The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
President's Annual Report
 Ron Lyth

It gives me great pleasure to be able to report to all members that we have had a successful year during 1986/87, despite some stormy periods early. 

The Committee which I have been privileged to lead was, as you know, elected at an extraordinary meeting of the Group last November following a series of unfortunate incidents which culminated in the freezing of the Group's bank account. The immediate task facing us was substantial; we had money in the bank but no records to show where it came from; most senior Committee positions were filled by different people; and we faced the urgent task of restoring confidence in our ability to continue as a viable group, and to build the administrative framework for the group to grow into the future. 

I am proud to report that, owing to the untiring efforts of our Secretary, David Owen, our Treasurers, Alan Barkauskas who unfortunately retired early this year, and more recently the sterling work of John Drake, David Jitts, whose excellent editorial work on PC Update has been a major asset, and all other committee members, we are in a sound financial position with a membership approaching 2000, an active range of SIG's including regional groups, the best BBS in Victoria, if not Australia, and about to embark on the next step in our growth; obtaining a home and permanent staff.

The significant achievements include:-

  • Restoring membership confidence in the group.
  • Establishing an administrative framework to cater for a large number of members and SIG's.
  • Building on PC Update's reputation as Australia's best user group magazine.
  • Maintaining and developing our extensive Public Domain library.
  • Establishing the BBS and developing it to its current status.
  • Increasing attendance at monthly meetings to the current 200+.
  • Managing to increase the involvement of members in all activities of the group.
  • Increasing the training activities undertaken by the group.
O n the debit side I know that every one of us on the Committee would have wished to have done more, but our first responsibility has to be to our employers and families. Although we do what we can for the group, those higher priorities must be met. In this regard, I can only hope that the planned employment of administrative staff will lighten the load where !it is most acute, ie. on the Secretary, Treasurer and Editor. 

I don't want to be too long-winded, but I must single out some of our members whose contribution has been exemplary, so here we go:

  • Gordon Castle - Thanks for everything on Committee and especially with training.
  • Tom Coleman - For an ever enthusiastic approach to training & PC87.
  • Felix Hofmann - For assistance at meetings and on SIG's.
  • Ray & Shirley Loon - For preparing and distributing labels at meetings.
  • John Wilkins - For assistance with PC Update.
  • John Beck & Leon Cohen - Thanks for the superb work on running the Public Domain library and Sales.
  • Ian Robinson - For his news digests at our meetings.
  • All SIG convenors - Thanks to everyone for the work.

I know that this is only a brief list, and I extend thanks to everyone who has helped the group in any way during this year. I hope you will have derived pleasure from the help you gave. Above all, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed the friendship which the group provides, the opportunity to swap news and views of those enigmatic beige boxes which increasingly dominate our lives, and I intend to continue to enjoy being a member of Melb PC. 

I think that we have a duty to the future to ensure that, whatever else the group does and down whatever road it travels, we never lose sight of the fact that, deep down, computing is fun. Let's ensure that Melb PC is fun too.

Reprinted from the November 1987 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

   

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