CompuServe Messages

Dave, I really don't need to consider supporting the program. I've already begun!<G> I uploaded the PCGNet list of BBSes to the 3D Studio Library (PCGNET.LST) and have uploaded the same file on FIDONET twice. ( And I ain't finished! ) I've even gotten feedback from our friends over in Northern Europe that the list arrived there via the Graphics Conference. Jan Hoolwerf, who lives in Ede, the Netherlands, and keeps in touch via BBS Bennekom, wrote to let me know that the list had arrived safe and sound. The original concept behind Animation Nation was to support nation-wide user interest in Animator Pro and 3D Studio. My efforts even drew attention in Cadalyst and Cadence magazine. But, alas, I confess before one and all, it proved to be far too large and expensive of an undertaking for yours truly. I have continued my pro-Autodesk activities in a much lower profile manner since stumbling into the arena. In the wake of my activities, I have noticed a substantial and positive impact on the sale of Autodesk products. Animation Nation was founded in Austin, Texas around the time 3D Studio was first released. I promoted the product through group meetings that sometimes numbered in the hundreds. ( I've got it on 3/4" tape. ) An Autodesk dealer there, who demonstrated 3D Studio and Animator Pro at the meetings, was recently recognized as being one of the country's strongest performers and reports that they continue to move a significant number of packages each month. My more recent efforts involved positioning Digimation as a mail-order catalog firm. As the sole full-time employee in the fall of last year, I conceived of and produced the first catalog for the company. You may be familiar with it's success. ( I am sorry to say that our parting was not under the best of circumstances. ) I have always thought that there was a need for the type of activities you are now carrying out under your new appellation, the National Autodesk ANIMATION User Group. I watched with skepticism to see just what would emerge from the announcement made at last year's Autodesk University. I've talked periodically with one or two of the individuals who were elected as representatives to the committee regarding what, if anything, was actually being done by the former AutoCAD organization to embrace Animator Pro and 3D Studio users. The appearance of the telecourses was a welcome surprise. Although reports indicate that Autodesk University is still too heavily weighted on the AutoCAD side, I am encouraged by some of what I have seen. My conversation with Ms. Clinton at SIGGRAPH was also reassuring that Autodesk was going to finally put some serious muscle into supporting Animator Pro / 3D Studio User Groups at large instead of the wimpy efforts that have marked the past. I have already begun efforts to support a local node on the net. I hope to have it online in the very near future. Dave, I know I've got the materials around here somewhere, but save me the pain of looking for it and tell me how I can give you my money. Do you take credit cards? Can I do this by phone? What does $25 buy me? How much more do you want? And while were out here in the street talkin' 'bout things why dontcha explain the bennies. There's a lot of people, including myself, who seldom stroll down that backstreet you guys are chattin' on. "Hurricane Kevin" Gibson Animation Nation <tm> -=You might say I'm an evangelist.=- P.S. Who or what is Toxic Frog? And where did the name come from? BTW I thought that stuff on Thread Drift a la Bacon Bits was absolutely hilarious. It made me laugh so hard, it took me three or four attempts before I finally got to the end. You're whacked! And it's a good kinda whacked! You ought to display a little more of that humor in the Multimedia side of the house. I vote for a reprint!