Re: What's a User Group?
Re: What's a User Group?
- Subject: Re: What's a User Group?
- From: Yan Feng <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2003 15:54:26 +0800
My view has been that user groups are a collection of people with one thing
in common - they use Macs.
It may be too simplistic to some. And of course, there may be people without
Macs but are looking for one or are interested.
There appears to be no one exact specification or one accurate definition,
but rather a broad array of possible definitions. One is my "group of Mac
users" definition. Another is a sense of community and alliance.
As to what services they provide, they do tend to vary. Some want to KISS it
(keep it simple and subtle) while others (like BeiMac) tend to go overboard
with innovative things and more services - such as a ListServ, a daily
Bulletin, a Forum, a newsletter and so on and so forth.
My perception from what Warren has written appears to be that somehow the
definition of a MUG seems have to gone the way of the Performa, for those of
you who've stuck long enough (what is a Performa? was a Mac with special
system software till 7.5, was a Mac with free software, was a Mac with this
and with that, and so on and so forth). That's a potentially dangerous
standpoint if not taken care of - a definition of a MUG should be alliance
of Mac users and community, not lacklustre performers! It is, though, merely
my point of view, and of course I respect that of Warren. I sincerely hope I
am not being too candid or too blunt.
To some extent a MUG could also be what its leaders or members want it to
be. Some don't think a ListServ system is useful, some think a newsletter is
just too much, and so on and so forth. Here's my personal experience as both
a member and a leader of two very different groups:
I'm the Founder and President of BeiMac, now in its 2nd year. As a founder
and a leader I want the group to grow, and to enable more channels of
communciation. As a crazed-up visionary I want to see this group go forth
and just evolve and develop, and keep on innovating. It's a labour of love.
I'm also a Member of Mac Users Switzerland, and there it could be different.
They've been there for longer. Just from my personal viewpoint, as a member
there, my eyes they seem more profound and willing to do a set task of
things. I'm also one for that but in my BeiMac group it's incredible how
"flower-like" the whole thing is; new things come out all the time. For the
Swiss group the Newsletter is a staple thing; they think that it's an
important aspect of a group. Am I mistaken in thinking that it's some sort
of alliance or bond?
It's interesting what a MUG has been - different things to different people.
Rather than set a single definition in detail, let different groups
experiment with something else, let them flower off (if you get my imagery)
and do their own thing. Diversity is a good thing.
As for what BeiMac defines as a user group, or more properly, _our_ user
group, here's the official line:
The Beijing Macintosh User Group is an international, multilingual user
group for users of Apple Macintosh computers based in Beijing, China.
Founded in 2002, the user group combines efforts at Mac support, interaction
with Macintosh users and organisations and Mac advocacy to build up a truly
dedicated Macintosh community in Beijing.
What do we have?
A community of Mac users, some local and others expat; newsletter; ListServ
system; online forum; iChat sessions; website; tech support; membership
contributions encouragement system (point system; this is readying up for
when members can redeem points against group freebies); and soon, regional
meetings; meetings; info evenings; social events.
What's the one thing that holds us together?
Union that we are one user group with one commonality: a group of Mac
people; Mac enthusiasts, switchers, Mac die-hards, Mac newbies and so on. A
firm alliance and a firm bond is what keeps us together.
Friendly regards,
Yan Feng
President - Beijing Macintosh User Group
http://www.beimac.com/
Apple User Groups Regional Liaison for Asia except Japan
Sister groups with Lake County Mac User Group, California, USA
http://www.lcmug.com
Written on a supercomputer.
---
email@hidden (email@hidden) wrote to us on 3.10.2003 8:35
>
I want to follow up on the earlier posts that described how the definition of
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a user group member has changed over the years.
>
>
It seems that the definition of a "user group" has also changed. At one time,
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user groups always had meetings. Most also had a printed newsletter and some
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means to distribute discs of software to its members. Some even published the
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telephone numbers of members willing to help other members with their computer
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problems.
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With the advent of the Internet, groups seem to come in all persuasions. Many
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still hold meetings. Many publish a printed newsletters. Some run a disk
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library. And some still publish the contact information of members willing to
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help
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their colleagues.
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But some don't hold meetings. Some don't publish a newsletter. And many don't
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maintain a disk library.
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Some groups now do *everything* electronically. They "meet" electronically
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via discussion forums on line. They don't publish a newsletter, maintain a
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disk
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library or a members volunteer program. And they don't charge dues.
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I'm having difficulty deciding what defines a "user group" these days. Does a
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user group have to hold meetings? Have a printed newsletter? Maintain a Web
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site? Offer a member helping member support system? Charge dues?
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>
Warren Williams
>
AWUG
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