The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Gary Taig editor@melbpc.org.au |
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Nomination Deadline
Friday 29th September was the deadline. At 5.00 pm the validation process begans. The Returning Officer worked with the office staff and together they checked the names of nominees and seconders against the membership database, ensuring everyone is a current member. At around 5.30 pm I set out to return to my office armed with the required information for our November PC Update.
Are You an Action Person?
It must be obvious to a blind man that we need some enthusiastic and energetic new people to breathe a new brand of life into Melb PC. People with new ideas, new approaches to solving old problems and willing and able to put in the time to carry out their plans. Let's begin to start the rejuvenation process and put a stop to the trend where Melb PC appears to be growing old like the general population is growing old. If nothing is done to turn that around, then by the time I'm dead and gone, so will this wonderful group and I hate that thought. I want my grandchildren and theirs to benefit from the strength of the history and the resources we've all worked so hard to develop over the years. Don't you? Come on, don't be timid! Put that form in now!
What Does it Take?
Have you ever thought about what type of person you believe should run this group? Does it need one person, a natural leader, or is the regular, shared responsibility, committee method best? Have you ever wondered about the difference between leadership and figurehead? There is no space here nor sufficient time to delve into it now, but I'm hoping you are interested enough to give it some serious thought.
Odd Things This Month
John Swale is away and so Random Access is a selection from previous months.
The photo competition was supposed to have two Secondary Prize Winners each period, but Al Zheimer visited, I forgot and asked the judge for one winner, not two. This month the second winner was announced. Next month, in November we will see the winners from the second competition period. By the time you read this the second period will be well & truly over and judging should be completed.
Letters to the Editor
In the hardcopy version of this issue there is a Letter to the Editor that I want you to read. While writing my response I began to wonder, what do people expect of Melb PC and why? Do you have any thoughts along those lines? What do you really expect of this group? Precisely why are you a member? Please write and detail your thoughts and ideas so that the knowledgebase can be further enhanced.
Clause 2 from our rules (below), is what our forefathers believed the group should be doing. Please let's hear whether you agree or disagree. I can't promise you an answer but I can promise you will almost certainly be published.
From Our Rules
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2. 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: (1) advancing computer literacy (2) advancing the art and science of information processing through education and interchange of ideas (3) keeping members abreast of developments in computing and information technology and enabling members to exchange information and experience (4) 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 (5) providing a forum for the exchange of views amongst computer users and between computer users and the computer industry (6) co-operating supporting or joining with, or in, other organisations with similar purposes (7) undertaking other activities beneficial to the Group In order to further its purposes the Group shall have the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person. |
Searching
On the page opposite, Dave Botherway suggested using "Quotes surrounding text"
and the -minus sign as aides when searching. They are very handy to know but if
like many people you're using Google you can also use the Google advanced
search. Log in to Google and you'll find it.
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en It does it all for you.
One particularly handy way of using the Google
advanced search is to make it your home page. A person told me some years ago
that he made it his home page because he found that almost every time he started
his browser was to search for something. I realised that was the case here as
well and from that moment on I've had the advanced search as my home page. Check
it out and you'll see it has lots of options.
Reprinted from the October 2006 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
