 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Spen's Pen Spen Ingamells, Immediate Past President |
There's nothing quite like a good idea is there? Especially if it works! Peter Smith's idea of giving away prizes for responses to the puzzles appearing in PC Update has elicited an amazing response. So what is the relationship between the monthly meeting and puzzle competitions in PC Update?
The answer is none at all! The rather long bow I am drawing to link them is response. The membership has grown dramatically, but the attendance at the monthly meetings has remained the same, averaging around 300 people.
In an endeavour to have more members enjoying the social intercourse and active - exchange of ideas and information that takes place at monthly meetings, I thought perhaps something for nothing could prove an irresistible incentive. Well its worth a try isn't it? So, from the next monthly meeting, there'll be a bundle of prizes given away.
Now you re probably asking what do we have to do, to walk away with these "great goodies". All you have to do, is be there. When you arrive, you write your membership number on a ticket. Before the close of the meeting I shall draw, say 10 or a dozen numbers of the members present and they get their prize - just for being there. The prizes may be useful novelties, hardware or software, and the value could be anything from a few dollars to many hundreds. I have collected an excellent range of items for the first night, so be there if you can.
Auction and Open Day
Just when an auction had almost become a tradition at our annual general meetings, the activity was abandoned last year. Due to its - proven popularity it was a difficult decision to reach, however, after lengthy debate the committee resolved to accept the Borland offer to premiere their pre-release Windows versions of Paradox, Quattro Pro and Object Vision.
The majority view of the committee was that the auction could be rescheduled to another date, but the Borland presentation was an opportunity to be taken then or forever lost. The end result was an overwhelming acclamation for the most interesting and exciting product demonstrations to our monthly meetings in a long time.
From the numerous requests received, it is apparent that many members are still patiently awaiting the announcement of the auction date. There were even questions from the floor at last month's meeting in this regard, so I was pleased to be able to report the matter had not been forgotten. In fact Laurence Blake supported this by announcing that he and the other members of the Meetings and Special Events Sub-Committee
are planning an auction before the end of June. Great timing for some tax write-offs!
Bill Westhead, one of our newer committee members, proposed that the group should run an Open Day, so that members and their families could socialise informally at an appropriate venue. It could be conducted on a weekend or public holiday - maybe outdoors with a BBQ and lots of games for the kids and business for education and training, fun and games, hobbies and housekeeping, accounts and insurances etc.
Whatever is decided it was agreed, that's when we should conduct the auction. In fact, approached in the right way, we could probably obtain many donations from industry manufacturers and suppliers. When auctioned these donations could mean some real bargains for the members and a further boost to our Group's own Building Fund.
Computex In Taiwan
Most members who regularly attend the monthly meetings at Clunies Ross House will know Morris Tobias. Incidentally, he was the person who introduced me to Melb PC, but surely you re not going to hold that against him
Well Morris and I were chatting (as we usually do) at last month's meeting, when he mentioned he was going to attend Computex Taiwan, the world renowned computer exhibition. He will be there for two weeks in June and as many new products are scheduled for release, he has offered to take a small segment at the July meeting to brief us on his experiences. If there is any substance to the rumours already floating around the industry, it could prove to be a segment of surprises. Definitely not to be missed!
Committee Meetings
Two members raised questions at last month's meeting (like many before) as to what happens at the Group's committee meetings. Its strange! It doesn't matter how one answers these questions, further questions always follow. Now I've found a way to nip them in the bud. What is it then - this powerful statement that stops them in their tracks? Ifs simple! Anyone who asks in future, evokes the following response: "If you were really serious about wanting to know what happens at committee meetings, you'd be there." Everyone knows (or should do) that the committee meets on the third Monday of every month at the Group's offices - it has been said, many times, that any and all members are welcome to any and all meetings of the Group and all its records are available for inspection by members at any reasonable hour.
For all those interested and questioning members, the ball is in your court!
Reprinted from the April 1992 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
