Re: Local Groups
Re: Local Groups
- Subject: Re: Local Groups
- From: Johan Yokay <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 16:55:15 -0700
On 9/23/02 3:58 PM, "Claude Mathis" <email@hidden> wrote:
>
>> Our user group provides services to members that a "non-physical" group
>
>> could not.
>
>
>
> I agree, David. Both physical and virtual MUGs have distinct advantages.
>
>
I'm not sure what the advantages are of an online only group! A
>
physical group can offer *everything* that an online group can offer
>
as well as face to face communication with warm bodies. It is the
>
personal interaction that makes us feel part of the group. I belong
>
to a bunch of mailing lists, but don't feel anymore "connected" to to
>
the other subscribes than I do when reading the newspaper. knowing
>
that others are accessing the same information is not the same as
>
"interacting".
>
>
I'm not slamming online only groups. If they work for you, fine. My
>
only point is, that they will never replace the personal interaction
>
and tutoring that can be had with a physical group.
>
>
Claude Mathis
>
President, San Diego Macintosh User Group
I could fill a huge list - but I'm going to try to keep it short.
1. Online UG support people in rural and suburban areas - It may be nice in
SD where a 10 min. drive could get you to your meeting, but in suburban and
rural areas it can be a 45 min or longer drive to the closest UG. And in
some areas there may not even be a UG within driving distance! This is
especially important to people in other countries as they usually have a
limited number of UGs.
2. UG Provide More Useful Help - If a member needs help using a rare
graphical programming interface ProGraph, I can refer him to another member
of ours. If a member needs help finding if he can use his current Airport
card in France we have someone to help him. Usually no question is outside
the limits of our user group where at a local level with only 50 people,
they are somewhat limited in their knowledge to what's common.
I've been to Community groups that have a help session and its verbal help.
So members go to the meeting and try to remember what they were told to do.
Wouldn't it be easier just to get help from a video tutorial or website link
right when you get home?
Also, for international members and multi-lingual members we can coordinate
help with other members speaking the same language.
3. Costs are lower with Online UG - With lower operating costs come reduced
dues. Many online UG's even offer free membership and rely on donations to
support their expenses.
4. Ease of Guest Speakers/Presentations - Its seems very easy for me to
arrange guest speakers/presentations with any company that I want where with
a physical group you have to wait for the person to come on tour to your
location which can come at an incontinent time. We're usually able to
schedule pres. Near upcoming product announcements.
5. Face to Face Interaction is still possible - We have optional local "meet
ups" in some cities across the globe, where members usually meet quarterly
and get to talk with each other in an informal environment.
6. Community is still present - You don't actually have to touch and feel
the person to understand their personality and interests. I've learned how
people are just by their diction, comments etc...
I could go on, but the point is that there are numerous advantages of an
online-only group that should not be ignored. I see online-only groups as
the future of User Groups since they provide an easy way that busy people
can access information. With the enhancements of the web with Java, more
graphics, broadband etc..., its becoming closer and closer to actually
touching and feeling the person.
Johan Yokay
President
Apple Insider Macintosh User Group
_______________________________________________
augd mailing list | email@hidden
Help/Unsubscribe/Archives:
http://www.lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/augd
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.