Re: Re(4): AUGD: Free Ride for Board Members?
Re: Re(4): AUGD: Free Ride for Board Members?
- Subject: Re: Re(4): AUGD: Free Ride for Board Members?
- From: Dave G <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 17:13:59 -0500
There mere fact we use MUG shows a lack of acceptance of the
situation. Macintosh is but one product Apple offers.
A for profit enterprise has a clear goal. To make a profit!
Any "cause" aspect of a User Group is as outdated as the SCSI and
serial ports. Apple doesn't need to be saved. World hunger, the
environment, and animal welfare are causes.
A User Group is neither a for profit enterprise or a cause. It's a
non-profit group of people with a similar shared interest: a fan club.
Nothing more and nothing less. I suspect more people are in the
Hannah Montana fan clubs than are in User Groups. Once we accept that
Apple isn't obligated to us or owe us anything, we can move to a
better place for discussion. Hannah Montana fans don't expect every
time she comes into town that she visit their club or give free
tickets. Not picking on that singer- I just know the niece thinks
she's the bomb). Putting into perspective reduces the emotion and the
attachment to the ways of the past.
Nobody wants to hear they need to adapt and many are afraid. They've
always known a certain way of doing things and are unwilling to
change. Number one phrase I hear is "I've been involved in User
Groups xxx number of years. We've done it this way and it works."
Even better "Our members want it this way."
Problem of course is, when you do what the members want, then you
aren't leading. Don't expect anything to change if you do what the
existing members want. You won't attract new members. Eventually,
though attrition, your group dies out. You'll be paralyzed by the
status quo
I'm not surprised by Apple's success. During the "lean" years they
didn't differentiate themselves in the marketplace and were too afraid
to do something different.
Does Apple lead the marketplace now or follow? "You can't make a
computer without a floppy drive", "Record companies will never allow
people to buy digital music", "A smart phone need a keyboard" are all
things the market wanted. Apple said "We have a better way and we'll
show you"
The basic question for any user group, in my not so humble opinion is
"Are you emulate the behaviors and philosophies of Apple" How can you
be an Apple fan and not?
Are printed newsletters and disks of the month emulating Apple's
behavior? Or is it acting like Microsoft that STILL allows you to run
WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS on the newest and latest computers?
I must comment on the irony that while many User Groups want fully
elected democratic process each year in their leadership, the User
Group Regional Liasons and the User Group Advisory Board, as I
understand are not.
I hope this leads to an interesting and much needed discussion that is
long overdue.
On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 9:57 AM, Chuck Joiner <email@hidden> wrote:
>>
>>It isn't fully democratic, but it's a successful organizational model
>>that ensure continuity of leadership and dedication to the cause.
>
> Interesting choice of phrase, Dave. IMHO, that's a place where MUGs
> haven't sufficiently evolved.
>
> With Apple as a dominant force in portable music players and smart
> phones, creating a market for tablet devices, and the Mac having
> achieved credibility in all but the most uninformed corners, there
> really is no "cause" any more. It has been replaced (much to the
> surprise of many) by an Apple community that is diverse in both breadth
> and depth. Along with that, a heightened technological awareness has
> developed (think how many people use Facebook, Twiitter, etc, who don't
> consider themselves technologists in any way, shape or form).
>
> The sooner some of those factors are recognized by MUGs, the sooner they
> will be positioned to take advantage of the opportunities they present,
> regardless of what model the groups select for their organizations.
>
> ---Chuck
> _____________
>
> Chuck Joiner
> Editor-In-Chief
> The MUG Center
> http://www.mugcenter.com
>
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