Metro Users Update
June 20, 2009
Metro Users Delegates and Vendors;

Let us first express our thanks to all of you for helping make the 2009 conference a success. While the outlook was quite dubious at the end of 2008, overwhelming support from Goss, our vendors, and all the delegates helped to make it happen. The attendance was lower than that of previous conferences, which was to be expected. However, an excellent program was presented and the feedback was very positive from those who were able to attend.

The future state of our industry continues to be uncertain. The Metro User’s Board of Directors is struggling with a direction for the future of our conference. The decision has been made, that for the first time in our 41 years of existence we will not hold our traditional annual conference.

We recognize the need for continued training, networking and the exchange of ideas that the Metro Users conference has provided over the years. Ironically, we are in need of these tools now, more than ever, but newspapers have slashed or eliminated travel and training budgets. We are exploring creative ways to provide these tools at a low cost with limited resources. A concept with which, you are all too familiar.

We will continue to monitor the status of the industry and maintain communication with all of you. We are hopeful that an improving economy may help to stabilize the newspaper business. Perhaps that future will provide resources for the continuation of our traditional conference format. We will keep you informed of any future activities.

Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely;
The Metro User’s Board of Directors