sooner or later, (being in sales) it's my turn 
    to say goodbye. They have to get the 20,000 from somewhere!  It was one
    hell of a ride though.  My last official day is like many others,
    8/5/94.  
    
    It's always hard to say goodbye to something you believed in, but 
    things change.  With relief I wish all of those remaining the best, 
    DEC will always be in my heart.
    
    It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.
    
    Badge 315404 signing off,
    
    Gina McBride
    Fort Wayne, Indiana

5/8/80 Software Services Software Specialist

8/5/94 Sales Support Senior Systems Consultant

If the '80's were a great party, then the 90's have been the hangover and the
morning-after that never stops.

I will wish that the DECspin (no product reference intended) recovers before a
Digital crash - I've too many friends still trying to make it work here to wish
otherwise.

As for myself, this worry is over after 3 years. It feels good. There will be
other worries. All in good time - right now it feels good.

Norm
... there are far worse things than being unemployed for a time in Maine ...

From:	EDSGRP::US4RMC::"grant@pa.dec.com" "Gail L. Grant"  8-AUG-1994 16:35:44.92
To:	everybody@pa.dec.com
CC:	grant@pa.dec.com
Subj:	Farewell

** I apologize to those who receive this message multiple times; I
** simply combined all my distribution lists into one giant list.

After alot of soul-searching, I will be leaving Digital for an exciting
new opportunity working for a Cambridge, MA start-up as the VP of Business
Development.  The name of the company is Open Market, Inc. and their
products and services create an end-to-end electronic commerce solution
which operates over World-Wide Web.  August 19th will be my last day at DEC.
I'll be opening a West Coast office for them here in Palo Alto, CA.

I wish all of you the very best and sincerely hope that Digital
continues its recovery and is successful in its new venture into the 
Internet business arena.  My responsibilities will be transitioned
to another person and the Internet Alpha Program will continue, as will
Digital's continued involvement in CommerceNet.  If that decision is
made prior to my departure, I'll send that information out to the same
lists.

If you have open issues which need my attention prior to my departure,
or just want to chat before I leave, don't hesitate to call me at 
DTN 543-6564 or outside line 415-853-6564 or send me e-mail at
grant@pa.dec.com or DECPA::GRANT or Gail Grant @UCP.  I consider many of
you friends, as well as business colleagues and will miss you.  If you would
like to stay in touch with me after my departure, please send mail to me at:

	glg@rahul.net or grant@openmarket.com

The first address is my private Internet account and the other will be my new
business address.  I will send my new work number to all who ask to stay in
touch, once I have my new office(after Sept. 1).


Best Wishes,

g.

After 13-plus years it's time for me, too. Browse through the early
notes of this conference and see the energy and intensity and dignity
of folks such as DTL and Simon and others too numerous to mention.
We've come a long way since the days of Stan's teco-based Notary. Not
all of that distance is bad, either. Take a look at the internet_tools
conference and see a similar intensity.

Even though I'll no longer be an employee, I'll remain a stockholder.
Protect my investment and don't settle for mediocrity.

==============================================================================
Karl A. Hakkarainen				                 hakka@iii.net

				 -30-

Re: -.1  reference to Exodus 3:5 

Exodus 3:5  And he said, draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off
thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.  - KJV

    So I moved to Eugene, and made "remote .. remoter .. remotest" my
    personal name.   I could now change that to "gone."   
    
    I wish everyone the best.   I have enjoyed some of my time with
    Digital, but the last few months of uncertainty "on the list, off the
    list, possibly on the list for TFSO" has taken its toll.   I'm glad
    that aspect is over.
    
    Despite all the negatives, I still believe that Digital will eventually
    emerge as a profitable company, (and maybe one day even a great place to
    work again).   And I have some (not much) stock to back that belief.  
    
    Fare well.
    
    Joan
    

    Yesterday I saw the TFSO package first hand as well...  interesting how 
    you can put so much into a company and in a few minutes its all over..
    guess life is like that in lots of ways..... guess for those of us who 
    resist change - sometimes God allows others to give us a boost..... to
    go out after 14+ years and do something new and hopefully rewarding..
    
    I'm frightened to go out at 54 years old to try to find something new -
    but I'm sure with the Lord's help I'll land on my feet.
    
    I've had some fantastic times here at DEC - the DECworld experiences I
    believe were a highlight ---- but mostly I appreciate the wonderful
    friendships I've made..... if you read this and know me..... thanks for
    the good times!  I'll miss my friends and for the last time I'll say..
    
    this is Dot at DEC in Boise....
                   

    Dot:
    
    Good luck and may God Bless!

    
    There is life after DEC. Trust me.
    
    -prc

    Trust you? Are you in Marketing?

Well, its my turn.   I'm off to greener pastures.  

For any of the senior management team that may covertly read this file, I'm
leaving because "after careful review of other companies compensation programs"
...(I always loved that tag line whenever they were cutting our benefits!)...
I've determined that "pay for performance" and "salary freeze" are 
inconsistant. 

If it doesn't "thaw" soon, the brain drain may well be fatal.

See ya from the other side...

Bob

    Good luck Bob, I've enjoyed your noting.

    Bye Bob, God bless, good luck, and all that. Feel like I'm loosing a
    cousin or something. Thanks for all your contributions!
    
    Bob

    This morning I was informed that my position was being eliminated and
    the DEC will no longer need my skill set. This leaves 6 CTS specialists
    to support the entire US sales force. After 23 years I must move on. 
    Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning.  God be with you.
    
    Kevin A. Sullivan 

Good bye Bob and Kevin, you've both helped me in my job and I wish you well.

regards,

Jim

    Well, gang, I didn't get the package.  I just handed in my notice.
    
    I have mixed feelings.  I will miss my co-workers.  After almost 14
    years, DEC/Digital feels like family.  But frankly, the company that I
    joined is gone already.  In my part of the company (OMS/GCPS), morale
    is subterranean, and we're not getting much productive work done --
    the politics overwhelm the mission.  Besides, being an orphaned relic
    of Digital Consulting doesn't sound like the most secure place to be.
    
    The job market, at least here near Boston, is pretty good now.  I'm
    moving to a good position at a good firm, one that rode the '80s roller
    coaster up and down but now really seems to be on an upturn.  I worked
    there before DEC so it's not exactly unfamiliar turf, though the
    position is different.  I can probably be reached, come mid-Sept.,
    as "fgoldstein@bbn.com".
    
    Good luck to all of you!
       fred

Well, I might as well put my note in here too. A couple of months ago, I
looked to see what the rest of the software world was up to and found some
very interesting things going on. This is my last week as a Digit.

I wish the very best to all of you.

Mickey Lane.
9 years @ CXO and 5 @ SHR

    To my DEC family:
    
    Tomorrow is my last day, I am joining the legions of DEC family who are
    now reacquainting themselves with the wonderful world "out there", and
    happily mulling over what new direction my life will now take.
    
    It's been a wonderful seven years.  I had the privilege of joining DEC
    while it was still DEC, knowing the myth that was Camelot.  I was a
    Millrat.  I remember well KO's Cheshire Cat grin.  I came into DEC a
    non-techical person, I go out a moderate tech-wienie, well prepared to
    find something in the "outside" world.  I made scores of friends, once
    a DECie, always a DECie, what a wonderful feeling of belonging.
    
    A personal note, a very happy one, I came into DEC in process of
    becoming divorced, a single Mom, and, because of this Notesfile, I am
    leaving DEC grateful for the love and laughter and nurturing that a
    gentle and wonderful DECie man brings daily into my life, and God
    willing, will for time unknown to come.  The road has come full circle.
    
    I leave with one note to all of you.  The greatest strenth of DEC was
    always it's wonderful family of employees.  We have laughed, cried,
    debated, idea'd, shared, played, worked together, kept ungodly hours,
    pondered KO's parables, and in the recent sad years, became besieged
    partners in the trenches, trying to shore one another up.  The second
    greatest emotional need any human being has after the need to be loved
    is the need to be appreciated.  Please, continue to appreciate one
    another, openly and lovingly, help one another through these dark
    times, don't ever forget what we all shared, and don't stop trying to
    make it better.  That's what family is all about.
    
    You all will always be family to me, in my heart and memories.  Take
    good care of yourselves.
    
    Always,
    
    Marina

	BEst of luck to you, Marina
	

	and what a beautiful attitude you have!

	How nice to read...

	

    
    Same here, Marina.
    
    Best wishes to you.
    
    Cindy

    
    Oops...I'm still here...just meant ditto to what Mikki said 
    in .156...
    
    Cindy

    
    
      This is the Digital family...
    

	I've enjoyed my 11 years here, but the time came when I decided I
	had to leave.  Tomorrow is my last day.

	I wish you all the best of luck.

	ScottR

    Hola Hombre!
    
    Dear Rene,
    
    From Belgium where I am living since 4 years, I wish you GOOD LUCK!
    Do not worry, I am sure you will find a lot of "ups" after the downs...
    
    Remember when I left Ferney it was not an easy decision but now I can
    tell you I have done the best choice...
    
    Speak to you VERY soon 
    Patricia

    After 10 years and 1 month, my last day of service is 30 October.
    
    I've had the pleasure of working in Los Angeles, Seattle, Boulder,
    and most recently Singapore.  But now it's time for a real change.
    
    Best to all,
    Steve
    
    steveroy@singnet.com.sg
    

    I'm leaving today -- voluntarily, Thank God.  For me, the decision was
    easy:
    
    Digital has no job security
    Digital has no severance package to speak of
    Digital no longer has competitive pay and benefits
    
    Adios!

(Please move if a topic already exists)



BYE!  I'am out-of-here as of today

Its been fun building such hacks as PAN & NEWS-NOTES but more
cash is more cash.. 

thanks

its been fun

Peter Bailey


God knows why .. but if you should want to contact me I can be found
of (UK) phone #  0793 894831

    
    I have formally resigned from my position at Digital and have one
    more week (and 6 hours, 16 minutes, ... -- who's counting? :-) ) left
    here.
    
    I was not fortunate enough to receive the small severance package.
    I could have bought another new PC with it and a few assorted games
    on CD-ROM! -- oh well.
    
    I will be working for Wellfleet Communications and getting a sub-
    stantially better compensation package for my work.
    
    I have met many many people in this company during my 5 year tenure
    here.  I have learned so much from people here and have found that
    one of Digital's best fringe benefits is the Notes conferences -- I
    will miss them!  I formally thank everyone who has shared knowledge
    with me and helped me to learn and grow.
    
    I wish you all at Digital the best of luck and want everyone to re-
    member that I've always believed that "... with every adversity always
    comes the seed of something very positive" (paraphrased from a quote
    from N. Hill, author of "Think and Grow Rich").
    
    Best Regards,
    
    Dennis
    

    Just to let everybody know my contract ends this week, so you won't be
    treated to snippets of my sterling prose for a while.  
    
    In the immediate future (through Christmas) I'll be working on my
    fiction writing, which has been on the back burner while I've been
    here.  After that, who knows?  If work and schedules permit, I'll be
    glad to come back for another stint in the future.  But we'll see.  One
    of the best parts of being self-employed is not having to make
    commitments like that.  
    
    If anybody wants to stay in touch, I'm on Compuserve: 
    71233.1407@compuserve.com
    
    --bonnie

    
    Sniff...sniff.  Will miss you and hope you're back soon.  Have you
    checkedd with legal before using any of our internal announcements as
    the basis for your writing? :^]
    
    							Tex

    Tex, I tell ya -- I thought about using some of this stuff, but . . . 
    
    . . . when I put it in a story, the editor sends it back and says,
    "This isn't believable!  This couldn't possibly happen in real life!"
    
    --bonnie

I guess that this is the best way to reach all of the friends that I've
made in my 19 years with DEC.  It would take me weeks to individually
find and say goodbye to all of the people I would like to.

Today I resigned to take a job with Compaq Computer in Houston, TX as
the manager of logistics information systems.  Given the rules on leaving
for a competitor, I'll not have the time needed to say proper goodbye's 
to all of my friends and acquaintances.

I started 19 years ago, writing code on DECsystem10's and RSTS machines
to move DEC's internal information systems from Burroughs machines
to our own hardware and software.  Friends in Engineering said that we were 
using the product wrong - " Nobody does commercial data processing on DEC
equipment, only scientific & engineering...".  I guess we proved them wrong.

Seventeen of my years here were spent in IM&T, working with, for, and managing
some wonderful, smart people.  Two years were spent in SW Engineering, again
with bright, hard-working people who taught me a lot.  

I leave with no regrets on having spent 19 years here.  The experience ranged from
the highs like morning coffee on the deck of the QE-II to lows of sitting on
a panel at DECUS in St.Louis that informed customers that the 36bit system
line was dead.  Such was life at DEC, up & down but never dull.

Thanks to my managers over the years.  Despite what one might derive from reading
this conference, DEC has had above-average to excellent managers who cared about
and developed their people.

Thanks to those who have worked for me.  A manager is only as successful as his 
team makes him/her.  I believe that I've had success as a manager and I attribute
that to those who have worked for me over the years.

Thanks to my coworkers.  I've had the privledge to work with some of the best.

As for parting advice, the Digital ship is still afloat and battleworthy.  Try firing 
the cannons outward for a while for better results.  Just don't hit Compaq ;^)


- Dave Doxey

Internet mail:

DaveDoxey@aol.com

Sorry to hear that, partner. Have you looked into the clubs down there? Can 
you get us on Colonial?

Good luck, Dave.

Tom

    	The Colonial Country Club is in Fort Worth, Texas, approximately
    260 miles from Houston, fyi...

Goodbye

It is time for me to say goodbye. After 11 years and 2 months, it is time
for me to move on to new challenges. I leave feeling that DIGITAL has  turned
the corner and is becoming successful again. However, it is not the DEC that I
joined 11 years ago, and I don't see a role for me in the new structure. For
those who have a role, I wish you the best. It's still a great company. Even
more than that, it's still a great group of people.

I have accepted an offer from Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. in College Station,
Texas as Research Scientist. They are doing the kind of work that AITC did in
the mid to late '80s. They are building leading edge software applications and
products. I am looking forward to the challenge of helping a small ($8M)
company grow.

My last day will be Sept 30. For people who wish to stay in touch (and I hope
you do) my home address will not change -

39 Gilbert St.
North Brookfield, MA 01535
(508) 867-7080

My work address (where I'll be 3 wks a month)

Knowledge Based Systems, Inc.
One KBSI Place
1408 University Drive East
College Station, TX 77840
(409) 260-5274 Phone
(409) 260-1965 Fax
cmarshall@kbsi.com


						Chuck Marshall

    Me too....I mean I'm outta here.  Gonna go work for a potential
    customer.  Had a great time in Digital till about 6 months ago.
    Digital was very good to me other than compensation.  Have mixed
    feelings about leaving but am very glad that the tension about making
    the decision is finally over.  Please, please, please get the stock
    price close to 50.  My kids education depends on it.
    
    Goodbye and goodluck to all!!!!
    
    Dalip

    
    Today is my last day with Digital. I resigned a couple of weeks ago and
    it was one of the toughest decisions in my life. I leave to go to a
    company that is a customer's of Digital along with the other major
    computer vendors. It is a good opportunity for my career to grow and to
    still remain in contact with Digital equipment too. I believe that
    Digital will not fail (just be a different type of company) and if my new
    employer hadn't convinced me that Digital was still going to be a main
    player in their shop I wouldn't have left the company. Perhaps one day
    an opportunity will arise and I will be able to bring the knowledge I
    acquire back to Digital and become an employee once again.
    
    To those I have had the good fortune to be associated with during these
    last 10 1/2 years may I thank you for the opportunites you afforded 
    me to grow and to be myself. I would like to wish all of you the best, 
    now, and in the future. I hope for all of you, and the company, good 
    fortune and that the problems are soon resolved. 
    
    See you later,
    
    Scott O'Brien

    TFSO'ed, leaving today, last official day is Oct 21, 1994 and I will
    have only one day over the 14 year mark.  I am moving to greener
    pastures and hope the best for all who remain.
    
    
    Dave

    Friday will be my last day at Digital, after 16 often happy months
    here, following seven years of contracting on and off for Digital in
    France, Switzerland and the UK.
    
    Feel free to contact me at my home address:
    
    Greny
    01630
    Peron
    France
    Tel. 50.56.39.52
    
    Piers Letcher

Time to say Goodbye!

Strangely, it doesn't feel that way, except when I'm using NOTES.

On Monday I will become a Quantum employee, but I'll still be
working at the same job, in the same place in CXO. (Colorado Springs)
And I will be seeing the same people, even if we won't all be working
for the same company any more, so saying goodbye to them feels 'wrong'.

But I need to say goodbye to the faceless electronic community I've grown
to identify by the NODENAME::USERNAME in the top left corner of the screen.

I can identify some of you by your sentence styles, some by the positions you
support, some by your wisdom and some by your humor (note: style, support,
wisdom and humor are all signed variables).

I will miss sharing this space with you, thank you for sharing it with me!

	#include the 'I remember when' story

	#include the 'what Notes has done for me' story

I've already seen too many of them to want write (or read) another one.

	#include the 'I'm looking forward to both our futures' disclaimer


	Joe (HiBob::)Krantz  soon to be someone known as:
			     krantz@hibob.enet.qntm.com

Hi All,

It's JJ's first and last note in this forum.  

I'm all done today, my choice.  

I guess I knew I'd be leaving once I saw the Simplex sign
replace the Digital sign at the former WMO.  Breaks my
heart every day when I drive by it.

I've learned a great deal in my 7 years here and have
met quite a few talented and thoughtful people.

Thanks to all who have educated me.  I wish you all
peace and I look forward to seeing the return of DEC.

Take care,

JJ

Today is my last day as a temporary contractor for Digital.
Monday, I'll be a temporary contractor for Quantum.

Having left before, at my own initiative, way back in 1985, I already
know that there is life after DEC.  Being a temporary type, I couldn't
be more used to uncertainty if my name were Heisenberg (just a little
Quantum joke there, folks).  

I have learned a lot reading your notes.  I'll miss you, all.  
Who knows, as a temp, I may be back again, perhaps sooner, perhaps
later.

For those of you who have never had the "out of company experience",
I can't resist a little parting advice.  Take it with one of these  ;-)

If you are ever forced through the tight, dark tunnel, you may come
across a gateway marked:

	Abandon all HOPE, then press ENTER.

Avoid this gateway.  It has a lot of bandwidth, and accepts many connections,
but it doesn't lead anywhere useful.  The tunnel gets narrower ahead, but
eventually it comes out to a brighter light than you have ever seen, and
you will meet friends you haven't seen in years.

Don't ignore the past.  Remembering is better than repeating.
Don't ignore the future.  Plans often go wrong, but not planning just
     about guarantees failure.
But, especially, don't ignore the present.  It's your only chance to act.
     The only time you can make a difference is now.

Do it.
Do it right.
Do it right now.

Love to all and farewell,
    Dave

    Today is my last day with Digital.  I thought about writing one of
    these messages that re-counts my DEC life, but now I think I'll
    close in a simpler fashion.
    
    I've had one heck of a good ride and carer with Digital, and I thank 
    my past bosses/leaders (most have since left DEC) for those wonderful
    experiences!!!  I, like everyone else, have lived through the tough
    times, but I always made the best of them.  
    
    I started as a Manufacturing Supervisor in the Phoenix Manufacturing
    Plant (PNO).  I quickly moved up the ladder (5 years) to a job that had
    three roles...Business Controller (Finance), Materials Manager, and 
    Strategic Planning Manager....That tri-role was my most fun job yet.
    I was also the acting Manufacturing Manager for a while and that was
    fun too.  The I worked for a VP of Government Sales and Services in a
    Finance role.  Finally I will end my 7 year 4 month career as a
    Customer Satisfaction Manager here at Colorado Springs Disk Drive
    Manufacturing.  Not bad for 7 years!  Thanks DEC!!!
    
    I wish you all the very best.  I've enjoyed reading and writing in this
    and other files (Soapbox...just to piss some folks off for fun,
    Hunting...although I never gave any of my secret spots away, and
    others).  It looks like we have a good deal worked out with Quantum,
    so I look forward to a great new start!!!
    
    I'm also very happy that I will be able to keep living in the West. 
    I'm a Cowboy and will spend the rest of my days here in the West!
    I've tried the East, but the West is the BEST!!!
    
    Cheers!
    Scott D. Horn
    4750 Nightingale Dr.
    Apt. H106
    Colorado Springs, CO  80918

    Well I'm out of here too ...
    Basys (information systems) have been purchased by Avid, and I fell
    through the net becasue I don't wish to relocate from England to the
    US. But like the Murphy's, I'm not bitter...
    
    The Notes have been great, perhaps one of the great unsung heros of
    Digital. Good for business (Ultrix and OSF/1 being some of my favs) and
    gossip (This one and the UK digital one too) and Anorak interest (Star
    Trek and Beer :-) - ps I've just got back from the Octoberfest and it
    is BRILL!)
    
    I think Digital was, is, and will be good to work for (although I've
    only been a 'digit' for a couple of years since Digital brought us from
    ITN) and I believe Digital will rise to be great again.
    
    Good Luck to all in Digital, and Good Luck to my friends who either
    stayed within Digital as part of the Automation side of Basys, or who
    made the leap to Avid.
    
    Cheers one and all, and like the Murphy's (once again) I'm going to get
    drunk on Friday night after my last day ...
    
    
    Andy
    

    Well, it's been a great ride, but the last year or so of corporate
    indecisiveness (aka "thrashing around") finally got to me. I went
    looking for other opportunities, found one that I liked, and made the
    decision to call it quits after 15 years at DEC. 

    So, I'm off. [Interested parties may read the mushy stuff in my topic
    in SSDEVO::DISK$RAID_USER:[NOTES]WHOAREYOU. (Finding the topic is left
    as an exercise for the reader!)] 

    It's clear that one's view of Digital's future is colored strongly by
    one's perspective; I've heard from people who are in groups that have
    suffered badly and are scraping bottom, and I've also heard from people
    whose groups are doing well and who have great hopes for the future. My
    parting wish for DEC is that it will get on with it - make the
    decisions that need making; fund the groups it wants to keep before
    attrition renders them ineffectual; sell (or axe) the groups it doesn't
    want before the lack of support renders them too depressed to function;
    *communicate* with the employees about what's being done, when it will
    happen and (this would be nice) why; and do _something_ to convince the
    customers that their interests are being kept in mind during all this. 

    We make a lot of really excellent products. I think it would be 
    wonderful if we let more people know that - and if the folks who make 
    those products were compensated and recognized accordingly.

    The best of luck to all who choose to remain, and to the many DEC
    alumni as well.
    
    See you somewhere on the 'net,
    -b "Gory Details"

    
    
    Thank you Digital for 14 years of benefits, training,experiences...etc.
    Yes this is goodbye, but in a good way, I have chosen to leave
    the company to explore the outside world, sort of like what we're doing
    on the INTERNET these days, I have neither the time left nor the chance
    to say Goodbye to all my digital friends. I have not been asked to
    leave, instead I have asked to leave, so that I may improve my skills
    and hopefully help to do my part to make the world a better place to
    live in or at least an improvement to what is out there now.
    
    I leave with lots of good memories as well as some thoughts of
    disappointments, but learning ones. I have learned a lot in the past
    14 years working my way up from system technician to I.S. Manager.
    The use of the notes file is the best asset we can hold onto. keep up the
    good work.
    
    To all I leave behind, I wish you all good luck and continued
    prosperity.	Thanks for the memories!!!
    
    
    						Kevin Martin
    	
    
    thanks again and good bye. 
                                  

    Well, after 16.5 years, I've submitted my resignation to Digital, and
    have accepted a senior position as a marketing manager with another
    corporation.  Since I sent a long message out to as many people as 
    I could think of under seperate cover, I'll be brief here.  This was 
    my choice to leave, and I leave with no package, no regrets, and
    very fond memories.  I've had the opportunity at Digital to work for 
    one of the greatest corporations, and with some truly outstanding 
    individuals.
    
    I wish good luck to all those Digital employees who remain, and
    greater success for Digital in the future.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Ken
    

    Today is my last day with Digital.  I've enjoyed my 14 years here and
    hope that the fun times return.  I've met great people from all over
    the world and will probably cross paths with some of you in the future.
    Thanks and best of luck to all.
    
    Grant Dixon
    75333.2603@compuserve.com

From:	ISLNDS::BOWERS "25-Oct-1994 1358" 25-OCT-1994 13:59:46.83
To:	@PARTY
CC:	BOWERS
Subj:	FAREWELL TO FRIENDS


     After 24.8 years of positive and rewarding experience, I have decided 
to leave Digital.  I am very up-beat on Digital's prospects for the future, 
and I think it's present course is a good one.  But another opportunity 
has come my way that I can't resist, heading up Quality and Technology for
PictureTel Corporation in Peabody, MA.
    
     As I begin my new employment, I do not think of myself as leaving
Digital, but on-loan to another company.  After 25 years at DEC...a quarter
of a century...half of my life... DEC is permanently part of me.  DEC has
changed a lot, but it is still probably the most powerful influence 
on my life.  I do not support some of the bad words I sometimes hear 
lately... although I do share many of the recent frustrations.  One of 
things DEC has taught me is ROI.  My experience with DEC overall has 
provided an ROI of thousands to one.  I have worked hard, but the 
satisfaction and opportunity for self fulfillment have been enormous.

     Everyone says that what makes Digital is it's people and I agree with
that, and the good news is that I do not have to part with the people, just 
the company.  I fully intend to stay linked with all my DEC friends, and 
perhaps someday return to Digital.  The people in Digital that I love fall
into four groups.

SECRETARIES - Probably the single most under-valued resources that
Digital has is its secretaries.  Digital's secretaries have World-Class 
skills, they are managers, administrators, coordinators, planners, 
programmers, advisors and workers.  A department manager can go away for
month, and everything runs smoothly.  If the secretary is out sick for 2
days, everything stops.  I once asked an IM&T Manager how to get software,
he said, "I don't know... check with your secretary!"  While Digital
secretaries are all excellent, I want to express my thanks to the 
secretaries who have worked for me or supported me directly.  To be honest, 
90% of the work I get credit for has been carried out by my secretaries.  
I cannot imagine that in another company I can find people of such high 
integrity, loyalty, commitment and moral support.  Every secretary I have 
worked with in Digital have been prepared to fully partner with me, share
the load, do their part, and contribute to mine.  I value the support and 
friendship of the secretaries of Digital, and I'll miss them most.

BOSSES - I have never really had an excellent boss at Digital (nor an awful
one).  The way the company runs, the managers usually have all they can do 
to take care of their own work priorities.  But as people, all of them have
been superlative.  I am grateful for the time I have had with them and 
the exposure has been powerful.  many of these people have been industry, 
or even world experts.  They have been hard working and results oriented, 
and of very high ethics.  Especially in the old days, managers would be 
mindful of the fact that they were not available, so instead provided 
leadership and a constructive working environment.  My bosses have been
technical geniuses, brilliant strategists and inspired leaders.  You can't 
help learning a lot and accomplishing a lot when exposed to these giants of 
industry.  You also learn not to be offended if a boss's boss says, "What 
department are YOU in?

SUBORDINATES AND PEERS - These two groups are hard to distinguish. As a 
dynamic organization, almost anyone can become a boss, subordinate, or 
peer based on todays reorganization. Subordinates are always ready to do 
their job.  Usually they want to do more than you ask.  They only want 
clear objectives guidance and occasional organizational road clearing.  It 
is hard to imagine the concept of poor labor relations that other 
companies have, as every person who has ever had the (mis)fortune to work 
for me has given a 300% effort to the needs of the group.  Everyone does 
more than their share.  

The peer group of past, present and future DEC employees are worldwide.  
There are more DEC employees out of DEC than in.  They are everywhere!  
They are leading companies and they are driving taxi cabs.  I cannot go
anywhere in the world without meeting DEC alumni and being treated with 
warmth and a kind of association that makes you feel like you found you 
long lost brother.

Tongue in cheek, I decided to leave Digital when they announced BXC closed.  
I feel a little like David Janson in the movie the Fugitive.  You see...
every single plant that I have worked in since I joined Digital has been 
closed or is closing...yes, MLO1, MLO4, MLO5, ACO, SGO, AGO, GAO, KBO, VBO, 
and now BXC.  But I stayed one step ahead of the posse by making the 
ultimate escape.  

No, I still say that I am not leaving Digital, I am just changing status... 
I'm going from E-NET to INTERNET.....

See you on the Tube!

Fred




    
    	Hey Fred, since when is VBO closing?  I haven't heard about this? 
    You do mean VBO=Valbonne I take it?
    
    				Malcolm.

    
    Fred probably means manufacturing in VBO.
    
    Otherwise it's actually true that Digital has closed down in Valbonne.
    VBO is situated in the Sophia Antipolis technology park, originally
    within the limits of the village of Valbonne. Now Sophia Antipolis
    has expanded into neighbouring villages and the VBO site has moved to
    Les Templiers, which belongs to the village of Biot.
    
    The best, Fred!
    
    /Ake

    Fred... I really hate to see you go... and thanks for your words
    of praise to secretaries... It has been a pleasure working with you.
    
    Ana

    	How 'bout some good news for a change? Dot (note .144) is working
    at WYLE here in Boise as a Systems Sales Rep. It's nice to have a
    reseller who knows all the innards of the labrynth and how to work
    them.
    	Yea ... Dot!!

Well, after seven and one half great years today is my last day with Digital.
I start a new position with GLOBEtrotter Software, Inc. on Monday, November 28.
GLOBEtrotter develops and markets license management software for UNIX, VMS, and
PC platforms (notably FLEXlm, the Sun license manager).  I've had the pleasure
of working with a number of great people on a variety of interesting projects. 

I wish both Digital and all my fellow employees the best of luck.

Regards,

Bob Lyon
lyon@halcyon.com

Leaving this evening for an opportunity I can't refuse...

  Please stay in touch:     33-93.32.78.71 (Home Fax/Phone in France)
                            attmail!aatwell or atwell@altern.com (Internet)

  Au revoir et a bientot!   Allen

Well, finally I too get to write a farewell message.

I am part of the transition of Digital's database business to Oracle Corp., and
it is honestly a relief to be going.  Yes, I will be moving to a company that
values software, and that is vibrant, profitable, and growing, but the real
relief is to be leaving a Digital that has shown little if any interest in
software in recent years, and shows few signs (at least to me) of making the
necessary changes to accommodate the new realities of the computer industry. In
particular, in making its own operations and organizations efficient and
effective, and in defining a realistic strategy for the future that everyone can
understand, believe in, and work towards.  I have grave doubts about Digital's
long-term viability, at least in anything like its present form.

I am sad that a once great company that (for most of my nearly 20 years here) I
felt good about and was proud to work for has now been reduced to a company that
is virtually the antithesis of what it was.   It is particularly sad to see the
disconnect between the senior management of the company and the 'rest of us'.
Senior management seems to speak so much in platitudes and managerspeak, and is
clearly not doing its job in terms of leadership, setting believable strategies
or goals, and especially in inspiring or listening to its employees.  In the
meantime, the rest of us wonder what the real story is, when it will change (we
know it will; it always does...), and how long it will be before we are laid off
(or whatever the euphemism of the day might be). Little wonder that I have
shown no interest in watching any of the recent senior management DVNs, nor
seriously read any of their recent Email messages, nor paid any attention to
their latest flurry of reorganization announcements.  I simply no longer believe
what they say, and even less that their actions will have any positive effect.

During my tenure here, I have met and valued countless wonderful and interesting
people.  As a result, I have many good memories of my years with Digital.  All
in all, it has been a great experience, and I thank all those who have
contributed to it.  

To all of you who are staying at Digital, I wish you all the very best for the
future, however it turns out!

I bid you all a fond farewell.

Regards,

Bryan Higgs

    This is my farewell message.....my last day with Digital is this coming
    Friday.
    
    I've been through a few organisations during my 8.5 years (UK-ADG,
    CSSE, NPACE and NSTG) and it's been quite an experience !!!
    
    I wish you all well and many thanks to the contributors to this
    notesfile.  It's been an invaluable source of information. 
    
    For those who wish to keep in contact, my new internet email address 
    is 'dave@meson.demon.co.uk'
    
    Regards,
    
    David Wiltshire
    

    I've been a long time reader of this notesfile, but seldom a writer.
    However, as I prepare to turn in my badge after nearly eight years, I feel
    the need to leave some indication that I was here.
    
    Unfortunately, most of my contributions to this company have been in trying
    to build an industry consulting practice. But I doubt that anyone can find 
    even a shred of evidence that they still exist in any meaningful form. It's
    strange to think how quickly many years worth of effort can be dismantled 
    without a trace. 
    
    So it seems that my legacy with DEC (errr... Digital) is reduced to the 
    equivalent of electronic graffiti. A scrawled signature on a wall to tell 
    some future bemused spectator that I was here. Once.


				Sheila Fields
				Sheila225@aol.com
         

    why do i get the funny feeling this topic is going to get very active
    again?

Add me to this list ... after almost 15 years, I know I'm in for a shock
"out there".  Until recently, I felt I belonged here.  But times change ...

DEC, Digital, change the name, change the color of the logo, it doesn't matter.
There have been many changes over the years.  But through it all, its the
people, fellow employees, that have remained professional, and a pleasure to
work with.  And this hasn't changed.  To those of you remaining, keep up the
good work.  Bring Digital back to profitability (I am still a share holder).

Stay in touch, my new address is:
	BLOOM%STARS.decnet@alexandria-emh2.army.mil

/Eric

    
        RE  .199
    
        Why is this topic going to get very active again?  Well, for 
        one, the Mfg. and Distribution organization in the newly-defined 
        and downsized SBU (Systems Business Unit) will be passing out 
        official notifications this week.  For those folks, myself 
        included, this Friday will be the last day.
    
        More later.
    
        Cheers,
        Peter
    

    Thanks for your friendship and support for the past 16 1/2 years. I'm
  leaving Digital with very fond thoughts of products and projects we have
  done together through the normal (and abnormal) ups and downs of software
  product development and consulting. 

    I appreciate the many things I've learned from you in the past decade and 
  a half, and I've truly enjoyed working with so many excellent people. 
  I will definitely miss seeing many of you on a frequent basis (though it
  *is* a small industry, and who knows - lots of friends from UNIVAC are 
  still around & hopefully we're see you too!).

  Best of luck, and do stay in touch.

  regards

  -tom

  19 Louise Drive
  Hollis NH 03049
  603 886-8463

  Compuserve: 73422,2332

  [ aka ..    US2RMC::"73422.2332@CompuServe.COM" for DEC VMS users  ]


/attachment




Remember when ...


  We tried for the PC software development in '86, actually outplaced products
in '88, and we almost did the big software spinoff proposed in November of '92
;^). Do remember that efforts which fail to succeed are often sources of the 
greatest learning!

  I'm particularly reminded of the downright fun we had bringing forth:
the VMS commmon language (RTL) environment, SMG$, NOTES, visual programming 
(COBOL Gen), Motif, threads, MEMEX, DECdesign, DECplan, the programmer's 
environments, putting DEC software on Sun, and terrific innovations of a 
non-code nature: Modeling, CET, Contextual Inquiry, Meetings That Work, VCA, 
the SUE Group, VR, the Sponsored Research Board, TMC/TSC, SEI & Metrics work, 
the OO and CASE programs, Approachable Systems (MCC-related project), and 
many more. Together, we shipped over 200 product releases and brought in 
about $1B for DEC - what a trip to have been with you as you pulled all that 
off. Good job!

  So, new adventures await us all. I'm happily looking forward to a new 
opportunity to innovate, to learn, to lead, to teach, and to collaborate many
ways for surprisingly high payoffs. Remember to team, to lead, and to demand 
the *best* from yourselves, your peers and your leaders! 

Hi all,

it's not quite sure but it seems that on friday it's the last day I'm in
Digital.

I'm moving to Oracle Company.

I'm writing only to remark: I'm proud I worked for seven years in this grand
Company, and I'm honoured I worked with all of You.

I want to thanks all the Digital collegues that in this years, patient and 
patient, answer to me on all the conferences.

I want, I need and I must remark my goodbyes to some collegues:

Robert Silver (a my grand friend)
Steve  Lionel
Steve  Hoffman
Gary   Hicks
Hein   Vandenheuvel
Phil   Norwich
Derek  Garson
Beth   Rust (I readed he gone out)
       Sarah
Robert Monteleone
John   Reagan
Tim    Rice


My best regards AND GOOD LOOK to all {![!(!)!]!},

Francesco

(P.S.  LAST EXCUSE TIME FOR MY ORRIBLE ENGLISH)
(P.S.1 DIGITAL FOREVER, VMS ALSO)
(P.S.2 LIFE IS SO STRANGE...)
(P.S.3 My personal mail address, if someone will...
       Francesco Alloggi, Sanseverino street n.19, 80128-Naples, Italy).
                                                

I'm history, as of today.  Digital hired me out of college in 1988, about the
last year they did mass college hiring, as far as I could tell.  I think that
not hiring college students is a mistake, in the long term.  Where are the DEC
engineers with user interface (GUI) experience?  Where are those that have 
PC/DOS experience?  I'd swear some engineers have never even seen Microsoft
Windows.  

For many of our products, a DCL interface is considered adequate, and 
GUIs are 'slapped on at the end, if there's time' - (yes, that's a quote from 
an Engineer).  Great products, but stone-age interfaces and mindsets toward
real testing and quality work.


I'm not bitter - I needed a career change, one way or the other.  It's been a
good 6 years here.  I've met a lot of very high quality individuals.  It's a
shame that so many have left and are leaving.  Best of luck to you all!


#217847, er.....
Steve Helmreich
IDC - Colorado

    
	Please allow me a moment of your time to say; good-bye,
	for now. Seventeen and a half years of having an opportunity
	to support our customers, stockholders, BOD, management and 
	fellow employees at Digital summed up, WOW!

	I don't believe getting experience working with Far East groups
	in '77-'79, being apart of Semiconductor start-up, worldwide 
	operations, and the introduction of ALPHA design '79-'89, and
	then selling to two of Digital's largest global accounts '89-'95,
	could have been had anywhere else. 

	The personal and professional relationships including meeting
	my wife Tracy and having our wonderful children David, Rebecca,
	Michael and the personal growth is all a direct result of my 
	time at Digital, I thank all of you. Mentors I met while at
	Digital, Tony Serani and Sharon Wulf continue to prove invaluable
	as we move on.

	Digital Equipment Corporation will survive and from one person's
	"in the field perspective" as customer acceptance grows with ALPHA
	volume the biggest challenge is getting the remaining 65K or less
	(as stated by V. Mullarkey CFO Mag. 11/94) employees all focusing
	on the same thing. For example one of the areas that in my opinion 
	was not thought through enough, is the transition from salaried plus 
	bonus to salary plus commission plans. The plans are competitive. What 
	hasn't worked is the administration of the budgets (alignment of base 
	pay with equitable distribution of quota) and the implementation of 
	how sales will be paid in a timely fashion. This will detract from 
	customer attention very quickly, as many of us have already seen. 
		
	No more negative! It can and will be solved, over time.

	The future for my family and I is very bright and we are extremely
	happy to be able to look back and use every bit of our experiences
	to raise our capabilities to the next level. Words of advice from
	a young departing soul... make sure as you go through the day
	to day you continue to test the hypothesis "hard work, honest days 
	pay and willingness to change-will always make you marketable"
	 
	Let me close with a quote - John F. Kennedy 10/31/63
	Presidential Press Conference. [Paraphrased] -When asked about how
	he liked being President now, as compared to when he was asked earlier 
	in his term, shortly after the Bay Of Pigs (in all his wit then replied 
	he liked it before that event) he replied with the Greek's definition
	of happiness which he had told that audience before:

	"Full Use Of Your Powers Along The Lines Of Excellence" 
    
	He went on to say the work was rewarding.

	This definition for me strikes a cord of balance between knowing
	your own power and using it toward the better of the cause, whether
	it be personal or professional, best of luck to all and keep
	in touch.

	My personal mail address on the American On-Line Service is:
	JGRIF69071@AOL.COM

	It has happened to me.  After seven years, my group, the 
Reliability Engineering Group within SBU M&L, has decided not to work 
systems and software issues, concentrating strictly on product 
manufacturing quality/reliability.  "At risk", I pursued a number of 
possibilities and even as late as this morning there was a chance.  
However, they didn't work out and so today is my last day at Digital.

	I've enjoyed the work I've done here, in cluster availability 
analysis, software reliability, and software complexity analysis.  I've 
definitely enjoyed the working atmosphere here, the technical discussions, 
the problem solving, and all the great people whom I've met!  I haven't 
enjoyed the ride through one rapids after another that the last four years 
have been, but maybe that's beginning to settle down.  For the sake of all 
of you still here, I hope so!

	You can send e-mail to me at "heimann@volpe1.dot.gov", and my home
address is 5 Longwood Dr., Andover, MA  01810.  Keep in touch; we'll see 
what life is after DEC!

						Yours,
						David

    
    I guess it's' my turn to write a reply to this note.  Friday December
    23rd will be my last day at Digital.  I started working for DEC back in
    1983 working in the Forms space on FMS.  I later moved on to VAXforms,
    DECforms, CDA and finally the NAS Packages.
    
    I'm off to join a small startup here in Nashua to become the Director
    of Engineering for a small startup here called 3DV.
    
    If anyone wants to get in contact with me you can find me at:
    
    Stephen Munyan
    14 Highbridge Hill
    Nashua, NH  03063
    (603) 880-5448
    
    Internet:  munyan@mv.mv.com
    CompuServe:  74547,1204
    
    Steve
    

    After ten and a half years with Digital, I'm off to a small company
    with a software focus.  I'll be joining Intuitive Technology in
    Marlboro on January 3.
    
    I wish you all the best,
    
    Peter

    
    After thirteen years with Digital (six at the CSC in Alpharetta), I am 
    going to avoid the Christmas/New Years rush.  The 22nd is my last day.  
    I have really enjoyed my stay at Digital, mostly because of some 
    really great fellow employees and customers.  I will be going to work
    at LXE (Electromagnetic Sciences Inc), joining some other past DECies.
    
    
    Regards
    Dwight
    

    From time to time I have contributed to this conference, so I thought I
    would drop a line to say that I am leaving Digital, reluctantly but
    voluntarily.  This is my last week.  Next year I'll be at Lightbridge,
    Inc., a small company in Waltham, Massachusetts.  The main number,
    should you wish to contact me, is (508) 890-2000; I will eventually get
    an Internet-able address.
    
    My profession, technical communication, has struggled for literally
    more than a generation for recognition.  (My father had to spend time
    explaining to his peers the value of technical writers and how they
    should be part of the team; I do too.)  When I joined Digital's
    networking group, in 1986, documentation was recognized as a core
    competency: it was vital to the success of Digital's products, and
    Digital's professionals did the job as well as anyone.  Today, I feel
    the Network Product Business Unit is poised for a tremendous
    resurgence, one which may well lead the entire corporation back to
    glory.  Unfortunately, my work group is no longer attached to my client
    group, and our new top management chain no longer views us as a core
    competentency but as a commodity that can safely be disposed of.  So
    while I'm in the right place at the right time, I'm working for the
    wrong bosses.
    
    It's always been a thrill to know that in NOTES and the DIGITAL
    conference I had the opportunity to communicate with so many thousands
    of people.  Though I've never met most of you, I feel a certain
    attachment, and it's hard to break that thread, but there comes a time
    when the right thing to do is to cut the cord and move on.  I wish you
    great success and happiness in the future, wherever you may be!
    
    	Steve Jong

    Starting in January, I should be reachable at psmith@aglance.com,
    (508) 481-3992 (don't know the extension yet).

     Nigh on to a dozen years here has given me plenty of material with
which to be gracious, grumpy or eloquent in my goodbye, but it's all
been said better than I could hope to say it (again and again).

			best of luck to all those staying and leaving,

								Robt. P.
				       (RMP@PopJ1.UltraNet.Com after Jan. 10)

P.S.: I hope Russ Doane (.94) is right!

    The main number at Lightbridge is actually (617) 890-2000;
    my Internet address will probably be jong@credtech.com (its old name).

For a long time I had hoped this day wouldn't come. I've resigned and will
leave DEC on 1/6. While saddened at having to leave many very good friends, I
am excited about a new position with a new company in CO. I've never been very
good at saying good bye to friends. So I'll keep it brief and sincere.   

Good bye. God bless. And good luck.  

Gene

    After 17+ years it's time for me to add my reply to this note. 
    I got the TFSO notification yesterday
    
    I'm leaving with a bundle of mixed feelings...relief and sadness. 
    
    Best wishes to all!
    
    John Amante
    

    Hi,
    
    I'm also (almost) history.
    Starting feb 6, I'll be an employee of ICS Inc., Chadds Ford PA.
    Can you supply me with info on Chadds Ford and surroundings?
    (I'm Dutch and worked for Digital Utrecht, Holland for six years as a
    Logistics and SAP R/3 consultant)
    
    Thanks!
    
    Hans Schuurmans @UTO
    Holland
                                    

    Chadds Ford is in suburban Philadelphia, PA.
    
    Dennis Faust
    

Well folks its been great being a Deccie.  I'm sorry to say that after 
six and a half years I'll be leaving DEC Friday January 20th to work for 
Reuters Information Services in Hauppauge NY.  I consider this company to 
be DEC and not digital, and boy was that a waste of money! 
 
I've not much to say except that I will miss this company from a technical  
standpoint.  But monitarily and from a benefits perspective it's a little to 
be desired.  I know the company is not doing well but that's not my doing. 
I'm just a grunt in the field being paid for my services.  PSS, EIS, DC, SI,
whatever it is now! 
 
As for all the people I've met in the trenches (a lot of them gone now) I'll  
miss you.  As for the good support people I'll miss you too!  My first day at 
DEC was a proud one, my last I'm sure will be a sad one. 
 
I'll be selling all but 25 shares of my Digital stock, only because I'll need 
it for my new house.  So keep up the good work! I'm sure that with enough 
determination you can succeed!  Oh and will someone please have the sign at 
the LIO - Melville office polished it looks horrible! 
 
Best wishes to all! 
 
- Michael Catania 
 
PS You can reach me at CompuServe 76464,312 thats
   GATWAYNAME::"76464.312@compuserve.com" where
   GATEWAYNAME is whatever gateway you are using.
   Or soon to reside at:
 
	  21 Pine Ridge Street 
	  Melville, NY 11747

    
    

    Since I'm the last in Digital Consulting here in Long Island, I'll
    turn out the lights for my group :-)
    
    See Ya!
    
    - Mike

    Well, its my turn to say good-bye.  After 13+ years, I've decided to
    leave the turmoil and uncertainty of Digital to start my own small
    business.
    
    To my many friends and colleagues, thank you for making my experience
    at DEC so rewarding and for your help and encouragement over the years. 
    I've enjoyed working with all of you and will miss you!  Take care. 
    I hope our paths cross again.
    
    Regards and 
    Best wishes for your continued personal and professional success!
    Sheldon
    
    In future, I can be reached:
    
      by phone at (902)835-8860, Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada;
    
      by email to harting@ra.isisnet.com   (for the next few months) -or-
                  hartling@netpath.ns.ca   (pending .ca registration).

    Well 28 and half years, and I am going also....this is only the second
    job I ever had.  Lots of good times, lots of friends, met my wife here
    also.  Just celerbrated our 25th Wedding Anniversay.  Good luck to all
    and I think we are turning the corner.  
    
    I am going to a vendor that we use for Event Management EVENTPRO
    Services.  So I will continue to be involved with happenings at Digital
    and be able to see many of you.
    
    I can be reached at 508 592-2600 Fax 508 952-0072
    
    Best wishes to all.....
    
    Roy Gould, # 2323 a MILLRAT 

    I know it been awhile since anybody added a note to this but after
    eighteen years I wanted to say good-by to all the people who have
    touched my life I did not get to say goodby to. Take care and thanks
    for the memories.
    
    ray jerome
    csc/at

    Like my daddy taught me long ago, "Son, always deal from strength."
    Except for two momentary lapses that I'm still paying for years later,
    I've always tried to follow his advice.
    
    I will be leaving Mother DEC on my own terms on February 24 to join a
    small company in the Columbia, MD area as their Contracts Supervisor. 
    I've been blessed with a handsome raise, being over 2 years plus
    without one here and none in sight.

    Another original voice silenced like /nasser and Pat Sweeney.  I'll
    miss your contributions.

So long, Dave.

    I guess this is one string where repeating a sentiment is not
    redundant.
    
    re roelof

Um, I don't think Dave said he was going.  He posted a farewell note
written by Yves Ignazi.

					Steve

Steve, I don't speak French, but it sure looks like a letter telling
Mr. Monahan where to go for his exit interview.

It is a mail from HR to Dave confirming Dave's request for voluntary TFSO and
mentions the effective date of 20-Feb. I'm sure he'll be laughing all the way
to the bank. Good luck Dave. Are you teaming up with Rick Barnardo's gardening
service or will you take a job as ''garcon'' at Mykonos?

>Per

    I will miss you Dave.
    
    I remember when I joined Digital at the end of 1978 and got thrown into
    learning all about VAXes and VMS that you were the U.K. regional 
    support VAX guru. When I was on my original training courses, you were
    helping Peter Rutter (the instructor) to understand the quirks of VMS
    in those early days.
    
    And because I saw you, Mike Grossmith, and others, make the
    international relocation transition, I plucked up the courage to go the
    same way.
    
    Thank you Dave. You've been a mentor to me in more ways than one, even
    if you didn't know it.
    
    - Richard.

Sigh - I don't read French well enough to have figured it out.

				Steve

    	Thanks for all the kind wishes. The implications of the "DTPR"
    mentioned in the letter are that initially I go onto 60% salary while I
    either look for another job or try to start my own company. Since that
    makes me nominally still a DEC employee, if they do things the same way
    as they did in the last wave I will have access to notes via a gateway
    during that time, but it is likely that Monday is the last day I will
    appear as PASTIS::MONAHAN if I write a reply.
    
    	It's a bit sad really, since that has been my network address for
    well over 10 years now. The original PASTIS was an early Microvax, and
    up to about the time it arrived there was only Phase III DECnet, and
    Valbonne had been allocated node numbers 120 to 129. As we changed to
    field test of Phase IV with area routing I allocated the new machine the
    node number of 51.130. The area router was a 1.5Mb VAX/11-750, BONNET,
    the hub of the ValBONNETwork, which also used to handle a dozen or so
    interactive users.
    
    	Anyway, bye to all of my good friends in DEC. I am sure we will
    bump into each other occasionaly. Thanks for all of your help through
    the years. If you get to the Valbonne area we will probably be in the
    same house for the next 18 months or so since it will be that long
    before baby daughter finishes her school here and goes off to
    university somewhere. tel. 93120675 if you are in France, otherwise add
    whatever it requires to get you to France.
    
    	Dave

Common Name:   BRIAN MONAHAN
Search Surname:  MONAHAN  Search Given Name:  BRIAN  DTN:  828-5120
Telephone:  [33]92955111  Intrnl Mail Addr:  VALBONN  Location:  VBE
Node:  PASTIS  Username:  MONAHAN

    But let me echo the finer sentiments of others -- whatEVER your first
    name is!  Best of luck in the Big Wide World, you'll be sorely missed,
    not only in your technical circles, but in JOYOFLEX as well.
    
    :-( for us, 
    
    :-) for you
    
    Bon Voyage indeed!
    
    Dan

    
    I am calling it a day after about 8 years with DEC. It is
    hard to imagine that I would end up a futures trader after
    10 years as an Engineer.
    
    You guys out there take good care of this company, I
    own 10 lots of DEC share, thanks god mostly bought at 
    all time low.
    
    I wish everyone well and good bye.
    

	This is my last day at Digital.  Labor Day in September would 
have been 16 years.  All of it has been in communications:  public 
relations, advertising, analyst relations, internal communcations, 
trade shows.  Here are a few thoughts:

	o One of the core Digital values which remains is that the 
company's greatest asset and biggest differentiator from all other 
companies is its people.  How we connect and relate to each other as 
perceived by the outside world is what makes us different, unique, and 
part of the team with the customer.  This was proven to me even more 
during the last few days.  It doesn't end when we leave at night; it 
extends to the former employees who have not forgotten the culture and 
embody it in their new organizations.

	o We are not just about computers, software, information, 
services, components, peripherals, consulting and databases; we are 
not just about communications.  Clearly, we have had a role in 
building the economies in emerging democracies in South Africa and 
Eastern Europe, not to mention Greater Maynard.  The conquest of 
smallpox and the availability of computing at home resulted from what 
we did to help.  Not just with jobs and contributions, but with 
technology and foresight.

	o Clearly, we exist not for jobs or patents or awards, but for 
profits.  There are hospitals, medical research institutes, 
universities, and other institutions all over the world where we have 
given not just equipment but cash.  And it is that cash which will 
help conquer the next illness, educate the next student, cure the next 
victim, help build the economy of the next emerging democracy.  This 
is why we are in business.  The beneficiaries are not just 
stockholders or creditors or employees, but entire societies that will 
benefit from the difference we can make.

	o We have come a long ways in the last 16 years.  When I came 
here, the first VAX had just started to ship.  Only a few of the 
secretaries had terminals.  Only the engineers had VAXmail.  We have 
both created jobs for millions of people outside the company and a 
culture inside which they still envy even today.

	o We are more networked, more approachable, more 
customer-sensitive today than we have ever been.  We all have more 
power and ability to make a difference than we have ever had before.
We have the chance not just to turn Digital around, but the whole 
world.

	o Digital experience is worth more now to the outside world 
than ever before.  But they want more of it.  And they will value it 
even more when we return a constant stream of profits.

	o I still believe in you and the company.  I will stay in 
touch.  I am not selling my Digital stock because I believe in you.

	My correct heading should be Rick Goldberg, Components & 
Peripherals Group.

				##

    As a colleague of Rick's for the past 4 plus years, I can say that Rick
    will be truly missed.  Rick has been a tireless worker, who has
    single-handedly been responsible for much of the good "ink" generated
    by the Components and Peripherals group.
    
    Best of luck!
    
    Steve 

    I've known Rick virtually since the day he arrived.  I doubt there is
    a harder worker in all of Communications than he.  He *will* be missed,
    but you can rest assured he won't sit still.
    
    MH  

Tomorrow is my last day here (Mar. 10)- Official termination is Apr. 7 Just
after my 17th anniversary. 

What I will miss and do miss:
	Notes files. 
	High energy of the late 70's and 80's.
	Lot's of smart people, helping other people even if it was not
		in their "group charter" or quarterly budget.
	Being part of a growth industry.
	An environment where people used to be able to voice an honest but 
		politically incorrect opinion to senior mgt, without penalty.
	The chance to work and grow as an engineer, product manager, and
		marketing manager in broad variety of products, markets, and
		job functions.

What I regret not being here for:
	A chance to help the company turn around.

What I will not miss:
	Stove pipes. They are still here folks! bigger and thicker than ever.
	Lack of a clear strategy with resources lined up to make it happen.
		(haven't seen this since Gordon Bell days).
	Lack of sincere, two-way, communication with upper management. They
		appear much less accessible and provide us with much less
		real, credible info than at any time I can remember.

Good luck to all of you. Keep the company sound enough for me to get my
retirement money out in a few years. May you all once more work in an
environment that values all your abilities and gives you chance to use them.

I will continue to be around the greater Maynard area and can be reached at
	70415.1000@compuserve.com.

Sincerely,

Neil Rich	
    

I don't normally read this file, so most of you I expect don't have any
idea who I am.  But I've realized that no matter how many folks I mail to,
I'm not going to be able to say goodbye to many of you that I've simply
lost track of through the years.  In an attempt to catch some more of you,
here's my goodbye letter.

=Chris
    
From:	TLE::CABOOM::golly::walsh 14-MAR-1995 11:09:40.41
To:	@dis.zko.dec.com:goodbyeandhelloasalways.dis
CC:	us2rmc::"walsh@ultranet.com"
Subj:	Time to crack the egg...

As some of you know, my last day at DEC is going to be this Friday, March
17th.   What could be more appropriate than having an Irishman leave on St.
Paddy's day?

I'm sure I overstayed my welcome - I've been here thirteen years.  I'm
going to go work with an old friend of mine, Geoff Schultz, at an internet
service called  Ultranet Communications.  I'm trading in my six digit badge
for a single digit!   I'm extremely excited about helping to build the
infrastructure for the single  hottest technology of the '90s.  (And if any
of you need internet access, drop me a line at walsh@ultranet.com!  We're
even in Nashua now!)

It is very difficult to say goodbye to all of you.  I started with the 
Professional group, young and idealistic and with a little bit of hair. 
(Still  have to return that 380 gathering dust in my basement!)  I remember
POETS and the Loading Dock and all the good times.  Part of me will always
be a mill rat.

From there I moved to the TPU group, and a better editor has never been 
invented, and never will be.  (Well, at least after we got the EDT keypad
in, anyway!)  The satisfaction of the "Prego" DECUS is something I'll
always remember. No matter what feature we were asked about, we could say
"It's in there!" 

After that I moved to the DECset group.  I've never worked with a more 
professional group of engineers.  DECset was a smoothly humming machine
(for the most part! ;-) and the rest of the team was pretty good at
keeping me from throwing a spanner into the works.

Finally, I am ending my days at DEC in the FUSE group.  I've had more varied 
jobs here than in all my other groups, ranging from project manager to 
individual contributor, and all the stops in between.  Having seen it all, from 
top to bottom, I really feel at home here.  If the opportunity at Ultranet 
hadn't come hammering at my door, I'd love to stay.

In between, I like to think I helped out with the Digital Volleyball League.  
Leading Spiking Zone from a well-deserved 18th place up to 2nd was fun, and a 
lot of good volleyball players helped along the way.  Keep swinging hard!

All through the years here, I've been working with simply the best engineers 
(and volleyball players!) on the planet.  I'm proud to include you all in that 
group.  More importantly, I've made many good friends.  I hope that those 
friendships I've enjoyed here can continue.  

See you on the net!  Ciao!
Chris

walsh@ultranet.com
walsh@zko.dec.com  (4 days and counting!)

    I can attest to the quality of service fro Ultranet.  I love it!
    
    tony
    
    tonyb@w5svu.ultranet.com

    My 19 years (3 weeks shy!!) at Digital comes to an end this Friday,
    March 24.  I've had a great time working for this company - 
    notwithstanding TFSOs, reorgs, organizational name changes every other
    week, etc.
    
    I started with the Components Group (in 1976) working in the Terminals 
    Product Line in MRO2 scheduling and expediting customers' shipments 
    worldwide (I remember when LA36's were hot and the VT52 was our state of 
    the art video terminal!!).  Through the years I've worked with the LEBC
    group (shipping PROS, Rainbows, and Robins), with the Distributor Group
    (dealing with Avnet, Pioneer Standard), and in Manufacturing as an
    Inventory Analyst, finally coming to this sales office in New Jersey 
    2 1/2 years ago.  Of all the jobs in Digital, I've truly enjoyed
    working with the sales people and fellow co-workers here in this
    office.  I forgot how much fun it was to harass salespeople and to deal
    with customers.
    
    I'm moving to Germany and will be there for 4 years.  Time to leave and
    go onto a new adventure.  I truly hope this company can turn around and
    become a profitable and fun place to work again.  Hang in there, fellow 
    Digits.
    
    See ya,
    
    Peg   
    
    
    

    a piece of gray matter gets away
    smart person that Peg
    gonna be real sorry she's gone
    the foundation shakes 
    the walls crack

    Sorry about the mispelling - haven't taken any lessons in German yet but 
    I'll be signing up for courses to learn the language as soon as I can!!  
    I'm moving to the village of Vilseck/Sorghof about 50 km or so northeast 
    of Nuernberg.
    
    Mr (D&B) Ricciardi - It was a pleasure working with you.  I'll remember
    all the laughs we had.
    
    Mr Shustak - We never met in person (but spoke over the phone) -
    welcome to KYO!!!
    
    By the way, just a bit of trivia - I was the "cover girl" on the LA50
    brochure (Digital MUST have been desperate!!).
    
    Peg  

    Re: -.1
    
    So Digital's been using pretty faces to sell hardware for a long time!
    
    
    No Flames please, just havin' fun.
    
    Bill

How about some kind soul scanning in the brochure cover?  It should be worth
a laff (note the deliberate mis-spelling).

                             James.

My history note is in 3447.114 since it was there where my note would have
meaning.  I have two weeks to go but then, "I'm History!"

Mark

Well this is my last afternoon with notes. I wanted to say goodbye.

I've been with Digital 11 years now, all in Augusta, Maine. Digital has been
good to me and good for me, I have a different set of technical skills than
I started with and my future is brighter because of that. I have really mixed
emotions about this sale of ASO. I've felt for a while that it was time for me
to move on and this may be the event that pushes me into it. On the other hand
Digital has a culture that is unmatched by any other company I've even worked
for or even heard of. I joined a company on the rise in 1984, tops in networking,
tops in mini-computing with top notch people and a clear goal and vision.

11 years later the company has leading edge products, no goals and no vision
that's visable to this employee. If the current senior headset remains, I 
fear for the worst, Digital might well become synonomous with Wang. For the sake
of every person who remains with the company I hope not.

It's difficult to understand how we got here, ASO was the first MRP-2 Class A
plant in US Manufacturing, ASO was the first ISO 9000 Certified plant in US
Manufacturing, and ASO was the first US manufacturing plant to show a profit,
and still does. ASO has always been hardworking and produced high quality 
products. We've all worked hard at surviving the cutbacks and produced more
with less. The reward is to be sold rather than closed. I guess that's good,
but it doesn't feel that way. Our new owner has all but promised layoffs of
100-150 people, and salary cuts.

To all you fellow employees, known and unknown, I hope that fortune smiles on
Digital and your careers. You're some of the best in the industry and your
products and support prove it. Good luck, god bless.

and now and just in fun a little ditty we have kicking about the plant here:

WARNING: members of the SLT may find this offensive - MR Moderator if this is too
much please delete it but leave the rest of the post ok?


To the tune of Brown Sugar (apologies to the Rolling Stones):

Huntsville slaver bound for central Maine
Sold in the marketplace down Maynard way
Scarred old Palmer knows he's doin all right
Hear him cut the headcount just about midnight

Bob Palmer, how come you cut so good?
Bob Palmer, just like wall street said you should

Drums beatin cold as the blood runs out
Workers in the house wonder where it's gonna stop
I'm no schoolboy but I know what I like
Hear 'em cut the bennies, hold on to the pay hikes

Bob Palmer, how come you cut so good?
Bob Palmer, just like wall street said you should

Lord I bet your momma is an ex-vp
And all her assets are in the S & P
I'm no schoolboy but I know what I like
Give yourself some options and another pay hike

Bob Palmer, how come you cut so good?
Bob Palmer, just like wall street said you should
Bob Palmer, how come you cut so good?
Bob Palmer, no one but a VP is good

RE: .253

  Thanks for the ditty and good luck.


Mr. Moderator,

  Thanks for allowing the melody.  After having lost many of my civil rights 
  such as freedom of speech, movement, right to assemble and bear arms when
  I said "I DO", I'm glad to see freedom of speech is still granted at Digital.

Mark

    Hi!!!!
    
    Today is my last day at Digital. After FOUR+ years in Sales Support for
    MIPS/ULTRIX/ALPHA/OSF1 systems, I have decided to move on!!! I want to
    take this opportunity to thank all the professionals in various
    organizations, particularly in CSC Atlanta and Colorado Springs, who
    helped me during important sales opportunities.
    
    I grew professionally but not financially and the current directions
    are not conducive for growth in sales support.
    
    Wish you all the best!!!
    
    Regards,
    
    Vic Tanna.
    

    Well, the time has come to say good-bye. As of April 2nd, 1995 Digital
    in Augusta Maine (ASO) Transforms into SCI Systems. Because Contract 
    Manufacturing is no longer a core competency for Digital, they decided
    to sell this profitable plant that won best business of the year awards 
    two years running. We reduced our head count by half and doubled our
    productivity, Became ISO9002 certified made profits in the millions
    ....all to be sold. 
       At least the company that is buying the plant IS focused in Contract
    Manufacturing. There are several rumors and word of mouth scares
    circulating here. I try not to buy into any of them. I feel sorry for
    those with 10-18 years here. They'll lose a week of vacation time, and
    some other benefits. But for the most part the benefits package is
    identical to digital. I think the biggest loss will be the PRESTIGE of
    working for a BIG name like Digital. They may not mean much for the
    folks working down in the 128 belt of Massachusetts but up here in
    Rural-ville a company like Digital was big news. SCI is big, yes. But
    its not as common a name as my previous employer. 
        I have survived two lay-offs before. One at Fairchild Semiconductor
    (now owned by National Semiconductor in So. Portland) and Unitrode when 
    they decided to consolidate the Westbrook plant with the Watertown,MA
    plant. At least this time I am getting layed-off with a job right
    behind it. I can be greatful for that. I looked into getting transfered
    prior to the sellout. There was a hold on any transfers from ASO to any
    other plant. I heard that it was because the company was buying us lock
    stock and barrel. I also heard that it was part of Digital's grand
    scheme to reducxe the head count. "C'est la vie!"  I was told the only
    way to get transferred was to quit as a Digital Employee and go through
    a temp placement. A few people did that. I for one couldn't I have 4
    kids and need to hold on to the benefits.
        I am sad and scared but trust that things will work out one way or
    another. I left one job with stability but no growth to come to this
    one with the opertunity to grow. In the short time I was here I did
    just that. I learned the Alpha based CPU for the LASER. I enjoyed this
    product. So far it still remains in the plant as a feild service
    repair. I plan to give it my all like I did with Digital to SCI as
    well. I paln to keep an open mind (which is hard to do when you have
    alot of people talking about sweat shops and wage decreases). I also
    plan to get back into digital some day and pull my Maine born roots and
    relocate to where there is more jobs available for a someone like me.
       I just felt I needed to say good-bye (with a tear in eye) to a place 
    that has great diversity and challenges. I accepted the good and the
    bad. Now I can face the inevitable... CHANGE!!!
    
    George Duval
    

After 11.5 years here at DEC, I to find it is time to voluntarily say 
goodbye.  To all of the people that I have worked with over these may 
years, first in INDEC Field Service here in Marlboro, MA., then with 
the folks in ISWS, and finally the people in CNS and the previous groups
that now make it up, and to the many other people I have worked with 
I want to say that it is has been great working with you all and that 
you will all be missed.  


From one who has only been a lurker in this conference I wish to thank all 
of the people who have contributed to this conference, you have given me 
great insight as to where this company has been, and where it hopefully
will go in the future, and in the dark days of corporate downsizing 
providing any information available as to what was going on, and what
could be expected to go on, I can only say Thanks!!!



My last day at DEC is Friday April 7,1995


Jim Scanlon 


CNS East Desktop Support

    Well, I'm checking out today after 11 years. I spent all of my time
    in the "SI" business, putting total turnkey solutions together for
    customers. Most of the time the groups I was with were viewed as
    abberrations or ignored. I saw two VP's leave because they couldn't
    convince DEC to seperate the business and make an honest go of it.
    (Harvey Weiss and Gresh Brebach). 
    
    Its amazing the capabilities and opportunities that Digital had and 
    squandered. Its also good that there is a renewed focus and vision,
    although I don't think it's been shared very well with the troops.
    I don't regret any of the time I've worked here, although the 
    management that I've worked for has either been very good or 
    clueless, mostly the latter.
    
    I wish the best to those of you I've worked with over the years.
    
    Saul Fisher
    

	As I think back over the nearly 15 years that I have spent working
	for Digital, I can remember many good times with people that I
	worked with that became my friends.  I have worked in many sites
	and with many different people and I always seemed to find that the
	best part of being part of the Digital family was the people that
	I worked with.

	This Friday, April 21, will be my last day at Digital.  I leave
	on my own for another opportunity.  I hope to keep in contact with
	the many people that I have had the pleasure of working with and
	forget about those few people and times that made working at Digital
	a chore.

	I have always enjoyed what I do and hope to continue to enjoy it for
	a long time.  I would like to thank those people both with and no
	longer with Digital that have helped me throughout the years.  I
	wish them all the best of luck in the future.

	I believe that Digital has a bright future ahead of it and regret not
	being part of it, but it had come to the time to expand my experiences
	beyond being just a Digital employee.  For me, this change will be a
	major departure as I will be changing employers, company types (from
	computer to financial companies) and locations (from Mass to Conn).

	For those of you who may want to contact me, I can be reached at:

		KMaconi@Aol.Com

	Best wishes and the best of luck in the future,

			Keith Maconi

    
    After 16 years, 2 months and 2 days my time has also come. 
    
    DEC was a great company to work for, the jury is still out on Digital.
    
    I wish everyone the best 'o luck - I sincerely hope that Digital can
    re-capture some of the magic which made DEC great!
    
    Cheers,
    Carl

Carl,
	Good luck with your new life, but it's my opinion DEC will never
recapture anything it used to have with the SLT it has now.

Joe

Ten years and five months after moving north to the 
'land of the frozen chosen', Rochester, NY, I'm headed south again to
work at another firm in RTP. 

I have worked with some great folks in those ten years, and some real losers. 
Mostly great folks though, and had some real interesting times. Digital is 
coming back strong and I am glad to see it. Now that the stock is up and the
products are performing, customers are starting to call again. After all, who 
wants to be associated with a firm that cannot manage itself. 

My wife worked for Digital for ten years also, and was TFSO'd. We went to 
Hawaii when she won Excellence. We went to Palm Desert when I won. Those 
were great trips and I hope they re-instate them. We have many good memories
from them. Digital been berry berry good to me and I will miss it! 

Good Luck to all and much success.

Dave Kinney

    I will leave the company at the end of May.  Have appreciated the
    debates, the humour and the excellent information in this conference. 
    I wish you well for the future, especially to those of you that have
    been involved with EDI, Unilever, CPG and Sales around the World.
    
    My internet address is mark.selby@itu.ch
    
    Regards,
    
    Mark

re.264:

Good luck Mark, and thanks for your support in recent times.

Dave.

    	The time has come to add my reply to this string. After 18+ years
    I've resigned to work for a VAR. 
    
    	I have great respect for the technology and inovative engineering 
    Digital continues to produce. It has made me a believer, promoting the 
    technical facts proudly despite sometimes poor press and "stealth
    marketing". To that end, I intend to promote DEC<whatevers> in my new 
    position when the product meets the need.
    
    	Thanks to all those fine people that made DEC a good place to be
    over the years, and here's hoping that those remaining and joining 
    will be again recognized and rewarded as important assets rather than 
    treated as ingrates, liabilities and gold diggers.
    
    	I'll miss the Enet (awesome infrastucture), Notes and associated 
    technical conveniences in addition to the people. Never lose sight of 
    the power and benefits the WORLD LEADER in Networking enjoys as routine
    while many struggle to get carrier on their modems...
    
    Phil

    Phil,
    
    Good-bye and good-luck from a former boss.  I wish you well.
    
    Joe P.

                           LOWERING THE BANNER

June 16th is coming, and I have to lower the DEC Banner that I have been 
flying these eighteen years and set my badge number to rest.  I would
like to thank the company for helping me earn my Master degree, and for all
inhouse training I received over the years.   Although I'm not a hardware
or software engineer, BUT with help from allot of Decies, I have turned into a
pretty good hacker.

On June 19th, I must take up a new cause, and take my skills to PCs COMPLEAT,
here in Merrimack.  I'll still support digital indirectly, by supporting
the marketing group for PCs COMPLEAT and try to entice the outside world, into
buying digital PCS.

Good bye.

David R. St.Cyr
Badge number 72375

DeskTop Driect's, Marketing and Technical Specialist
Merrimack, New Hampshire .

    
    	Good luck, Dave - and thanks for all your help over the past two
    years. Much appreciated.
    
    		the Greyhawk

I am signing out after twelve and a half years.  June 16th will be my last day.
I have taken a job as a systems analyst for an Atlanta power provider.  It's 
been a long and enjoyable trip.  I started out at the Upstate NY district 
office in 1982, moved on to the Rochester ACT in 1987, then finally to the 
Atlanta Customer Support Center in 1991.  Thanks to all for your support and 
friendship over the years.  

Good Luck to all,

Paul Morabito
morabito@ix.netcom.com

2114 North Forest Trail
Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404)455-7661

Please don't mysteriously show up at my house in July of 1996 :)

    Well, after almost 15 years, the time has come for me to move on.  It
    was fun coming to DEC at the first $1B year and 55,000 people.  And as
    we approach 55,000 people once again (at much more than a $1B year I
    might add), it's time for me to take on new challenges elsewhere.

    I will miss most the people I've come to know, many of whom are now
    gone as well.  I appreciate all of the opportunities I've had to learn
    new things and watch DEC grow.  The past 5 or so years have been very
    painful, and it's been sad to watch so much unnecessary and senseless
    pain, resulting from failures to keep in tune with the wider world.

    I've been a field person all the way, from Birmingham, to New Orleans,
    to Huntsville, to Memphis and finally to Dallas.  Been there and done
    that in SWS, PSS, EIS, Sales Support, ACT, DCC, SW Marketing, and SI
    again briefly.  Done OA (CP/OSS to ALL-IN-1), COBOL conversions, SCADA
    systems and plant automation, the Hubble Space Telescope network,
    Document Management, Publishing, Imaging, Top Mapping, BPR, Workgroup
    (ALL-IN-1 to TeamLinks to LinkWorks), and X.400/X.500 Messaging.

    Most of my managers are gone from the company.  To those that are left,
    thank you for your support.  Most of my friends & peers are gone from
    the company.  To those that remain, thanks for your friendship and the
    camaraderie we knew.

    To those still here, the corner has been turned.  The lessons have been
    learned.  The company you know as "Digital" is on the mend and brighter
    days lie ahead.  Keep the faith.  And in all things, do what is right.
    That was the essence of DEC and I hope that it lives on in Digital.

    See you on the net, somewhere.

    +------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Steve Resende                                                    |
    | 206-844-2373 (after 6/23/95)                                     |
    | 18911 203rd Ave NE                                               |
    | Woodinville, WA   98072 (after 6/23/95)                          |
    | Internet:  72430.3551@CompuServe.com (now) or                    |
    |            stever@saros.com (after 6/29/95)                      |
    |            Steve Resende @SCA or DPDMAI::RESENDE (thru 6/9)      |
    +------------------------------------------------------------------+

    Steve,
    I'm sorry to read that yoy are leaving. I enjoyed working with you--in
    the few frenetic moments that we did work together. I know that Digital
    was the better for your presence and your work. What's behind the move
    to WA? I hope good things. All the best.
    Bruce

    Steve's office and its accompanying fifteen years of historical
    collection will be donated to the Digital Museum in Amarillo upon his
    departure, along with a brass plaque and a life-size sculpture made
    from crushed PDP-11s. :^]
    
    Wish you the very best Steve...and when *is* the backhoe due at your
    cube? :^]
    
    							Brent Eyster
    							(2 cubes down)

Backhoe?  I figured we'd pop a window and bring in a bulldozer to just push it
all out the window.

Bob

    Hey, be nice.  I moved out of that cube a few months back, after the
    Interstate was reinforced to handle the NASA Shuttle crawler that I had
    to rent to carry it all!  :-)
    
    Gee, trying to stuff it into a H.O.M.E. office was interesting ....
    
    Steve

I knew you were on the H.O.M.E. program, but figured that they would let you
keep the cube for training purposes.  You know the saying, "No one is a complete
failure, they can always be used as a bad example."

The best to you and your family in Washington.

Bob

Hey, I actually like my cube!

    OK, Resende, it's time to fess up to your lies!  If you actually were
    capable of relocating your office, it would *not* be to H.O.M.E.  It's
    haffta be to W.A.R.E.H.O.U.S.E. :^]

  Like that scene from the end of "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of
  the Lost Ark"? Or like my garage?

                                   Atlant

    RE: .279  Aren't they about the same for you?  :-)
    
    				-John

	Hello fellow noters,

	I'm leaving Digital as of June 14, after almost six years 
	(14 months as a temp and just shy of five years as a permanent
	employee) - going to a new position in a new (for me) industry.

	Most of my time here I worked in ESG, the Engineering Systems
	Group, or one of its later incarnations (Electronics Industry
	Business Unit, Discrete Manufacturing and Distribution), in
	the old MRO4 building (Marlborough, MA); and when I left 
    	Marlborough I joined Corporate Employee Communications. 

	In both groups I've been privileged to have worked with some 
	of the absolutely best folks I've met in almost 25 years of 
	business experience - men and women of intelligence, integrity 
	and vision. Knowing them has changed my life for the better; and 
	leaving them is what makes this transition hard.

	My best wishes to the good people here at Digital.

	Lynn Haroutian Cohen

		                                              

    So, Lynn....exactly how many notes files have you said "Good-bye" in??
    
    :-) :-)
    
    Brian
    
    (PS  And it's not quiet in here......)

    Brian,
    
    Only the ones I have an interest in. :))) 
    
    How many have you *found*??
    
    Lynn

    re: .278, .279 .... WAREHOUSE and Indianna Jones' mother of all
    warehouse
    
    OK OK OK enough.  If this abuse doesn't stop, I'll take my marbles and
    leave .... oh, gee, I am.
    
    Thanks for the laughs.  And the memories.
    
    Steve

    As of this morning, Steve was bringing a whole cartload of stuff *into*
    the building.  Structurally, we're getting concerned... :^]

Guess I'd better move my car OUT of the parking garage.

Bob

    I will leave the company at the end of June after over 14 years.
    When I joined DEC the first task on my job plan was "have fun."
    The second was probably "do the right thing." Somehow I feel we
    lost sight of both of these priorities during the last few years,
    so for me at least, the time is right to move on. I will miss many
    of you with whom I've had the pleasure of working in Geneva,
    greater-Maynard, Athens, Ferney and Valbonne.

    No internet address (yet) but I can be reached at

    Ken Litsios
    3 Les Renardes
    F-01210 Versonnex
    France			    Tel: +33 50427788

    I wish you all a fun and prosperous future.

    Cheers,
    Ken

    HI....I was one of the CDD/RDB people who got bought out by Oracle
    Corp. last year.  I had been with DEC 16 years.  I started out in
    the Remote Diag. Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
    
    Our team here in Colorado will be moving to another site July 17th.
    
    I had enjoyed many years with DEC.  I wish everyone good luck.  Looks
    like the company is doing better and I hope it will continue to do
    so.
    
    Mary Randal
    (with Oracle Corp. now)
    

    I meant this to go to the Note 3107.  Oh well...
    

Hi Mary... will you guys still have access to the easynet? ie notesfiles?

-- cheers,
   Guy

    I am not sure just out it works.  A Rally person told me you can
    get into the notes by way of the gateway.
    
    Today...I tried to open their Rally notes...and could not.  The
    RDB and Rally people from what I understand just went to another site
    (in Mass or NH).
    
    From my understanding most Oracle people use internet etc.  Not
    as advanced as DEC as you see....
    Mary
    

RE: .3,.2

	The Oracle RDB folks still reside in ZK, but as of July 1st, they
	were cut off from the DEC Easynet and now are at oracle.com.

						mike

    Yes, just found out what node to use, so that I can see the Rally
    notes, and it works.
    
    When you change to a new Co. you get changes with it, that is for sure.
    Mary
    

    Gee, the Oracle/Rdb people are finally leaving the Digital network...
    
    ... and now PC Week says that Oracle and Digital are talking merger!
    (check the gossip column in this week's edition).

    Wish it were so.  The unbelievably high price of Oracle-RDB licenses is
    literally killing the sales of my group's product, DEC/EDI. 
    Engineering is looking to moving towards Informix in the next release
    to rectify this.  CDD, a product I've always considered invaluable to
    any product development, is also being considered for retirement due to
    the same high cost of the underlying Oracle-RDB licenses.  To
    accomplish this, we're considering dropping DecForms from the product
    development mix.
    
    								Tex

    RE: -1
    
    A few points of fact:
    We are working hard with Nad in the EDI group to make it good business
    for EDI to continue to embed Rdb.
    
    The Rdb in CDD is no cost; CDD has a license for deployment as a
    prerequisite (as with Datatrieve) that is box-based and reasonably
    priced.
    
    Bye to this notesfile; we're off the network.
    
    Jim 

>    We are working hard with Nad in the EDI group to make it good business
>    for EDI to continue to embed Rdb.
    
    Hopefully this will succeed sometime soon...while we're still employed. 
    If not, the "win" notice can be placed on our empty chairs.  This is
    *not* a joke.
    
    								Tex

    I am leaving Digital this Friday, July 14.
    I joined Digital in Holland more than 11 years ago. I worked in Utrecht
    for 6 years and relocated in early 1990 to the US to work on the SI
    methodology for Digital Services. I spent 5 years in Stow, mostely
    working on Digital Program Methodology (DPM) and Digital Quality System,
    its implementation, communication and associated tools. I have managed 
    the MTT Notes Conference on BUFFER (later CSSE) and VTX MTT.
    
    Now is time to do some other things and I am looking forward to it.
    I will miss the global network of people (MTT and qulity people), I
    used to work with. Ability to work together in a distributed fashion,
    independently of the geographical location, is a wonderful thing that
    Digital made possible. I hope that INTERNET and e-mail that everybody
    can access on his/her home PC will allow us to do even more wonderful
    things in the future.
    
    I can be reached by e-mail on:    WLISOWSKI@AOL.COM
    
   Good luck to all of you.
    
    Witold.
           

    re.: .299
    
    	Witold,
    
    		your contribution to DPM development is well known. Digital
    is loosing something. I've never met you personally, but I had the
    possibility to appreciate your useful work.
    
    	I hope all the best for you.
    
    Andrea Antonangeli @MLN

RE: 300

Witold ;

I tried to say the same thing as .300 in a mail message to you but got a
rejection message from the postmaster.

You will be missed as I too found many helpful documents in BUFFER and MTT.

Good Luck

Frank Lucarini@AUO

    Re .299
    
    Witold,
    
    We've shared numerous con-calls and meetings in our work on DPM,
    Quality management, SInergy, etc.  Your contributions have added a
    wealth of information and have (IMHO) given valuable support to many
    project teams worldwide.  
    
    Best wishes for the future.
    
    Dave

    Re .299
    
    Sorry to see you go Witold, we had some greattimesin Holland working on
    the HKS project. I still believe that the solution we developed and
    implemented were ahead of time.
    
    Al the best to you and your relatives,
    Henny Olthof, currently in the ZKO facility

    Laurie!  C'mon, stop pulling punches and tell us how you *really* feel! 
    Look, man, all this internalizing is *not* good for you.  You need to
    get it out! :^]
    
    								Tex
    

    > Is there *good* Pascal code?
    
    Yes (and my job depends on it).   Well, actually my job only depends on
    the existance of any Pascal code, good or bad... :-)
    
    				-John (DEC Pascal Project Leader)

    Hope y'all know I'm only kiddin'.  I took three semesters in college
    and developed a system for Rockwell Int'l using RDB v1.0, Rally v1.0
    (Beta), and Pascal.  I get the same kinda crap from the C boys since my
    background was originally COBOL.
    
    								Tex

Guess what the entire LOGINN suite is written in - and I get beat up 
every day by the PW folks for it.....

ALan

[you ain't seen bad code till you've seen this ;-))) ]

After nearly 18 years it is time for me to depart Digital.

To those of you that I have had the privilege of working with
over the years, farewell.  To the many others who have
participated in this and other forums that contribute to 
the intellectual lifeblood of Digital, thank you!

I am headed for Infinet, an internet service provider that
is a joint venture of Landmark Communications (weather channel et.al.)
and Knight-Ridder newspapers as director of systems engineering.

My last day at Digital will be Friday the 28th.  My new e-mail
address will be slh@infi.net 

It's been a great career here at Digital largely due to the quality
of the people.  The open dialog in Notes has been one of the main
factors in maintaining a sense of community even though I work in a
small office removed from the Digital mainstream.

Goodbye
Steve Henderson 

    Good luck, God bless and thanks for the tapes. Now everytime I play it
    I`ll think of you.
    
    

Time to  say  'so  long and good luck'! I'm off to a new opportunity outside
Digital  after 18 years here.  It's been fun, especially the Web work of the
past almost two years, and I'm sure I'll miss much about the company and the
great people who work here.

There are  not many other places that would have given someone the chance to
do the wide range of  work I've been able to do, from customer consulting to
designing  and  implementing various systems.  It was my goal in high school
to  someday work at Digital, and I'm very glad that dream came true.  It was
all I'd hoped it would be, and more.

Good luck, fellow Digits, wherever you go!

/Tim Horgan
 

    Tim, I know you'll find success wherever you go.  You leave with the
    respect of the team you led through many bad times.  You led us with
    intelligence, with heart -- and with guts and INTEGRITY always.  
                                                            
    Vaya con Dios,
    
    Dan
    

Hi all,

As some of you already know, this Friday 25 Aug is my last day at DEC.  I am
leaving to work at Bull HN Information Systems in Billerica, Mass.  (I still
don't know what the "HN" stands for, but they hired me anyway.) 

This last year my personal life has been so busy for me and filled with
changes and extremes.  All the happenings of the last year seem so epic that
I think it helps me to take this change of jobs in stride.  We'll see
though...  Ordinarily I would have been more apprehensive about changing
jobs.  After all, I was hired at DEC 8 years ago straight out of college.
The interview with DEC was my first and only "professional" interview at
that time, but what luck! I received an offer to do exactly what I hoped
for, in an area that seemed nice, and with a bunch of friendly, talented,
and unique people - people with "character" and synergy.  A cool place to
be!

So what happened? Even though we've supposedly "made the turn" everyone
knows that Digital isn't DEC anymore.  Some people take pride in that,
however I am saddened.  Digital is smaller, colder, and more bureaucratic -
useful accomplishments are irrelevant, as long as the numbers line up.
"Character" is now viewed as "unprofessional."

In my hindsight I see that during the "fat" years, the people of real vision
and ability (those that could accomplish something unique and of lasting
value) were often retained as individual contributors, while many on the
"business track" were promoted on up as a simple matter of course.  Then
during the crunch and subsequent shrinkage, many "leaders" not quite
understanding what they're in charge of, had the unsavory job of lopping off
projects and people in a desparate effort to lighten the ship.  As it turned
out, those most like themselves were retained and their own self-worth
extoled, while the individuals contributors were actively devalued,
suppressed, or removed, regardless of their true importance to the long-term
health of the organization.

Well Digital is now lighter, but I fear it is also lobotomized.  The new
Digital brain is a bureaucratic automaton that is run by numbers for the
purpose of self-preservation and self-promotion of its leaders.  What real
smarts that remain are scattered throughout it's fingers and toes and must
work independently of the brain to keep the Digital body alive.

As a simple test of leadership effectiveness, ask yourself, "How would I
function if my supervisor/boss/manager/VP simply ceased to exist?" For many,
I would guess the answer to be "no differently", or maybe even "better".
While this is CERTAINLY not true for all cases, the answers could be eye
opening to the true state of affairs.  A couple of questions for leaders
are, "Do you read 'Dilbert'?", and secondly, "Do you 'get it'?"

Through the soapbox forum of the notesfiles, ordinary Joes with valid points
have stuck their necks out time and time again to try point out strategic
misdirections and make positive suggestions.  Often times, the official
plans are so nonsensical that it's easy to show the emperor has no clothes.
Even so, things proceed according to The Plan, which only goes to show the
emperor's arrogance and shamelessness.

During my time here, I have disagreed openly with leaders on many subjects.
Some of them have listened intently, and although still disagreeing with me,
invited further constructive critical dialog.  I salute those who listened
and gave my opinions some real thought, but I still reserve the right to
say, "I told you so."

It will take a concerted effort to rebuild the Digital brain into something
that works in favor of the whole body.  It will be challenging but I'm sure
it can be done.  There remains tremendous talent and creativity within
Digital.  The first step is for those in charge to show some respect to
those they serve by taking their input seriously.  Put aside the job titles
and egos! But in any event, this big toe is moving on to seemingly greener
pastures.  I wish you all the best of luck in your futures...

-Mike

So long, and best wishes to all.  I've worked at the CSC in
Colorado Springs for the past 7 years, but today is my last day.
I start work Monday at Convex Computer in Richardson, TX.

Possible e-mail addresses for me are:

  blessing@convex.com    ! probable work address, but not sure yet
  blessing@conline.com   ! my current Dallas area ISP
  71214.2355@compuserve.com   ! if all else fails

							Bob Martel
							Digital Semiconductor
							UOG-SP/PPE


August 25, 1995


Well, folks, this is it!


Today is my last day with Digital, after 10+ years (3+ in DS/SCO).  I've tried
to catch up with each one of you individually, however I wasn't able to reach
everyone in person or by phone.  To those I didn't get to see before I left
(and to all the rest of you), please accept this message as my thanks to you
for making my years at Digital worth remembering.

Through all the ups and downs that I have been through (and that we have been
through together), it was and still is all of you who have made Digital a great
place to work.  The song "With A Little Help From My Friends" comes to mind.
If it wasn't for all you good people in my day-to-day life, I probably would
have departed long ago.  The test of friends and friendships is not what they
are when the going is good, but what they become when the going gets tough.
We've been through some tough times together here at Digital in recent years.
Yet despite it all, because of all of you and many of our friends who don't
work here anymore, I could always still smile about being here.

I'd like to start by thanking Digital for giving me my start in the
semiconductor packaging industry and for affording me an outlet to learn
the types of things which have now positioned me for the next phase in
my career.  I will always remain greatful for being given this opportunity.
As I think about why I am leaving Digital, I think about what those reasons
are and the impact they may have on the people who remain.  The specifics are
just that; specific things I am looking for in my life.  However, the specifics
boil down to some general themes.  I would like to share these with you, in the
event that they may allow you to see you own situation in a new way; one
which you are interested in exploring further.

If you are not certain that Digital is the best place for you to be working,
then it isn't.  Make yourself certain!  You owe it to yourself and to those
around you.  Look beyond the 4 walls of Digital when you measure yourself.
That doesn't mean that you have to leave - you may just find that you still
want to be here - but now you can be certain about it!  I obviously came to a
different conclusion about where I want to be in the immediate future - and I
am now certain about it.  I was no longer certain about myself here.  I could
see the negative impact that the uncertainty (both my own and the company's)
was having on my approach to my work.  I felt I was becoming too cynical.
Some of you may be noticing the same about yourselves.  If that's the case, do
yourself and your friends and Digital a favor - do "whatever it takes" to
regain your certainty in your work.  Think of yourselves as your own company.
Manage yourselves as you would be managed.  Have a broad view of the world you
work in.  If everyone who is here is happy here, and is certain about it, then
Digital will once again become what we once knew it to be.  If the masses are
so unhappy that too many are leaving, things will change as a result.  They're
starting to change already.  It's up to all of you to spread the word and to
keep the momentum going in the right direction.  How many people does it take
to influence change?  Answer:  enough!  No magic number, not even a majority.
Collectively do what you know is right and things will change for the better.

The next theme is empowerment.  I don't see it prevailing like it once did.
Part of the reason is that we need to be busier as a business.  When there's
more to do than there are people to do it, empowerment starts to happen by
default.  However it would be better if empowerment happened based solely upon
its own merits.  I see some managers today who are afraid to let go and to let
someone else, be it another manager or a subordinate, steer the ship.  I think
this fear is legitimate and stems from events in our company's recent past.
The lay-offs in recent years have caused some people to become very
protectionist and territorial.  These are survival techniques - and who can
blame someone for wanting to survive.  We board-up our houses for an impending
hurricane, right?  Yes, but we also take the boards down once the hurricane is
over to assess the damage, begin the repairs and most of all to let the light
shine through the windows once again.  Digital has been slow in "taking down
the boards".  Managements needs to do what it can where it can to accelerate
this process.  The challenge for all, managers and their subordinates alike,
is to look for new ways to do this.  They're out there!  Don't wait for
someone to empower you to do this.  Empower yourself!  Again, this may mean
viewing yourself beyond the 4 walls in which you work today.

Most of the engineers and technicians I know are pretty busy solving real
problems for the company.  Beware of those who are busy for busy's sake.
There's a problem when a large portion of someone's time is spent organizing
versus actually doing work.  An individual's worth to the organization should
not be measured by how busy or stressed out they appear to be or by how many
papers they carry around with them wherever they go.  Challenge yourselves to
look for the tangibles.  Identify who produces for your group time in and time
out.  Reward and empower those individuals!

There was a time when Digital grew too big, too fast.  There were warning
signs, some of which we didn't pick up on and some of which we chose to ignore.
There were too many individuals who weren't interested in carrying their fair
share of the load or in being responsible about the load they were carrying.
Out of those people, some were empowered and some misused (not necessarily
intentionally) the power they had acquired.  Now Digital is arguably on the
growth path once again.  There is a core of good people left in this company.
They are here to make a living and they are willing to work hard to do so. 
There's a tremendous amount of talent still left in this company right now -
but it's being under-utilized!!!  Digital will become much stronger much
faster when its management loosens the reigns and let's those closest to the
work have more of an impact in steering the direction of the work.  After all,
those closest to the work know the details best.  Given the responsibility,
they will do what is best for Digital within the framework of mission
statements defined by each organization.  A good manager is like a good
umpire in baseball:  the better they are, the less you notice them.

If you are a manager and you feel that you don't or can't trust an employee
enough to steer the ship once in a while, then ask yourself why do you have
people working for you whom you can't trust?  If you truly can't trust them
to do the right thing, then they don't belong in your organization.  I think
you'll find that in virtually all cases now, the members of the core which is
left here at Digital are worthy of trust and responsibility.  They are also
willing and capable of making critical business and financial decisions.
Most employees own their own homes; managing 10's if not 100's of thousands of
dollars of investment in their day-to-day lives.  Give your subordinates the
same responsibility in their work!  Maybe then they will feel like Digital is
more than just their work - it's their 2nd home!  I remember a day when we all
felt that way about Digital.  The problem was that we reached a point where
there were too many who didn't feel that way, again because we grew too fast.

For better or worse, it's a smaller company again.  Make it better, not worse.
Managers, trust that you have kept only the people who are most valuable to
this company and treat them as such.  Give them the power to do their job in
the best way they can.  Listen to them when they tell you what they see.  Let
them try their own approaches to doing the work.  Instill confidence!!  Decide
to let them sink or swim and stick by the decision.  The worst thing you can do
is to second-guess yourself and them.  It destroys you as well as the people
who work for you.  Don't look to re-orgs to fix problems in the system - look
to yourselves.  Organizations are only as good as the people in them.
Shuffling the deck doesn't fix anything; it just hides the real problem and
even then only for a while (thus why there are so many re-orgs).

Remember that Digital IS its people, not its products!  Without the people,
there are no products.  If you want Digital to grow, you must foster an
environment where its people grow as well.  For most, this means being given
more responsibility, and when successful being given more than that, and when
unsuccessful being helped back up and not reset to square 1.  It also means
rewarding success.  Competitive raises, promotions and profit sharing are some
of the ways to accomplish this, but certainly not the only ones.  Some rewards
are much simpler and mean much more to the recipient.  So what is it that makes
people happy?  It's different for everyone.  Talk to your subordinates or your
co-workers.  Find out what makes them happy and when they do something good
for you or for the company, reward them with it.  Make it personal, not generic.

Work is a means to an end for most people and not an end in and of itself.
Appreciate this as a truism.  Take the time to learn what your subordinate or
co-worker is after in life -  what their "end" is - and share with them what
your ambitions are as well.  Only then can you help each other to achieve what
you each are aspiring to.  I'm reminded of this every year on my daughter's
birthday.  As she prepares herself to blow out the candles on her birthday cake,
we tell her to make a wish (i.e. to have a dream and aspire to it).  Invariably,
someone says, "now don't tell anyone your wish or it won't come true", to
which I always respond, "that's silly - if you never tell anyone what you've
wished for, how can they help you to make it come true?"  Things DO happen by
magic; the magic is in each of us and what we do to help each other to get
what we are looking for out of life.  There's too much out there to go it
alone.  No (wo)man is an island.  We profess the merits of teams and teaming
so much in how we complete our tasks at work.  We all must remember that we
spend approximately 1/3 of our lives in the workplace.  We often spend more
time with each other than we do with our own families.  There needs to be a
continuum between our aspirations in and out of work.  We must support each
other in this process.  One of the reasons I was sorry to see the Canobie Lake
outings go away was because that was the one time every year where I could
count on meeting the families of my co-workers.  The company ought to consider
sponsoring such gatherings once again on a site level.

In closing, I want to say this:  if you don't believe that something can happen,
then it never will.  The first step is always to believe that it is possible.
Don't try to go beyond what you are willing to commit to in your convictions.
It's the surest way to fail.  Define to yourself what it is that you are
committed to in work, family and life.  Shoot for the moon!!  Give yourself only
the best - you deserve it!  Know what these commitments are and you will always
know right away when you are in contradiction with them.  Be open to change, but
never compromise your morals and your standards.

May peace, joy and happiness prevail in the lives of you and your families!
And as my friends over in Scotland like to say....cheers!


With sincerest thanks to all,



Bob

    
    	Absolutely one hell of a speech, Bob. Excellent, and required
    thought process engagement for us all. Thanks.
    
    	And may the wind be to your back, and the smile on your face.
    
    
    		the Greyhawk

    Thanks, Greyhawk, for making me go back and read Bob Martel's .316 -- 
    I don't know the gentleman and so gave his farewell speech a miss first
    time out, this AM.  Best wishes, Bob!!
        

re: .314
>Bull HN Information Systems in Billerica, Mass.  (I still
>don't know what the "HN" stands for, but they hired me anyway.) 
I think the H stands for Honeywell and the N for NEC .

    
    RE: the last two, saying goodbye...
    
    Excellent notes, both of them. Do you think B.P. reads the good-bye
    notes? Mike Swatko made some real good points there...
    
    Best of luck folks.
    
    .mike.

    Just short of 8 years, sees me take DEC's Open door policy straight out
    of DEC and into another company. Today is my last day at DEC and after
    a short vacation I start with Syntegra, a systems integration company
    enjoying aggressive expansion. Ironically I will be doing the advanced 
    technology role I was hired to do at DEC.
    
    When, after alot of soul searching, I decided to leave DEC, way back in 
    February, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a healthy job market
    out there. It would be no great exaggeration to say I was turning down
    job offers and fighting off companies. Had DEC given me a decent raise,
    after four years of salary freeze, I would have stayed, especially
    having loyally stuck with DEC through the dark, lean, desparate years.
    But DEC appears more interested in rewarding senior managers (e.g bonus 
    schemes of up to 24% salary per quarter) then us peons. I am simply no 
    longer willing to put up with this, plus hate mail from my bank manager, 
    struggling along from month to month, and not being paid for my skills.
    I will now be generously rewarded and will have an expansive career
    path, something that's been missing from DEC. Its a crying shame, but
    that's life.
    
    So, farewell to the technical community, you know now why its been quiet
    from that Crazy Brit. And farewell to everyone else I've bumped into,
    either physically or 'electonically'. I'm sure we'll bump into each
    other via my new life.
    
    Angus

Howdy folks,

Just to let everyone know that Thursday, Sept.21, 1995 will be my last day at
Digital Equipment Corp.  After over 7 years I will not be a digit any longer.
The constant travel (over 30 weeks a year) have done me in.

My family needs me more than I need this job.  I will starting a job which will
keep me a home.  I wish continued success for Digital and it's employees.

John L. Anschutz
    

    JOHN .... What am I to do in September?  You are scheduled for Rockwell
    in Florida.  Just kidding, you did an excellent job while you were
    there.  I understand the toll the travel takes on our consultants.  I
    only wish I saw it getting better.
    
    Best wishes to you!!!!   Anyone know of a good DBMS resource??

    
    Best wishes, John
    
    Kind of like what Kirk Gibson said, "Being traded to my family"
    
    Your reputation down here is awesome..
    
    
    		the Greyhawk
    	

    Good Bye John,
    
    I hope you have much success in the future, you certainly deserve it
    for the success you've provided to Digital customers over the years
    as "Mr." Database.
    
    I'll miss your skills, your talents and the simple thought of knowing
    you were there to back me up when a database issues got too deep.
    
    When Digital services can lose a person of such caliber it's a 
    disgrace.  When travel becomes so miserable that someone like 
    John can no longer bear the burden, it was time to hire a second
    person to help do the work a long time ago.
    
    Now, John's manager is tasked not only with providing the services
    that John is no longer providing to Digital Customers, but for the 
    second person that should have been assisting John in the first place.
    
    Best of luck in your new job, all my best,
    
    John Wisniewski

    John A.,
    
    Let me know the minute you leave...I am going to loot your office for
    parts.
    
    Seriously,  I'll see you around...'tis been that way for 11 years.
    Good luck and happy non-travels.
    
    ;^)

    Re: .323 Good DBMS resource...try Kevin Haggerty @OGO.
    
    Debbie
    

    Anschutz, you wimp!  Bailing just because your kids are starting to
    ask you for ID when you get home?  :^]
    
    Very best wishes, compadre.  I'm glad you've the opportunity to go far
    without having to go far away anymore.  Congrats.
    
    								Tex

    Sometimes the light's all shining on me
    Other times I can barely see
    Lately it occurs to me
    What a long strange trip it's been.
    
    - Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead
    
    
    I started with this company in 1979 as a Programmer's Aide in the 
    Cleveland office.  16 years later, I find myself saying 
    goodbye to the friends I met on my first day here as well as the 
    many other close friends I have made during this journey.
    
    I see this next step in my life not as a step away from Digital, 
    but as a step towards the next goals in my life.  I will always 
    have hot spot in my heart for my years here and especially for the 
    people that made Digital what it has been.
    
    Best of luck to you all, and may we cross paths again.
    
    Brian J. Aylward
    

    Reluctantly, I have offered my resignation after 8 and 1/2 years
    through think and thin of sales rep II, III and workstation sales
    specialist.  
    
    I have lost faith in the company to properly treat its employees.  The
    technolgy is wonderful, second to none, but our people issues are
    broken.  Compensation, budget setting, job assignment, etc, all
    assigned from on high with no buy-in from the bottem.  This is not a
    career, it is a job.
    
    The fun is gone for many years, and I can no longer wait and trust the
    management to restore that environment.
    
    I couple the people issues with a total lack of commitment to the
    workstation market by senior management to abandon the workstation
    teams just as we were reaching critical mass, we were broken up and
    disbursed to territory sales, sales support and 2 out of 9 went to the
    continuing workstation position to the ABU.  Budgets were set from on
    high unrealisticlly and a pay plan tied to percent of budget is
    de-motavating when set incorrectly.
    
    This would not be so bad if we had senior management commitment to this
    desktop space, but we are chasing margin vs volume and allowing other
    companies to set the tempo while we maintain a solid 5th place.
    
    I wish you all the best and hope Digital recovers and prospers.
    
    To all my friends at the UNIX symposiums you will have quieter
    meetings, possibly duller, but you can now listen to those dynamic
    speakers without that crazy workstation guy interrupting ;<)
    
    Yours in workstation land;
    
    Scott Williams
    Ex-Workstation Warrior
    
    
    

    After 16 years the time has come to say goodby.  I met a lot of great
    people here and had a lot of fun.
    
    I really miss the "good ol' days."
    
    Good luck everyone!
    
    Dave Waterman

Damn, he didn't hang around long after writing .-1 !!

G'bye Dave.

-------------------

The following error was returned whilst sending to
 address netcad::waterman_d

%MAIL-E-LOGLINK, error creating network link to node NOLONGERHERE
-SYSTEM-F-NOSUCHNODE, remote node is unknown

This is a hard error.
No more attempts to send to this address will be made.

    
    	Know the feeling. A lot of us old guys and gals still left feel
    like "hard errors"; however, I, for one, intend to outlive the b.....s
    
    	Have a great weekend everybody.
    
    			the Greyhawk

After almost four years at Digital and a couple of hundred notes in this 
conference I just ran out of my supply of empty notes :-).

This is my last week with Digital. 

People often say that the thing you miss most when leaving are the
notes conferences and damn if it isn't true...I've really enjoyed the 
chance to meet with you and talk (often :-), listen (sometimes :-) and 
learn (always). 

Best wishes to you all (and to Digital aka DEC) and thank you.
 
Perhaps soon forgotten but not completely gone :-) you can continue
to find me at:

	Roelof Vuurboom
	Senior Consultant Workgroup/Workflow & Internet Technology
	BSO/Origin (IPCC), Netherlands
	tel: +31 30 911911
	email: vuurboom@pi.net (active from next week, I hope)

So I guess for the last time:

re roelof
                   

Roelof, I am deeply saddened that you're leaving.  This notes conference
will *not* be the same without you.  Best wishes to you in your new
endeavours (you *really* gonna be producing "Baywatch"?).

								Tex

   All the best.  Hope Digital can survive the loss!

    Have a good, healthy, safe life, Roelof.  I've enjoyed "knowing" you
    via notes in this and other conferences.
    
    Best regards
    
    Tony

    
    	Roelof -
    
    	You already got my oVMSmail ;-). Best of luck, and I owe you ten
    bucks. Really thought Tex would go far beyond just a few words. 
    
    	May the wind stay to your back, and think sunny South Florida.
    Probably will miss you some.
    
    		the Greyhawk

    Roelof,
    Say it ain't so! I have enjoyed your notes and learned from them as I suspect many 
    who are mostly RON's have also done. Of course we still have Atlant,
    Greyhawk and Tex. I put them right up there with you, but of course,
    they aren't Dutch, so, though good, they can't reach that certain level
    of perfection.....
    
    Best wishes.
    Bruce 

  Quick Roelof, teach us some Dutch!

                                   Atlant

    Greyhawk,
    
    Woulda gone beyond my few words on this but, to tell the truth, I was
    too damned shocked and saddened.  Finding me almost speechless is *not*
    a common event, as y'all know.  Guess that says more than I could.
    
    								Tex

    
    	I know, I know - feels like a very good old friend has passed
    away...
    
    
    	Then I found out the sucker's getting stock options, a condo on the
    Spanish Coast, *big* raise....
    
    	Still gonna miss him though.
    
    	Bye, Roelof.
    
    
    		the Greyhawk

    Next, Paul Joy from SCA in Dallas has submitted his resignation,
    effective immediately.  Paul was predominately a RON, but his in-person
    humor and insights will be missed.  The smoking area is a poorer place
    without him.
    
    								Tex

    No Joy in smoking, right, Tex?
    
    
    Mac

    Well, guys, thanks for the eulogies. Can I do an advance booking on
    you guys for when I _really_ move onto that Great DIGITAL::HUMANE in
    the sky? :-)
    
    I wasn't expecting that my leaving (passing away?) would roll by 
    entirely unnoticed but to tell the truth I've been caught a little off 
    guard by all the best-of-luck-o-grams that I've received. Thanks all
    of you. 
    
    Apparently _either_ my bannered babbles and baffled banter struck a
    chord similar to a basket of baubles offered to some Bantu Band
    _or_ (and this bit worries me) a lot of you know something about the
    financial condition of the company that I'm going to that I have yet to
    pick up on...
    
    Atlant, the Dutch word that will launch your international career is
    slagroomgebakje. Don't sit on it :-).
    
    Anyway seeing the outpouring of misplaced affection I promise that
    once I've got the condo dusted out, the cabin cruiser through its
    shake down cruise, the deck chairs in place and the cocktails mixed
    I will send an update on What Life is Really Like on the Other Side
    of The Great Digital Firewall.
    
    But what I'm really excite~d abou# is that last nig#t I ha. this 
    extr~ordin#ry #dea about ho# to tur# this c#mp##y ar~~nd on # dim#!
    The id## is bas.d on an adv#..c#d marke##.. conc##t cal##d upfunneli##
    in a n#tsh..ll t## id## is t#at w# re###bi## #... #####.#>###> ##..#>#.
    ##.##># >###.#>.! >##>#>#>....@ @@@.@>.. @@@>. &$8)$) &*.........
    ...~~~~~~~~~~~~~>.........
    

	*REALLY* Great Dutchmen don't fade away, they go VuurBOOM!

    RATS! Now we'll never know how to turn this Company around.
    

    Move over, Fermat.
    

Uh, me too.

After 18 years toiling in the DEC bit-mines ("when I were a lad 
we 'ad to chew holes in paper tape wi' our teeth, an' wind it through 
the reader by 'and, and we 'ad to compile Algol68 in our 'eads..."), 
the time has come for me to leave.   In a spot of reverse downsizing,
I'm leaving to join a smaller company: a 'new and interesting opportunity',
as they say.

I'm stuck for words. I'm excited by the prospect of the new job, but I'm
sad to be leaving home; and after 18 years, this does feel like home.
I'll miss all you DIGITAL-noters.

I have no work email address yet, but you can send mail to me at 
porter@ultranet.com.   That's my account with a local Internet
provider, to which I have to dial up, so response will not be instant.
(Use MU::PORTER for preference, until stuff bounces back).

I'm here for a little over a week more.  My last day is Friday, 20th Oct.

So long!

P.S.  Nmail's on the VMS freeware CD, Nnmail's on ftp.digital.com,
      sources and all.  There may be other places hosting kits as 
      well.  You're on your own from now on.

    Knowing that we'll never see MU::porter in Notes any more is very
    sad.  Knowing that the creator of one of the most USEFUL pieces of 
    code I've ever used (Nmail) is leaving is sadder still.
    
    We've never met, Dave, but I'll miss your presence.  Good luck.
    
    					andrew

    And the brain drain continues:-(
    
    The best to you, Dave.
    
    Bob

    .351 says it for me.
    
    Still, think of the money the company's saving... It helps to pay those
    bonuses...
    
    Laurie.

    
    	I'm starting to hate these good-byes. Certainly wish more
    "executive" types used this medium, and they could say *adios*.
    
    	However....
    
    	Good luck, Dave; do good, code great, let us know the gory details.
    
    		
    		the Greyhawk

  Thanks for NMail Dave.  And thanks for being here 18 years.

  Good luck!

  	mikeP

    I have to concur with Barry, though I have never met Dave, he is the
    first entry in this topic that has prompted me to reply to express
    my sorrow at Dave's departure and to wish him good fortune in his
    future enterprises.
    
    Dave, we will miss you.
    
    Larry
    
    "I'm sorry Dave, but I can't let you do that" - Hal

Yeah, dave, so long.

And thanks for porting my design/implementation of queued Mail-11
on RSX to VMS.  An excellent port.

/john

    Having first met Dave when he joined Digital he was fresh from school,
    short trousers, socks round his ankles, ...you get the picture, it
    seems incredible that 18 years has passed.  Take care of yourself Dave
    and keep the ideas flowing.
    
    Colin.

> -< He was young then! >-

  Weren't we all!

                                   Atlant

>   <<< Note 3107.361 by ATLANT::SCHMIDT "See http://atlant2.zko.dec.com/" >>>
>
> -< He was young then! >-
>
>  Weren't we all!
>
>                                   Atlant
Although, some of us are "...younger than that, now."

Dave

>>This is a post-mortum(sp?) good-bye for a co-worker.

delete and repost with what I really ment to say:

This is a post-partum good-bye for a co-worker.

Ken Cowan (KC) left Digital last Friday for a small company.  There are many
people that that didn't know he was leaving so I'm posting this to let the rest
of the people that delt with KC over his 11 years at Digital that he has moved
on.

Yes the brain-drain continues.

Brian J.

bye...

	   It is with great sadness that I announce my voluntary departure from 
	Digital today. Eight years ago I joined DEC with the intent building
	efficient information systems until I retired. I now leave Digital 
	with some regret for not being able to complete what I had hoped to. 
	Having survived countless reorganizations and headcount reductions, I 
	am amazed at what a long and strange trip this has been.

	   As I move on to another opportunity, I would like leave with these 
	few words of praise. Both DEC and Digital's strength has always been 
	it's people. Both the employees past and present and it's customers 
	who believed in our products. Of the many I have meet during my stay, 
	there are very few that I would not be delighted to break bread with. 
	I have been enriched during my stay by having worked with people of 
	many different backgrounds, life styles, races, religions, gender, and 
	philosophies. Not once has these differences interfered with the 
	professionalism of the TEAM. Most of all, I am grateful for the	
	tolerance afforded me, even when I sometimes sounded like a lecturing 
	professor. Despite all our problems, we were a TEAM. 

	I wish all those remaining well. 
	May all your projects complete successfully. 
	May the politics of the moment disappear as the morning dew 
		to a bright sunny day. 
	May the rains of despair occur only while you sleep, 
		leaving flowers and singing birds to your awaking. 
	May the happiness you seek find you.


	And for those of you who know me for my quotes I leave you with one 
	final one which guided me these past few months.
		"If I am not for myself, who is for me? 
		 And if I am for myself, who am I? 
		 And if not now, when?"
				[Rabbi Hillel]



						See you on the net,
							Mark Lifland 183285
							MLIFLAND@aol.com
	
 

    Good bye, good luck and God bless.
    
    Sounds like another brain drain from here.

    
              "I'm going to the men's room." At least that's what I'll
              be saying to the people I work with in just a few too-
              short days from now. But, just between you and me, I'll be
              going past the men's room, past the cafeteria, and right
              on out through lobby. And the next time I head in to work,
              it will be to a new office with new people at a another
              company.

              Although I was traded to Sykes Enterprises back in
              December and leased back to DEC, I've still felt like
              a DECcie. But now I'll just say that "I'm going to the men's
              room" so that I don't have to face the emotions of leaving
              so many friends, so many people that I enjoy knowing,
              people that I respect, people that I will miss. And maybe
              this will help me avoid facing the idea of leaving DEC
              which has been more than a job to me because, in a way,
              DEC has been a community that I have lived in. I wish that
              I could take so many of my friends here along with me as I
              leave to try out a new opportunity.

              And this way I won't have to say awkward and inadequate
              thankyou's to all those of you who have helped me try to
              understand technical things. When I have done good work it
              has so often been because of the generous help you have
              given.

              Bye for just now.

    Well, you can add my name to the list.  Today is my last day, after 
    11 1/2 years.  Digital made a decision for me that I just could not
    make myself.
    
    I read back through the topic to reflect on some of the noter's farewell
    remarks.  The first note caught my eye.
    
    "At first I was angry and disappointed....."  I share that feeling, and
    I am still angry and disappointed.
    
    I have spent all my time in Material Management, Business Management, 
    Order Administration, and Returns Management all at NQO/DDD/MKO in Nashua/
    Merrimack N.H.
    
    The first 4-5 years were the best.  Management called the worker bees
    into the staff's - requested feedback, listened, negotiated, and
    formulated business decisions.  It wasn't until Management met with 
    Management in upper level Staff Meetings that no one could make
    decisions.  I can still remember the first out of group Business meeting 
    I attended.  My cost center Manager more or less said, "Don't agree to
    anything, only answer questions directed to me, don't give out any info
    not requested, and It's only a game".
    
    I can still remember my reaction.  I take my job seriously, and was
    quite disappointed in his method of conducting business.
    
    Today's Digital is quite different.  Management now doesn't call you in
    for extended staff meetings to stimulate ideas, request constructive 
    criticism, or negotiate with you.  They tell you what has been decided
    at higher level staff meetings, make you feel like you can ask a
    question, and they will listen, and get you out as quick as possible.
    If they differ with your, feel challenged, or are upset that you
    brought up a difficult topic, - watch out.
    
    It has never made sense to me, why Digital has never moved the truly 
    gifted Managers into the areas of poorest performance, to aid the overall 
    performance of the company.  Within the lower levels of Management, the
    Outstanding Managers seem to move around within the same general Business 
    functions. (The going gets tough, the tough get going) (When a part of
    the Business is ailing, you find out what is the area that is causing the 
    most problems, and you place your greatest effort there to attain the 
    largest and quickest ROI.  Matrix Mangement may be long gone at the 
    extreme top levels of Digital, but you couldn't convince me of that
    at the lower levels.
    
    I have generally been a RON, but have really gained much insight
    through this notes file.  You achieve a better understanding of the 
    problems faced within each organization, and as in the older days, many
    people in complete opposite businesses have joined in to help those who
    sought help in addressing a problem.
    
    To the Greyhawk's, Corson's, Eyster's, etc of this conference, I salute 
    you.  
    
    The most important lesson I have learned through reading this
    conference, is that poor communication of what we each do leads to
    improper general judgements of groups within Digital, their functions,
    and their accomplishments.  The file has opened many closed minds, and
    I, as well as many others. have been truly impressed by the intelligence, 
    common sense, dedication, and humanity of many of the contributors. The
    underlying theme seems to be "Do what makes good Business Sense" 
     
    If only Digital could run the Business utilizing the same concepts.
    
    Good Luck to Digital and to the warriors left, especially to those of
    you that fall into the aforementioned category.  To me, that is the 
    lifeblood of a successful company.
    
    Randy Dry
    
    
    
                                                                       

    
Well, here's my official "So long, I've enjoyed" note.  Today was my last 
official day (laid off, I'm afraid) and my account goes away after this, so
please don't send e-mail.  I'm looking forward to taking a little time off,
relaxing, and spending some more time with my boat (we've become estranged
lately, and I'm worried about the relationship. :^]) before I start looking
for another job.

Anyone that would like to reach me may at (817)424-3413 or write:

	Brent Eyster
	2100 West Northwest Highway, #1140
	Grapevine, TX 76051

I can't say how much I've enjoyed working with everyone, clients and customers
alike.  Wishing you the best for the holidays and in the coming new year.

							Brent, aka "Tex"
    

   Adios, Tex -- good luck.

    
    	I am devistated. You mean there is no place in Digital for a
    talented software installer/debugger/customer-oriented person?
    
    	On the other hand, I know the boat, and they can be very demanding
    mistresses...
    
    	Adios, my very good friend. God bless.
    
    		the Greyhawk
    	

|  <<< Note 3107.372 by LACV01::CORSON "Higher, and a bit more to the right" >>>
|                             -< Thru the tears... >-

    
|    	I am devistated. You mean there is no place in Digital for a
|    talented software installer/debugger/customer-oriented person?
    
    
    Maybe there just isn't a place in DEC, er, Digital anymore
    for talented people who speak their minds about what they see 
    that is wrong.
    
    Naaah. Never happen here.
    
    Publius

    Tex,
    
    I've always enjoyed your insights & humor - you will be missed!
    
    I can't believe that anyone could pretend for a moment that "Your
    skills are no longer required."  Isn't that PC, blanket tag-line for
    all "lay off"s these days?
    
    Enjoy your time off!  You've (more than!) earned it!
    
    /Diane 

    Brent,
    
    Not that you need it but please come and network at the DFWLUG's 
    DECUS meetings every second Tuesday of the month in Dallas.
    
    It will not only get you a DEC (eh) Digital Fix but you'll network
    (not that you need it but many of the folks who attend could benefit
    from you!) with DECUS members from around North Texas.
    
    If you would like to come and speak to the LUG, we'd be pleased to 
    have you anytime.
    
    You'll be missed from the notesfiles..
    
    Good Holidays and best of 1996 to you...
    
    John Wisniewski
    wisniewski@dfwlug.decus.org

    I can't exactly say "I'm history;" it'd be closer to the truth to
    say "I'm probably history."  I learned last week that, due to the
    sale of some of the components of the Components and Peripherals
    Division, I am "at risk."  Finding another internal job may be
    difficult, so I decided to say goodbye, just in case. 
    
    Yesterday, I happened upon the string in this conference that dealt
    with the sudden and tragic death of Simon Szeto.  Two things struck me:
    The first was that Simon was clearly the best example of the DEC
    employee I admired and wanted to emulate.  He embodied all of the
    attributes that made DEC the company it was. 
    
    The other was that many of the people who eulogized Simon are themselves
    gone.  Many of these were people whose clear thought and passionate
    commitment I also wanted to emulate.  But these people were part of
    DEC, not Digital.
    
    The move from DEC to Digital is more than a name change; it's a
    fundamental shift in identity, and core values.  The core values
    that first drew me to this company twelve years ago are gone, just
    as the people who embodied them are gone.  The core values of the
    company that has put me "at risk" do not draw me.  I clearly recognize
    this:  if I went to another company, and saw the same core values that
    I see in this, my current company, I would NOT take a job there.
    
    There are some things I will miss, many more that I will not.  High on
    the list of things that I will miss will be Notes.  Though this medium,
    for nearly twelve years (I wrote my first note on December 9th, 1983),
    I have conversed, cajoled, learned, and laughed with colleagues around
    the world.  Through Notes I have "met" and grown to respect men and
    women with expertise is a wide variety of disciplines, both work-
    related and personal.  Through Notes I learned how to make connections
    with my co-workers, no matter how scattered we might be physically.
    
    For the sake of those friends and colleagues I leave behind, I
    fervently hope that Digital succeeds.  I fear that it will not.
    
    Best of luck to you all.
    
    					andrew

    FWIW, .376 reminded me of the last time I spoke to Simon Szeto in
    person. It was just as Digital was announcing layoffs...speculation was
    we would go from a company of 120,000 to 90,000. I suggested a total of
    60,000 might be appropriate. Simon's response was "40,000 was more
    realistic!". As usual, Simon was probably correct.

It seems it's my turn to write one of these notes.

I'm leaving Digital to pursue other interests for a while.
January 2nd will be my last day.

I've loved working at Digital these past 14 years.  This place can be magic.
My thanks to the many generous people who have helped me along the way.

With the sale of the VT business and continuing reorganization, it has been
harder to find work I really love that makes a difference for the company
and our customers, so I've started my own business, "Sustainable Softworks",
as a computer consultant and Macintosh developer (wish me luck!).

I wish you all the best (especially since I may want to come back some day :-)

Keep in touch, and keep pursuing your dreams.

- Peter
  psichel@kersur.net

    Best of luck, Peter.
    
    I've really enjoyed reading you the past few years.  You always have
    something insightful to say.  My prediction:  success.
    
    Happy landings!
    
    Dan
                                      

Well, the time has come for me to wish you all farewell.  I've accepted
a position as a Senior Consultant with JYACC, Inc. in Wellesley, MA, a 
small systems integration company with a great vision and a fabulous work 
environment.  My last day with Digital will be Friday (December 22), and 
after a much-needed vacation, I'll be starting with JYACC on January 9th;
eight years to the day after joining Digital.

The last eight years have been an incredible journey for me.  In some 
ways it feels like just yesterday I was beginning with Digital in Colorado
Springs -- fresh out of college and with a great deal to learn.  It's been
a crazy rollercoaster having been hired during a hiring freeze, relocating 
to Massachusetts during a relocation freeze, surving a stint as a SOAPBOX
moderator, as well as weathering numerous layoffs and at least two potential 
buyouts of my group.  

Through this journey I've learned who I am, why I am and where I'm going.
Today I've created a life for myself that is fabulous and taking this 
step into that life feels incredible.  My many thanks go out to many people
for the impact they have made in my life and the memories I will take with
me.  It is through the work I've done with the many incarnations of the
Knowledge Based Solutions Group here that I've been able to develop 
excellent technical skills in software development as well as find my 
niche within the software consulting world.  

Notes!  You have all been a fabulous source for defining my life!!!!
Thanks to the rambunctious members of SOAPBOX for teaching me the 
value of how to locate the source of self esteem within myself.  Thanks 
to members of WOMANNOTES who have taught me what it truly means to be a 
Feminist while retaining my femininity and embracing men and women for
the contributions we each make to the world.  And, a special thanks to 
SINGLES of providing a forum in which I've been able to create an incredible 
vision for the type of relationship I want to have in my life; and today
I have that relationship with Patrick.  There are so many other conferences
that I've participated in throughout the years and to all of you, thank you.
Your impact on my life will be something I will carry with me forever.  

For those of you that know me (and those of you that don't!) come visit 
me on the WWW where I'm sure I'll have a Web page in a month or so..... 
http://www.jyacc.com/.  Look there for my home page, great links, fun 
stuff and news about community service projects throughout the region.  
I'll forward my Internet address as soon as I have one (something 
similar to kgallup@jyacc.com).

	To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
	To weep is to risk being called sentimental
	To reach out to another is to risk involvement
	To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self
	To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to 
		risk being called naive
	To love is to risk not being loved in return
	To live is to risk dying
	To hope is to risk despair
	To try is to risk failure
	but risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life
		is to risk nothing
	The people who risk nothing do nothing, have nothing, 
		are nothing, and become nothing
	They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot simply
		learn to feel, and change, and grow, and love and live....
	Chained to their servitude, they are slaves; they have 
		forfeited their freedom.
	Only the people who risk are truly free.
						-Anonymous

Best wishes to all.....
	Kathy Gallup

    Wow! Kathy...
    It's been a long time since I've seen your familiar name in NOTES.  I
    want to wish you the best that life can offer.  You've been a friend
    from FRIENDS, the BOX and over the years, though we never met, it's
    been fun knowing you.
    
    Good luck, Seasons Greetings, and God Bless!
    
    tony

Today is my last day at Digital.

I've been here since I left college (9.5 years ago);
it's finally time for a change.

I've learned a lot, had some fun, and worked with some very dedicated
and talented people whom I'll miss. Unfortunately, as the years have passed,
I've become tired and frustrated with the new Digital.

I've watched a lot of my friends walk out that door; now it's my turn.

Best of luck to all of my friends and colleagues whom I leave behind.
May you and Digital succeed.

Make sure you watch out for yourself; noone else will.

Later,
Chuck

p.s.	I expect my new e-mail address will be doucette@macsyma.com.

    
    	I can't believe I ate the whole thing...
    
    
    		the Greyhawk

    As one who mostly justr reads,  YOU will be missed greatly.
    
    Good Luck Greyhawk.
    
    Dennis

    I'm sad for me.  I'll miss your notes and back of the building
    conversations.  Best of luck.  I'm sure you'll do well.  Keep in touch
    and let us know where you are and how you're doing.
    Sue
    

    As a reader only, I always looked forward to reading a reply by the one
    and only - "The Greyhawk". Insightfull, witty, cuts to the quick,
    grounded in common sense are but a few of the ways to describe your
    entries in the various conferences you participated in. Rest assured
    you will always be rememebered as a "noter" of distinction. You will
    be missed!
    
    To you & yours - GOOD LUCK!
    
    Jim

Your Hawkship, we shall miss you indeed...

    I wish you all the best...
    
    Although it is likely we will never meet
    
    The Road goes ever on and on
         Down from the door where it began.
    Now far ahead the road has gone,
         And I must follow, if I can,
    Pursuing it with eager feet,
         Until it joins some larger way
    Where many paths and errands meet.
         And whither then?  I cannot say.
    
    
    I have thoroughly enjoyed your notes.
    
    Take care,
    
    Lin Snow
    

    I must add my voice in here, also...I am a mostly RO noter in this
    conference and others where the Greyhawk was a contributor and I
    have always stopped to read his replies even when just "skimming"
    a topic. 
    
    It makes me sad to think that Digital could let a treasure like
    this go out and enrich someone else's company...
    
    Nancy

I feel the need for a moment of NOTES silence....

    
    	Everybody bow your heads and say a prayer for Peter, or sacrifice
    	a lamb at your desk, whichever you prefer.
    

    I kinda wondering if Notes> participation (visibility?) has any effect
    on who gets "picked"? Seems like "famous" names are dropping like
    flies. 
    
    .mike.

RE: .392

>    I kinda wondering if Notes> participation (visibility?) has any effect
>    on who gets "picked"? Seems like "famous" names are dropping like
>    flies. 

I think that is a bit paranoid, even though I am losing friends to this
one.  I think we (the Digital noting community) just notice a bit more
when it is one of our own.  I mean, think how many people you see in your
office on a daily basis, vs how many people you know of in here.  And
the people in here are a much broader cross-section of the company than
you will see in *any* Digital office, because we include hardware engineers, 
software engineers, Sales people, MCS, Sales support, managers, marketing
people, administrative people, (your favorite Digital function here), etc.

Name me a Digital office that has *all* of those types of people in it.
So if *any* of those functions get hit, we all hear about it through 
Notes, whereas we might not hear about it through the office.

-- Ken Moreau

  I'm reminded upon this occasion of that "Far Side" cartoon
  that shows an iceberg with four or five penguins on it, and
  a polar bear dressed up like a penguin.

  The caption is something like: "And now Greyhawk's gone! I
  think something's going on here!"

                                   Atlant

    After being told I was at risk in December, I was told (seven weeks
    later) that I *wasn't* at risk, and that I should return to my old job. 
    Since this felt uncomfortable (to say the least), I asked for some time
    to find another internal job.  If I didn't get an offer by the date we
    agreed upon (today), I'd leave.
    
    Well, time ran out for me.  My exit interview is Monday.  My feelings
    are mixed.  
    
    Digital continues to create some of the best hardware and supporting
    software in the industry.  Unfortunately, it consistently fails to
    proprerly market what it creates -- all too often, Digital does no
    marketing at all beyond flurries of activity at the product 
    announcement -- other times, it'll let consumers know the product
    exists, but then make a different fundamental marketing blunder, like
    over-pricing, over-engineering, forcing customers to buy unnecessary
    and unwanted add-ons, etc.  This, coupled with Digital's tendency to
    treat its employees like consumables, casues me to fear for the
    long-term viability of the corporation.
    
    And this saddens me because I have met some of the finest, smartest,
    savviest, and best people in the world here in the corridors and
    cubicles of DEC (and then Digital).
    
    Good luck to you all.
    	
    					Regards,
    					andrew

    So Long Grey Hawk ...
    	Me too ... I go now ... today
    		Always have been only a RO noter ...
    			After 15 years ... 14 DEC 100's, 4 Decathalons ...
    				I say now my brothers ...
    ALOHA ...
    
    GreyEagle
    

Andrew,

This really *is* crazy. We met years ago, back when Digital was DEC
and we were all proud of it.

I don't think you need it, but I wish you all the luck in the world.
Our loss will certainly be someone else's gain.

Pete

    Larry, all the best!  Keep in touch.
    
    Thanks for your support to AP in the past.
    
    Axel

    Larry's still an employee -- I'm his younger brother, a marketing dweeb.

    oops

Andrew, I'm sorry to see you go. I've enjoyed your comments and thoughts
over the years. It seems such a waste. liesl

    Well I'm gone too. They got me on Monday after 13.5 years.
    
    The cost center I was in is down to 4 people taking calls.
    
    I also love my work but this job has been a constant ulcer for 6 years.
    
    To all those grunts left answering pages and humping calls "GOD BLESS".
    
    Thank God NO MORE STANDBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Gordon "THE FAT MAN" Carncross
    West Chicago, IL
    708-231-2247

You don't know me because I'm an RON. I just couldn't leave without telling
you that you are the best. I have learned so much from you. When I needed
an education and fast!, your collective knowledge was my first source of
information; thank you for sharing it so generously. When my morale was
low, some note in HUMANE::DIGITAL would inspire me. And the humor!

Digital is lucky to have you. Yes, I'm talking to you. Well, I really must
be going. My very best wishes to you. See you on the other side of the
firewall.

Barbara Higgins

To my coworkers and colleagues;

After more than 17 years with Digital, it is time for me to say good-bye.  My
last day here will be April 5, 1996.  I have accepted an offer with Bindview
Development, a small software company which develops Netware LAN management
tools.  I have been hired as the department manager of Quality Assurance.  I'll
be reporting to the VP of Technical Services, and building Bindview's QA
department from the ground up, creating the charter, developing the budget, the
QA procedures, and hiring the staff.  This is the kind of opportunity I can
never have in a large, mature company such as Digital, so I have chosen to
accept it and move on.   

Digital has been a terrific place to work in many ways.  You folks are the best
in the business, and I have learned and developed tremendously during my stay
here.  Be proud of what you have all accomplished - you are awesome! 

So many of you have contributed to my growth and development here that I cannot
begin to name everyone - all the TOPS10/20 group, the MEIS group, and the MCS
organization here in Texas, and all of my "netpals" and acquaintances.  Each of
you that I have encountered have contributed to my growth as a professional and
as a human being.  You know who you are :-) 

I DO have a couple of really specific "thank yous" I need to give, though.

To Dave Eklund, who was the SPR manager for TOPS10/20.  Dave took all of us -
raw, inexperienced and straight out of school, for the most part - and
developed us into professionals.  His were the first lessons in quality that I
had in my engineering career at Digital, and my later successes were very much
built on the foundation he laid.  He taught us critical things like GETTING IT
RIGHT and "if ain't broke, don't fix it".  He taught us to speak to customers
in ways that were appropriate and clear.  Dave, I know you read this file -
please understand how very valuable your patient guidance was to all of us -
and how very much responsible you were for our attitudes and our professional
development.   I'll be leaning heavily on your example as I begin to hire and
develop the young engineers I will be working with. 

To Doug Gordon and Julian Wolfe, of the MEIS group - who taught me that you
really CAN make absolutely anything out of nothing at all... 

To Don Marshall, who has been my most consistent managerial influence since I
moved to the field.  Don has shown me that it is possible to maintain personal
integrity, honour, and dignity under the most trying of circumstances, that is
possible to stay calm and collected under the heaviest of fire, and that it is
possible to be fair, consistent, do the right thing by customers and staff, and
still make a profit.  Don, without your example, I doubt that I'd have the
intestinal fortitude to accept a management position. 

And to everyone else - it is a joy to work with so many passionate, dedicated
professionals.  I know you'll succeed in turning this company around and
setting the industry on its ears.  I wish you all the best. 

I'll be around on the 'net - after April 5 my email address will be
Rvasak@bindview.com.  Drop me a line! 


Regards,
Rita Tillson Vasak
LAN Consultant
MCS Houston
                             

    Hello Fellow Digital Employees;
    
    	I have been a mostly read only mamber of this conference. 
    	Tomorrow is my last day working here at the CSC in Colorado
    Springs. My real last day is March 29th. After almost 8 years it's time
    for me to move on. I have enjoyed the ups and worried about the downs
    during my time here. I have to say that the last 5 years have been long
    and hard. I have enjoyed the work most of the time and the people all
    of the time. 
    
    	A fond farewell to all;
    
    	Vern Bergling
    	MVHS CSC Colorado Springs, CO

Hello all,

Well, I'm not sure I would ever be able to get in contact with all of the 
people I have been privileged to work and interact with in the last 9 years 
at DEC, but for anyone out there who might remember me, I am heading on to 
other things.

I have accepted a job at Sybase IQ, the data warehousing division of Sybase 
based out of Burlington, Mass., and will begin there April 1. Instead of doing 
TP benchmark testing and helping others get better TP performance on their 
VAX or Alpha systems, I will be doing database development and testing and 
helping others get better decision support performance on their Sybase IQ 
systems (I will be the query optimizer performance group).

It was difficult deciding to leave, because I see a huge amount of promise in
Alpha systems, DEC Unix, NT, and the newly refocusing VMS, but I will get to
learn a new side of performance which I could never really get at DEC, and
Object-Oriented C++ decision-support database development is just too many hot
resume words to pass up...

After years of doing (among other things) VMS cluster performance, I hope 
VMS, Digital Unix and Digital NT clusters can keep well ahead of the pack.
I have seen a technology we had which was almost unique in the industry 
wander along while others started emulating and even surpassing us in some
ways. I am sure DEC will if groups can put together the future plans I 
have seen, and we don't lose all of the best sales, support, and service 
people who will be needed to configure, sell, and service these big systems 
to the corporate bulimia which seems to have taken hold at DEC.

good bye and good luck,

Dave Walrath
Computer Systems Division Performance Group

     Well the time has come, after 12 years, to say goodbye to Digital
and all the great people I have met in many different positions across
the corporation.  I have been downsized out of the SI organization as
of March 29th, and with all my VMS experience, customer and professional
skills, and recent Windows NT/Microsoft training, the job prospects look
pretty good.  

     My immediate plans are to do an initial job search for a few weeks,
then take a month-long trip through Eastern Europe I've been wanting to
do for a while.  I've worked for Digital since I was 19(including through
college) so I need a little time to reflect and evaluate.  The package,
though not great, is sufficient to buy me some time and probably still
come out ahead.

     Some of my memories from Digital:

- Re-locating from NH/MA to Atlanta
- Working at 12 different DEC locations and untold customer sites
- Logging 120,000 miles in one year of business travel
- Using those miles to go to Australia and Europe
- Playing in 6 Digital ice hockey tournaments including ones in Toronto and
  Ottowa.  Being very sore and hungover after, but feeling great!
- Attending several Decworlds - always a good experience
- Starting as a co-op computer operator working weekend nights for $6/hr
- The people.  There always was an instant respect when you told someone you
  worked for Digital.  I have helped and been helped by untold numbers of
  people based solely on that fact.  It's really sad to see that go.
- Winning the DEC Soccer Championship with most of my team from Galway against
  another team from Scotland.
- Endless trips to airports, on planes, hotels, rental cars.  Sad goodbyes
  and very happy welcomes back.
- The notesfiles. Getting dates from the Singles notesfile, learning investing
  and real estate, placing Classified_ads, finding a customer solution just
  by asking in the right place, and of course the Digital notesfile.
- Business travel during the Gulf War with all the security and lines at
  the airports.  Flying home for Christmas after a long business trip with
  a very satisfied feeling.  
- Turkies at Christmas

Here's how I can be reached:
(404)705-9161
Tim Wells
2306 Chastain Drive
Atlanta, GA 30342


Good luck to you all
Tim
                 

    I wish I had something and elegant and profound to say. But it's with
    much relief that I find myself signing out. It's been a difficult year
    here in support land. I came back from maternity leave to find all the
    players had changed and the new ones didn't really care who I was or
    what I did. I guess I'll no longer be Target Hotline consultant to the
    stars... 8^)

    I'm going back to a small company where I can get paid for doing a job
    not warming a seat and nodding my head in agreement for eight hours a
    day. I couldn't think of many reasons not to leave at this point. I'm
    just another headcount reduction. I look forard to being a person
    again!

    8.5 years have mostly been good, your manager makes all the difference,
    that is who you work for, not Digital. When will groups with in Digital 
    learn to play together under the same roof, this in-fighting will be
    the death of us.  
    
    I wish the internet notes where as good as these! Cheers to all the
    great folks I've met along the way!
    
    Gail

After 14 years as read-only mostly with this conference, I too have
been hit during the latest SI downsizing. After analyzing the situation,
it's almost amusing to think that this company targets me (and others
like me) who have been producing for years without ceasing.

Over the past 11 years since I have been in SI (Digital Consulting
and those trillion other names they referred to us as), I have been
billable non-stop except for vacation and training. I did all they
asked of me and more. I got great customer letters and surveys. I
worked on out of town assignments that placed a great deal of stress
on my family. How they justify cutting me when I return close to 4 times
my salary back into the company annually is incredible.

I'm past the angry part. I've almost left on my own on several
occasions but always believed that Digital was getting on the right
track. Now I leave with a package, even though small, it's more than
I would have had otherwise.

I think Digital has a long way to go before they settle in for a
smooth cruise. They need to stop targeting people who work and bring
in revenue for a living and start targeting the good-ole-boy structures
around country.

On a positive note, within 12 hours of putting the word out regarding
my TFS0, I had two job offers. One internal and one external. Needless
to say, I'm taking the offer of a company with vision.

I've made many good friends with this company and sadly, most of them
are gone. I say sadly for Digital, because I am a shareholder. Sadly
because almost all of them found better paying jobs with companies
that treat them fairly. Sadly, because all these reasons are indications
that the wrong people are getting cut.

My email address to lost friends who read this note is

hernandez@info-gw.com

Best of luck to those that remain

Manny

    
    Well, I'm outta here. Good luck to all. Even to those who spend
 a little too much time in Notes.


    				-- SJJS
                                   
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
       
Public key fingerprint:  75 73 83 83  77 89  70 82 71 71 78  65 35 35
To find PGP, read note 2338.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Sharkware.

    Do I lose points for saying good-bye twice? (3107.141)

    I've been back at Digital for a few months on a contract. It's
    been a lot like a high school reunion. We've all grown up a bit,
    some more than others and none of us as much as we'd like. The
    people who aren't here are having as much of an impact as those
    who are.  

    A few parting thoughts:
    
    - What I said in .141 still applies.
    
    - I may get to work with Stan on my next job. How 'bout that?

    - Even though Digital's tried to starve it to death, there's nothing
      like Notes.

    - Company-wise Email, whether by All-in-1/TeamLinks, Exchange, POP, or
      VMSmail, is still a very good thing. Lots of places still don't have
      it.

    - AltaVista (the search engine) shows that Digital can still do it
      right.

    =======================================================================
    Karl                                                    kh@ultranet.com
                                                    
                                     -30-

    After 17+ years, I have made a what initially seemed a difficult
    decision: to leave DEC, er, Digital. 
    
    That said, I'd like to dispense a little philosophy.
    
    Each of us has the amount of time we are given in this life, to spend
    as we will. No amount of  'saving' will change the quantity we are
    given. We can only be wise stewards of what we have received.  Your
    time IS your life.  To be true to the best within us, we should spend
    it on the goals and activities that matter the most to each of us. If
    we are not spending our time on those goals, or in the proper
    situations to pursue these goals, or in a career path that is
    supportive of these goals, we are  wasting our most precious commodity:
    our time ( and our lives).  We should never fall into the trap of
    waiting for things which may be beyond our control to change. 

    The author of the book "10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life
    Management", Hyrum Smith, says:  "When your daily activities reflect
    your governing  values you experience inner peace." 

    That simple quote is at the root of my decision to depart. 

    During the past 4 years, I have not experienced inner peace. 

    I will always try and remember the good times.
    
    The first HSC-CI780 message transfer demo for Gordon Bell.
    
    Wiring up the first cross-country net connection from the then-only
    11/780 in Colorado to VAXUUM::. Watching this DMR/DMF thing turn into
    the cross country thing we came to take for granted as the 'enet'.
    
    I've been fortunate to have worked with some of the finest these 17
    years.  I will miss many of you greatly. 
    
    
    To all of you I offer the following advice: 

    Take daily stock of your lives, and where you spend your time.

    Ask yourselves if you are doing what you want or just passing time ? 

    Is what you are doing supportive of your long-term goals ? 

    Are you working for change,  or wasting away waiting for change ? 


    My new home will be: 

    rkl@mooseware.com

    
    Rod Lilak
    aka "Publius"

Well, my friends, I have come to a fork in the road and it is time to choose
another direction.  It is an exciting choice, and the future will be both
interesting and fun.  I will be leaving DEC on Tuesday, 30 APRIL, and moving to 
California in early May.

It is difficult to sum up over 15 1/2 years with DEC.  I take with me the 
gratitude of making many good friends and learning many things.  I have 
witnessed major changes in this Company from when I built power supplies in
the Mill to supporting applications on the network.

I wish you all the best.  May the sun be in your face and the wind at your
back. May the road rise up to greet you in your travels.  Thank you all
for being a part of my journey.  I choose not to say goodbye...but instead
    "aloha"...until we meet again.

Lin             

    So long and thanks for all the fun - to those I've worked with, its
    been (mostly!) a pleasure, with lots of great memories, and to all good 
    luck for the future.
    
    regards,
    Michael Watts
    Sydney, Australia
    (1 year as a temp during a hiring freeze, 13 as a real DECcie)

    
    
    	Well, I'm history, too, but my choice.  After 18.5 years, I am off
    to a smaller and growing company.  I'll have the chance to work out of
    a home office, and do really interesting work, and have good
    advancement opportunity.
    
    	Good luck and all the best to you all.  
    
    	Fondest regards,
    
    	Diane

My time has come.  More ABU account reductions means less direct sales folks 
and they are in the process of cutting more today.

First time I have ever been let go.

Hope I gave more then I received, helped more then hurt, encouraged more then 
dumped on and above all did the right thing by all.

DEC was an enigma before I came, Digital is more of one as I depart.

Good luck to you all, I will sure miss this notesfile after 10 years of 
mostly read only.

Thanks - Kevin Ryan 
(334)260-8177

    After 26 years, I have decided to leave Digital. My departure date will
    be Friday, May 24, 1996.

    Obviously my email address will cease to work soon. If you wish to
    continue to correspond with me -- and I'd certainly encourage you to do
    so -- then please use:

                                 mhb@tiac.net

    /s/ MarkB

    After 10+ years of fixing everything from LA50's to 9000's and 7000's
    I'm hanging it up. My last day is May 23. I'm moving to a small growing
    company where I'll manage their VAXcluster and NT servers. My mail
    address will be woollums@sound.net .  I guess the tool kit just got a
    little heavy after a while.
    
    Russ

    Just a comment...
    
    I am seeing a lot of GOOD, KNOWLEDGABLE, and LONG-TIME people just
    picking up and leaving all of a sudden.  A few of them are making an
    entry here, most are not.
    
    Stress level?
    Frustration?
    Better opportunities?
    
    WE were the companies most valuable assets, once upon a time.
    
    Where do we stand now?
    
    Randy
    

    The company is slowly but surely disappearing. Is it part of
    a master plan? Who knows but soon, a year to 5 years, there
    may not be any such entity as Digital Equipment Corporation.
    
    Call me paranoid but it feels like it is part of a plan.
    
    Jim C.
    

    >Stress level?
    >Frustration?
    >Better opportunities?
    
    All the above, I've been working jobs of "billable folks" that got hit
    a month ago (Stress level?).  And now I get notified that after I
    "busted my b*tt" to get MCSE in two weeks, there's no bonus available
    this quarter (Frustration?).  I think I'll start looking (Better
    opportunities?)...
    
    John

    I'm telling Management EVERY DAY that if you value an employee, you'd
    better say/do something NOW to show it.  If not, assume that their
    resume is polished and published.  There is a massive difference
    between previous TSFOs and the last.  People, loyal and skilled, are
    not stupid.

    re .421:
    
    >Call me paranoid but it feels like it is part of a plan.
    
    Not being paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you...   ;-)
    

    The thing that bothers me about all this, is that I'm hearing loyal
    hard working engineers saying things like - "I'm staying until I find
    some thing better - Then I'm outa here." Now these are the folks that
    gave everything the company wanted, lot's of overtime at a moments
    notice, missing the kids birthday parties to fix stuff when not on
    standby - you know these kind of people. And - when we get to the point
    where all Field Service has to offer are pc only types straight out of
    school (making less than 20k) who can't spell VMS then we know that we
    will be out of business.
    
    It surely does feel like Digital Equipment Corporation is on the way to
    market, make it all "lean and mean" and sell it off piece by piece. It
    could be that there is a plan like that, but based on the kinds of
    decisions I've seen/heard lately I'm doubting that we have anyone who
    COULD come up with a plan like that and implement it.
    
    
    .mike.

    Possibly a reason people are leaving currently has to do with
    the pending drop in the value of the lump sum pension.  I got
    a letter a few weeks ago saying that people who wanted to retain
    their lump sum current value had to resign by something like
    the end of May (I'm hazy on the details).  You may recall the
    previous letter showing how lump sums would be affected by the
    Gatt (or something) adjustment in June(?).  In some cases, 10%
    of the value went into the bit bucket.
    

    .426
    
    Huh ?
    
    Is this a Europe thing ?
    
    
    The latest "byes" have been on the left of the pond.
    
    Bill
    

    
    > Huh ?
    
    > Is this a Europe thing ?
    
    No, this is a U.S. thing.  I REALLY don't know anything about the
    details, and it would be better if someone who did know chimed in here,
    but apparently the approved GATT accords resulted in some Federally
    mandated changes to U.S. pension programs that result in less generous
    benefits for U.S. employees.
    
    So, although I don't understand the details, Karen's report is
    consistent with my limited understanding.
    
    (Note:  "Lump Sum Benefit" .not.== "Pension Cash Account Balance")
    

    My cynical understanding of this is that in order to get big
    corporations to support GATT, the government included a goodie
    for them that reduces what they owe their employees as pensions.
    This presumably is implemented by cooking the expected interest
    earned and life expectancy numbers used.  So, two unrelated items were
    packaged together in the legislation.  Your federal tax dollars
    and representatives at work.
    
    Re: (Note:  "Lump Sum Benefit" .not.== "Pension Cash Account Balance")
    
    Uh, I interpreted the letter as meaning our current balances would be
    affected.
     

    
    > Uh, I interpreted the letter as meaning our current balances would be
    > affected.
    
    I never got either letter referred to, so I optimistically assumed that
    it only went to people who had the option to participate in the "old"
    pension plan, and that anyone who had only the new plan as an option
    was not affected (and hence, did not get the letter).
    
    Uh-oh..........  Is there something I should know in running my
    retirement savings projections?
    

    Re: .430
    
    You're right, I think...
    I called BE.  The GATT change affects how they calculate the balance
    required to provide the "old annuity".  So, on that worksheet with
    the three balances (old annuity, upgraded old annuity, new plan)
    that they sent out (just to people covered by the five year
    "safeguard"?), for most (not all) people the first two balances
    would drop.  So, what kind of a change this is depends on which balance
    is higher for each individual, and whether at retirement they select
    an annuity or a lump sum. This is giving me a migraine :-)  Anyway,
    balance statements are apparently going to be sent out quarterly, the
    next one in July, so this may be clearer then...
      

    After a little more than 14 years, my time at Digital has come. As a
    result of the Computer Associates deal, my last day with Digital is
    May 31. I never thought this day would ever come....and I'm still not
    sure how I'll ultimately deal with it.
    
    Interestingly, I had an opportunity to reflect on my career at Digital
    this evening via an interview I did with the Boston Globe (The
    article will feature work in the area of computer accessibility for
    people with disabilities, particularly WWW accessibility.) I have many,
    many fond memories. 
    
    Ken Olsen and Win Hindle worked with me to get the Vision Impaired
    Information Services program office launched (the 1st VIIS..)...the
    release of an industry first accessible CD-ROM for the blind and
    visually impaired (VIOLD)...developing the ICADD SGML DTD (part of
    ISO 1208-3 and now implemented within HTML 2.0+)...conducting the first
    Web Access for People with Disabilities workshop for the W3C...
    
    No doubt about it, I wish to thank Digital for giving me the
    opportunity to work on disabilities access as an employee. I feel I've
    accomplished much during my tenure; nothing compares to the great
    feeling I get as a result of this work.
    
    For those interested, you can continue to follow the developments in
    the area of disabilites on my Web Site: http://www.webable.com/
    
    I can be personally contacted at: mpaciello@webable.com or
                                      mpaciello@w3.org
    
    If you are interested in following WWW developments for disabilities
    access, I have just created a new web page area for the W3C at:
    http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/Disabilities
    
    Regards,
    
    Mike Paciello
    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|d|i|g|i|t|a|l|
Michael G. Paciello                              Paciello@shane.enet.dec.com
Assistive Technology Consultant                  Phone: (603) 881-1831 (w)
Sr. Software Engineer                            Phone: (603) 598-9544 (soho)
Shared Engineering Services (SES)                FAX: (603) 881-0120
Guest Editor: W3C Disabilities Web Page
Chair: Electronics Industries Association/Assistive Devices Division 
PR Chair: International Committee for Accessible Document Design (ICADD)
Member: Project EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
Member: Disabilities Access for X (DACx)
Member: NCSA/NSF Mosaic Access Project (MAP)
Member: Universal Access Project (UAP)
Author: ACCESS.TXT
Owner: WebABLE (TM) (WWW Server for Accessibility and Disabilities)
URL: http://www.webable.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   In 9+ years at DEC, and then Digital, I've had to dodge a number of
   "bullets", and have been successful until now.  My organization has
   been bought by Computer Associates, and this is my last week here.

   I've worked on some great projects with people who are extremely
   sharp and professional.  I've learned a lot, not only technically but
   also about human dynamics.  I've made some good friends along the
   way as well.

   I don't really want to say "good bye" since it sounds so final and
   the future can bring unexpected twists of fate.  I'd rather say
   "until we meet again", which I hope we will someday.

   I also want to say "good luck" to all of you and to Digital as a
   corporation.  There is a lot of excellent talent here, and a lot of
   good products.  However, I'm concerned that Digital is selling off
   the talent and the good products, and what will be left?  I hope
   there's a viable strategy behind this trend, even if I don't
   understand what it is.

   Our systems will be coming down sometime Wednesday, but you can reach
   me anytime at

     charlieb@ma.ultranet.com

   Bye for now,
    Charlie Beerman

  I was afraid my reply was too brief and might be subject
  to misinterpretation. So here's a less-obtuse version:

 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

> Like me, also gone are...
>
>     :
>   Turkeys
>     :

  While I wish it were so that the turkeys are gone, I think
  management here disproves that idea with alarming regularity.

                                   Atlant

    I outa here.
    
    Tomorrow is my last day (May 31, 1996) after 19 1/2 years at DEC. I
    shall miss the friends I have made during my time at Digital.  I can be
    reached at bob.shelton@siemensrolm.com.
    
    Best wishes to those that are left.
    
    \cheers
    \bob

	I will be taking leave of you after 14 years of working in
	Digital (Canada and U.S.A.). This notesfile has been a tremendous
    	source of information about Digital in spite of the many arguments
    	and lengthy notes. I will miss this noter community very much as
    	I gained a lot by reading many interesting notes. I will miss a
    	lot friends and co-workers at Digital.

	My group is being transferred to the Computer Associates,
	effective June 1,1996, as part of the recently announced
	strategic alliance between Digital and Computer Associates,
	involving several POLYCENTER products.

	I don't know my new phone number at the Computer Associates
	(300 Nickerson Road, Marlboro, MA 01752). My home address and
	phone number are:

		Prabhakara Bhat
		19 Perry Henderson Drive
		FRAMINGHAM, MA 01701
		(U.S.A.)
		Phone: (508) 877-2525

	I will send my e-mail address to Anil Navkal once I settle down
	at my new job.

	Digital has been a wonderful company and I have met many excellent
	peopele during my stay at Digital. I wish all of you and Digital
	best of luck in the coming years.

	With best regards, best of luck, and goodbye to all of you,

	P.B. Bhat

		P.S.:- Please do not try to send mail to me at Digital
			since our cluster is going to go away.

From:	TOOK::R_SPENCE     "My Reality Check Bounced" 30-MAY-1996 13:11:29.34
To:	MARTY
CC:	
Subj:	Leaving Digital (DEC) after all this fun

Well, it is time to go turn in my badge and head off.

Next stop, Computer Associates. Sure will be fun working for a company
that values software in and of itself :-)

23 years has brought lots of good times as well as tough ones. They were
all great experiances and made best by the people I worked with.

I hope to hear from y'all in the future. I can be reached at
	N1ICB@ma.ultranet.com

Please forward this to anyone who I might have known (I woulda posted it
in the Digital notes file but I don't have a working video terminal
anymore :-)

By By!

s/rob
    

    Me too.

    Thanks to all the folks that had a hand in my education - notes, 
    mail and in person. Most of the 13 years were interesting and fun
    but the last two ... well, they were very different. 

    I started when People + Products = Profits and am leaving when
    Profits = Shedding People + Shedding Products. It is truly the classic
    DEC vs DIGITAL division. Thanks to Ken for putting people first.

    Special thanks to Steve Lionel. When I started I found what he had
    to say and the manner in which it was delivered was above the norm.
    ( Much in the style and manner of Simon Szeto. ) Steve became the 
    'Digital barometer' with which I measured life in DEC. If I am lucky
    GTE will have its own Steve.
 
    jc [ JMCIUFFINI@AOL.COM ]
  
    Final Acronym Thoughts ...
  
    SAP  - toss it. Simplify the processes that are strangling the company
           SAP is just another one and too difficult to implement ( not
           to mention costly ( 1/2 billion if everyone fesses up )

    PSG  - Some good people. Some good managers. But, not enough incentive 
           and rewards to make a difference.

    SAMS - counting hours is a factory mentality and doesn't even belong 
           there today. Treat people as professionls, not Human Resources
           Ask for hours and you will get hours. Ask for creativity and 
           solutions and you will probably get that.

    BU's - Free these folks to make their own decisions and live and die 
           by them. Remove the Corporate albatross structures from around
           their necks. See SAP.

    TFSO - Managers say 'TIF- So' Workers say T-F-S-O. Changes the meaning 
           of career to 'job.'

    CEO  - His job is done. Thanks, but it is time for someone who has the
           the word 'customer' in his/her vision statement.

    M&M  - Also known as Meetings and Memos folk that are as Scott Adams 
           writes in the Dilbert Principle, at least once or twice
           removed from the true work of the corporation. One former 
           deccie noted that they used to call these folks 'matrix moles'.
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------  
 

    I thought a long time about whether to post a "goodbye" note here.
    On the one hand, it seemed more professional, showing better decorum,
    to just quietly slip away without adding another depressing goodbye note.
    On the other hand, given my number of years and the extent of my
    activities and colleagues at Digital, it didn't seem right to just
    disappear. 

    So, I decided to end my 18+ years at Digital with a goodbye,
    but to go out on a positive note. 

    Therefore, Goodbye. 

    After 18+ more or less great years at Digital, I have voluntarily
    resigned to ply my craft at another company.
    
    This will be effective June 14.
    
    I make this announcement with considerable sadness.

    It's been a good ride.  I've been real lucky.  There are not many
    corporations where a young guy can join with a B.A. in an
    irrelevant liberal arts field, a little BASIC-PLUS programming
    experience, and a lot of naivette, and eventually become a
    Senior Consulting Engineer.  Digital was a special place. 

    Along the way, I got to work with some of the best and smartest people
    I've known, within and without Engineering, from the U.S. and also from
    overseas.  It was fun being involved in the early days of VAX languages
    and VMS software, and on through many exciting efforts, the Alpha
    software program, and finally into high performance Alpha systems.

    And, along that whole ride, nobody ever asked me to do a Wrong Thing.
    I was not always encouraged to do the Right Thing, but I was never
    asked to do a Wrong Thing (and so sometimes we didn't do anything).

    And, except for one or two incidents long, long ago, I've always had
    good managers that I respected, who treated us all well and fairly.

    In fact, some of you probably know that I recently changed jobs and
    moved into a new organization within Digital (and, in fact, ELF still
    shows my OLD organization).  It's important to make very clear that my
    decision doesn't reflect on my new manager.  To the contrary, one of
    the things that made this decision very difficult is that I think my
    new manager is a great guy: visionary, skilled, energetic, smart,
    likeable (stop blushing if you're reading this, Bill).  He and I could
    have done some real good work together. 

    (I was also looking forward to getting whatever-replaced-the-pewter-
     Clock-Tower in the 20-year Service Awards Catalogue).

    However, my decision was conditioned by my prognosis of the future
    state of Digital; and even more by my prognosis of the future state
    of software and Software Engineering at Digital, and what there will
    be to work on in not-too-many years; and also by the general state
    of depression induced by watching so many good people continue to be
    spun out, sold off, laid off, or otherwise ejected; and also by
    watching so many good people leaving voluntarily these days. 

    (I have to admit that I also did not look forward to having
     an 8'x10' cubicle, as they re-fit the Engineering sites). 

    This all meant that it was time to offer my services to a growing
    company which has software as a core competency and is commited to
    product development for the long haul. 

    But, as I said above (promising to go out on a positive note), Digital
    has in many ways been a great place.  For many people, it still is and
    will in the future be a place of great opportunity. 

    And who knows, maybe I'll be back someday.  If Digital needs my
    services in the future, perhaps I will be in a position to meet
    that need.  And, if Digital does not need my services in the future,
    then it was far better that I did not remain here now.

    After June 14, I can be reached at 

	CNylander@mathworks.com
	
    or
  	
  	Nylander@worldnet.att.net  (if I get don't annoyed enough with
  	                            AT&T's Worldnet dis-Services to pull the
  	                            plug on it......).

    So, au revoir.  If you got this far in reading this note, go back and
    read Rod Lilak's going away note ( 3107.413 ).   Reflecting on Rod's
    note did not determine my decision, but it certainly didn't discourage
    me from deciding to leave Digital either. 

    Good luck and best wishes to all you who remain. 

    --Chip Nylander 

    

    I'm gone. I'm History. <wink> I'm leaving voluntarily.
    
    After 15 years, it wasn't easy, but I feel good about my decision and
    the company I'm going to. I will miss all the folks here, all the
    friends and co-workers. I will also miss notes, though I am mostly 
    Read-Only. 
    
    Today is my last day, but I can be reached at
     		
    rmumford@tricon.net
    
	
    Best of luck to all.
    
    Robert Mumford, badge 128790

The time has come to wish you well as I will be leaving Digital (voluntary)
on June 14, 1996.  I have enjoyed the last 18 years and hope to continue 
to enjoy the next 18.  Digital has been a special place because of the 
many wonderful people that I have been privileged to work for and with.

I will be working with a regional software development and consulting 
company in St. Louis that focuses on the mid-range, mid-price consulting 
market.  (By contrast Digital usually focuses on high-end, tier 1 type of
consulting).  They are a Digital customer and have enjoyed impressive 
growth over the last few years.  For now, I can be reached at: 

			74672.2707@compuserve.com

In a recent Digital good-bye note, Rod Lilak offered the following advice: 

    Take daily stock of your lives, and where you spend your time.
    Ask yourselves if you are doing what you want or just passing time ? 
    Is what you are doing supportive of your long-term goals ? 
    Are you working for change, or wasting away waiting for change ? 

To my many friends, I hope you are working toward doing what you really
want to do and that our paths cross again soon!

take care,

Marty
    

    
    P.S.  (c.f.  .442)
    
    I  wish to put to rest the scurrilous rumor that I am leaving Digital
    to go to AT&T.  AT&T (Worldnet) is my home internat mail provider!
    
    See you all in the next life (which, for me, begins tomorrow).    
         

    
    After 111 quarters (almost 112) here at Digital, I'm finally calling it
    quits.  Friday, June 14th, will be my last day.
    
    Best wishes to my friends and co-workers, past and present.
    
    
    "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . .
    
    
    rgds,
    
    Frank
    
    

I am leaving Digital after 10 years of service (I started with DEC on 16 Apr
1986). My last day is Sunday 30-Jun-1996 in theory, Thursday 27-Jun-1996 in
practice.

I find it difficult to leave Digital - more difficult than when I left my first
job (where I had worked for 5 years).

I started within IS-ADG (applications development in Digital's own IS
department). I have seen DEC evolve, offer more services, even consultancy
services - remember DC ? All that ended, though, when Gresham Brebach resigned.
DC was reduced to SI, and SI became an ancillary to hardware sales (not a
business of its own). For the last 18 months, I have been 'rented out'
('body-shopping') - it seemed to be the only way of being chargeable - and I was
100% chargeable! I think that I will have a better future job perspective if I
join a company that does SI in its own right (and that does allow me to spend
*some* time at the office and *some* time in training). My reasoning is that I
want to be in a business with a high added value (it is the added value that
pays my salary), such as SI, in a company that sees this business as a 'core
business' (corporations shed activities even if those activities are profitable
- if those activities are not in their 'core business').

People have asked me *when* I decided to leave Digital. It grew gradually. Two
years ago, when we had those massive dismissals, I knew that I ought to watch
the labour market - just in case. Deep in my heart, I expected the Digital
pendulum to swing back (more services, services as a core business, substantial
profitability, reasonable job security, good job prospects, a possibility of a
salary increase) to some extent - it did not. When my customer went 'live' with
SAP R/3 , I received a number of phone calls, and I am now grasping one of those
opportunities.
I learned some lessons (about the labour market in Belgium) in the process: Job
ads in the newspapers are not targetted at people of my age (41 now), even if
they do not explicitly mention an age limit. At my age, you must rely on
informal contacts.

(In all fairness, I must say that I was informed of an opportunity within
Digital days after my resignation. I would have grasped if it had come one week
sooner. As things were, I had already made up my mind, signed the other
contract, and handed in my resignation.)

People have asked me whether I will earn much more (no), whether I do it for the
money (no). Actually, I have turned down a more lucrative offer in favour of the
most *interesting* offer.

I will keep a fond memory of Digital and (even more so) of DEC.

I will always remember its people, especially the people I have worked with (on
the other hand, one of my former colleagues will be a colleague in my new job -
Digital fired him in one of those "linear dismissals").

I have learned a lot at DEC - technological things, but also a number of skills,
project management skills in the first place.

I will also miss EASYnet, especially Notes (VAX Notes, later DEC Notes). It
cannot be underestimated what Notes means to DEC/Digital, as a way of
establishing networks of professional contacts, with people you rarely or never
meet, who live in a very different time-zone. Some people think that just the
phone is enough, or that Email is enough (with Email, you cannot look for
existing answers, you can send questions only to individuals, not to an interest
group, unless someone manages a mailing-list for that interest group).
The whole world speaks about intranets now - Digital has had its intranet for
decades.

I have worked for a number of managers throughout my Digital career. I am most
indebted to Ghislain De Vinck, who has been my manager for many years (though
not in recent years). He has, occasionally, been very angry with me, and I with
him. However, what I learned about project management, I learned under his
coaching.

I will have memories of DEC, but also a number of material reminders:
* my silver pen (5 years of service) and my golden pen (10 years),
* my Digital track-suit - a reminder of the golden times, when our country
manager gave a track-suit to each one of us,
* the plaque that reminds me of the year I was awarded the "Circle of
Excellence" distinction, and the picture of the handshake with Bill Strecker,
and the other picture of the dinner with Sergio Giacoletto (remember Sergio ?).

I am also grateful to those DECies that volunteer to do something for colleagues
that they do not even know.
I think of a number of people who do this on a regular basis, such as:
* the people who run the VNS (Vogon News Service),
* Jeff SPEZKO::Harrow, who publishes the RCFoC (Rapidly Changing Face of
Computing) - I will miss it,
* the people who moderate the Macintosh and MacOnline conferences and shareware
archive,
* HANNAH::ALFRED, who re-distributes the TidBits newsletter,
* the people who wrote Nmail (Dave Porter) and Pan (Peter Bailey and Andy
Leslie) - who have left Digital in the meantime (I do not think that there is
any piece of software in the world that scores as high as Nmail in terms of the
usefulness-per-byte ratio),
* those people who contribute voluntarily, frequently and usefully to a number
of technical Notes-conferences (such as UCX, Digital_Unix, Internet_tools,
R3_OSF1_technical, ...).
(A note about VNS. I have assumed, for 10 years now, that VNS means "Vogon News
Service". However, in recent years, in Flanders, VNS means "Vanavond niet,
schat" or "Not tonight, darling" - the name of a sex-education TV-programme
broadcast by the Flemish commercial TV-station VTM.)

A word about DEC-vs-Digital. A number of people have said that this company was
a better place when it was DEC. It might have been, but that nice place started
making big losses. I certainly think DEC was a better place, but I wonder how
much that judgment is influenced by nostalgia.
It is certainly true that we had 2 brand names, and that that was silly and
wasteful.
I think, however, that we picked the wrong one. An adjective is not a very good
brand name - there is no audible difference between 'digital computers' and
'Digital computers'. I also notice (magazines, friends in the outside world)
that people in the outside world still refer to DEC.

A word about HW-vendors evolving to SI (system integrators). I have spoken with
a number of people working for Unisys (one of the colleagues from my first job
works there). Unisys is similar in size to Digital, went through a similar
crisis, in roughly the same period. They have started doing SI as a business of
its own, not related to their own HW offering, and that currently represents
about a third of their business. Unisys as a whole is still in trouble, but at
least *that* part of Unisys seems to be doing well.
Digital has tried to do that, and given up. I know it did not work well, but it
might have been better to improve that to give up.
(All right, some weeks after my resignation, Digital announces a new version of
"Digital Services". I am curious.)

A word about the 'core business'. Companies in a crisis often decide to return
to their 'core business'. The phrase is suggestive: you return to the business
you were in when you were profitable, and you shed all recent evolutions and
diversifications - it suggests that those evolutions and diversifications were a
bit frivolous, and that you are now returning to stern ernest. However, your
original business might not exist anymore, or not be profitable. 'Selling
computer systems with comfortable margins' does not exist anymore, and 'selling
computer systems' can only be profitable by being 'mean and lean', and even then
you go a deep crisis every now and then (when the margins are low and the
volumes are high, every crisis is a deep crisis - it happened to Compaq, it
happened to HP, ...).
IBM *was* in the mainframe hardware business. I think they have evolved, or else
the acquisition of Lotus was a terrible mistake.
Sun *was* in the hardware business. I think they have evolved, or else the Java
investment was a terrible mistake.
DEC/Digital *was* in the minicomputer hardware business.

I am joining CAP VOLMAC, a large European (Dutch and French roots: VOLMAC and
CAP Gemini) provider of IT services (you may remember the logo, which is a blue
ace of spades).
Some friends have told me that CAP VOLMAC has a bad reputation. I remember the
reputation DEC had when I joined (an arrogant HW vendor - 'the other number
one'). A reputation is something that was formed years ago. When I joined DEC,
the company was much better than its reputation.

To those who stay behind, I wish good luck. No I am not being sarcastic - I mean
it.

I will have Internet at my new job, but I do not know my future E-mail address
yet. As soon as I do know, I will send an update.

My home address is:
Peter Van Avermaet
Heikenstraat 31
B 9250 Waasmunster
Belgium
phone +32 9 348 9134

office phone: +32 2 716 1402 (secretary)
office fax: +32 2 716 1279

      After 10.5 years, my time is up. Following a reassessment of the UK
    repair centre's needs, it has been decided that there is no longer any
    requirement for a support engineer here, my last official day is Friday
    28th June.
    
      It wasn't entirely a surprise, I've been feeling vulnerable ever
    since the rest of the support group went in last year's
    re-organisation; at least the waiting is now over.  Notes> is the thing
    I shall miss most.
    
      If anyone wants to contact me, I should be on the internet soon as
    Kenricketts@patrol.i-way.co.uk
    
    Ken
    

    Unless a miracle occurs and the internal job req "freeze" suddenly 
    thaws, I'm gone as of Friday June 28th. Would have been 17 years 
    this coming November.
    
    What really stinks about this is that I had interviewed recently for two 
    different jobs, and both hiring managers were more than willing to 
    hire me, but they were not able due to the "freeze".
    
    There is life after DEC, the problem here will not be finding a job, 
    just choosing which one...
    
    /ed brown

	The problem with life after DEC (I quess I should say Digital) is
	which job to chose.

	My last day of work will be June 26th.  I then get rid of my vacation
	time before starting in my new position.

	About a month ago, I was not even thinking about moving when I got 
	calls from two different personnel consultants, looking for people
	for two different companies.

	Both companies made me a good offer, so I had to do something I have
	never had to do before, chose a job.

	After almost 10 years, it will be sad to leave, but exciting to go
	to a company where I will not wonder who will be cut next.

	I wish all of you the best.  


	dave mac eachern

   After 21 years with Digital I'm history as of Friday. After 5 years I left
but was enticed to return for another 16 years..  Another older white male
(58)  being thrown out the door... This should start an interesting discussion! 
   This company has hit rock bottom in the way it is treating folks. IMHO 
  

    Today is my last day at Digital after 18 years. I am leaving to join a 
    company (Security Dynamics) that I believe is better aligned with my
    interests; I am sorry that I can no longer believe that Digital is or
    will become so. 
    
    Best of Luck to those who remain.
    
    Goodbye and thanks to all those I have worked with over the
    years, especially so to those from 10/20 land in MR1.
    
    
    /ham

    After 24 years, this is my last day.
    
    For the most part, it was a lot of fun.  I corresponded with a
    number of people around the world, worked on some interesting
    projects and worked with helpful people.
    
    It was a good ride.  I enjoyed reading you all.
    
    Best Regards,  - Bill Hedberg  (whedberg@ultranet.com)
    

I am leaving Digital today to work at Fax International in Burlington, MA.
I have many sweet memories during my 7 years in the performance group and 2
years in the High Performance Computing group.  I have enjoyed the good times
and have survived three rounds of painful TFSOs.  I am indebted to many people
within my groups and around Digital for their support, mentor, leadership, and
especially friendship.

Now time has come for me to move on.  I don't know if the grass is greener on
the other side, but at least now I can fertilize it myself to make it greener.

I wish you all good luck, and I am sure our paths will cross again someday.

Best regards,

Santa Wiryaman
wiryaman@faxint.com (after 7/1)


ps: on the lighter side, have you seen the new Digital homepage?
    It is on http:///.
    (Read it out loud if you don't get it)

    In ...... 9/2/72
    Out ..... 7/12/96
    
    C' Ya!   :-}

    Goodye to all those who departed today!

        What was the "body count" for this latest round of layoffs?

    Well, its my turn...  After just over 12 years I'm out of here too.
    Its been an interesting ride, and I wish I was as eloquent as some who
    have gone before me.  
    
    The early years were AWESOME.  We were a rude, crude, nasty,
    disreputable, ragtag bunch but we were DAMN good, and we didn't fear
    anyone or anything.  There was no challenge we couldn't take on, beat
    to a pulp, and turn into systems that didn't just satisfy, but
    DELIGHTED our customers.  That was DEC and I miss it.  It was that
    mindset that made us KNOW we were something special.
    
    Later there were some bad years when we didn't seem to know WHAT we
    were.  Good people, GREAT people were being shown the door every
    quarter.  The rest of us hunkered down in our foxholes and just tried
    to get by.  Not excel, just survive.
    
    Now, there aren't as MANY people being shown the door, and they're even
    hiring out here, but the geniuses that guided us, drove us to excel,
    and made us the elite we were are gone.  
    
    A few of us in the office were talking about the pro's and con's of
    leaving, and the only tangible thing we could consistently come up with
    that we would miss was notes. I owe a debt to all those folks in
    various notesfiles that kept me up-to-date on digital, gave me
    information I needed to do my job, and enhanced my many hobbies with
    their advice, knowledge, and counsel.
    
    I wish everyone the best of luck in the future.  And PLEASE, try to do
    SOMETHING to get my stock up to a reasonable point so I can sell it!  

>    The early years were AWESOME.  We were a rude, crude, nasty,
>    disreputable, ragtag bunch but we were DAMN good, and we didn't fear
>    anyone or anything.  There was no challenge we couldn't take on, beat
>    to a pulp, and turn into systems that didn't just satisfy, but
>    DELIGHTED our customers.  That was DEC and I miss it.  It was that
>    mindset that made us KNOW we were something special.

I like this...reminds me of [long-since-departed] consultant who complained 
to his manager, "Why do you keep *sending* me out to these snakepits?"

"You keep coming back with sacks full of dead snakes."

    After 24 years (half of my life) it is also time for me to move on.
    I will be working for U.S. Robotics here in the Chicago area.
    
    I have enjoyed working with a great group of people, interesting
    products and challenging customers here at Digital!  I wish the best 
    of luck to all of you who are still here.
    
    Here are new e-mail addresses for me:
    	Home:  CorkLittle@aol.com
    	Work:  wlittle@usr.com
    If you have some time, write and say "hi."
    
    
    Regards,
    
    Bill Little
    

    With warm regards it is time for me to say goodbye to DEC.  I'll remain
    silent regarding Digital.

	... "Mr. P. A. S." to those of us around when SWS needed a project ac-
counting system (PAS!), and Bill put one together with BASIC.

	A loss, indeed!

    was .463 Rick Dwyer...formerly from Digital Cincinnati??  If so the old
    Ohio Valley District wishes you well and good luck.

I'm leaving Digital on July 31 to go to PictureTel in Andover, Ma. I'll be
working for Dave Grainger in their Enterprise Services Division. After 17 
years at DEC this was a very tough decision, but the time is right.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to have worked for DEC, particularly the 
first 10-12 years. The past 5 have been difficult, but I've still learned 
alot. If PictureTel is as good as DEC was in the earlier days, I'll have 
made a good decision. As I was pondering this decision, I kept remembering 
the excitement in Dave Grainer's eyes as he learned over the table during 
my interview with him and said: "This place is just like DEC was when I 
first went there!". Hopefully, I'll be saying the same a year or so from now.

It's been a fun and rewarding 17 years, starting in Corporate Finance IS, 
then to Marlboro Manufacturing, then on to Digital Services, to Telecom, and 
finally back in Services managing the WOW Program. Very few companies would 
have provided the opportunity for such movement and breadth of experience. 
I've learned from many excellent managers, peers, and people who reported to 
me.

If you're one of the people I've worked with in the past, I hope you'll drop 
me a note, or call before I leave. By far the most difficult aspect of 
moving is leaving such a talented group of people. I hope you'll all keep 
in touch.

Good luck to you all!


			Kathie Larsen
			DTN: 276-8890, outside (508) 496-8890
			home (508) 897-5556
			klarsen@mail.dec.com 

    Looks like I'm a goner too.  Whoodathunkit.
    
    Not much time to wax either wroth or sentimental -- I hadn't expected
    to be tapped or to have the few internal leads I'd eked out since
    TUESDAY for FRIDAY evaporate.  But I don't expect much trouble with
    external leads, so 'sOK.
    
    Many folks say, when they leave DEC, that "the thing I'll miss the most
    is Notes."  That's true for me too.  (Well OK we self-select in here,
    we're all Notes users!)  And it's also why I strove so hard to drive
    the collective design of Threaded Discussions in Workgroup Web Forum
    (renamed AltaVista Forum) and then to evangelize it into the local and
    later into the 'Net culture.  Ah well.  Might-have-beens.
    
    Check out LSRV2::INTERNET_TOOLS 3867.* and my .17 therein for more
    unsolicited comments, but let me say here...
    
    Note that I'm proudest of in the LJSRV2::INTERNET_TOOLS NOTESfile:  
    	219.10
    
    Notes I'm proudest of in this HUMANE::DIGITAL NOTESfile: 
    	4033.180 (see 4033.178 , .179 for context); 2342.*
    
    See you out on the infobahn,
    
    Dan
    
    PS -- If this note results in anything I might find either interesting
    or actionable, :-) I expect some random friend to extract & eMail it to
    me forthwith at the above address -- at the risk of life and limb of
    course.  Pardon me for suggesting anything seditious.  Ciao!
    

    Dan, 
    
    you are entitled to be proud of 2342, it is a very perceptive note.
    
    And 4 days is TOO SHORT to check out if you could be useful somewhere
    else, far TOO SHORT.
    
    Best Wishes, Kevin

    Having already been deleted from ELF V3 (which is built on the X.500
    product for which I was the product manager!) I am no longer officially
    here. Along with 40% of the Internet Software Business Unit engineering
    group  I have been TFSO'd/downsized/rightsized/shown the door. While
    the timing was unexpected, the event wasn't, given the state of
    Digital today.

    In the last 22 years working for DEC I have learned what it takes to
    build a business and then what it takes to tear it down. I was
    fortunate in one of my jobs to have direct dealings with Ken Olsen and
    Gordon Bell and the other personalities who helped propel Digital's
    growth. I have learned a lot, sufficient not to be too concerned about
    finding another job. DEC has done a lot of things about which the rest
    of the world are still dreaming. Unfortunately the present regime 
    doesn't recognize much of what has been accomplished.

    Who should be wishing whom luck at this point is debatable. I don't 
    have much confidence that the present regime understands the dynamics 
    of the marketplace. As has been said many times in this Notesfile - 
    "It's the customers, *@#$&*!"

    Reading the responses in this Notesfile to the recent "crisis" I am
    reminded of George Orwell's "Animal Farm". Even though that book was a
    parody of an entirely different situation, since it was describing
    human behaviour there are some striking parallels. Remember Boxer, the
    draft horse who was still determined to "work harder" even as he was
    carted off to the slaughter house. And the sheep (real editorializing
    starts here) who were bleating "64 bits good, 32 bits bad" until the
    pigs made an alliance with Bill when it became "64 bits good (UNIX,
    OpenVMS), 32 bits (NT) better".

    I have had an eventful and interesting career at DEC but now it's over. 
    There's life after Digital. I am going to find it.

>    here. Along with 40% of the Internet Software Business Unit engineering

    I thought internet software was supposed to be a significant 
    Digital business emphasis; was I wrong?

    Tom

    
    what side of the mouth were you listening to when you heard it?
    
    Another symptom.
    
    chet

RE: .470

	Folks, let's all sing the same song. "Digital is a hardware
	company"  Software development within Digital is done purely
	for the purpose of selling boxes. If your business plan has
	anything like "...and we plan to have the BEST software..."
	without mention of "...and we plan to sell ALOT of AlphaServer
	xxxx's!!!" in it, then good luck. The TFSO gods will find you
	eventually. Sorry, it just seems to be reality.

	Software is just that nasty stuff that goes on HARDWARE!!
	(Not MY opinion BTW)

							mike

    Mike,
    
      May not be your opinion but it is the truth.  Hard to deny the facts
    after seeing so many excellent s/w types fade away.  So much
    opportunity.....

    Ian,
    	glad to see you are well and contemplating life after DEC with
    equanimity. There is plenty - enjoy!
    
    /a

    re .469
    
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better
    64 bits good, 32 bits better..
    
    The nightly meeting  tried to conclude as the sheep droned on hypnotically
    drowning out the squeals for reason and understanding, Boxer the old 
    Draft horse (having seen his fellows delivered to "The Vet's" without 
    even acknowleging that many of them were gone) resolved that his motto 
    of  "I will work harder." must change.
    
    As some of the animals tried to sing "Beasts of England" and the Dogs
    started chasing the other animals off to bed (so they would be fresh
    at work in the morning).  From the middle of the melee Boxer stumbled 
    off to his stall for the night.
    
    Confusion lifted, and the simple clarity of life, his life, opened 
    up to him and in the insight that only is delivered right before 
    sleep takes us. He knew in his heart his new motto was to be:
    
    "I will work harder... To get out of this place and find one that
     appricates me more."
    
    
    A bedtime reminder that we (Digital) needs to support and appricate
    those that are left.  The alternative is that the Boxers will 
    wake up and leave us of their own volition.  
    
    And when the Draft Horses leave, there are no more crops.
    
    JMHO,
    
    John "Boxer" W.
    

    Well, today is my last day at Digital.
    
    I decided to take a job elsewhere.
    
    Except for the last two months and previous near TFSOs, I enjoyed
    working here.  The engineering talent in this corporation has been
    superb but I see too many good people going out the door.
    
    My first PSA, back in 1986, had the last name "Lovejoy".  That name
    described the work environment back then.
    
    Now, my PSA is unreachable and the exit process was bungled big time. 
    
    Turning in my resignation lifted a big weight from my shoulders but at
    the same time, there is a lot of sadness to see what this comapny has
    become.
    
    -David Glaser
    glaser@ultranet.com

This is my goodbye note.  Today is my last day.  After 8 years with Digital,
I'm moving on.  Bob, feel free to subtract 1 more from that 7,000 number. :-)

I agree with those here in the ::Digital conference who advised looking at what
you are doing and carefully considering whether or not it is helping you move
toward your goals.

I'm starting my own company to do consulting and software development.
It's called Integrity Computing, Inc., and can be reached at (719)390-7350.
I'll be specializing in VMS Clusters and I/O issues, and maybe NT if the VMS
demand ever slacks off (the view from here is that it certainly hasn't).
My hope is that the consulting income will allow me to finally do some projects
I've been harping about having Digital do for far too long without success.

I was in Digital during some of the best years, and some of the worst.  When
the troubles began, word was that all the good folks would quickly be leaving. 
For a while there, during the darkest times, I almost felt that since I hadn't
left, I must not be one of the good ones.  As time went on, I did see the
company lose a lot of good folks, but there are still a lot of really sharp
people around, and Digital has some really excellent products, so I believe it
will do well in the future.  I'll be depending on it.

I'd like to stay in touch.  My home phone is (719) 392-6696.  I can be reached
by E-mail at: 
    parris@eisner.decus.org

Thanks to the many folks who have given me advice, answered questions, and
just been good friends over the years.  I wish you all the best!
				Keith

    Oh, Keith!
    
    I wish you all the best, but we will miss you!
    
    You are one of the greats in DEC!
    
    Frank

    Keith,
    
    Yet another loss for Digital.  I have worked with you on and off
    for quite some time, and you will be missed my friend.  Good luck
    with your company.
    
    michael

The priest at our local church will be away every now and then and has
a associate, Father Gorsky, that will stand in for him...

Well the wife and kids usually get quite a kick at the number of times
Father Gorsky will say "my dear friends..." in his sermons.  Usually he
can repeat the phrase a dozen times.

Well now its my turn to say:

"My dear friends" its been a slice.  My number is up, and I too have
been asked to leave.

I guess its a 90's thing, but I had sincerely hoped that the company's
fortunes would have improved enuf to stop the bleeding...  hopefully
for those who survive this current downsizing that will be true.

In any event, I'm posting this as my last entry in this wonderfull thing
called NOTESfiles, to thank everyone and anyone who has helped me
be successful during my 10 years at Digital.

I wish you all well in your endeavors and hope that you live long and 
prosper!

-- cheers,
   Guy

    I am very curios about who will make up "The 7000 Club" and
    I am sure many others who are reading this, would also like
    to know who they will be. 
     
    If everybody who is asked to leave posts a reply to this 
    note, we can all skim through the 7,000 replies and get some 
    insight as to where this company is heading. 
     
    Each person should include the group they work for and the 
    office they work out of, along with any other information 
    they deem relevant. If you know someone who is leaving but is not a
    "noter" maybe you can post for them. (with their 
    permission - of course) Those who are leaving on their own 
    accord because they are fed up can also post. 
     
    This will also give those of us left (we hope) the 
    opportunity to say good-by to some who may be leaving, that 
    we may have worked with over the years from other
    geographies. It will also be more efficient to post all the 
    good-by messages under one base note rather then the 
    numerous good-by base notes I often see in this conference.
    
    

Oh yeah.. and if anyone wants to drop me a line sometime, try 

	Barnabe_Guy@cableregina.com

-- cheers,
   Guy
 ps .... I wonder if that old RSTS V7.x background will help me
         out in that brave new world? :^)  Now lets see... I think
         "PIP [*,*]*.* /D"  was a fairly dangerous command...

    re-1
    
      ~ 400 people in Colorado Springs will be gone between the dates of
    8/30/96-10/18/96.
    
      Thats what happens when your business makes $ xxx,xxx,xxx's PROFIT for
    FY96.
    
      Tim

         I'm one of them. You make the profit and look what happens. Maybe
    if we hadn't worked so hard this site wouldn't have been so appealing
    to the big company guys out east. 

After nearly nineteen (19) years with Digital, I too have resigned.  All of 
the following comments are a result of my experiences with Digital from a 
Field Service (MCS or DSD) point of view from the United States.

My career with Digital started as a customer at Fermi National Accelerator Lab 
in Batavia, Illinois.  As a process control engineer my last project at Fermi 
was to help pick a replacement for the Lockheed MAC-16 computers.  I evaluated 
HP, DG, and DEC.  Because of DEC's Unibus architecture and fast 11/45 bipolar 
memory, I voted to select DEC.  During the evaluation I met several DEC Field 
Service people who let me know of a job opening back in my home area of Green 
Bay.  I was "over qualified" for the Green Bay terminals engineer job and in 
September 1977 I took a job as a Field Service Technician (T51) in the 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin office.  I remained in Milwaukee for two years as a Field 
Service Representative (T60) and then a Field Service Engineer (T17).  I then 
moved to the Appleton, Wisconsin office as a T17, passed the Unit Manager 
Board and became a Field Service Unit Manager (T11, TF1, 24BB, and 54AL) in 
September of 1980.  My titled changed along with Digital from Field Service UM 
-> Digital Services UM -> Multivendor Customer Services UM -> DSD MCS Business 
UM???.

Over the past 19 years I have seen Digital evolve into what it is today.  I 
have memories of a problem with a PDP8 (original straight 8) with 4KB of core 
memory at Waukesha Water.  To get it up we had one of the experienced 
engineers in the plant in Nashua, NH pull a 4KB core option out of one of the 
old test computers and flew with the option to the site and adjusted the 
current strobe to get the memory to work in Waukesha's machine.  (I'm sure 
that call cost us the service contract 10 times over, but our focus was on "do 
what right and get the customer up"). I remember the RK05 fault lights, RP04 
servo unsafes, 11/70 memory parity errors, CTS11 card jams, LP06 hammer 
faults, etc.  It was not unusual to work all night on a down system.  I 
remember that naming your product with a 50 was the sign of problems (ie. 
LA50, TK50, RX50, 11/750 etc.).  If I have seen one drastic improvement over 
the past 19 years, it is in product quality, the Alpha systems and VAX systems 
of today are of a much higher quality and have far fewer design bugs than the 
PDP and VAX systems of bygone years.

When I started we had a dispatch system that consisted of a Field Service 
Secretary (or an answering service for after hours) taking customer calls and 
writing them up on a phone message.  We had one pager that rotated to the 
standby technician.  In the morning we would all stand in front of the phone 
message board and take the phone messages (service calls) we thought we could 
handle.  The supervisor, Marty King's job was to force someone to take the 
"bad" calls and the per calls.  As we grew we moved to T-cards, the Branch 
11/34 based CHAMP (think small) system, and everyone got a pager.  Next, we 
moved to a District-wide 11/70 based CHAMP system and dedicated dispatchers 
that logged calls from customers who's company name they could spell and 
dispatched engineers they knew.  The RDC in Colorado Springs was formed and 
the answering services were replaced by the Dispatch Center in Rolling Meadows 
running CHAMP on several 11/70 systems and then 11/780 systems.  Soon the RDC 
became the CSC and all of the Dispatch Centers were combined into the CMC in 
Atlanta.  This resulted in CHAMP/CSC which needed to talk to the CHAMP/FLD 
systems which the field engineers use.  Then came the laptop program which 
introduced CHAMP/Dart which talked to CHAMP/FLD which got its info from call 
screeners and call loggers entering data in CHAMP/CSC.  Today this has created 
a call logging system that most engineers instruct their customers to bypass 
by paging the engineer direct for hardware calls and then the engineer enters 
the call themselves in CHAMP/FLD.

When I started with Digital our service contracts where bought by customers 
from the Field Service Secretary, who typed them on an IBM typewriter.  We 
then advanced to a VT78 and LQP01 running WPS78.  Next, we moved to a District 
11/70 based system called SMART operated by dedicated Contracts 
Administrators.  Somewhere along the line SMART became the obligation database 
for the United States.  It fed CHAMP/CSC & CHAMP/FLD, and it took input feeds 
from SIFU.  The "terminal group" didn't like SMART and CHAMP so they started 
DBOS.  DBOS died (very slowly and I'm not sure it is dead yet) and for a year 
we reworked processes and procedures in the field.  Today SMART is a complex, 
hard to use, easily confused, hacked together system that tries to meet the 
warranty and service offers of today.  The total lack of focus on getting 
quality data into the SMART system continues to hurt Digital.  How to get 
information on the end-user with the new selling model is totally hit and 
miss.  Without this information we cause customer relations issues because of 
call logging and dispatching issues, lost revenue because no one is trying to 
upsell their warranty or convert them to an agreement after the warranty is 
up.  Today SMART and CHAMP/CSC are so complex that we very seldom ever send 
the customer instructions on how to log a service request correctly.  The main 
reason is no two people would explain the process the same for the various 
types of service a customer is entitled.  Also, SMART and CHAMP don't have 
some of the most basic functions, a mailing list output function and no 
"Title" fields.

When I started with Digital we had a support process that was slow and labor 
intensive, Branch -> District -> Region -> Corporate, but it bought us time to 
get the problem fixed and the customer back up.  Then came the CSC which 
worked well for 90% of all calls until the hardware support engineers declined 
to near extinction, and the Branch, District, and Regional support engineers 
did become extinct.  Today the only support that remains is to swap the option 
or system to see if the problem goes away.  If it doesn't the engineer and UM 
hope the IMPT process will get to an engineering group that has people to work 
the problem.  This new process is even slower than the old process and doesn't 
seem to work unless a lot of labor goes into "pushing" the IMPT forward.  I 
think our best support occurred between 1986 and 1990.

When I started with Digital it was hard to find accurate information on 
configuring systems and software.  Today the Internet is changing that.  LOTS 
of people in Digital must be putting together product information, marketing 
information, sales tools, etc.  Most of what I've seen lately, DECdirect CD, 
Sales Source CD, Intro Source CD, StorageWorks Gold Configurator, Alpha 
Configurator, PC Configuration guides, etc. is excellent.  The biggest problem 
is no one in the field uses these things, because they are hard to get and 
there is no central repository (or listing) for this stuff. (IR has a LOT of 
stuff but still isn't the Central Repository) Almost none of the Channels 
Partners I've work with get these tools unless I order them through LOS and 
give them to them.  Hopefully the Internet will continue to fix this problem.  
Corporate needs to get everything into a place that anyone with a www browser 
can get anything and find it using Alta-Vista to search "Digital's Product 
Information Repository".

When I started as a manager with Digital, all of the "functions" reported to 
the same manager in that geography.  The chain of command was IC -> Unit -> 
Branch -> District -> Region -> (Territory or Area) -> Corporate.  As we 
evolved we formed Service Delivery, BASE Sales, MCS New Business Sales, NIS 
Sales, Logistics, OCC, MCS Admin, PMO, and MDS all within a District.  All of 
the functional (dysfunction) units have separate management, goals and 
measurements.  In theory being in a functional group helps to define the 
individual contributor's work, in reality it helps to define what isn't the 
IC's work.  Hopefully the CSO or Business District Structure will help this 
problem.  I see no way that the MCS, SIS, and OMS structure can be integrated 
at the Business District.  I hope someone smarter than me figures it out, 
soon.

Well, with that I'll bid farewell.  I can be reached at:

Regional Sales Manager - Bob Corrigan
Effective Management Systems, Inc (EMS)
12000 West Park Place
Milwaukee, WI  53224-3026

Direct Dial: (414)577-5620
Internet: corriganrc@ems.com


Thanks,
Bob Corrigan


    

    Bob,
    
    You made me cry, you spoke of every porblem we had (and have been
    telling our management) and still have. I would suspect you're leaving
    because you're tired of telling everyone above you the problem, they
    say we know and on we go, ever deeper in the mire. I don't know you
    personally, but best of luck on your new endeavor. Maybe, they will
    listen at your new job.
    
    John
    Field Service 

    John, anything makes you cry...
    
    
    Bob as a 16 year FS, CS, MCS person, I remember most of them and the T
    cards can still beat the pants off of CHAMP.
    
    AND we know who was or wasn't on contract.
    
    Dave

    After 16 years I have resigned effective 23-AUG-96 to join a small
    start up company.
    
    I wish all of my fellow DECies the best, especially those with whom I
    worked in:
    CSSE attached to CSS, Nashua, NH, CSS Costa Mesa, CA, CSS Hudson, NH
    High Performance Sys VAXclusters group, Marlboro
    CSS Merrimack, NH
    OpenVMS Software Sys Group, Nashua, NH
    
    Tom Lowery
    OpenVMS Sys Sw Group
    OpenVMS Cluster Marketing
    

    Knew I forgot something, add:
    The Direct Marketing Organization, Merrimack, NH!
    
    Sorry for the omission!
    Tom
    

Well after a 14 year relationship with Digital I have resigned effective 8/15/96
   (An Intern for 1 year, Consultant for 3, Employee for 10)
No long notes entry.  No long farewells.  No regrets.  Just a great opportunity.

Digital, as an employer, has been very, very good to me.
Thank you to all my friends throughout the years:

2yrs Business Centers under {a few and} Jeff Monasch "I wrote the DECmate Games"
2yrs Timesharing business under Barry Grant, Steven Lightburn, Bill Brucella
1yr  Educational Services under Leslie Gaiter, Herb Perry
1yr  Software Services under {pick a name}
4yrs Learning Services under {many and} Manfred Tadlhuber
2yrs Customer Support Center under Dave Hawk, Karl Bryant, Lisa Tousek
2yrs Network Services under Jim DuPree, Tony Farkas

I am leaving to join one of our top 1000 customers.

Best wishes to all,

Phillip Hibbert, Assistant Superintendent
Technology Services Division
Cobb County School District {3rd largest in state, 36th in the nation}
440 Glover Street, Marietta Georgia 30060
770.426.3473

    Boy, a tear came to my eyes... I can remember when you started with me
    as an intern and I was proud when you were hired, married, moved...
    
    Now all I can do is wish you the best!
    
    Keep in touch.
    
    Jeff
    
    

    After 16 years and 1 month (but who's counting) I have a ticket for
    tomorrow's QF275 to sunny Vanuatu.
    
    I'm off "to find my smile" and prove that sitting in front of a PC for
    your entire life is OK for some. but not for me!
    
    Over the next 6 months I'll be dividing my time between diving and
    investigating opportunities with new or exisiting dive operations in
    the South Pacific.  If you ever run into me on one of the islands, I'm
    sure I will be able to organize a nice discount for a dive.
    
    As for the "Digital Computer Company", a name I believe is as effective
    and memorable as "The Vacuum Cleaner Company", I do wish they'd change
    to a less generic name, if they really want to succeed in current and
    future marketplaces.
    
    I'll miss many many people (all except 2 who will remain nameless!). 
    Thanks to all I've worked with who have made the time fun.
    
    Best wishes to those left.
    Warren George

	I'm jealous.....

    cya "Regs.",
    
    some of those times were fun, and others 'not quite so'. See you this
    afternoon at your farewell.
    
    H
    
    {sigh} another one bites the dust

    
    Another one bites the dust. Well, another one out the door, to join
    those who have gone before. Some, off to competitors, where they
    work even harder because of the "I'll never forget what they did
    to me after all I did for them" syndrome. Does that give the competition 
    something to cheer about? They're getting high-quality, Digital paid for, 
    trained recruits in their war against us. Does the fact they might harbor 
    anger against us give us something to worry about? Well it makes the
    competitor who gets them happy.
    
    And with each one gone, goes a piece of our memories, and our hearts.
    
    Well past time for the touriquet IMHO. 

Re: .447

The current mail address is now:

	PVanAver@inetgate.capvolmac.nl

     


                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:     24-Aug-1996 11:08am PDT
                                        From:     Steven Buchmiller @IVO
                                                  BUCHMILLER.STEVEN@NEWPRTA1@DOHENY@IVO
                                        Dept:      
                                        Tel No:   (714)261-4568

TO: See Below

Subject: A bitter-sweet farewell                                     

To all my friends, co-workers and extended family members;

 The past 19 years have been interesting to say the least. To participate in 
the rise and fall of computing technology that has seen the birth and death of 
mini-computers, mainframes and Rainbows, and to do so with a company as 
involved as Digital has been a real blessing.  I have bled Blue, Orange, Grey 
and Maroon colored blood and must have enjoyed it.  8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit, 36 
bit (unquestionably the best!!) and now 64 bit technology.  Almost everything 
in my life has had an association with Digital.

	Unfortunately, as with most things, they don't last forever. 

	I have submitted my resignation effective September 6, 1996.

There are a number of logical, personal and emotional reasons for me to 
take this step in my career, all of which provide a very mixed emotional 
cesspool.  There is a lot of work to do at Digital.  A very large part of me 
wants to participate in that work. If the right people with the right talent 
are given the opportunities to make real changes, Digital will return to 
profitability, and when that day comes, I would love to be here.  The changes 
will need to be focused on our customers needs however, not on internal 
organizational political and hierarchical positioning.  Additionally, we have 
experienced the necessary tree pruning 4 years ago.  That was the right thing 
to do...but to continue to prune the tree to realize short term profitability 
will eventually yield a stump that ceases to produce.

 For the sake of all my friends and co-workers that remain and continue to 
devote the blood, sweat and tears required in todays climate, I truly hope 
Digital makes the turn and wish you all the best.  


Regards,

Steve Buchmiller

    Well, the time has come for a parting of the ways.  I haven't been a
    contributor to this conference, and a reader most infrequent, but I know
    that a lot of people I want to reach read it.  `.. It is a tale told by an
    idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.'

    Friday, 13 September 1996, will be my last day at Digital.  Deciding to
    leave was one of the hardest things I've ever done; for as long as I've
    had anything resembling a professional ambition, it was to work for
    Digital.  Unfortunately, I've had to conclude (and it was painful, believe
    me!) that the Digital of to-day isn't the same company any more as the one
    for which I dreamed of working.

    I don't understand many of the decisions made by the upper echelons of the
    company.  Either they have access to information that differs radically
    from that which is available to me, or they have spasms of incompetence,
    or their agenda is completely different from what I (and apparently
    others) think it ought to be, or they are downright evil and are looking
    out for #1 at the expense of all else.  I can't see any other
    explanations.  To grant doubt's benefit, I'm willing to assume the first.

    The best thing about working for Digital has always been the people.
    Unfortunately, it seems that the other good things have slowly disappeared
    over the years, and I'm afraid that this last joy of working with a number
    of competent and committed people has now been overcome by the pain of
    having to work with a greater number of people who appear to be otherwise,
    in an environment I've come to find oppressive.

    I have taken a position as principal software engineer with Process
    Software, Inc (makers of TCPware and the Purveyor WWW server), in
    Framingham, Massachusetts.  It will be good to get back to coding and
    reading crash dumps.. ;->

    Coar@DECUS.Org (US1RMC::"Coar@DECUS.Org" for OpenVMSmail users, and
    "Coar@DECUS.Org"@Internet for DEC MAILworks, TeamLinks, and ALL-IN-1 IOS
    users) will continue to reach me.

    If there's been a lot of pain over the years, I've also had a lot of fun.
    There are numerous people at Digital whom I will miss.  To them, and to
    all the other Digits who have kept (and are keeping) the faith, and in
    fact to all Digits who remain, I give my very best wishes for a bright[er]
    future.

    Take care..

    #ken    :-(}        Jeratol the Chaotic (KAC,KLC31)
                        http://WWW.DECUS.Org/coar/

Coar@DECUS.Org           | Opinions are those of the author.  `... it
Process Software, Inc.   | was mine art, ... that made gape the pine
Massachusetts, USA       | and let thee out.'  - Prospero

    Ken, we've never met but I've followed your trail through various
    techincal notes files over the years. Your eclectic talents will
    surely be missed by those you worked with and by DEC itself.
    
    Jim C.
    
    

    Ken,
    
    I'll miss you as a force for "Good" with a DEC badge at DECUS Symposia;-)
    
    Hope to see you there in your new role, you'll be missed in our
    notesfiles...
    
    Best of luck,
    
    John W.

    Best of luck to you Ken...  I hope our paths continue to cross at DECUS
    Symposia
    
    Bob Newman

    Well, it's time for me to move on.

    There's not too much I can say that hasn't been said more eloquently by
    many others in this note, so I'll keep it short;

    The things I'll miss:

	The people.

	Notes (Which really boils down to the first item)

    I'm thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow over the past nine
    years.

    In my moderating duties, I have always tried to be fair and more
    importantly, to do what is right.  I hope the results of my efforts
    have reflected those goals.

    One final note, I am the person Marina mentioned in .155 and so, in a
    sense her final link to Digital is also being severed at this time.

    I can be reached at:

	tooslow@forevermail.com

    Once again, thank you for the privilege of knowing y'all,

    Bob
    

    bye

Good bye Bob and the very best wishes to and your new
wife. I hope life remains kind to you. I'll miss your
notes in the 'Box...

Chip

    
    i'm going to miss you, bob.  be sure to give marina a hug for me, and
    try not to be too much of a pest around the house.  :>
    
    take care and good luck!!!
    
    
    -raq
    

	Nine years have passed and it's now time to move on: today is
	my last day in Digital.

	I'll be missing a lot of things and people, but sometimes
	one just has to make the decision.

	Thanks for the years and all the best in the future.

	Marko

    Hi!!  Today, Sept. 6th is my last day too.  I'm sad but also
    excited.  I'm happy that I got to quit on my own and didn't
    get the package.  I've been here 8 years almost to the day.
    
    To my big sister:  Thanks for being there for me, thanks for
    fixing my computer umpteen million times, thanks for loaning
    me roach coach money, thanks for showing me the ropes in 
    everything from SMART to life, thanks for your kooky sense of
    humor (you are *really sick*!!:) ), thanks for writing my PA
    (I can say that now, ha ha!!), thanks for taking my parking
    space, thanks for making my 30th birthday tolerable!, thanks
    for having confidence in me......
    
    I consider you a very special person in my life and regardless
    of where I work or where you work, I will make every effort
    to keep you, dragging and kicking all the way, a part of my
    life.
    
    Keep smiling...it only gets worse....:)
    
    Renee

After 11 years, 10 months, and some [very] odd days, I'm hanging it up today
to go back to working in Hospital and Medical applications, which is where
I started so many years ago.

The company has changed, but, since I came to DEC after ten years
of working in other places, the changes don't seem as extreme as they
may to those who came here straight from college.

The only thing I'll really miss about working here are the notesfiles,
and the incredible helping hands people have shown themselves willing to lend.


In addition, there is a passion for "doing what is right" which exists
here despite all of upper management's attempts to stamp it out (and, yes,
I will concede, there are a [few] upper management types themselves
who still are capable of figuring out what is right).

I haven't written in this file much, but I'll refer you to 190.7
and 1504.0, both of which I wrote in support of righting wrongs.  I received
an amazing amount of support from my fellow Digits on these issues; I
tried to thank them all, but if you're one of them I missed, thank you now.

Despite all the downsizing, rightsizing, wrongheaded decisions, etc., I
was willing to stay here, but I must admit that I completely lost heart
when they TFSO'd Dan Kalikow.  That was the spiritual last straw.

The final last straw involved me and the H.R. department, and included gross
neglect of policies and procedures, and the willingness of HR to worry more
about the fragile ego of a lower-level HR munchkin than the possibility
of losing the expertise and skill I represent.  While I could have Open Door'd
the issue, as I had for the issues in the notes referenced above, it didn't
seem worth the trouble, as it only concerned me (the other issues had broader
implications for my fellow co-workers).

Best of luck to all who stick it out; and -- since I still have stock :-)
Work Hard :-)


Bobbi Fox
bobbifox@world.std.com

I will add my resignation to the growing list. for me it was the reduced staff.
The reduced staff starts with my group going from 7 to 2 in 18 months. Only
after 7 months did we get another person, by stealing a guy and his head count
from another group. (It's not like they could afford it either) It also
includes the lack of staff to support the products. I have been pretty well it
in Canada for front line DECnet-Plus (is that it?) for the last  few years,
and will say that the lack of response from eng came around the time we went
from 80,000 to 60,000 (give or take a few 10,000). These are the same people
who brought us DECnet, if they could get the resources I am sure they would
provide just as solid a product with Pahse V. When I got frustrated, I tried
to remember that they were working under the same constraints as I was.

 The future for me is NorTel's Entrust. An encryption product that hopefully
you will all be hearing about in the near future :*)


							Derek Street
							CDN MCS
							Network Support
    

        I am retiring from DEC as of 11-OCT-96. This Friday, 13-SEP-96
        will be my last day in the office. 

        I had not planned to make this move this soon, but the Digital
        management 'team' has made the decision for me. 
        (10%+ headcount reduction for current round)

        It has been a wonderful 23 years and 11 months. I will miss the
        people that make up DEC.

        I wish those who remain the best.

        I am looking to get back to work as soon as possible and will be
        focusing my search in the Software product support area. After 30+
        years in the industry, I know that I have a lot to offer.

        Best Regards,

        Fred (the last Darrow at DEC)

        11 Flintlock Road
        Lexington, MA 02173
        617-862-1410
        darrow@ma.ultranet.com (account is active but I will not access
                                it until after Friday, the 13th)