 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group President's Annual Report, 1994 Colin Lovitt colinl@melbpc.org.au |
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It gives me great pleasure to report to the now record number of members of Melb PC that the news is very good indeed. But before rattling off the not-inconsiderable achievements of the past year, I emphasise that there is much more that can be done to finely tune the advances made. The members' survey, first results of which appear elsewhere in this issue, will pinpoint areas requiring improvement. I have been delighted with the response 2060 members took the opportunity of telling us what they liked and disliked, how they rated our services, and what they wanted us to change or add. We will do our best to incorporate the most pressing requests in the next few months. Meanwhile, the high satisfaction rate expressed gives us confidence that the Group is on track.
Last year's Annual Report referred repeatedly to the difficulties the Group faced as a result of past upheavals, mistakes and financial neglect. Charles Wright indicated a determination not to simply sit idly by and watch our financial assets grow while ignoring services to members. Future planning, budgets, a proper accountancy system, marketing strategies based on surveying our members, and a determination to continually improve the magazine and deliver a "world-class" BBS were among the promises made.
Meanwhile, Charles vowed to ensure financial pruning in a number of areas - wasted legal fees, better office productivity, and an advertising strategy for the magazine that would largely make PC Update self-supporting, it having traditionally been a considerable drain on resources.
It had to then and must always be borne in mind that the Group is essentially a hobbyist's club - a non-profit body aiming to increase the pleasures its members derive from computing. This salient fact aligned with the size of the Group makes the need for cost-effective and proficient administration a high priority, but poses a conundrum. There are still those members, although their numbers are dwindling, who believe that the Group can basically be run by a team of volunteers and that most of the administrative costs, particularly salaried staff, are unnecessary. In my view, this approach is naive. The demands on staff are such that it could not sensibly be expected that a team of volunteers, should they be found, could take over and run the office. We need the current plethora of volunteers simply to avoid the necessity of hiring more staff. It takes considerable skill and patience to blend in permanent staff and volunteer labour, and Janet Henstock and Tracy Swan have smoothly managed this difficult task with the help and guidance of many members of the Committee.
The Current Year
I am pleased to be able to report that the optimism in the last President's Report has now been replaced by the satisfaction of achievement. Thanks to the determination and industry of most of the Committee, office staff, and those indispensable volunteers, Charles' vision has been realised.
Training
Training has been transformed from a disorganised, ad hoc calendar lurching from one catastrophe to another into a well-run, profitable, yet extremely inexpensive and competitive unit. Tom Coleman, and his team of trainers and administrative staff have now placed us in the position of being able to truly say to members, "We can deliver the courses you want, taught by instructors who know their subject, at a price lower than virtually any other reputable training establishment." And we'll get better for the experience gained in the last year.
PC Update
The magazine now boasts many colour pages, an improved layout, and continues to be recognised for the quality of its features. The survey has led to many positive, sensible suggestions that will be considered for implementation in the New Year by Peter Smith, Ash Nallawalla, and Gary Taig. The sale of advertising and the use of the magazine in contra deals that have resulted in the acquisition of much free and considerably discounted hardware has led to the decrease in expenses referred to earlier. It is hoped to spread the load as a result of an impressively credentialed set of new volunteers to assist with subediting, production and feature-writing. I aim to ensure that too much is not left to too few, one of our weaknesses in this and other areas in the past.
BBS
While the BBS struggled after the hard disk crash of the Message Board in July last year, frustrations rose. Some members thought that we should obtain the professional services of a "commercial" sysop. We didn't.
Barry McMenomy, appointed sysop at an eventful BBS committee meeting over my dinner table, has led a growing team of volunteers to
the establishment of a board that was, frankly, a dream not much more than 12 months ago. Despite a setback or two (or twenty!), he,
Philip Lew, and Allan Michelmore have provided us with a BBS that is the talk of the town! It is hard to believe now that Barry learned the whole set of sysop skills on the fly! His
devotion to the job is now legendary.
Eighteen lines running on fast or very fast modems (thought I'd omit the technical stuff), a plethora of constantly updated files, umpteen message areas, including over 30 local ones for members only, and many other services and improvements provide the communications junkie with all he/she could ask
for at no extra cost to members. His article last month sets out the impressive plans for further improvement. If you did not read it then, have a look now. Barry and Allan's trip to ONE BBSCON has provided the launching pad for the next few years And a special tribute to
Dave Mitchell for his assistance to new and old users of the board. He answers literally hundreds of messages each week.
Internet
The Internet project was a labour of love inspired by Charles' determination to put us on the 'Net, and carefully
planned and enacted by Ash Nallawalla. Some members of the Committee expressed doubts; others openly thought we would not be able to provide an effective link with the sort of services it was known
our members would demand. Now with the forthcoming SLIP access, and all the bell, and whistles of a much more expensive service provided by competitors, we are on the verge of moving the whole
shebang into the office, thus running it truly independently, meanwhile connecting it physically and electronically with our BBS, and saying to the
doubters - "We did it!"
Financial Control
Charles said last year we needed a qualified accountant as Treasurer. We got one
- Bruce Elliott. "Scrooge" has overseen the implementation of proper accounting procedures, prepared or demanded budgets from the various sections such as the BBS, shareware, magazine, office, etc., instituted monthly reports in each area and continually cautioned against the sort of impetuous spending that characterised some of our predecessors. Membership has grown to over 7500 and will pass 8000 shortly. The attrition rate of renewals has been arrested, partly because of an overdue change in the methods of renewal and reminders now sent separately to members, and I suspect also as a result of the stability and improved services offered by Melb PC. We are now operating at a regular surplus. This will ensure we can devote funds to further improve the Internet, BBS, magazine, training and office in the forthcoming year. Financially, we are in an extremely sound position.
Shareware & Disk Sales
Shareware and blank disk sales have predictably decreased as diskette prices plummet and the availability of files on the BBS and CD-ROM replace what was once a reliable form of income. While some strategies are currently being considered by the Committee, it has to be recognised that we will never see the sort of return for the many hours spent by
David Webster and his son Glen that once bolstered the club's finances in shareware sales. Other sources of revenue, such as bulk modem deals and magazine advertising have taken up the slack.
Assets
The Group's assets have increased dramatically as a result of the generosity of some companies and the purchase of hardware needed to run the office, the BBS and the Internet.
Gary Taig has proved to be a formidable salesman for his beloved Melb PC, arranging the donation of a good deal of expensive hardware used in the office and by the BBS and the Internet link. On the other hand,
Peter Freeman and Tom Coleman have overseen the Community Outreach program of the club, resulting in the placement of many PC items where they are most needed by those who could not afford to purchase them. Our thanks to those altruistic donors.
Monthly Meetings
Monthly Meetings are a source of some concern. Numbers are down, despite the satisfaction expressed by members with the new venue (Pharmacy College). It may be nothing more than a reflection of the changing expectations and requirements of our members, but the
survey will help us to come up with strategies to arrest the downturn. A BBS night is planned, perhaps an Internet night, and a change of format is likely, tightening up the presentations and providing more variety. A members' clearance sale? Watch this space! Meanwhile, Ash, complements of his annual
sojourn to COMDEX, continues to arrange high-profile presenters and speakers of the calibre of Philippe Kahn, Dennis Hayes, and, just this month, Gordon Eubanks of Symantec. And
Ray Beatty continues to wear those bow-ties! <G>
Peter Freeman
A special word for the current Vice President, who has served on a vast number of subcommittees. Peter always looks for the solution that will most benefit members, with one eye on getting the job done and the other on economy. His energy is very contagious around here. Though he is not standing for committee this
time - I hope he doesn't think it's permanent! <G>
New Blood
With more than half the membership using the BBS, we have "discovered" some great characters, and a number of major new contributors to the board,
PC Update, and other club activities. Examples are Dave Mitchell,
Tessa Melland, Ron Taylor, and now Trevor Jacobs. We have been fortunate to gain the services of Dave on the Committee and look forward to working with some of the others if they and we are given the chance. I am particularly pleased to see the new blood that has nominated for Committee.
Harmony
Charles referred in his report last year to the divisions and lack of sound financial management of the past. When I became President in March, I said then that I was singularly disinterested in past upheavals and petty disputes. I am delighted to report that such silliness is almost completely a spent force in the Group these days. I have enjoyed the unqualified support of most Committee members and aim to ensure continued
harmony. You can never hope to muzzle the odd armchair critic, though - I guess they come
with the job!
Elections
Rumour hath it that a particular pair of members are actively campaigning for a ticket of nominees at the December AGM. In addition Major Keary is once again standing for the Presidency. For more details, please read my CPU column. I there set out the team that I hope to lead into the next exciting year for Melb PC. Please vote with a loud voice. Proxies and postal votes will be vital!
The Future
I turn now to the future. There is not enough space here to set out the various plans and dreams of yours truly, Peter Smith, Barry, Ash, Gary, Dave and co. What I can promise is that we love this club, and mean to do our best to further improve what is becoming more-and-more a very stable organisation. We aim to provide a set of services to members that will come unmatched at the price. And with the current sound financial setup, I see no immediate reason at all for that price to increase.
We aim to have 32 lines open on the BBS by the New Year. Eventually, the Internet hardware will be moved into the BBS room, and another 8 lines opened up, thus servicing the queue of people waiting for an Internet account. The magazine aims to be financially self-sufficient in the next 12 months. Bulk shareware deals will be fully coordinated by Trevor Jacobs and automated in accordance with members' needs. Trainers will be even more experienced in the difficult art of teaching, and not just adept at their particular subject. The training machines are now networked, allowing central loading of training programs and files and avoiding the delays while PCs are individually set up. The New Members' Disk is in my view disappointing and Peter Freeman is currently assembling a group of volunteers, including those of the calibre of Ron Taylor, to totally revamp it. We are currently investigating the viability of putting our shareware library on CD-ROM. It looks like we may have to spend some money on getting a little more fresh air into the SIG and Training rooms over the summer. The survey discloses that one of the main services new members would have liked us to provide is a buddy/mentor system. And so the list goes on...
Rule Amendments
We have worked hard at revamping the Rules. Last month's magazine set out the draft of the amendments, accompanied by an explanatory memorandum. On the BBS an interesting thread has developed with positive input from the vast majority. I ask all members to exercise their vote for the changes. They are the result of a great deal of discussion, taking into account the input from all previous attempts to update our Rules.
So there it is. I thank the countless volunteers, the office staff, my Committee and my wife for all their patience and assistance over the last year, and especially since I took over the Presidency in March. I regard my job as unfinished at this stage and would relish the opportunity to get on with what we now can do in the months to come. Maybe then
I'll go back to reading manuals. <G>
Reprinted from the December 1994 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
