| A-to-Z Guide to ... Corporate Telephone Directory
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference Guide P Date: 02-Jan-1996
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Relations
(as of 01/02/96)
FAX # 223 0981 508 493 0981
* Art Fiacco VP
Corporate Manager:
Jeff Gibson MSO2-2/A15 223 6865 508 493 6865
Secretary: Rachel Pelland MSO2-2/A15 223 6872 508 493 6872
* Government Relations
Grace Hinchman WNP (D.C.) 427 5003 202 383 5003
Bruce Holbein, Manager MSO 223 8918 508 493 8918
* Photography Photo Library and Archive AKO 244 7445 508 264 7445
When a customer telephones Public Relations for a photo that they
saw in an advertisement, Public Relations will contact this group.
When a Partner needs product tranparencies for their catalogs or marketing:
- PC, contact Chris Blood AKO 244-6481 508 264-6481
- Systems, see Partner Program Guide for information
(This is the primary entry. Portions are also referenced
under "Government Relations" & "Photography Photo Library")
|
| As a result of my request regarding the Electronic Industries Association, I
have since been contacted by more than a few Digital employees who are somehow
affiliated with the EIA. This puzzles me to some extent.
I wonder what Digital organization(s) are sponsoring EIA membership?
Or at least, what Digital organization(s) really know that Digital is member
of the EIA? I'm 99% sure that no organization is paying the membership fee.
I know this because I payed it out of my own pocket last year ($575). And
I have just received the bill for this years membership (same cost). So if
ANY Digital organization is interested in picking this up for me, I'd appreciate
it.
I also realize that I've just opened up a "Pandora's Box". How/Why is it that I'm
maintaining an EIA membership without an internal sponsoring organization...and,
in fact, is this something Digital really wants to be associated with.
Whether Digital (the corporation, Bob Palmer...etc..etc) believes there is any
benefit towards maintaining this membership, I'm not really sure.
I realize that I've put the company at limited risk here. On the otherhand,
my reasons for maintaining the membership are, I believe, solid. I also
believe they greatly enhance Digital's reputation as a corporation responding
to the needs of people with disabilities.
Digital (me) pays $575 for a full membership to the EIA. That "buys" them free
market research, free CES registrations for all attendees (up to 6, then it's $10
per person), and total access to all of the EIA's market and PR activities in
behalf of its members. It also buys them membership to TIA and several other
large divisions and consortium within the EIA. And believe me, Digital get's
a huge break on the membership fee. Fees are normally based on corporate
earnings. IBM and Apple both pay 10K per year for what amounts to be the
exact same membership. The difference is that these other corporations are
heavily involved in other EIA sponsored activities and groups. Digital is only
active through the EIA division I belong too, the Assistive Devices Division.
This year I was elected as Chairman of the EIA's Assistive Devices Divison
in addition to serving on the EIA/CEMA Board of Directors. The ADD membership
includes IBM, Apple, AT&T, Panasonic and several other large corporations who
build products in behalf of all people with disabilities.
As the ADD chair, I am in a better position to promote Digital's assistive
products to very interesting audiences. For example, next week I've been
invited to a Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill to demonstrate Digital's
AlphaWorkstation using DECtalk Software, DECface, and Digitals's Speech and
Recognition Software. This audience will include Clinton's staff, as well as
members of Congress and the Senate. The demo I'm putting together implements
this core interface with the World Wide Web; this provides a terrific answer
to Gore's NII committee that is focusing on universal access.
For example, in this configuration, a blind or visually impaired user will be
able to use DSRS and DECtalk to open up Netscape and surf the web...without
having to use a keyboard or mouse. As Chair, I've also made arrangements to get
the press to cover this event (it's invitation only).
The ADD is also conducting special product focus groups...in our behalf...at
no cost to Digital. And all the resulting data is packaged into market research
reports...again at no cost to us. In fact, I'll be overseeing these focus
groups next week in Los Angeles. The EIA picks up the total tab of the focus
group, including the facilities, paying the participants and the focus group
moderator, and all the recording devices. The total bill works out to about 10K.
The only thing not covered is my travel. I pay that myself (not to mention
taking the vacation time).
The EIA sponsors a special booth at CES each year...at no cost to Digital. I put
in our equipment, display the technology and show it to attendees. I've
appeared in several special news segments featuring assistive devices. Last year
over 80K attended the CES show. It's all totally promotional and extremely
positive press for Digital.
The EIA sponsors a regular "Media Tour" for all members. We simply give them a
demonstration product and their media team develops a TV/Radio (and soon Web)
production for it that features the product in over 100 yearly productions
(NBC, CNBC, CNN, CBS, ABC, etc..etc..etc..) I am working on getting a DECtalk
Express for the next media launch.
Clearly, the benefits of the EIA membership are advantegeous to the corporation.
I'll happily admit that it has done wonders for my personal career as an
assistive technology consultant as well.
If you or your organization are interested in EIA membership, please feel free
to contact me.
Regards,
Mike Paciello
|
|
RE .4
>I wonder what Digital organization(s) are sponsoring EIA membership?
>Or at least, what Digital organization(s) really know that Digital is
>member
>of the EIA? I'm 99% sure that no organization is paying the membership fee.
>I know this because I payed it out of my own pocket last year ($575). And
>I have just received the bill for this years membership (same cost). So if
>ANY Digital organization is interested in picking this up for me, I'd
>appreciate
>it.
The Digital organization responsible for any and ALL memberships in
standards organizations is the Standards and Consortia Group. Check out
their VTX infobase, VTX CORP_STANDARDS. Select item 1 - titled Introduction,
then on the next screen select item 5 titled "Participation in Industry and
Standards Committees (Policy 5-1 from Corporate Policies Manual)"
They also have an internal web page at
http://www.ljo.dec.com/CSG/home.html
\Bob Lail
|
| EIA may be a trade organization, but they also administer
quite a variety of standards. Many of us are familiar with
the RS-xxx family of "Recommended Standards", with RS-170,
RS-232, RS-422, and RS-423 being several that pop immediately
into my mind.
Atlant
|