 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Prez Said Lloyd Borrett |
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Yes I'm back again as President, and I've finally managed to find time to put down a few thoughts about what is happening around the group. A few might be able to remember back to July 1984 when I spelt out what I would use this column for (when I get around to writing it).
First, I'll try to report on decisions made by the Committee from time to time. Second, a group of very talented people are bustin' their guts for you, and the group as a whole, making sure that things run smoothly at meetings, directing group activities, and doing those things that only volunteers can do. I want you to know who they are - who to thank.
Finally, in order for me to serve effectively as your President and orchestrate the actions of the Committee, I'm going to need to know what you think about certain things. So, I'll use this column to ask for your feedback on planned events, pending decisions, and just where you want the group to go from here, and how you want it to get there.
Now with that as an introduction, let's get on with the notes.
I hope you all appreciate what has been happening to the newsletter of late. David Watson has taken over as editor and, ably assisted by Anne Rouse (T.F.), is making sure that you get a newsletter each month. That is no mean feat.
Joe De Simone has been doing a great job getting advertising revenue for the newsletter. It costs us around $1,000 a month to produce this newsletter. Previously it had been where the largest slice of your membership fee went. Now, thanks to Joe's efforts, the newsletter is almost self supporting and we can begin to look at funding new activities.
You can help these people by preparing articles, passing on advertising leads, or assisting in the actual production of the newsletter. Is one afternoon a month too much to ask?
PC Update
I can't let mention of the show pass by without telling you about the amazing efforts of one Ian Mintern.
I first met Ian in July '84 when he came up to me while I was on the Melb PC stand at PC'84. Somehow Ian became convinced of the benefits of the user group and he ended up manning the stand for much of the rest of the show. During that time Ian was almost single-handedly responsible for doubling our membership.
Considering that Ian lives in Hamilton, a country town far removed from Melbourne, and is thus restricted in the Melb PC services he can make use of, this was a fantastic example.
The next time I met up with Ian was on the very day we set up the Melb PC stand at the last show. I was working on the HiSoft stand and this familiar figure came up and introduced himself. I just couldn't believe the coincidence. Another stand to man and Ian shows up out of the blue.
Ian spent much of the two days on the stand doing a great job. It's such efforts that help to make Melb PC the success it is.
Melb PC continues to grow. Avery high percentage of members renewed their membership, and recent publicity has seen many newcomers at meetings. We must try to ensure that we keep it going.
A number of smaller groups that are floundering a little have approached us about joining up with Melb PC. Also a number of people who started to form new groups have approached us with the idea of becoming Melb PC Special Interest Groups. This is exactly what we want to see happening.
Rather than set up a number of totally independent groups scattered around the state, we will all benefit if we pool our resources. Let one large body concentrate on managing the membership lists and producing the common newsletter and leave people free to concentrate on their interests. In turn members have access to a greater range of interests.
You may be aware that two PC related magazines are now on the Australian market which are free to those who register. PC Australia and PC World. We have arranged that Melb PC members will be guaranteed to get on the limited mailing lists of the publishers.
We are still trying to finalise an arrangement by which our magazine will be mailed to members with PC Australia enclosed. Thus we have our mailing costs paid for, and you get a better service.
I wonder how many of you attended the computer exhibition last month? Well Melb PC was eventually there.
We were offered a free stand at the show the week before it began. Because of the short notice and most committee member having other commitments, we turned the offer down. But the organisers wouldn't take no for an answer. They talked us in to running a stand on the last two days of the show.
It was a last minute rush job, but I think it was rather successful. All those who helped organise and man the stand enjoyed the experience.
One interesting outcome was that we met a number of members of the Capital PC User Group and the Boston Computer Society, two U.S. groups we have close contacts with.
Education & Training Questionnaire
The aim of the questionnaire is to provide to the Education and Training (EAT) Special Interest Group information on the current state of User training within organizations.
With this information EAT can:
1) Provide courses to Melb PC members by calling on expertise from within the group.
2) Provide critical feed back to training vendors.
3) Ensure that Melb PC members are provided with up to date information on courses available, and what software packages need addressing from the training point of view.
Please help us, and yourself,, by taking time out to complete the questionnaire. I can assure you the information will be kept strictly confidential and will only be available to group members.
Get Involved
Melb PC membership dues don't even begin to pay for all of the services that Melb PC provides to members. The reason we're able to offer these services for such a nominal fee is because of the active involvement of so many members.
We are an entirely volunteer organization. All of the services are organized and run by members just like you who donate their time and energy to Melb PC.
We depend on you to get involved to make new and better services possible. But you don't have to get involved just to help Melb PC - you can do it for yourself, too. Here are just some of the benefits you'll receive from getting involved in Melb PC:
- You'll make new friends.
- You'll learn valuable skills that will help you professionally.
- Your knowledge of computers wipp grow dramatically.
- You'll receive a special package of services from Melb PC, invitations to training programs and parties, and special surprises.
- You'll have a great time.
Melb PC has volunteer opportunities for almost any interest you may have -
from graphic design to computer programming; people management to envelope stuffing; news writing to meeting
planning; plus many others.
Whatever your interest in computers, Melb PC has services to inform, educate, and help vou. But you should
understand the organization is no more than what you put into it. Actively involved members quickly discover
that the more you give to the organization, the more you get in return.
If you'd like to get involved in any Melb PC activity, you should talk to a committee member. He or she can
explain the different ways you can get involved.
Reprinted from the October 1985 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
