AUGD: # Reality Check ("dreaming")
AUGD: # Reality Check ("dreaming")
- Subject: AUGD: # Reality Check ("dreaming")
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 09:43:20 -0500
Couple of comments RE: "Since we're dreaming here" thread:
One thing you can be sure of:
Mac user group officers and members worth their
salt will be very passionate about such matters.
Another thing you can be sure of:
When user group officers or members become fully
entrenched in the UG community, they can spend
an unusual amount of time, effort and yes, money
on those efforts. For the most part, those
individuals expect nothing in return. By and large,
they get nothing in return.
But remember, those individuals exist in almost all
areas of commuinty service, organizations, schools,
and others. They exist, and they do what they do,
and we're all damn thankful for them (or should be)
-- because without them, our world would
probably suffer.
Just to put some things in perspective:
* This thread has been seen here about every
two years or so since the beginning.
There's nothing new about the views and opinions expressed
on BOTH sides of the issue. (Most reading the list
probably just missed or have forgotten past iterations.)
* Apple is a (relatively) large corporation
MUG people have a tendency to "personify" Apple, and
begin to believe it has a soul; or conscience.
It doesn't.
User groups and the user group arena represent a
tiny blip to Apple.
It's sort of like expecting BMW to give BMW Car
Clubs the time of day or some seat covers, or come to
their meetings to speak. It just doesn't happen unless
there's a market-wide reason to do so.
Some of you may remember the discussions on this list a
couple of years ago about the Harley Davidson Owners Club.
One past Apple (employee) even suggested we (the user group
community) form a similar club, and amass the MUG numbers
to actually show up on Apple's marketing radar. It has
been attempted several times. But each time, Apple itself
(with help of it's disassociated henchmen) short-circuited
or outright railroaded the attempts.
The fact that anyone shells out-of-pocket money to further
the 'user group' ideal simply doesn't make a hoot to Apple.
Believe me, I've shelled out a few bucks myself.
Apple is all about sales. User groups and their members,
while all are wonderful people showing stellar loyalty
to the brand, do NOT represent a measurable sales pool
that is different from the existing market segments.
Apple realizes these people already own Apple products,
will most likely upgrade and purchase more product, so,
therefore does not need nor justify additional coddling.
Actually, to Apple, user groups are a nuisance.
Apple is all about sales. They would probably be more
interested in Windows user groups... mainly because they
represent fresh soil to plow. Ever seen an Apple
ad on TV to join a user group?
For every expense to Apple, there's an expected return.
Those returns rest heavily on the shoulders of Apple's
employees. Intensly focused on job security, those same
employees diligently guard and perpetuate those returns.
And it is through individual employees that user groups
have to interface. Remember that.
As I've said all along, (those of you who know me since
1984) user groups must pave their own road -- build their
own channels -- make their own friends within Apple.
And, that takes some creativity, forethought and hard work.
Accomplishing something of note brings Apple's notice and
attention -- and kindnesses.
Finally, I observe that everyone on this list
probably has a lot... read my lips: A LOT
to be thankful for.
We all seem to be relatively well healed.
We all seem to be well fed. (Some maybe too well :-)
We all have the luxury of spending time using our
favorite computers, chatting amongst ourselves across
great distances.
Count your blessings. You are all fortunate indeed.
If any of us had really dire things to complain about,
we probably wouldn't be reading nor responding to this list.
If you really want to know how your group can attain the
"dreams" you "dream" of go to:
http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/
and see how just one other segment of the market is
making "dreams" come true.
THEN, rather than sparring and moaning over what we cannot
control -- we should be talking about how we, as a associated
group of clubs, can do something important and helpful
for someone else.
:-)
Thank you for reading... and for your continued
camaraderie in the user group community!
Fred
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