 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Activist Report Gary Taig garyt@melbpc.org.au |
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It's a long break between November and February, three of the busiest months of the year. Much has happened. Let's hope 1992 keeps its promise of being an extraordinary and exciting year for Melbourne PC User Group.
With membership fluctuating around the 6,000 mark for the first time ever, your management committee has been working overtime. In January we began with an all-day planning session which proved to be so extensive we were forced to break to complete the task at a full weekend session in February. Plans are now drawn for a great many activities throughout this coming year, you will see them unfold as 1992 progresses.
Noeline Finlay whose talents were under-utilised as Activists' minutes secretary, will now play a greater role in co-ordinating volunteers. Watch out for more details as tasks carried out by the Activists are merged with the activities of the Main Committee.
Arrangements have been made for a special desk to be set up at each monthly meeting at Clunies Ross House for Activists who cannot make it to regular meetings. The idea is that if you can assist with any kind of task you will be able to register as an Activist at a general monthly meeting. Please watch out for the desk, it should be organised and in place as a permanent fixture shortly after you read this report. Charles Wright tells you more about that in his report on the Committee Page.
If you cannot make it to any of the monthly meetings for some reason but you are still interested and want to get involved, read below about the special message area set aside on the BBS just for this purpose.
As a result of recent planning exercises the committee has identified many areas where involvement by the general membership is imperative. One important topic receiving serious consideration is the name "Activist".
"Activist" The Name
Way back during last year when the idea for the Activists took shape, Charles Wright told us that he had heard about similar groups of volunteers attached to overseas User Groups and so we adopted that name. It suited at the time.
Since then we have reason to believe that the name "Activist" might be misinterpreted. Some of our committee are concerned that the membership at large might perceive the "Activists" as being something like a bunch of stirrers. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, we are concerned enough to be looking closely at the idea of a new name for the Activists. What do you think? Would you take part in a competition to find a new name for our many teams of volunteers?
Training
Bill Westhead our Training Coordinator came to his first Activists' meeting in September. He stood for committee in December and was elected. With many years of planning and supervision of training in the Armed Forces behind him, Bill and committee member Lorelle Sellick now have underway the most extensive training planning Melbourne PC User Group has ever seen. If you are able to provide any input to this program, or if you have any worthwhile ideas on Group training, then please contact Bill or Lorelle as soon as possible. They need every possible bit of help and as many ideas as they can get from within the ranks.
Alternatively, if you would like to see training provided on any particular subject or aspect of computing, now is your chance to let Bill or Lorelle know of your requirement. Teachers and instructors will always be in short supply. Course planners, researchers and leaders are also in demand. Talk to Bill or Lorelle and you may well influence the future direction of Melbourne PC User Group training. Dor't give them half a chance to be even slightly deafened by the tumultuous silence of 6,000 members.
Open Day
Some people have suggested the idea of running an "open day" for all members and their families. If you have any input to the idea or can be of some assistance when it takes off, please make your interest known to the committee. Much help will be required.
Library
The Group's Library planning will be underway in earnest soon. If you are interested and able to get involved, be sure to let us know. We'll put you in touch with those members who are looking after it. Alternatively leave a message on the BBS.
Bulletin Board
At our October Activists' meeting it was unanimously agreed that we approach Colin Macauley and ask him to set up an area on the BBS just for Activists. By the end of our November meeting that was done. If you hadn't already noticed, members can now use BBS Message Area 52 as an open Activists' Conference and Message Area 53 for the purposes of leaving availability messages. The idea of availability messages is that if you are able to assist any one of the committee with the day to day running of the affairs of the Group, you leave your name, contact phone number and a message to the committee.
Noeline Finlay uploads the minutes of each Activists' meeting to Area 52 for the benefit of those members unable to attend. If you want to see what goes on at these meetings, log on to the BBS.
Whatever the subject or the activity: if you wish to have your say, or if you suddenly experience hot and cold flushes and decide to get in and help with the day to day running of your club, contact the Activists' without delay. Talk to any one of the committee, visit the "Activists' Desk" at a monthly meeting, leave a note in Area 53 on the BBS or come to a regular Activists' meeting.
Reprinted from the April 1992 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
