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New York Amateur Computer Club
http://www.nyacc.org/
Creative Computing Club SIG
Low-key computer conversation, user-friendly computer support, a gentle learning
experience and lots more. Random access questions and answers! Extra help for
non-technical computer people!!
North Quabbin PC User’s Group, Massachusetts
http://member.apcug.org/nqpcug/
The NQPCUG has a new benefit for their members: the formation of an NQPCUG
CD-ROM Library. Millard & Joyce Chase (president and secretary of the group)
donated a number of CDs to the newly formed library. Members may borrow a CD at
any of their meetings and return same at the following meeting. There is no
charge for the use of a disk – this is another benefit of membership in their
Users Group. If this idea proves popular it is hoped that club members might
donate surplus disks, books or whatever is computer-associated to the library.
Members are encouraged to check out the new department – “try it, you might like
it” as the saying goes.
Recruiting New Members
Has its (better) Rewards!
Bring in the most new members (at least two) in a given month and you may win a
1 GByte SanDisk Cruzer® Micro USB Flash Drive. For you to be eligible, the new
members must join at the General Meeting. Ties will be resolved so that there is
one winner. The SanDick Cruzer® Micro features:
Northeast Ohio PC Club
http://www.neopc.org/
The NEOPC has a new feature on its Website: their monthly meeting flyer. It is
available for all members to print and help distribute – and it’s starting to
work for them. Their Ladies Special Interest Group has been learning some unique
features about the computer and the Internet. They recently explored their
County auditor’s website, checking into prices and taxes of homes in their
county. They have also investigated memory sticks (also called jump drives), how
they are used, and how useful they can be. NEOPC members are also assisting
their companion group, the Computer Assisted Genealogy Group, with converting
handwritten entries of the 1930 Cuyahoga County Census into digital format and
placing it on the Internet for the world to see and utilize in researching a
person’s roots.
Lancaster Microcomputer User Group, Pennsylvania
http://www.lmug.org/
Their December meeting featured a Holiday Celebration: a night of fun and music
using MP3 music files as well as learning karaoke and playing Name That Tune.
Computer Users of Erie,
Pennsylvania
http://www.cuerie.com/
BUG SIG
The Beginner User Group is a Special Interest Group. The purpose of this group
is to help the computer user gain a better understanding of their computer. The
member will learn all aspects of the computer, thus the user will have a better
understanding and will be better off in using their system. The BUG SIG meets
once per month in an informal group. A computer is available at each meeting.
Attendees are always welcome to ask questions; in fact, most topics are a result
of member inquiries. Many of the sessions involve hardware. We troubleshoot
systems that do not work and restore them to a useful state. However, it is not
as simple as this may sound. A method is applied that will explain each step in
the process. A hands-on environment allows the attendee to grasp the knowledge
that is imparted at the sessions. We not only work with hardware but also
software and the internet. In fact, we take great pride in some of the sessions
we have had. We have designed the logo on the club's official outerwear. This
was a result of a project to learn how to use various programs. So if you don't
know the difference between a Dvorak keyboard and a QWERTY keyboard, or even if
you do, you might just want to come to one of our meetings. Perhaps you might
learn a thing or two, or perhaps you might even teach US something new.
Macon Users Group,
North Carolina
http://www.maconusersgroup.org/
MUG Supports Troop
CARE Package Project
MUG has made a generous donation to "A Taste of Home," a nonpolitical grassroots
project that sends CARE packages to servicemen and women serving in harm's way
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tellico Village Computer Users Club,
Tennessee
http://www.tvcuc.org
If your group is thinking of starting a new SIG, you might want to check out
http://www.tvcuc.org/sig_start_up.htm where you will find TVCUC’s SIG Start-up
and Operation Guidelines as well as http://www.tvcuc.org/sig_chair.htm, a SIGS
Committee Job Description.
Bowling Green Area Microcomputer User Group, Kentucky
http://www.bgamug.org/
Yeah! BGAMUG Gets $227.40 from Kroger. Thanks to all of our members for
reloading their Kroger Gift Cards during November and December. We just earned
another $227.40. That’s 4% of $5,685. We started another period on December 14,
2006. BGAMUG members may participate in the Kroger Cares Gift Card Fundraiser
Program by purchasing a Kroger Gift Card from the BGAMUG treasurer. The cards
are $25 and are pre-loaded with $25 value, so it costs you nothing to use the
card. You may use the gift card for all of your purchases at any Kroger store.
The only benefit to Kroger is that you are shopping in their store. For this
they are willing to pay the club 4% of the amount on the card. When the card is
depleted, visit any Kroger Customer Service Department and have the card
recharged for whatever amount you choose. Each time members reload their cards,
BGAMUG will receive 4% of the value. When that total reaches $5,000, BGAMUG
receives a check from Kroger. Keep up the good work. Jerry Gillette, BGAMUG
Treasurer
We have equipment that uses new technology—the new 2000 lumens projector that lets us clearly see the screen even when the lights are on; three laptop computers with Windows XP and one running Linux; and a bulky but good speaker system that works well most of the time.
In terms of information and communication, we have an attractive, well-written, hard copy newsletter; a powerfully effective Web site; and publicity in a broad variety of media—newspapers, magazines, radio and television station calendars, and colorful, informational brochures in the libraries and other places.
As for education, ICON members teach Basic Computer Classes through our partnership with St. John’s Seniors. Our Special Interest Groups, monthly Membership Meetings, and additional classes are held in nice meeting rooms and up-to-date labs in the libraries through our partnership with the Springfield-Greene County Library District. ICON’s Education Library of tutorial CDs and DVDs is available at all Membership Meetings and SIGs for checkout, and an ICON informational CD with a tutorial on the use of our Web site is in the making.
A second major conference, The March of Technology, featuring the theme "Unwired and on the Move," is planned for March 24 at The Library Center. Leading our growing, vibrant, and active organization is a group of officers who are working well together, learning to use the new technology, making compromises when necessary, and having fun rebuilding the Interactive Computer Owners Network (ICON).
Houston League of PC Users (HAL-PC), Texas
http://www.hal-pc.org/
HAL-PC MOVIE NIGHT
The January movie will be Friday, 01/26/07. The feature will be Failure to
Launch (2006). In a desperate attempt to push their 30-something son Tripp
(Matthew McConaughey) out of the nest, a frustrated mother and father (Kathy
Bates and Terry Bradshaw) hire a beautiful relationship "consultant" (Sarah
Jessica Parker) with a patented plan to move him out of the house. But her
tried-and-true tactics, which involve her posing as the girl of his dreams,
don't always have the intended effect. Cartoons will begin at 6:30 and the
feature at 7:00. As always, popcorn, candy and drinks will be sold as a fund
raiser. Join us for a fun, free night out!!
Think of all the tasks we do on our computers. Think of all the steps and time we save. We simply could not process the volume of information we are accustomed to if we did not try various methods. Thinking of the manager inspires me to keep remembering to look for easier ways. Save a click here and a keystroke there. Write some scripts. Try new software. The phone card committee combined the 201 cards with a few from donations and a previous purchase, and headed to the veteran's hospital. After talking with the policeman at the door and the woman at the information desk, we were led to a separate building where we filled out a form. The volunteer coordinator planned the distribution with the administrator, and then with the chief of nutrition, who will utilize ambassadors to work directly with needy patients. The world is full of forms and procedures. We have been assured the phone cards will get to the vets so they can call their loved ones before Christmas. We take note of extra minutes at the store and extra clicks on the computer, but let us consider the years and limbs and lives our vets spend to keep our country free. We deeply appreciate the service of all of the members of the armed forces. Giving 206 vets 99 minutes each to call home is the least we can do to wish them happy holidays.
Tucson Computer Society
http://www.aztcs.org/
You can earn money for the Tucson Computer Society whenever you shop at Bashas',
from now through March 31, 2007. Bashas' is again offering their "Thanks a
Million" campaign for non-profits and groups. All you have to do is give them
TCS's group number, 28786, the next time you shop with your Bashas' "Thank You
Card".
It will then be permanently linked, and every purchase you make will contribute money to TCS coffers. TCS will get 1% of all sales, up to a total of $2500. If you don't have a "Thank You Card," Bashas' will be happy to give you one. You can link up to three different groups to your card so you can also benefit your favorite school or other charity, and you don't have to choose between us. If you have any questions, you can go to the Bashas' Web site for more information. Remember: add the TCS group number 28786 to your Bashas' "Thank You Card."
Project Description: For the last two years, ACUG has been receiving donations from the members to donate to the public in need of a working computer system, who don't have the ability to pay for a new system. We advertised in the local newspaper that we were accepting donations of working computer systems; the response was so great we had to rent storage space to accommodate the growing number of units donated. We reformatted the computers and opened a free lab to the public to use. We donated refurbished computers to financially burdened families with teenagers in high school, Area 12 Agency on Aging, and seniors who are bed bound.
We also donated computers to an elementary school who, in turn, gave the computers to students who could not afford one. The components which were not serviceable were taken to the county landfill and properly disposed of.
Project Description: In December of 2004 TUGNET formed a partnership with The Kiwanis Club of Northridge to gather, repair, upgrade and distribute refurbished computers to needy children, social service organizations and local schools. The partnership’s outreach programs organize publicity, locate needy organizations and individuals and arranges for the distribution of the refurbished systems. Our operations prior to September 2005 were described in our previous application for a Jerry Award. In our project’s ongoing operation since then, TUGNET members have performed almost all of the technical work of disassembling and reassembling and checking out computers. Kiwanis members have provided valuable help for transporting computers and supplies and locating organizations to receive computers. Kiwanis provided a money donation and shipping boxes donated by a local supplier. Individuals, including TUGNET members made money donations. A truck was donated by a local manufacturer and the use of storage space was provided by the owner of our meeting hall.
Used computers, Pentium 3 or better, have been donated by CSUN, Simi Valley Hospital, CBS Studios, an insurance agency and several individuals. Our project distributed a laptop to each of two women confined by disease to home, 7 computers to youth organizations, 7 computers to organizations providing services to adults, including addicted women and low-income job seekers, and families. We are refurbishing 50 to 60 computers for additional organizations. To improve our productivity, we are seeking a facility large enough to store computers and supplies with sufficient space for work.
Generally Speaking: The New User Group is a monthly meeting where we explore how the Mac system(s) work, with time to answer questions, to solve problems, and to offer some hands-on demonstrations. We cover the current operating system in an annual cycle. We began our OS X 10.4 Tiger tour in July 2005. We support earlier versions of OS X and we also reserve time for a question and answer session about OS 9/Legacy systems used on older Macs. Folks ranging from fresh out-of-the-box users to veterans attend our meetings to share their questions, interests, experience, and suggestions.
Tacoma Area PC Users Group, Washington
http://www.tapcug.org
Co-Presidents Corner
Dick Meier / Edryce Reynolds
Richard Meier
I believe that the TAPCUG membership might be interested in extending their
computer activities to the benefit of others. This presents a challenge to the
TAPCUG leaders, and I include the officers, directors, and committee chairs, as
to which direction we should first proceed.
The first direction to consider is making our activities more interesting and challenging to both the old members and any new members. The long-term members have the experience and knowledge to share with others and the new members are interested in learning and expanding their capabilities. We can satisfy this challenge by creating a plan for volunteer activities, both in the club and in the community. In order to accomplish this we must increase the number of volunteers working on the various committees. Just as we have co-presidents, we need backup persons for programs, the Data Line, and any other activity that is critical to our success.
The second direction depends on increasing our public-relations activities. We have our own Data Line publication for members but we need to find and inform everyone else about the opportunities in belonging to TAPCUG. We need articles in the Senior Center publication, the city of Lakewood’s “Connections,” the Suburban Times e-mail letter and any other place we can find. But before we can go public, we need to have a plan.
And that is a third direction we have to consider, the development of a plan to increase membership, participation and involvement in the community. I believe this plan will evolve over the next two or three months and I want every member reading this to think about what we could change or add to our activities in order to accomplish this change.
Should we increase our volunteer efforts so that we have the resources to grow or should we create a plan to make this happen and when should we go public with an increase in public relations activity and tell everybody how great we are? The answer is, we will do this together with everybody’s participation and ideas, and we can accomplish this by your calling or e-mailing members of the board and sharing any ideas you might have.
The Web Enthusiasts Association of Victoria (WEAV) is disbanding and members are joining BB&C or VMUG (the Mac User Group). As a result, BB&C will be getting six new individual members and one corporate membership of five people. They are all welcomed to BB&C and one of them has already put his name forward to run for Webmaster!
Tokyo PC Users Group
http://www.tokyopc.org/
Several time-saving Windows utilities will be demonstrated at the January
meeting. The main focus will be file & disk management programs and taskbar,
start menu, clipboard enhancements, etc.
Some of the programs to be covered are: