September 22, 2011
Hello,
As a result of a recent proposal from SunGard Public Sector (SPS) executives regarding the future direction of SUGA, the SUGA Board is soliciting your opinion. The proposal has the potential to heavily impact the purpose of SUGA, or even SUGA’s very existence. As you know, the purpose of SUGA is to represent you by:
- Promoting free and open communication among members by offering Discussion Groups, a SUGA Website, Member Contact Database, etc.
- Acting as a forum for suggestions relating to revisions and enhancements of SPS software packages, where you get input into the development of current systems and new products.
- Offering a unified voice in an organization with more than 740 SPS customers speaking as one. At its core this gives our suggestions more impact than if an individual organization were to request changes.
- Providing quality training and networking opportunities at an annual International conference, as well as at seven regional training events. Our ability to affect the type and content of the training sessions at our conferences is possible because SUGA runs the conferences.
- Promoting coordination and cost sharing among SUGA members, allowing you to gain maximum value from SUGA events at the lowest possible cost.
Since being formed in 1988 (as HUG) these have been SUGA’s core values. As such, you and the SUGA organization have made great headway in influencing SPS product lines to best benefit you and your agencies. This has been accomplished largely due to our unified voice, and our ability to remain an organization independent of SPS. The SUGA board strongly feels that this independence provides an important check and balance which keeps SPS accountable to their customer base, and to you as a SUGA member.
At the 2011 Summer Board Meeting in Orlando, SPS rolled out a proposal that takes many of the functions of SUGA, and moves them under the SPS umbrella. The proposal bullet items are:
- PS&J International Conference in Greensboro
- PA International Conference in Orlando
- [ER/IDEAs] Voting for all clients that pay maintenance – all clients have a voice
- Social Media Approach – Discussion Groups, blogs
- Partnership approach to Conferences
- SPS willing to sign contracts for both PS&J and PA for 2013 and beyond and accept liability
- SunGard continues to work with SUGA on Conference planning and discussing issues to best serve the client base
On the surface these points look promising. However, the SUGA Board contends that they could destroy SUGA’s core purpose and values. SUGA could lose independence, and as a result lose influence. By opening up the enhancement process (IDEAs) to all clients regardless of SUGA membership, SUGA’s voice could be diminished, and by turning SUGA training events over to SPS your training event could emphasize marketing of new products instead of focusing training on existing products.
The SUGA board envisions a future where an independent SUGA membership has value. The board believes in working closely with SPS staff to ensure your voice is heard. However, this needs to be under conditions where you, as a SPS customer, have representation without undue influence by SPS or any other vendor. The SUGA board remains in discussion with SPS staff regarding our concerns, and will keep you informed.
In the coming days, you will receive an email with a survey link from SUGA. This survey will be the opportunity to get structured feedback, so the SUGA board can present the information to SunGard. Please give serious consideration to the items presented and how they affect the ability of SUGA to remain as a viable, independent organization.
If you are a member of SUGA discussion groups you may receive this letter multiple times.
Sincerely,
SUGA Board of Directors
Pam Brown, President
Valerie Broxson, President Elect
Anthony Sorce, Past President
Denise Christmas, Treasurer
Dan Owens, Secretary
Calvin Patterson, Director At Large
Bill Haight, Director At Large
Jim Dahl, Advisory Member
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Regional SUGA Presidents
Sue Campbell, Mid-Atlantic SUGA
Tracy Smith, Past President, Midwest SUGA
Robin Blendt, Northeast SUGA
Heather Mikulas, South Central SUGA
Thomas Lambert, Southern SUGA
Will Kolbow, West SUGA |
| sugaboard@gmail.com |
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