 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Ash Nallawalla ash@melbpc.org.au |
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This Issue
Welcome to the first issue of PC Update in 1989. I trust Santa was
kind to you and you are now driving bigger and better PCs.
A New Career
I am now a civilian (although I have kept my commission in the General
Reserve) after having spent eight interesting years as an Administrative Officer in the Royal Australian Air
Force. I saw most of Australia and almost every continent during those years and I do not regret that aspect
one bit.
My new job is that of 'Editor' with a subsidiary of the second largest computer company, where I will be
editing software manuals and looking after a publishing workstation network. This is a good example of how
computers can change our lives. My first degree is in Accounting, and I had previously imagined spending my
life as a chartered accountant. I have had some success at writing and decided to make it my new career.
An Old but New Address
Please do not write to my old work address at 420 Spencer Street any more.
To simplify matters, I have reverted to the original practice of using the club address for all matters,
including advertising copy. I can only get to Werribee before 5 pm during two weeks in every six, so please
do not send anything that will not fit inside a small post office box, which includes disk mailers. Authors
please mail contributions directly to Charles Wright or Peter Lazarus.
Questionnaire
I was hoping to publish a full-blown article with charts 'and all' on the
results of the questionnaire, but as only 340 or so readers completed it, the findings cannot be taken too
seriously. Many of you had excellent comments that I would have liked to have published, but it was hard
enough keying in all that data! The results will be published in the next issue.
This Club
I will try to explain the workings of this club (as perceived by me) for the benefit of newer members, and
perhaps a clarification may appear in the next issue. You and I elect the Committee which meets monthly and
makes decisions on routine administrative matters as well as strategic decisions on long-term issues. My
position is not an elected one, therefore I am not on the Committee, which can replace me if I step out of
line.
All letters requiring a written response should be addressed to the Secretary at our GPO Box address.
Complaints about the magazine (and bouquets), bulletin board, public domain software, special interest
groups etc should always go to the Secretary, but remember that no guarantees are offered to accommodate your
wishes, because able volunteers are hard to find, and if the volunteer chooses to be obstinate, the Committee
may prefer to concede the point rather than lose the volunteer at that particular moment. Note well that
there were no nominations for Committee positions at the last AGM, hence there was no election. Complaints
will have more effect if you volunteer to take on the job yourself, if required (This is true of most
clubs).
Changes of address, and other administrative matters, particularly where money is involved, should be
sent to the Administrative Officer.
Complaints about incorrect meeting dates or Dial Help numbers should also go to the appropriate coordinator.
If they do not tell me something I cannot print it.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) can be formed by any group of members wishing to devote time to a certain
topic or who live outside Melbourne who can show the Committee that they can run a SIG. The expenses of SIGs
are funded by the club. Membership of SIGs is free. Use your club's resources well to get full value for your
dollar.
Personal problems concerning your computer should be directed a volunteer listed in the latest Dial
Help pages. The monthly meeting is another good place to have your problems aired, if not solved. Advice
or recommendations given are always personal opinion and not those of the club.
Scribe
We are now accepting hand-written contributions - ring Gordon Randall on
(03) 557-3984 for details.
Reprinted from the Jan-Feb 1989 issue of PC Update, the
magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
