 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group PC (President's Comments) George Skarbek gskarbek@melbpc.org.au |
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A the elections approach I thank he committee on your behalf for their hard
work throughout the year. I feel privileged to be the president of a team of motivated and coherent
volunteers whose principal aim is to look after the interests of all the members. At our meetings issues are
discussed and occasionally there is vigorous debate but always pertaining to the subject and never at the
personal level. This results in fruitful exchange of ideas and in good and positive results that benefit all
members.
Almost every committee member has a portfolio to look after and report to the committee as well as doing
occasional ad hoc tasks. The portfolios include Membership, Training, Internet, BBS, Swap Meets, Library,
SIGs & Branches, PC Update and Monthly Meetings.
In September Brian Horman was forced to resign due to health reasons. Brian was responsible recently
for investigating and purchasing the sound systems we use at the main meetings. There will also be an
amplifier installed in the main SIG room at Dorcas St. We wish Brian a full recovery.
John Morris will not be standing for the committee next year due to his huge workload as the only
Internet Dial Help person. About 5500 members use the group's Internet service and once John mentioned that
he had received over 30 calls in one exceptionally busy day. Many thanks to John for his time on the
committee and for the wise advice he gives. Thanks also to Morris Tobias our immediate past president
and to Ash Nallawalla for their contribution to the committee. Unfortunately both Morris and Ash had
to resign because in their jobs they both now spend a considerable amount of time overseas.
Mornington Peninsula SIG
Are you interested in this group? I am sure many would be interested in such a group as we have about 150
members living in Frankston alone and about 450 living in that general area. Firstly this SIG must be formed
and would need a coordinator and volunteers to run it. Can you help to get it started? The group will meet
all reasonable costs towards hall hire and other expenses and supply a projector for meetings. If the
organisers specify post codes of the areas around the new SIG and supply a letter they wish to send out, the
office will perform all the photocopying and mailing. Members who requested that no advertising material be
sent to them would be excluded from such a mailing. The SIG coordinator receives a free Internet account, as
this is necessary for running a SIG.
Melb PC has many members who may be able to give presentations on a variety of interesting subjects at the
monthly meetings. Also self-help within a group works very well during question time. If you have a question
that you think is dumb or elementary, this may be the same question many others would like to ask. It is
highly likely someone else in the group has experienced the same problem and found an answer they can
share.
To help yourself (and many other members) just e-mail the committee at committee@melbpc.org.au or me at president@melbpc.org.au to offer your services. You will be put in
contact with the other volunteers and between you a new and much needed SIG will be formed. Please don't wait
until after Xmas, e-mail now even if you are not immediately available to start things going.
Shareware
The Webster family has provided the shareware library for many years but this year will be their last.
We need volunteer(s) to take over this member service. You will have the opportunity to see the latest
software, to help your fellow members and contribute to PC Update. Please contact the committee or
myself.
New Projectors
Two new projectors have been purchased for $19,470. They will be used for the main monthly meeting and for
more than 30 SIGs that need them. This should alleviate the need to hire projectors and ensure that virtually
any SIG can have a projector for its meetings. As always, all requests are coordinated by the office.
Next Monthly Meeting
On 1 November at the Pharmacy College in Parkville there will be our brief Annual General Meeting, at which
next year's committee is elected and we pass any other formal resolutions. There will also be a presentation
on Word hints & tips, NOKIA is sending Melanie Hicks to reveal to us: Whither WAP? Yes, it's the
newest computing technology that everyone's talking about. This meeting will also have the regular Random
Access session (your chance to ask the experts), the usual giveaways and raffle with usually several thousand
dollars of prizes being raffled, shareware library sales, etc.
Reprinted from the November 2000 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
