 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group The President's Pen Spen Ingamells |
We have moved!
The biggest surprise was the suddenness with which the move occurred. One day we were in Cecil Street, South Melbourne and now its St. Kilda Road. Our heads are still spinning but. by the time you read this everything should have settled back to a reasonably steady pace. Actually, the floor plan of our new offices on the second floor al 568 St. Kilda Road will allow for more efficient operation. Isn't that what, it's all about? The more efficient we become, the more services we can offer and the happier we'll all be.
Meanwhile, back to the move. Three or four months ago ITEC warned us they might move at the end of the year and asked if Melb PC would move with them, continuing our arrangement as their sub-tenant. The committee discussed the alternatives and did some preliminary research to determine whether Melbourne PC User Group should continue sub-leasing space from ITEC, or go it alone. The options were under consideation when suddenly at the end of July, just as August PC Update was being delivered they told us we had a little over two months to make up our minds. If you think that was short notice, what sort of reaction do you think they got, when only a few davs later they advised a change in their plans necessitated moving in two weeks. Life in the fast lane?' At Melbourne PC you will see it all.
The Melb PC Building
We are not yet quite ready, to go it alone but the day is nigh. Our Group is almost ready to acquire its own premises. The committee is currently investigating a number
of possibilities that would see the group owning its own premises before the end of this
financial year.
Imagine being a member of the biggest, most interesting and exciting User Group
in the world. Wouldn't it be great to drop in for a chat, meet some friends in
the lounge, buy virtually anything you could want from the Members Only retail
shop in the corner and then have coffee and relax before your Training Course
began.
We could have a real life alternative to the
present Dial Help Service. This is not suggesting we do away with Dial Help but
with our own building we could be set up so that some of our more experienced
members were on hand at various times to show us on one of the Group's PCs how
something is done rather than trying to explain over the phone.
Our Own Home?
How will we do it, you ask. Well, just a couple of weeks ago, a building that would have been ideal for our use was sold for $550,000. The same property was sold eighteen months previously for $930,000.
That's the recession at work, so why not let in work in our favour. Do I hear somebody out there asking where can the Group find
$500,000 - CASH? The answer, of course, is from the membership! Obviously there would be very few members who would be in a position to spend $500,000, however by the time the December Annual General Meeting rolls round,
that amount could, for example, be represented by a debenture of say $85 per member.
Membership Drive
Response to the Membership Drive has been nothing short of spectacular. We took suitable precautions but still the applications are flowing in so fast the office has its hands full keeping up with them
If every member introduces only one new member before the end of November we will have over
8,000 members by Christmas. Think of the effect this will have on our operation. New members mean new ideas, new skills and talents, lots of increased benefits for everybody. Keep up the good work, some lucky member will win
that terrific new 486 with Laser Printer and all the lovely goodies. That's the incentive for existing members - all of us, but what about the 386 and other
prizes being offered to non-members. Are you (and all of your friends in the
draw?
PC 91 is Over
From what I saw and heard this year's event was a
marvellous success. A very warm welcome is extended to all those new members who
joined Melbourne PC Usr Group at our stand and many, many thanks to those
tireless volunteers who set up and manned our small part of the PC91 exhibition
for those hectic four days. Very special thanks must go to Tom Coleman. He
always works so hard to ensure our PC Show appearances are a success. Tom you
have done us proud.
Reprinted from the September 1991 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
