The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Gary Taig editor@melbpc.org.au |
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It's clear, we must be pretty good, or the competition is very ordinary, one or the other. PC Update has picked up yet another award in the APCUG Newsletter contest - we ran equal second this time. This is a world wide competition and we're up against all member User Groups including members Mac oriented and those guys have a big reputation for taking a lot of pride in their publishing. So, huge thanks to all contributors and to the production team for a job well done. It's only two years since we took out the top award and to be so near the top again is quite something. I hope you feel the same level of pride and satisfaction.
E-Waste?
What are you going to do about this E-Waste problem? Michael Mullerworth has sent in more information this month in the form of a letter to the Editor and he lists activity that wasn't mentioned in his December article. It shows once again that small pockets of activity are beginning to happen but that's not even the tip of a small iceberg, let alone something with enough influence to put a dent in the side of a problem.
Isn't this something that we as a group should grab and shake until it rattles? We number more than 10,000 and a group of that size carries considerably more weight than that of just a few individuals. In Michael's letter this month he mentions the Australian Productivity Commission and the fact that they will be inviting Expressions of Interest from people wanting to participate. Let us get in there and be one of the first major groups to make our presence felt.
How is it best done? Clearly the origin of any communication must be Melb PC and the only way for that to happen is if the correspondence originates from the Executive. So, think about it - develop your ideas and then make your wishes known to those who can do something about it. The e-mail address of every committee member is listed; use them wisely, use them often. Make it perfectly clear to your elected management team that you want at least our stated support for the E-Waste initiatives, and better than just support, you want action. If you see that nobody is holding up their hand to lead the charge, consider being that person. Make contact with Michael Mullerworth, hold hands and charge together.
There - I've issued the challenge; let's see what we have lying dormant here.
Our reason for being here seems appropriate right now. This is an extract from page 1 of our Rules; have you ever seen it before?
Our Statement of Purposes
The purposes of the Group are to conduct, on a non-profit basis, activities aimed at the effective utilisation of the personal computer and to endeavour to achieve such effective utilisation by means of:
- advancing computer literacy
- advancing the art and science of information processing through education
and interchange of ideas
- keeping members abreast of developments in computing and information
technology and enabling members to exchange information and experience
- representing computer users in public debate and by acting and speaking on
their behalf where they would be affected by proposed legislation or other regulatory
measures
- providing a forum for the exchange of views amongst computer users and
between computer users and the computer industry
- co-operating supporting or joining with, or in, other organisations with
similar purposes
- undertaking other activities beneficial to the Group
Reprinted from the Jan / Feb 2006 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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