Updated 3/22/01 OAUG's 2001 European Conference is in full swing. More than 700 attendees (70% of which are Oracle Applications users) have spent the week networking with fellow users, attending educational sessions, visiting the Exhibit Hall, and learning different ways to use Oracle Applications in the training sessions. Sau Fong Flood has attended three North American OAUG Conferences and said the one in Geneva has been her favorite for networking with fellow users. She prefers the smaller scale conference because it makes it easier for her to get around, attend sessions, and meet people. First-time conference attendee Isabelle Von Salzen from Germany is still learning her way around the conference center, but said she is excited about attending more sessions and talking to other users to figure out how to solve some of the problems she has been experiencing with order entry. Another first-time attendee, Chris Campion of the U.K., said that she is very satisfied with the quality of the sessions she has attended. Ahmed Abd El-Sattar of Egypt said OAUG conferences have more value for users than Oracle-only sponsored conferences. He likes talking to other users, but would like to see more SIGs (special interest groups) in attendance. A recurring theme from many of the attendees is that they would have liked more of a presence from Oracle; and they would like to see them at future OAUG Conferences. However, most attendees stressed that it is important for OAUG to maintain its independence, while keeping a focus on education. Steve Young from the Netherlands drove this point home by saying that OAUG's strongest asset is its independence, and he listed three reasons why he will continue to support OAUG: OAUG is an independent voice that Oracle should listen to OAUG Conferences aid him in professional networking OAUG is a professional development tool he can send his staff to