 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Getting to Know the Special Interest Groups Noel Peters - SIG Coordinator |
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Before I talk about SIGs I should advise those members who attend SIGs held in Main SIG Room 1 at Dorcas Street that a 68 cm TV with S-video input has been provided to replace the one previously damaged. This will allow member-produced S-video quality cassettes to be played on our existing JVC VCR and shown on the new TV. We shall now endeavour to arrange to do some tests of available TV output cards and signal converters to see if we can provide for acceptable quality presentations either from a specific computer or any laptop or desktop computer to this television receiver.
For audiences of about 20 or so the mobile mounted TV can be positioned for maximum viewing convenience. This arrangement can provide an alternative for small audiences to the costly video projectors. The projectors are now in greater demand due to the growing number of larger suburban and regional groups we are servicing.
Those familiarisation visits I have been making to get to know both the members who organise and those who attend our Special Interest Groups, took me in June, first to Bendigo. There on a cold and wet second Wednesday night of the month at 7.30 pm things were getting going at the Girton Grammar School. This is the venue where our Bendigo Regional Group holds its monthly get together.
This Melb PC Regional Group is a general-purpose computer group where any topic related to computers can be discussed. The subject may be technical as with hardware and software or community related, as with computer usage for banking, business, security or even socially oriented relating to where Bendigo Group members attend swap meets and provide help and advice to the attendees. In essence the group is a microcosm of the larger parent body and it is all done with a spirit of cooperation between those that have the knowledge to pass it on to their fellow Bendigonians.
The Bendigo Group Leader is Joe Henry, whom you may remember served on our committee a few years ago commuting from Bendigo, not only to attend committee and monthly meetings, but also doing the SIG Coordinator task that presently keeps me out of mischief. Ty-Lee Stancombe as coconvener ably supports Joe in conducting the meetings and in providing from his fund of technical knowledge, answers to some of the curly questions from the floor. Ty-Lee is a computer specialist and looks after the school computers, which are also made available to the group when required for demonstrations etc.
Some sixteen members attended the June meeting and the discussion covered topics as diverse as anti static protection of computer components, power-loading problems traceable to USB ports and anti virus programs including the withdrawal of the free personal copy version of Inoculate. Credit card fraud and the relative security between general use of cards in comparison with their specific use on the Internet was covered. Finally encryption to enhance on-line security was described. I learnt a thing or two during the evening but my only problem is to remember them when I need them.
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On the second Thursday morning of each month at 10.00 am, the Daytime SIG meets under the guidance of Graeme Minto and this is always a well attended meeting with 40 to 50 regular attendees.
The Daytime SIG is popular with ladies, not only because of Graeme and his co-leader Don Buchanan's obvious charms but probably because these meetings are held during daylight hours and ladies feel safer travelling then. I know also from our recently started North East SIG that there is an unfulfilled need to run a monthly daylight meeting at our Ivanhoe venue. Presently we need a leader and co-leader plus a couple of helpers to satisfy that requirement and I thought it would be a good opportunity for some of our lady members to grasp the nettle and show us fellows how to really run a general interest computer SIG. Remember that you do not need to be a computer guru but a bit of organizing skill is useful and believe me speaking as an organiser, that most ladies have that quality. Also ladies there is consideration being given for a daytime meeting in the Essendon area so if any of these possibilities appeal to you, and this invitation is not gender specific, fellows also can respond, please contact me on noelp@melbpc.org.au and we can have a chat about what we can achieve together.
But I have got carried away to an area of virtual daytime SIGs at the expense of the real live, well-organised one. This friendly and informal SIG deals with members questions using an orderly first in, first served system and is backed up by on screen demonstrations of where to go in Windows to rectify problems, URLs available on the net to download useful programs and drivers etc are detailed. The June meeting also provided a thoughtful presentation by Karly Nimmo from Ricoh on digital cameras and storage that was well received as could be judged by the enthusiastic applause at the end of the session. If I do not see you at one of our 36 SIG meetings before then, I shall catch up with you here next month, until then enjoy your computing.
As I write this, planning is going ahead for a new suburban group to serve members in the south eastern bayside suburbs. On Thursday 5 July a steering committee came together and decided that the first meeting of the group would be on the 19 July commencing at 10.00 am and be held at St Stephens Anglican Church Hall situated on the corner of North Road and Cochrane Street Brighton. Regular meetings will then continue be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month (except January).
By the time you read this, therefore, the new Bayside suburban group, as it will be known, will have had its inaugural meeting. The convenor is Brian Devitt and his able co convenor is John Morris. Our picture below shows the steering committee in urgent discussion during their meeting. Around the table, from left to right are Ian Rankin who will look after publicity for the group, Don James the tea club, Keith McDougall the equipment logistics, Graham Ackland the membership database and notices, Brian Devitt the convenor and Ken Holmes amenities for the group. John Morris the co convenor was not able to be present but members will know John from his continued work on Committee, Swap Meets and Internet help over many years.
Computing is often a serious business particularly when you lose data but being a member of one of our special interest or more general suburban groups can have its lighter moments. On Friday 29 June some forty-five members of the Retired and Interested Persons met for a slightly late Winter Solstice lunch. The picture shows Bill Dair winner of the door prize receiving a handsome bear from Ken Thomas convenor of RIPSIG. Every one looks pretty happy except the bear seems a bit bewildered. Thanks to Doug Brooke and his digital camera for the picture.
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You will read on the Presidents page that we are in need of a couple of volunteers to help start a Daytime SIG in Ivanhoe. If you have some time during the day and feel you can help, contact me on noelp@melbpc.org.au.
Remember you do not have to be a computer guru but simply be willing to assist in management of a group that welcomes both stray gurus and long time or new users. The aim is for local members to get together to get the most out of their computing, to meet fellow users and above all to enjoy their company.
We have a leader for the group and are now seeking reliable supporting members. If you need to know more about how a suburban computer interest group works, have a word with Nigel Harris who leads the North East SIG that meets at 7.30 pm on the 4th Tuesday each month at the Uniting Church hall 19 Seddon Street Ivanhoe.
Also, there is consideration being given for a daytime meeting in the Essendon area so I would welcome expressions of interest from members living in the Essendon and adjacent suburbs for that. It occurred that this could be a good opportunity for some of our lady members to grasp the nettle and show us fellows how to really run a general interest computer SIG. So boys or girls, it does not matter, simply give me a call and we can have a chat about what we can achieve together.
Reprinted from the August 2001 issue of PC Update,
the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
