Another year is coming to a close, and it is appropriate to look back at what has been achieved, and also look forward to what can be improved. At the last annual meeting approval was obtained to increase the size of the committee to share the workload of administration. The move was not entirely successful as some of the committee resigned during the year, and some did not attend meetings or perform any tasks. In spite of this the remainder rolled up their sleeves and took on the duties for which they had been nominated.

Bulletin Board 

There have been problems with the second line to the bulletin board, but with changes to software and updates of the multi user utilities, the second line is up and running. In the near future the Wyse machine will be updated, and the sysop advises that it should be possible to use more than two lines. To enable the magazine to be put together more efficiently a separate BBS was set up purely for the use of the editorial team and contributors.

Special Interest Groups 

Unfortunately the C SIG has gone into limbo and the NEW USERS WEST SIG has ceased to meet due to poor attendance. With all the comments from new users and people who still need some assistance, there should be new user groups meeting in several areas. These groups would not be for ones who have only just bought a PC, if you have just bought, say, Lotus™ you are a new user, and as such any of your queries could be answered. New SIGs which have started this year are BLIND CITIZENS, GRAPHICS, and PARLIAMENT.

Public Domain/Shareware 

During the year Bob Wallace, the PC-Write author, gave a talk to our monthly meeting, and gave an informative outline of the Shareware concept, and the organisation of Shareware Professionals. With Bob and his wife was Ian Mackay from Manaccom who arranges some of the Shareware registrations at bulk discounts for us. The registration of programs has been developed by John Drake, and recently has been passed to Morrison Hoyle to continue in the future. A database has been in operation for most of the year listing the quantity of disks sold by disk number. This will highlight which are the popular programs, and indicate which should be put forward for registrations. As a result of these efforts we are now starting to receive disks directly from the authors. The price of PD Software was reduced to give better value, and as a consequence the volume of sales has increased. Apart from many updates to current programs there has been an additional 358 disks put into the library. A survey was conducted at the PC90 exhibition and subsequently from all known sources of PD software, and there are only two organisations selling disks at a lower price than ours, but they do not give the service of showing how to run programs, change of disk if faulty in any way, and guarantee it to be virus free, or arrange registrations, with or without discounts. A revision to the catalog to remove duplicates of earlier versions and records of non executable files is an ongoing exercise. Other ideas to make the listing more meaningful are being investigated.

Offers to members 

Price discounts for magazine subscriptions and modems were arranged. From the number who have advised not owning a modem, there is a possibility that a special offer may be made next year. A supplier approached us at the PC90 show and offered to make a discounted price available to the Group if we wish to organise one.

Training 

Training has been the greatest disappointment this year. Courses have been arranged, but several had to be cancelled due to lack of starters. The Group runs courses at a smaller fee than other organisations, just covering the cost of trainers, room hire with a small markup to cover administration costs. The trainers are users of the programs taught, which makes for a better format for the course. We don't know if the times or nights are not suitable for most people, but then other organisations would have the same problem. Do members want daytime courses to fit in with employer sponsored training? Now that employers are required to spent a percentage of their budget on training, that may produce trainees. We are working with software suppliers to give a certificate of competence in the use of their product, which we hope will be accepted by prospective employers. To ensure that training is the best available a course to teach trainers to teach has been run.

Membership Survey 

A survey was run to find out what members expect from belonging to Melb PC User group. In this issue will be found the first part of the analysis. The extracts from the text remarks takes longer to collate and will be in the December issue. The results have been very informative, and give ideas for progress.

Assistance 

A group such as ours cannot be run without a lot of dedication from the people who have VOLUNTEERED to give time and energy to make things happen. To enable the committee members to be recognised, they wear name tags bearing the Group logo at each function they attend. It was suggested that SIG co-ordinators or other officials not on committee should be included. The suggestion will be acted upon. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the support given to me throughout the year by committee members, SIG co-ordinators, trainers, BBS sysops, editorial team, administrative staff, and anyone else who has helped to make the running of the Group easier. 

Reprinted from the November 1990 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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