Re: MUG store passwords etc
Re: MUG store passwords etc
- Subject: Re: MUG store passwords etc
- From: Janice Kempf <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2002 10:27:38 -0700
Thank you, David, for listening, and following through on this. I sincerely
appreciate your below email.
>
On Friday, September 20, 2002, at 06:18 PM, Janice Kempf wrote:
>
>
> 1. Have you been to my website? http://osxlist.com
>
>
Only just now. I joined the list before there was such a thing, I
>
guess. I've seen a couple of mentions of it on the list, but hadn't
>
really paid attention. When I signed up for the list there was no
>
mention that I remember of "user group" at all. Seems I am behind in
>
my history; a lot has happened since I joined, that I didn't know about.
Yes, you have been on the OS X Discussion list a long time. And yes, a lot
of things have happened .... sorry you missed the posts, but you can find
them using the search engine I have placed on the website
<
http://osxlist.com>.
>
>
> ....you will find that MacRoges is indeed a Mac User Group, and you
>
> will
>
> find that you have to "join" in order to be a member. One cannot
>
> auto-subscribe. I control the list manually ... no bots - no automatic
>
> anything.
>
>
>
> 2. Have you checked the Apple UG locator under OnLINE ONLY MUG's?
>
> ...If you check the Apple User Group locator, you will find MacRogue
>
> MUG,
>
> and the link to the website, all nicely listed in the On-line groups.
>
>
Well, I guess you are right. It does seem a little strange to me that
>
there can be an Apple-approved user group where anyone can join,
But I would remind you, that while they are not classified as UG's, Apple
sponsors a veritable plethora of on-line forums and e-mail based discussion
lists. Are they taking away from the MUG? Anyone can subscribe. There are
generally no fees. There are hundreds of forums & discussion lists relating
to Mac. Aren't they also taking away from the MUG joining incentive? Even
major vendors have e-mail newsletters with specials, latest updates, tips,
support, that anyone can sign up for. All this information is out there on
the Net.
Is there a solution? Not really. The ones that are going to join a
physical MUG are generally new users. There are those that will outgrow
their MUG and move on to the web.
There is also the problem that many MUG leaders are resistant to change and
are still not supporting the OS X migration (obviously, I'm not one of
them). This leaves the MUG members in a bind, so they look elsewhere for
help and information. There is no loyalty if the individuals needs are not
being met by the group and group leaders.
>
without having regular dues or any other obligations. But I suppose
>
that's not unprecedented -- there are many online-only groups. But I
>
didn't realize that as a list subscriber I was automatically a member
>
of any user group.
There are many UG's out there, whether they are meeting in someone's home, a
church, library, or on-line, that do not charge any membership dues, nor do
they have raffles, sell CD's, never get to a MacWorld, or have major events.
They just get together as fellow Mac Users to share information and help one
another. No overhead .. no bills... no one feels "obligated". Just having
fun.
>
>
This doesn't apply to you, but it may help explain my suspicion of
>
*some* "user groups": there is one online-only group that is still
>
offering to sell CDs with Apple System upgrades, something that Apple
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prohibited to other user groups, including mine, a long time ago. It
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too is listed on Apple's user group locator system. Some former
>
leaders of my group made Apple aware of this many moons ago, but
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nothing was ever done.
So that tells me that it is not that important to Apple, as the group in
question would have heard from Apple corp. attorney's by now. They do not
have a reputation of being shy. But I promise you, I am not selling any
CD's, with or without Apple System Software or Upgrades, nor will I ever
sell copyrighted software. That is illegal. Nor am I giving passwords to
non-MUG members.
>
It seems to me that all of this reduces the
>
incentives for anyone to join a "regular" user group such as mine (and
>
your California one too). We have to struggle to maintain our
>
membership and pay our bills.
The LCMUG membership consists primarily of Senior first time users. They
enjoy the relaxed pace of the monthly meetings and the friendly social
atmosphere. It's a very, very small Resort/Retirement community of 60,000
in the entire county. Everyone knows everyone here. The majority of our
members are content with OS 8.6 to surf the net, e-mail, play a little game,
and make greeting cards. It will probably take another 2-4 yrs. to get all
of them over to OS X. By that time it will probably be OS 11 or 12.
I've made a lot of friends on my OS X list, from all over the world, and
I've asked them why they are on my list and do not belong to a local MUG.
Here are some of their reasons:
#1. Reason The Geeks don't join: (their words -- not mine, so hold your
fire)
MUG's are all newbies.
The meetings are too boring
The training, demo's, etc. are below their computing skills.
They get cornered into become the club tech and answering all the questions
They wind up carrying the club and doing all the work
They don't want to teach "copy/paste" in OS 7, 8, or 9.
#2. Reason The Newbies don't join:
It's over their head
Everything goes too fast
Want private training because....
They are embarrassed to ask questions in public
People ignore them (again, not my words)
They don't want to have to commit
They don't want to volunteer because they are too busy or feel they have no
skills.
And finally, they don't come because they "hate being browbeat to help".
Every Mac User Group in the world is facing this very same situation. The
internet, e-mail, iChat, laptops, PDA's, are as much a part of people's
lives now as their cell phone and their car. Information is readily at
their disposal. On-line MUG's give instant answers to their technical
problems ... they don't have to wait until next month for the next general
meeting. They build great friendships in the online community because they
"talk" to each other more frequently, some even several times a day. They
feel more a part of a community than they do with a once a month meeting.
Much as what we are doing here, right now!
Discounts for 3rd party software flourish on the web. Even the AppleMUG
store rarely has "true" specials for MUG's, that cannot be found on their
website for the public <
http://www.powermax.com>. I have a friend that
works for PowerMax as a sales rep., and we talked about this very thing
yesterday.
The internet community is exactly the direction Apple is taking: digital
hub, iMac's, iChat, iCal, iPhoto ... everything geared toward the online
community. Like it or not, the local MUG is in jeopardy of extinction.
We have conference call, digital webcams, QT streaming, LAN's, iChat, on
line MUG's, forums, DVD's from Apple for training, VTC.com, Adobe has
digital training, Apple is promoting .... nay, pushing technology, toward
this future of wireless communications. Instant gratification. Instant
help.
If you've ever watched any of the ADC QT sessions, you will really see, very
clearly, the direction Apple is going .... Rendezvous, BlueTooth, Linksys,
networking.
So, what incentives can we give to our friends, neighbors, and community, to
join their local Mac User Group, that they cannot find any place else?
That's the real question that needs addressed, IMVHO.
Thanks for listening!
Janice Kempf
List Mom
Group Leader
MacRogues On-Line MUG
http://osxlist.com
VP - Lake County Mac User Group
email@hidden
iChat: jkempf (mac.com)
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