APCUG Reports
July-September 2006

Would you like to double your membership next year?  Is that a reasonable expectation in an era of declining User Group membership?  Is it really something you want to do?

We think it is reasonable; we want to do it; and we’re wagering on doing just that. 

Full Outline

Financial reporting to the Board, bill paying, filing state reports, IRS 990’s and other related topics. I invite other treasurers, or interested members to share, discuss or ask questions about the Treasurer’s function. No guaranteed answers, only guaranteed questions.

Rich Willis will be explaining to the group that attends his round table how to do a PodCast. At this time, we do not have a in-depth description of his round table.

How to start, research, AND get club members interested in a Microsoft Vista Special Interest Group, learning from each other until enough members have Vista to start routine classes.

This discussion will address the home and small business network and the impact of “Broadband “ Internet. Topics will include wired and wireless networks, real vs relative Internet speed and demystifying the IP in VOIP and IPTV.

Robert Black is the FACUG editor and he will be answering your club’s questions concerning your newsletters and editing problems. This should be a must attend round table for anyone who is responsible for their club’s newsletter.

The Board working together as a unit, using talent within and forgetting the possibilities of “vendors.” Using creative organizational skills to enhance the user group growth and making the club a fun and money making experience. We will even talk about the importance of a working Board and how to encourage non productive Board members to redirect their volunteer time.

The importance of setting up a program within your User Group to review software programs recently released by various software companies, can be beneficial to individual members as well as recognition of your group.

Everyone has something to share. Blogs are the new say of sharing via the Web: pictures, travel notes, helpful tips, video clips, whatever you share in real life. Come learn what a blog is, how it works, how to set up a blog and customize it, as well as tools that are available to make the process easier. No knowledge of HTML is necessary, but experience with CSS will help with advanced Blogging.

Doc (Dave Dockery) believes that Web 2.0 technologies are transforming our world. Computer user groups should be leading their members to using these technologies. This roundtable will quickly bring you up to speed. Doc is the president of the Tampa Bay Computer Society and the Kindness Coordinator for Pinellas County. Doc frequently speaks on the future of technology as well as teaching a variety of computer seminars: Windows Vista, Searching the Internet, Power eMail, etc.

Stu Silverman will be representing APCUG and he will be able to explain the benefits of your club being active in this venue. APCUG offers many services to your user group and he will be letting you know what they are and how you can better your user group by using these services.

The hour will consist of looking into the three basic elements of amateur videography which are input, non-linear editing and storage. Discussion will center around some of the video editing software available and what may be some advantages of each. General procedures for editing, the use of ‘plug-ins’, making still photographs, movies, chroma keying, multi-track editing, transitions and the various forms of video output will be discussed. Other subjects will be included as time permits.