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- Newsgroups: comp.parallel
- Path: sparky!uunet!gatech!hubcap!fpst
- From: parallel@netcom.com (B. Mitchell Loebel)
- Subject: The PARALLEL Processing Connection
- Message-ID: <1992Aug31.124305.2378@hubcap.clemson.edu>
- Apparently-To: comp-parallel@ames.arc.nasa.gov
- Sender: fpst@hubcap.clemson.edu (Steve Stevenson)
- Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
- Distribution: usa
- Date: Sat, 29 Aug 92 22:26:40 GMT
- Approved: parallel@hubcap.clemson.edu
- Lines: 62
-
- The PARALLEL Processing Connection is an entrepreneurial
- association; we mean to assist our members in spawning very
- successful new businesses involving parallel processing.
-
- Our meetings take place on the second Monday of each month at 7:30
- PM at Sun Microsystems at 901 East San Antonio Road in Mountain
- View, California. This is just off the southbound San Antonio exit of 101;
- northbound travelers also exit at San Antonio and take the overpass to
- the other side of 101. There is an $8 visitor fee for non-members and
- members ($40 per year) are admitted free. Our phone number is (408)
- 732-9869 for a recorded message about upcoming meetings.
-
- Since the PPC was formed in late 1989 many people have sampled it,
- found it to be very valuable, and even understand what we're up
- to. Nonetheless, certain questions persist. Now, in our third
- year of operation, perhaps we can and should clarify some of the
- issues. For example:
-
- Q. What is PPC's raison d'etre?
- A. The PARALLEL Processing Connection is an entrepreneurial
- organization intent on facilitating the emergence of new
- businesses. PPC does not become an active member of any such new
- entities, ie: is not itself a profit center.
-
- Q. The issue of 'why' is perhaps the most perplexing. After
- all, a $40 annual membership fee is essentially free and how can
- anything be free in 1992? What's the payoff? For whom?
- A. That's actually the easiest question of all. Those of us who
- are active members hope to be a part of new companies that get
- spun off; the payoff is for all of us -- this is an easy win-win!
- Since nothing else exists to facilitate hands-on entrepreneurship,
- we decided to put it together ourselves.
-
- Q. How can PPC assist its members?
- A. PPC is a large technically credible organization. We have
- close to 100 paid members and a large group of less regular
- visitors; we mail to approximately 500 engineers and scientists
- (primarily in Silicon Valley). Major companies need to maintain
- visibility in the community and connection with it; that makes us
- an important conduit. PPC's strategy is to trade on that value by
- forming alliances with important companies for the benefit of its
- members. Thus, as an organization, we have been able to obtain
- donated hardware, software, and training and we've put together a
- small development lab for hands-on use of members at our Sunnyvale
- office. Further, we've been able to negotiate discounts on
- seminars and hardware/software purchases by members. Most
- important, alliances such as we described give us an inside
- opportunity to JOINT VENTURE SITUATIONS.
-
- Q. As an attendee, what should I do to enhance my
- opportunities?
- A. Participate, participate, participate. Many important
- industry principals and capital people are in our audience looking
- for the 'movers'!
-
- For further information contact:
-
-
- --
- B. Mitchell Loebel parallel@netcom.COM
- PARALLEL Processing Connection 408-732-9869
-
-